David Gray

David Gray became an influential figure in Tennis, not because he was an outstanding player, but because he applied his knowledge for the sport to make it better. David Gray was born on December 31, 1927 in Kingswinford, United Kingdom.

For two decades, David was known as a fine chronicler of the game of tennis. At the time, he worked as a correspondent for the exceptional English newspaper, “The Guardian”, in the years 1956-1976. When he departed from journalism to become an official of the ITF, many regretted his decision, but not for long. David Gray was a well-educated and witty man. Together with his strong grasp of tennis, its figures, matches, history and including its politics, he showed his capabilities in his literate daily reports. As the ITF Diplomatic General Secretary in 1976-1983, David served the game well without byline. David was also the Men’s International Professional Council Secretary.

David Gray was a graduate of Birmingham University. Throughout his early career, he worked hard to make his way up the “Guardian”. He did this through his work at the “Wolverhampton Express and Star”, “The Northern Daily Telegraph” and the “News Chronicle”. Before he was assigned in tennis, David worked remarkably as a political reporter and theater critic. As a journalist for tennis, he strongly advocated the abolition of phony amateurism and paved the way for the adoption of open tennis in 1968. David was also influential in the reorganization of the Davis Cup, returning the sport of tennis in the 1988 Olympics and in the broadening of the game’s base, expanding it as far as the African continent.

David died an untimely death on September 6, 1983 in London. Two years after his death, he was named into the Hall of Fame. “Shades of Gray”, a collection of his writings, was published in 1988 by Willow Books.