Sven Davidson

Sven Davidson was a Swedish former tennis player who holds the distinction of being the first Swede to win a major singles title. He won the French Championships in 1957 and reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 2.

In doubles, he won the Wimbledon Championships in 1958 and was a long-time member of the Swedish Davis Cup team.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Sven Viktor Davidson was born on July 13, 1928, in Borås, Sweden. He played right-handed with a one-handed backhand.

Davidson was a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. He lived in Arcadia, California, from the 1970s until he passed away from pneumonia on May 28, 2008.

Professional Career

Davidson was a prominent Swedish tennis player in the 1950s. He made history by becoming the first Swede to win a major singles title when he captured the French Championships (now the French Open) in 1957.

He reached the French Championships singles final in the two previous years, losing to Tony Trabert and Lew Hoad. He also reached the Wimbledon semifinals and the US Championships semifinals in 1957. He achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 2 in 1957.

In doubles, Davidson won the Wimbledon Championships in 1958 with his partner Ulf Schmidt.

He played for the Swedish Davis Cup team between 1950 and 1960. Davidson played his last major event at Wimbledon in 1959 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007.

Career Record

Singles

• Career record: 542–171 (76.2%)
• Career titles: 50
• Highest ranking: No. 2 (1957)

Best Grand Slam Singles Performances

• Australian Open – 3R (1955)
• French Open – W (1957)
• Wimbledon – SF (1957)
• US Open – SF (1957)

Doubles

Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances

• French Open – SF (1956)
• Wimbledon – W (1958)

Mixed Doubles

Best Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Performances

• Wimbledon – QF (1951)