Christopher "Buster" Mottram (born 25 April 1955 in Kingston upon Thames) is an English former tennis player and UK number 1 who achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 15 in February 1983.
Country (sports) | United Kingdom |
---|---|
Residence | Kingston upon Thames, England |
Born | Kingston upon Thames, England | 25 April 1955
Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
Singles | |
Career record | 285–171 |
Career titles | 2 |
Highest ranking | No. 15 (7 February 1983) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
French Open | 4R (1977) |
Wimbledon | 4R (1982) |
US Open | 4R (1980) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 111–118 |
Career titles | 5 |
Highest ranking | No. 164 (3 January 1983) |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Wimbledon | 3R (1981, 1983) |
US Open | 3R (1973) |
Mottram represented Great Britain in the Davis Cup eight times, scoring 31 wins and 10 losses.
Early life
editMottram is the son of Tony Mottram and Joy Gannon, leading British tennis players in the 1950s.[1]
His sister Linda Mottram is also a successful tennis player.[2]
Career finals
editSingles (2 titles, 5 runner-ups)
editResult | W-L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1–0 | Apr 1975 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | Tom Okker | 6–4, 6–2 |
Win | 2–0 | Apr 1976 | Palma, Majorca | Clay | Jun Kuki | 7–5, 6–3, 6–3 |
Loss | 2–1 | Feb 1977 | Dayton, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Jeff Borowiak | 3–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 2–2 | Apr 1977 | Murcia, Spain | Clay | José Higueras | 4–6, 0–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 2–3 | Dec 1977 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | Guillermo Vilas | 6–7(4–7), 3–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 2–4 | May 1978 | Munich, West Germany | Clay | Guillermo Vilas | 1–6, 3–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 2–5 | Jul 1982 | Hilversum, Netherlands | Clay | Balázs Taróczy | 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–3), 3–6, 6–7(5–7) |
Doubles (5 titles, 6 runner-ups)
editResult | W-L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1–0 | Apr 1974 | Charlotte, U.S. | Unknown | Raúl Ramírez | Owen Davidson John Newcombe |
6–3, 1–6, 6–3 |
Win | 2–0 | Jul 1977 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Clay | Roger Taylor | Colin Dowdeswell Chris Kachel |
7–6, 6–4 |
Win | 3–0 | Oct 1977 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet | Mark Cox | John Feaver John James |
7–5, 6–4, 6–3 |
Loss | 3–1 | Oct 1978 | Tokyo, Japan | Clay | Željko Franulović | Ross Case Geoff Masters |
2–6, 6–4, 1–6 |
Loss | 3–2 | Nov 1979 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | Mike Cahill | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan |
6–1, 1–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 3–3 | Jul 1980 | Hilversum, Netherlands | Clay | Tony Giammalva | Tom Okker Balázs Taróczy |
5–7, 3–6, 6–7 |
Win | 4–3 | Mar 1981 | Stuttgart, West Germany | Carpet | Nick Saviano | Craig Edwards Eddie Edwards |
3–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
Loss | 4–4 | Apr 1981 | Bournemouth, UK | Clay | Tomáš Šmíd | Ricardo Cano Víctor Pecci |
4–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
Loss | 4–5 | Feb 1982 | Genoa, Italy | Carpet | Mike Cahill | Pavel Složil Tomáš Šmíd |
7–6, 5–7, 3–6 |
Win | 5–5 | Apr 1982 | Bournemouth, UK | Clay | Paul McNamee | Henri Leconte Ilie Năstase |
3–6, 7–6, 6–3 |
Loss | 5–6 | Oct 1982 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Carpet (i) | Kevin Curren | Fritz Buehning Tomáš Šmíd |
6–4, 3–6, 0–6 |
Politics
editWhile Mottram was still playing professionally, he became known for his right-wing views. He expressed support for the National Front, supported the policies of Enoch Powell,[3] and applied unsuccessfully for the Conservative parliamentary candidacy in several constituencies.[3] He subsequently formed a songwriting partnership with the black entertainer Kenny Lynch, writing the song "Average Man".[4]
In November 2008, Mottram was expelled from the UK Independence Party (UKIP) after attempting to broker an electoral pact with the British National Party. UKIP leader Nigel Farage said there were "no circumstances whatsoever" in which UKIP would do a deal with the BNP, declaring his party to be non-racist.[5]
References
edit- ^ Kevin Jefferys, British Tennis (EB Partnership, 2019), p. 116
- ^ Wendy Cooper, Tom Smith, Human Potential: The Limits and Beyond (1981), p. 86
- ^ a b "Tennis: Whatever happened to Buster Mottram?" The Independent, 18 May 2002
- ^ "Kenny Lynch – Half the Day's Gone and We Haven't Earne'd a Penny (1983, Vinyl)". Discogs.
- ^ "UKIP rejects BNP electoral offer". BBC News. 3 November 2008.