Robert Wrenn

Born on September 20, 1873 in Highland Park, Illinois, Wrenn is a four-time U.S. Singles champ. He died November 12, 1925 leaving behind another mark at the tennis sports world. Robert Dunffield Wrenn won the last of the tennis titles in 1897 before working with the Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War. Bill Larned was one of Bob's comrades who were also a future champ. Wrenn contracted yellow fever while serving at the campaign and never recovered his ill-free form. He was known to have devilish lobs and defensive star features on the court. His certified pace and swiftness challenged his opponents. Wrenn was the first left-hander to win the U.S. Singles and won against Fred Hovey in the 1893 title and stayed on track when he then defeated Manliffe Goodbody in the 1894 challenge round. Hovey and Wrenn again had a re-match in the year 1895 and Hovey made superb extra effort to beat Wrenn but Wrenn was able to bounce back. Wrenn's war-work stopped him from playing in 1898. He teamed-up with his younger brother, George Wrenn, as the Davis Cup doubles pair in 1903, where they lost to the British Dohertys, Laurie and Reggie.

That time, they were the only blood-related team to play for the U.S., and make their way in the U.S. Top Ten. For Bob's last full-thrust for the U.S. Singles title he was overrun by George in a 1990 quarterfinal, the only recorded brotherly match in the Championships. Wrenn came from a respected Chicago family of never-ending lines of athletes. He also became a football, baseball, and tennis player at Harvard. After leaving the latter, he then became a stockbroker in New York.