John Van Ryn (June 30, 1905 – August 7, 1999) was an American tennis champion of the 1930s. He was primarily known as the doubles partner of Wilmer Allison.

John Van Ryn
Full nameJohn William Van Ryn
Country (sports) United States
Born(1905-06-30)June 30, 1905
Newport News, Virginia, United States
DiedAugust 7, 1999(1999-08-07) (aged 94)
Palm Beach, Florida, United States
Turned pro1923 (amateur tour)
Retired1945
PlaysRight-handed (1-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HoF1963 (member page)
Singles
Career record135-70
Career titles10
Highest rankingNo. 8 (1929, A. Wallis Myers)[1]
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open2R (1933)
French OpenQF (1931)
WimbledonQF (1931)
US OpenQF (1929, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1937)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
French OpenW (1931)
WimbledonW (1929, 1930, 1931)
US OpenW (1931, 1935)
Mixed doubles
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Wimbledon4R (1936)

Van Ryn won the Seabright Invitational in New Jersey in 1928, defeating Wilmer Allison in the final, Allison retiring at 10-10 in the fifth set. That same year he won the Pennsylvania Lawn Tennis Championships at the Merion Cricket club defeating Frank Shields in the final in three straight sets.

In 1929 he defeated Bill Tilden in the final of the Brooklyn Heights Casino Indoor Invitation in three straight sets.

In 1930 Van Ryn won the Mason & Dixon Tournament at The Greenbrier resort defeating Gregory Mangin in the quarterfinal in three straight sets, Frank Hunter in the semifinal in five sets, and Allison in the final in four sets.

He won the United North and South tournament at the Pinehurst Resort in 1931 defeating Clifford Sutter in the final in three straight sets. That same season he won the Brooklyn Heights Casino Indoor Invitation defeating Frank Shields in the final in three straight sets.

Van Ryn won the Men's Doubles at Wimbledon three straight years (1929–31). He took two of the titles with Wilmer Allison and won the third with George Lott. In 1931, he was also successful with Lott at the French Championships. He became the first male player to win the French, British and American doubles titles when he won the 1931 U.S. National Championships with Allison.[2] Van Ryn had an excellent record when he competed for the United States in Davis Cup, winning 22 of 24 encounters in a period of eight years. He was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1963.[3]

On 22 October 1930 he married tennis player Midge Gladman.[4]

Grand Slam finals

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Doubles (6 titles, 5 runners-up)

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Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1929 Wimbledon Grass   Wilmer Allison   Ian Collins
  Colin Gregory
6–4, 5–7, 6–3, 10–12, 6–4
Win 1930 Wimbledon Grass   Wilmer Allison   John Doeg
  George Lott
6–3, 6–3, 6–2
Loss 1930 US National Championships Grass   Wilmer Allison   John Doeg
  George Lott
6–8, 3–6, 6–3, 15–13, 4–6
Win 1931 French Championships Clay   George Lott   Vernon Kirby
  Norman Farquharson
6–4, 6–3, 6–4
Win 1931 Wimbledon Grass   George Lott   Jacques Brugnon
  Henri Cochet
6–2, 10–8, 9–11, 3–6, 6–3
Win 1931 US National Championships Grass   Wilmer Allison   Berkeley Bell
  Gregory Mangin
6–4, 6–3, 6–2
Loss 1932 US National Championships Grass   Wilmer Allison   Keith Gledhill
  Ellsworth Vines
4–6, 3–6, 2–6
Loss 1934 US National Championships Grass   Wilmer Allison   George Lott
  Lester Stoefen
4–6, 7–9, 6–3, 4–6
Loss 1935 Wimbledon Grass   Wilmer Allison   Jack Crawford
  Adrian Quist
3–6, 7–5, 2–6, 7–5, 5–7
Win 1935 US National Championships Grass   Wilmer Allison   Don Budge
  Gene Mako
6–2, 6–3, 2–6, 3–6, 6–1
Loss 1936 US National Championships Grass   Wilmer Allison   Don Budge
  Gene Mako
4–6, 2–6, 4–6

References

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  1. ^ Béla Kehrling, ed. (October 10, 1929). "Wallis Meyers a világ legjobb tenniszezőiről" [Wallis Myers on the best players of the world] (PDF). Tennisz és Golf (in Hungarian). I (11). Budapest, Hungary: Bethlen Gábor irod. és Nyomdai Rt.: 262–263. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  2. ^ Irving Wright, ed. (1932). The Wright & Ditson Officially Adopted Lawn Tennis Guide for 1932. New York: American Sports Publishing. p. 13.
  3. ^ "Player Profile John Van Ryn". International Tennis Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  4. ^ "Outstanding Tennis Player To Marry". The Stanford Daily. No. 17. AP. October 23, 1930. p. 2.
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