View source for Dick Savitt

{{Short description|American tennis player (1927–2023)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox tennis biography
|name                         = Dick Savitt
|image                        = Dick Savitt.jpg
|caption                      = Savitt holding the [[1951 Wimbledon Championships|1951 Wimbledon men's trophy]]
|fullname                     = Richard Savitt
|country                      = {{U.S.}}
|residence                    = 
|birth_date                   = {{birth date|1927|3|4}}
|birth_place                  = [[Bayonne, New Jersey]], U.S.
|death_date                   = {{death date and age|2023|1|6|1927|3|4}}
|death_place                  = [[Manhattan]], New York, U.S.
|height                       = {{convert|6|ft|3|in|abbr=on}}
|college                      = [[Cornell University]] (57–2 record in singles)
|turnedpro                    = 1944 (amateur tour)
|retired                      = 1952 (played part-time afterwards)
|plays                        = Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
|careerprizemoney             = 
|tennishofyear                = 1976
|tennishofid                  = dick-savitt
|singlesrecord                = 320-105
|singlestitles                = 37
|highestsinglesranking        = No. '''1''' (July 1951, ''The New York Times'')<ref name="NYTimes1951">{{cite news |title=Savitt beats McGregor in straight sets to capture Wimbledon tennis title. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 7, 1951 |page=9 Sports |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1951/07/07/archives/american-sweeps-63minute-match-savitt-wins-64-64-64-to-become-3th.html |quote=Dick Savitt of Orange, N. J.&nbsp;... established himself as the world's No. 1 amateur player today when he won the Wimbledon men's singles title by defeating Ken McGregor of Australia |url-access=limited |access-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722193841/https://www.nytimes.com/1951/07/07/archives/american-sweeps-63minute-match-savitt-wins-64-64-64-to-become-3th.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|AustralianOpenresult= '''W''' ([[1951 Australian Championships – Men's singles|1951]])
|FrenchOpenresult             = QF ([[1951 French Championships (tennis)|1951]], [[1952 French Championships (tennis)|1952]])
|Wimbledonresult= '''W''' ([[1951 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles|1951]])
|USOpenresult                 = SF ([[1950 U.S. National Championships – Men's singles|1950]], [[1951 U.S. National Championships – Men's singles|1951]])
|Othertournaments             = <!-- adds a "Other tournaments" title -->
|MastersCupresult             = 
|WTAChampionshipsresult       = 
|Olympicsresult               = 
|doublesrecord                = 
|doublestitles                = 
|highestdoublesranking        = 
|grandslamsdoublesresults     =
|AustralianOpenDoublesresult  = 
|FrenchOpenDoublesresult      = F (1951, 1952)
| medaltemplates-expand       = yes
| medaltemplates              =
{{MedalCompetition|Maccabiah Games}}
{{MedalGold|[[1961 Maccabiah Games|1961 Israel]]|Men's Singles}}
{{MedalGold|[[1961 Maccabiah Games|1961 Israel]]|Men's Doubles}}
}}

'''Richard Savitt''' (March 4, 1927 – January 6, 2023) was an American tennis player.<ref name="google1">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XOPZ2nA6OcEC&pg=PA162 |title=Blessings of Freedom: Chapters in American Jewish history |isbn=0-88125-756-7 |publisher=KTAV Publishing House, Inc. |author=Michael Feldberg |year=2002 |access-date=July 19, 2016 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310033605/https://books.google.com/books?id=XOPZ2nA6OcEC&pg=PA162 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="google2">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NACkGVm3C3wC&pg=PA76 |title=Jewish Sports Stars: Athletic Heroes Past and Present |isbn=1-58013-183-2 |publisher=Kar-Ben Publishing |year=2006 |author=David J. Goldman |access-date=July 19, 2016 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310032529/https://books.google.com/books?id=NACkGVm3C3wC&pg=PA76 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="google3">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oZxnNt28DhcC&pg=PA168 |title=Jewish sports legends: the International Jewish Hall of Fame |isbn=1-57488-284-8 |publisher=Brassey's |year=2000 |author=Joseph Siegman |access-date=July 19, 2016 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310032453/https://books.google.com/books?id=oZxnNt28DhcC&pg=PA168 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1951, at the age of 24, he won both the [[1951 Australian Championships – Men's singles|Australian]] and [[1951 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles|Wimbledon]] men's singles championships. Savitt was mostly ranked world No. 2 the same year behind fellow amateur [[Frank Sedgman]], but he was declared world No. 1 by ''The New York Times'' following his Wimbledon victory.<ref name="google3"/><ref name="NYTimes1951"/> He retired the following year to concentrate on a career in business. Savitt is one of four American men who have won both the Australian and British Championships in one year, following [[Don Budge]] (1938) and preceding [[Jimmy Connors]] (1974) and [[Pete Sampras]] (1994 and 1997). He won [[gold medal]]s in both singles and men's doubles at the [[1961 Maccabiah Games]] in Israel.

Savitt is enshrined in the [[International Tennis Hall of Fame]], the [[Intercollegiate Tennis Association#Hall of Fame|Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame]], the [[USTA]] Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame, the [[International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]], and the [[National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]].

==Early life==
Savitt was born in Bayonne, New Jersey to a Jewish family.<ref name="google1"/><ref name="google4">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aOTWUl-9LQoC&pg=PA30 |title=Day by day in Jewish sports history |publisher=KTAV Publishing House, Inc. |isbn=978-1-60280-013-7 |author=Bob Wechsler |year=2008 |access-date=July 19, 2016 |archive-date=June 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617135317/https://books.google.com/books?id=aOTWUl-9LQoC&pg=PA30 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="google6">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KKQZn9sQGQMC&pg=PA63 |title=The match: Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton: how two outsiders—one Black, the other Jewish—forged a friendship and made sports |isbn=0-06-052652-1 |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2004 |author=Bruce Schoenfeld |access-date=July 19, 2016 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310032823/https://books.google.com/books?id=KKQZn9sQGQMC&pg=PA63 |url-status=live }}</ref> He taught himself tennis at the age of 14 and never took a tennis lesson in his life.<ref name="google1"/><ref name="google2"/><ref name="google3"/> The self-taught Savitt made the finals of the New Jersey Boys Championship, and for two years, the [[Boy's Junior National Tennis Championship|National Boys Tennis Tournament]] before moving to the junior ranks.<ref name="google1"/> He and his family moved to El Paso, Texas, in 1944, as his mother had a bad skin condition and needed the warmer weather.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.njsportsheroes.com/dicksavittt.html|title=Dick Savitt T|website=www.njsportsheroes.com}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://tennisgrandstand.com/2022/07/01/dick-savitt-the-1951-wimbledon-champion-is-the-greatest-jewish-tennis-player-of-all-time/|title=Dick Savitt, The 1951 Wimbledon Champion, Is the Greatest Jewish Tennis Player of All Time - Tennis Grandstand|date=July 1, 2022}}</ref>

His first love was basketball, and when his family moved to Texas, he was an All-State [[forward (basketball)|forward]] and a co-captain of the basketball team at [[El Paso High School]] in 1944.<ref name="google1"/><ref name="google2"/> Despite considering tennis his "second" sport after basketball, he won the Texas [[University Interscholastic League]] boys singles championship in 1944–1945.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uil100.org/archives/athletics/tennis-boys.php |title=UIL Boys Tennis State Champions |publisher=Uil100.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321165003/http://www.uil100.org/archives/athletics/tennis-boys.php |archive-date=March 21, 2012 }}</ref> Nationally he was the 8th-ranked junior tennis player, and the 17th-ranked amateur overall.<ref name="google1"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elpasoinc.com/columns/local_columnists/ray-sanchez-wimbledon-champ-named-el-paso-high-s-2014-ex/article_6066f94c-1b24-11e4-863d-001a4bcf6878.html|title=Ray Sanchez: Wimbledon champ named El Paso High's 2014 'Ex'|website=El Paso Inc.}}</ref>

In 1945, Savitt entered the Navy, stationed at the [[Millington-Memphis Airport|Naval Air Station in Memphis, Tennessee]].<ref name="auto"/><ref name="google1"/>

==College==
Beginning in 1946, Savitt attended Cornell University, where he majored in economics, was a member of the [[Pi Lambda Phi]] fraternity, and he was elected a member of the [[Sphinx Head Society]].<ref>Pi Lambda Phi 2010 Membership Directory</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofcornell00bish_0 |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/historyofcornell00bish_0/page/603 603] |title=A history of Cornell |publisher=Cornell University Press |author=Morris Bishop| isbn=0-8014-0036-8 |year= 1962}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,889092,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123124855/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,889092,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 23, 2010 |title=Winners at Wimbledon |magazine=Time |date=July 16, 1951 }}</ref> However, two injuries, one to his knee, curtailed his basketball career.<ref name="google1"/><ref name="google2"/>

Savitt resumed playing tennis.<ref name="google1"/> He became Cornell's tennis team captain and its #1 singles and doubles player.<ref name="google2"/><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ykGh0rxxvksC&pg=PA63 |title=Sports in America: fascination and blemishes |publisher=Sunstone Press |author=Glenn W. Ferguson |year=2004 |isbn=0-86534-419-1 |access-date=July 19, 2016 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310033508/https://books.google.com/books?id=ykGh0rxxvksC&pg=PA63 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ustaeasternhalloffame1999"/> In 1947, he was ranked # 26 in the U.S., and two years later he was ranked # 17.<ref name="google2"/> In 1949 and 1950, as a junior and a senior, he won the Eastern Intercollegiate Tournament, and he won the doubles title with Leonard Steiner from 1948 to 1950.<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref name="ustaeasternhalloffame1999">{{cite web |url=http://ustaeasternhalloffame.com/1999.htm |title=1999 Inductees |publisher=USTA Eastern Hall Of Fame |date=July 7, 1951 |access-date=March 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203032223/http://ustaeasternhalloffame.com/1999.htm |archive-date=February 3, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was 57–2 in singles for his college career, and he graduated in June 1950.<ref name="ustaeasternhalloffame1999"/>

==Post-college tennis career==
Savitt ranked in the world's top 10 four times between 1951 and 1957 (# 2 in 1951); and in the U.S. top 10 six times between 1950 and 1959.<ref name="jewishsports1">{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/RichardDickSavitt.htm |title=Richard "Dick" Savitt |publisher=Jewishsports.net |access-date=March 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060111124709/http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/RichardDickSavitt.htm |archive-date=January 11, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> That was despite the fact that Savitt did not compete in 1953–55.<ref name="jewishsports1"/> Among Savitt's major victories were the 1951 Wimbledon singles championship and the 1951 Australian Open. He also won the 1952, 1958, and 1961 USLTA National Indoor Championships, becoming the first player to win that crown three times, and won the Italian doubles. He won the [[Rogers Cup (tennis)|Canadian]] singles and doubles championships in 1952.

===1950–1953===
In 1950, he won the [[Eastern Clay Court Championships]] defeating [[Don McNeill (tennis)|Don McNeill]] in the final in four sets and the [[New York State Championships]] defeating McNeill in a five-set final.<ref name="google2"/>

Still without any coaching, in 1950 Savitt reached the [[US Open (tennis)|U. S. Tennis Championship]] semifinals at [[West Side Tennis Club|Forest Hills]], losing to [[Art Larsen]].<ref name="google1"/><ref name="google2"/>

In 1951, at the age of 24, Savitt won the [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] Singles Championship. Along the way he beat Larsen, the No. 1 U.S. player, in straight sets, and [[Herbert Flam]], the No. 2 U.S. player.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> He won the [[Australian Open]] Singles title, winning in straight sets in the 61-minute final against [[Ken McGregor]].<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nE4EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22dick+savitt%22+-jewish&pg=PA32 |title=Skyrocketing Net Star Clinches Place in Sun |magazine=LIFE |date=July 16, 1951 |access-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310033535/https://books.google.com/books?id=nE4EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22dick%20savitt%22%20-jewish&pg=PA32 |url-status=live }}</ref> He became the first American since [[Don Budge]], 13 years earlier, to win both Wimbledon and the Australian Open in one season.<ref name="ustaeasternhalloffame1999"/>

Savitt became the first Jewish male player to win either tournament.<ref name="google1"/><ref name="google2"/><ref name="google6"/><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y_iFd9v6m6UC&q=%22Dick+Savitt%22+Jewish&pg=PA202 |title=Yes, but is it good for the Jews?: a beginner's guide |isbn=1-59691-205-7 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |author=Jonny Geller |year=2006 |access-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310032824/https://books.google.com/books?id=y_iFd9v6m6UC&q=%22Dick+Savitt%22+Jewish&pg=PA202 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the Jewish parts of North London, Savitt said "Nobody knew tennis there, but after I won people started picking up rackets".<ref name="google6"/> In addition, he became the first Jewish athlete to appear on the [[List of covers of Time magazine (1950s)|cover of ''Time'' magazine]].<ref name="google4"/><ref name="google5"/> The significance of a Jewish tennis player succeeding was rooted in the fact that tennis was still at the time primarily a country club sport, and many country clubs often did not allow Jews in as members and did not allow them to use their courts.<ref name="google2"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/ellisislandtoebb00levi |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/ellisislandtoebb00levi/page/314 314] |quote= Savitt. |title=Ellis Island to Ebbets Field: Sport and the American Jewish Experience| isbn=0-19-508555-8|publisher=Oxford University Press US |author=Peter Levine |year=1993 }}</ref> This, in turn, kept many Jewish tennis players from obtaining the training they needed to compete at the highest levels.<ref name="google2"/>

Savitt was ranked second in the world in 1951.<ref name="google3"/> He was ranked the No. 1 player on the United States [[Davis Cup]] Team.<ref name="google3"/><ref name="google5">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5t5GAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Dick+Savitt%22+ |title=American Jewish desk reference |author=American Jewish Historical Society |isbn=0-375-40243-8 |publisher=Random House |year=1999 |access-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310032454/https://books.google.com/books?id=5t5GAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Dick+Savitt%22+ |url-status=live }}</ref> He made it to the semifinals of the Australian Open in January 1952.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7y9kAAAAIBAJ&pg=4503,3350144&dq=frank-shields+davis-cup+savitt&hl=en |title=Australian Net Star Aids U.S. Team Captain |work=The Calgary Herald |date=January 28, 1952 |access-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310033533/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7y9kAAAAIBAJ&pg=4503,3350144&dq=frank-shields+davis-cup+savitt&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 1952, he beat [[Bill Talbert]] to win the U.S. National Indoor championship.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XuVOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4903,4256531&dq=frank-shields+davis-cup+savitt&hl=en |title=Savitt Slashes Net Win Over Indoor Champ |work=Toledo Blade |date=February 24, 1952 |access-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310033108/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XuVOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4903,4256531&dq=frank-shields+davis-cup+savitt&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> He won the [[Rogers Cup (tennis)|Canadian]] singles and doubles championships in 1952, defeating [[Kurt Nielsen]] in the singles final in three straight sets.<ref name="ustaeasternhalloffame1999"/> In September 1952, he beat Art Larsen to win the Pacific Coast men's singles tennis championship.<ref name="google4"/><ref>{{cite news |author=[Displaying Abstract] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1952/09/29/archives/savitt-victor-over-larsen-108-63-64-shirley-fry-captures-pacific.html |title=Savitt Victor Over Larsen, 10-8, 6-3, 6-4 - Shirley Fry Captures Pacific Coast Final |work=The New York Times |date=March 2, 2011 |access-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722185428/https://www.nytimes.com/1952/09/29/archives/savitt-victor-over-larsen-108-63-64-shirley-fry-captures-pacific.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Davis Cup snub and retirement===
{{quote box |width=28em | bgcolor= |align=right |quote=In those days, to be Jewish in the top ranks of tennis was to encounter a certain amount of prejudice.&nbsp;... when Dick Savitt won Wimbledon, his right to a place on the Davis Cup team was challenged in some circles because he was Jewish.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xjTIM-_9bVIC&q=Savitt&pg=PA181 |title=Days of Grace |publisher=Random House |author=Arthur Ashe, Arnold Rampersad |year=1994 |isbn=0-345-38681-7 |access-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310033606/https://books.google.com/books?id=xjTIM-_9bVIC&q=Savitt&pg=PA181 |url-status=live }}</ref>|source= — [[Arthur Ashe]]}}

Savitt had played and won his three early 1951 matches in an exhibition against the Australian Davis Cup team, winning 9 of 10 sets as the American team beat Australia in the event.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} [[Allison Danzig]], the senior American tennis writer, called him America's best hope for victory.<ref name="google1"/> He had defeated [[Frank Sedgman]], Australia's best player, in the 1951 Australian Open.<ref name="google1"/><ref name="google2"/> [[Ted Schroeder]], who had lost all three of his Davis Cup matches while losing 9 out of 10 sets in the process the year before and who was in semi-retirement, was chosen by non-playing captain [[Frank Shields]].<ref name="google1"/> Five of the top 10 players in the U.S. publicly accused Shields of "obvious prejudice" in his choosing the team.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1681815842.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+14%2C+1952&author=&pub=The+Sun+%281837-1985%29&desc=Netters+Challenge+Shield%27s+Davis+Cup+Picks&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716212339/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1681815842.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+14,+1952&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=Netters+Challenge+Shield's+Davis+Cup+Picks&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |title=Netters Challenge Shields' Davis Cup Picks |work=The Sun |date=January 14, 1952 }}</ref> Without Savitt playing singles, and with Schroeder losing two of his three matches, the United States lost the 1951 Davis Cup to Australia.<ref name="google1"/>

The controversy spilled over into the next year when the 1951 nationally ranked players were bitterly debated at the January 1952 [[U.S. Lawn Tennis Association]] annual meeting.<ref name="google5307">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Xo8yAAAAIBAJ&pg=5307,1987362&dq=frank-shields+davis-cup+savitt&hl=en |title=x |work=Sunday Herald |date=January 13, 1952 |access-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310032528/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Xo8yAAAAIBAJ&pg=5307,1987362&dq=frank-shields+davis-cup+savitt&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> Members of the Association's Eastern, New England, Southern, Florida, and Texas delegations, whose chief spokesman was [[Gardnar Mulloy]], were in favor of Savitt being named the No. 1 tennis player in the U.S.<ref name="google4046"/> However, Shields attacked Savitt in a "biting", "unprecedented" speech, which observers said swung the vote against Savitt.<ref name="google4046"/><ref name="google3147">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LBZWAAAAIBAJ&pg=3147,5644780&dq=frank-shields+davis-cup+savitt&hl=en |title=Seixas placed ahead of Savitt |page=13 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |date=January 19, 1952 |via=Google News Archive |access-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310032453/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LBZWAAAAIBAJ&pg=3147,5644780&dq=frank-shields+davis-cup+savitt&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> As it was reported by ''Time'' magazine, "the loudest talker was Frank Shields, non-playing captain of the losing U.S. Davis Cup team. Shields had ignored Savitt in the Davis Cup matches, had put his confidence in aging (30) Ted Schroeder&nbsp;... who turned out to be the goat of the series. Shields was intent on keeping Savitt ranked&nbsp;... at No. 3. Cried Shields: 'Never once in the past three months has Savitt looked like a champion.{{'"}} [[Don McNeill (tennis)|Don McNeill]], the 1940 U.S. champion, answered Shields' outburst by pointing out that players are ranked on their tennis ability, that personal prejudice should have nothing to do with ranking, and that Shields' remarks were "uncalled for".<ref name="google5307"/> That met with "resounding applause" from the delegates.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,806297,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125194901/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,806297,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 25, 2010 |title=Sport: Most Unseemly |magazine = Time |date= January 28, 1952 }}</ref> Australian Davis Cup team [[Harry Hopman]] called his arguments as to why Savitt should not be ranked No. 1 "weak".[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m-8pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ryMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3346,2423655&dq=frank-shields+davis-cup+savitt&hl=en ] Still, a never-before-required proxy vote was needed to decide the No. 1 spot.<ref name="google4046"/><ref name="google3147"/> Savitt was ranked the No. 2 player in the U.S. by the [[U.S. Lawn Tennis Association]], behind [[Vic Seixas]] and directly ahead of [[Tony Trabert]].<ref name="google4046">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MjMuAAAAIBAJ&pg=4046,267216 |title=Seixas voted nation's No. 1 amateur tennis player in 1951 |work=Reading Eagle |date=January 20, 1952 |page=26 |via=Google News Archive |access-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310032454/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MjMuAAAAIBAJ&pg=4046,267216 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 1952, Savitt announced that he would play only one more tournament, the National Indoor Championships, and then retire from tournament tennis—at age 25.<ref name="google2"/> He later explained that there was insufficient money in the amateur game to support his needs, requiring him to pursue his business career.<ref name="commentary.org">Commentary: Schwartzman Unrestricted. https://www.commentary.org/articles/rick-marin/schwartzman-unrestricted/</ref> Savitt did not believe that anti-Semitism was the cause of his problems with Shields.<ref name="commentary.org"/> Savitt had beaten Shields badly in the quarterfinals of the New Jersey State Championships in 1948. Also, Shields had been excluded from the 1933 U.S. Davis Cup team despite being ranked U.S. No. 1 for that year by the USLTA.<ref>USTA Rankings. https://www.usta.com/en/home/about-usta/usta-history/national/mens-womens-year-end-top-10.html#tab=men's</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,746655,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112221249/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,746655,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 12, 2010 |title=Recovery: Man of the Year, 1933 |magazine=Time |date=January 1, 1934 |access-date=March 27, 2011}}</ref>

===Part-time comeback===
Savitt returned to the competitive tennis scene part-time in 1954. In April 1954 he won the clay court [[River Oaks Championships]]in Houston, Texas defeating [[Sven Davidson]], [[Gardnar Mulloy]], [[Vic Seixas]], and [[Ham Richardson]] in the final, the latter three members of the U.S. Davis Cup team.

In August 1957 he won the [[Eastern Grass Court Championships]] at South Orange, New Jersey defeating U.S. Davis Cup players Ham Richardson and Vic Seixas in the final two rounds in best-of-five set matches.

In 1958, Savitt moved back to New York for business reasons and launched a part-time comeback in tennis. That year, he won his second National Indoors title, defeating [[Grant Golden (tennis)|Grant Golden]], [[Kurt Nielsen]], and [[Budge Patty]] in the final three rounds. In 1961, he captured his third—while remaining a weekend player, defeating [[Pierre Darmon]], [[Chris Crawford (tennis)|Chris Crawford]], and U.S. No. 1 [[Whitney Reed]] in the final.<ref name="google1"/> In 1981, he and his son, Robert, won the U.S. Father-Son doubles title.<ref name="ustaeasternhalloffame1999"/>

===Maccabiah Games; Israel===
In 1961, he won gold medals in both singles (defeating American [[Mike Franks (tennis)|Mike Franks]] in the final), and doubles (with Franks, defeating South Africans [[Rod Mandelstam]] and Julie Mayers), at the [[1961 Maccabiah Games]] in Israel, the third-largest sporting event in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1961/09/05/97244177.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|title=U.S. SQUAD VICTOR IN 16 MORE FINALS; Gubner and Savitt Triumph as Maccabiah Games End|website=timesmachine.nytimes.com}}</ref><ref name="google1"/><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hohspDWqzjwC&q=%22Dick+Savitt%22+Jewish&pg=PA83 |title=One thousand one facts everyone should know about Israel |isbn=0-7425-4358-7 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |author=Mitchell Geoffrey Bard, Moshe Schwartz |year=2005 |access-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310033258/https://books.google.com/books?id=hohspDWqzjwC&q=%22Dick+Savitt%22+Jewish&pg=PA83 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was also very active in the [[Maccabi (sports)|Maccabi]] movement.<ref name="google1"/>

Savitt in addition helped develop the [[Israel Tennis Centers]], beginning in 1973.<ref name="google1"/><ref name="ustaeasternhalloffame1999"/> In 1998, he was the [[Intercollegiate Tennis Association|ITA]] overseas tennis director.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/99152724.html?dids=99152724:99152724&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Dec+12%2C+1988&author=By+JACK+LEON&pub=Jerusalem+Post&desc=ISRAELI+JUNIORS+HIT+THE+TRAIL&pqatl=google |title=Israeli Juniors Hit the Trail |date=December 12, 1988 |work=Jerusalem Post |first=Jack |last=Leon |access-date=July 6, 2017 |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106040719/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/99152724.html?dids=99152724:99152724&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Dec+12,+1988&author=By+JACK+LEON&pub=Jerusalem+Post&desc=ISRAELI+JUNIORS+HIT+THE+TRAIL&pqatl=google |url-status=dead }}</ref> In his 2007 book ''The Big Book of Jewish Sports Heroes: An Illustrated Compendium of Sports History and The 150 Greatest Jewish Sports Stars'', author Peter S. Horvitz ranked Savitt the 9th-greatest Jewish athlete of all time.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dDyEVDIA3aIC&q=%22Dick+Savitt%22+Jewish&pg=PA185|title=The Big Book of Jewish Sports Heroes: An Illustrated Compendium of Sports History and The 150 Greatest Jewish Sports Stars|publisher=SP Books|year=2007|author=Peter S. Horvitz|isbn=9781561719075|access-date=November 26, 2020|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310033509/https://books.google.com/books?id=dDyEVDIA3aIC&q=%22Dick+Savitt%22+Jewish&pg=PA185|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Halls of fame==
Savitt was inducted into the [[International Tennis Hall of Fame]] in 1976.<ref name="google2"/> Savitt was inducted into the [[International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1979.<ref name="google2"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=J_UhAAAAIBAJ&pg=4196,1002100&dq=dick-savitt+jewish&hl=en |title=Friedman Recalls Football's Past |work=Reading Eagle |date=February 11, 1979 |access-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310033534/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=J_UhAAAAIBAJ&pg=4196%2C1002100&dq=dick-savitt%20jewish&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> He was inducted into the [[Intercollegiate Tennis Association#Hall of Fame|Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame]] in 1986.<ref>[http://www.itatennis.com/Hall/hall_of_fame_men.htm ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061202094358/http://www.itatennis.com/Hall/hall_of_fame_men.htm |date=December 2, 2006 }}</ref> Savitt was inducted into the [[National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1998,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishsports.org/jewishsports/detail.asp?id=61 |title=Jewish Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=March 25, 2007 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210151329/http://www.jewishsports.org/jewishsports/detail.asp?id=61 |archive-date=February 10, 2007 }}</ref> and into the [[USTA]] Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|title=USTA Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame 1999|url=http://ustaeasternhalloffame.com/1999.htm|publisher=USTA|access-date=March 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203032223/http://ustaeasternhalloffame.com/1999.htm|archive-date=February 3, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==After tennis==
Following his competitive tennis career, Savitt entered the oil business in Louisiana.<ref name="google1"/> He then worked for [[Lehman Brothers]], and in 1985, he joined [[Schroders]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=noI5n-RRLi8C&q=%22dick+savitt%22+-jewish&pg=PA28 |title=Can Ex-Athletes Make it on Wall Street |work=New York |date=January 8, 1973 |author=Barry Tarshis |access-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310033256/https://books.google.com/books?id=noI5n-RRLi8C&q=%22dick%20savitt%22%20-jewish&pg=PA28 |url-status=live }}</ref> Savitt died on January 6, 2023, at the age of 95.<ref>{{cite news |title=Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Dick Savitt dies aged 95 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-07/tennis-champion-dick-savitt-dies-aged-95/101535102 |access-date=7 January 2023 |publisher=ABC News |date=7 January 2023}}</ref>

==Grand Slam finals==
{{More citations needed|section|date=January 2023}}

===Singles (two titles)===

{| class='sortable wikitable' 
!style="width:40px"|Result
!style="width:30px"|Year
!style="width:160px"|Championship
!style="width:50px"|Surface
!style="width:130px"|Opponent
!style="width:130px" class="unsortable"|Score
|-style="background:#ffc;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win || 1951 || [[Australian Championships]] || Grass || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ken McGregor]] || 6–3, 2–6, 6–3, 6–1
|-style="background:#cfc;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win || 1951 || [[Wimbledon Championships]] || Grass || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ken McGregor]] || 6–4, 6–4, 6–4
|}

===Doubles (two runner-ups)===
{|class="sortable wikitable" 
!style="width:40px"|Result
!style="width:30px"|Year
!style="width:160px"|Championship
!style="width:50px"|Surface
!style="width:130px"|Partner
!style="width:130px"|Opponents
!style="width:130px" class="unsortable"|Score
|-style="background:#ccf;"
|-style="background:#ebc2af;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss || 1951 || [[1951 French Championships (tennis)|French Championships]] || Clay|| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Gardnar Mulloy]] || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ken McGregor]] <br/> {{flagicon|AUS}} Frank Sedgman || 2–6, 6–2, 7–9, 5–7
|-style="background:#ebc2af;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss || 1952 || [[1952 French Championships (tennis)|French Championships]] || Clay || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Gardnar Mulloy || {{flagicon|AUS}} Ken McGregor <br/> {{flagicon|AUS}} Frank Sedgman || 3–6, 4–6, 4–6

|}

==Grand Slam performance timeline==
{{More citations needed|section|date=January 2023}}
{{Performance key|short=yes|active=no}}
{| class="wikitable"
! Tournament !! 1944 !! 1945 !! 1946 !! 1947 !! 1948 !! 1949 !! 1950 !! 1951 !! 1952 !! 1953-1955 !! 1956 !! 1957 !! 1958 !! 1959 
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[Australian Championships|Australian]] 
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''[[1951 Australian Championships – Men's singles|W]]'''
| align="center" style="background:yellow;"|[[1952 Australian Championships – Men's singles|SF]]
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[French Championships|French]]
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|[[1951 French Championships – Men's singles|QF]]
| align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|[[1952 French Championships – Men's singles|QF]]
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]]
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''[[1951 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles|W]]'''
| align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|[[1952 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles|QF]]
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
| align="center" |A
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;"|[[U.S. Open (tennis)|U.S.]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1944 US National Championships – Men's singles|1R]]
| align="center" |A
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1946 US National Championships – Men's singles|3R]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1947 US National Championships – Men's singles|2R]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1948 US National Championships – Men's singles|3R]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1949 US National Championships – Men's singles|1R]]
| align="center" style="background:yellow;"|[[1950 US National Championships – Men's singles|SF]]
| align="center" style="background:yellow;"|[[1951 US National Championships – Men's singles|SF]]
| align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|[[1952 US National Championships – Men's singles|QF]]
| align="center" |A
| align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|[[1956 US National Championships – Men's singles|QF]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1957 U.S. National Championships – Men's singles|4R]]
| align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|[[1958 U.S. National Championships – Men's singles|QF]]
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|[[1959 US National Championships – Men's singles|3R]]
|}

==See also==
* [[List of Jews in sports#Tennis|List of select Jewish tennis players]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* {{Tennis Hall of Fame}}
* {{ATP}}
* {{ITF}}
* {{Davis Cup player}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070427143537/http://www.hofmag.com/content/category/17/135/215/ Hall of Fame Magazine bio]
* [http://www.ajhs.org/scholarship/chapters/chapter.cfm?documentID=266 American Jewish Historical Society bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301010441/http://www.ajhs.org/scholarship/chapters/chapter.cfm?documentID=266 |date=March 1, 2012 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070401124902/http://www.jewsinsports.org/profile.asp?sport=tennis&ID=43 Jews in Sports bio]
* [https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Savitt.html Jewish Virtual Library bio]

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