Bernard Mitton

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Bernard Mitton (9 November 1954 – 5 May 2017[1]) was a professional tennis player from South Africa.

Bernard Mitton
Country (sports)South Africa South Africa
ResidenceIrvine, California, U.S.
Born(1954-09-11)11 September 1954
Vryburg, South Africa
Died5 May 2017(2017-05-05) (aged 62)
Height1.87 m (6 ft 1+12 in)
Turned pro1973
Retired1984
PlaysRight-handed
Singles
Career record199–218
Career titles2
Highest rankingNo. 54 (15 December 1975)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open2R (1978, 1982)
French Open3R (1977)
Wimbledon4R (1973, 1976)
US Open4R (1980)
Doubles
Career record210–191
Career titles9
Highest rankingNo. 20 (25 June 1984)

Mitton reached his highest singles ranking of world No. 51 on 15 December 1975, and his highest doubles ranking of 20 on 25 June 1984. His career record in singles on the ATP Tour was 199–218, winning two titles - at Newport, Rhode Island in 1978 and San Jose, California in 1979. He was the runner-up in three other tournaments: San Jose (1978), Adelaide (1979) and Johannesburg (1981).

His doubles record was 210–191, and he won nine titles: Auckland (1979); Stowe, Vermont and Cologne (1980); Richmond WCT (1981); Johannesburg (1981); Tampa (1981); Columbus, Ohio (1982); Ferrara (1983); and La Quinta, California (1984). He was the runner-up in eight tournaments: Sarasota, Florida (1978); North Conway, New Hampshire (1978); Rotterdam (1979); Maui, Hawaii (1982); Ancona (1982); Toulouse (1983); Florence (1984); and Queen's Club (1984).

Mitton had career wins over John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, and Arthur Ashe in singles. He reached the fourth round at a Grand Slam tournament on three occasions. In his first Grand Slam tournament in 1973, he reached the fourth round of Wimbledon, then lost to Connors in straight sets. In 1976, he again reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, defeating former champion John Newcombe in the third round beforeg losing to Raúl Ramírez in four sets. He reached the fourth round at the 1980 US Open, defeating José Luis Clerc in the first round, then lost to Connors.

Mitton retired from the tour in 1984 due to injuries and joined the Newport Beach Tennis Club as director of tennis. From 2000 to 2003, he was at Rancho San Clemente. He taught until his death at the Racket Club of Irvine, California.[2]

Career finals

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Legend
Grand Slam
ATP Masters Series
ATP Tour
Challengers
Futures

Singles: 5 (2 titles, 3 runner-ups)

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Result W-L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 Apr 1978 San Jose, U.S. Carpet (i)   Arthur Ashe 7–6, 1–6, 2–6
Win 1–1 Jul 1978 Newport, U.S. Grass   John James 6–1, 3–6, 7–6
Win 2–1 Mar 1979 San José, Costa Rica Hard   Tom Gorman 6–4, 6–1, 6–3
Loss 2–2 Dec 1979 Adelaide, Australia Grass   Kim Warwick 6–7(3–7), 4–6
Loss 2–3 Apr 1981 Johannesburg, Australia Hard   Kevin Curren 4–6, 4–6

Doubles: 17 (9 titles, 8 runner-ups)

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Result W-L Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 Jan 1978 Sarasota, U.S. Carpet   Byron Bertram   Colin Dowdeswell
  Geoff Masters
6–2, 3–6, 2–6
Loss 0–2 Aug 1978 North Conway, U.S. Clay   Mike Fishbach   Robin Drysdale
  Van Winitsky
6–4, 6–7, 3–6
Win 1–2 Jan 1979 Auckland, New Zealand Hard   Kim Warwick   Andrew Jarrett
  Jonathan Smith
6–3, 2–6, 6–3
Loss 1–3 Apr 1979 Rotterdam, Netherlands Carpet (i)   Heinz Günthardt   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe
4–6, 4–6
Win 2–3 Aug 1980 Stowe, U.S. Hard   Bob Lutz   Ilie Năstase
  Ferdi Taygan
6–4, 6–3
Win 3–3 Oct 1980 Cologne, West Germany Carpet (i)   Andrew Pattison   Jan Kodeš
  Tomáš Šmíd
6–4, 6–1
Win 4–3 Feb 1981 Richmond, U.S. Hard   Tim Gullikson   Brian Gottfried
  Raúl Ramírez
3–6, 6–2, 6–3
Win 5–3 Mar 1981 Tampa, U.S. Hard   Butch Walts   David Carter
  Paul Kronk
6–3, 3–6, 6–1
Win 6–3 Apr 1981 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard   Ray Moore   Shlomo Glickstein
  David Schneider
7–5, 3–6, 6–1
Win 7–3 Aug 1981 Columbus, U.S. Hard   Tim Gullikson   Victor Amaya
  Hank Pfister
4–6, 6–1, 6–4
Loss 7–4 Oct 1982 Maui, U.S. Hard   Francisco González   Mike Cahill
  Eliot Teltscher
4–6, 4–6
Loss 7–5 Nov 1982 Ancona, Italy Carpet (i)   Tim Gullikson   Anders Järryd
  Hans Simonsson
6–4, 3–6, 6–7
Win 8–5 Nov 1983 Ferrara, Italy Carpet (i)   Butch Walts   Stanislav Birner
  Stefan Simonsson
7–6, 0–6, 6–3
Loss 8–6 Nov 1983 Toulouse, France Carpet (i)   Butch Walts   Heinz Günthardt
  Pavel Složil
7–5, 5–7, 4–6
Win 9–6 Feb 1984 La Quinta, U.S. Hard   Butch Walts   Scott Davis
  Ferdi Taygan
5–7, 6–3, 6–2
Loss 9–7 May 1984 Florence, Italy Clay   Butch Walts   Mark Dickson
  Chip Hooper
6–7, 6–4, 5–7
Loss 9–8 Jun 1984 Queen's Club, UK Grass   Butch Walts   Pat Cash
  Paul McNamee
4–6, 3–6

References

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  1. ^ "Remembering Bernie Mitton, Former Top 50 Player". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). 9 May 2017.
  2. ^ Ricky Buwalda (October 2015). "A welcome return home" (PDF). International Club South Africa. pp. 3–4.
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