Dennis Ralston
A brilliant American tennis talent who won major doubles titles and later shaped champions as a revered and insightful coach.
1942–2020 (age 78)·American tennis player·Birthday: July 27·The Silent Generation
Biography
Dennis Ralston possessed one of the most elegant and potent backhands of his generation, a weapon he used to climb to the top of amateur and professional tennis. As a young amateur, he was part of the U.S. Davis Cup dynasty of the 1960s. His partnership with Chuck McKinley yielded a Wimbledon doubles crown, showcasing his sharp net play and tactical intelligence. While a major singles title eluded him, he reached the Wimbledon final in 1966 and was ranked among the world's best. His deeper legacy, however, was forged after his playing days. As a coach, he became a sought-after strategist and mentor, guiding Chris Evert to multiple Grand Slam victories and later leading the U.S. Davis Cup team. His transition from player to teacher cemented his status as a lasting, influential figure in the sport's development.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Dennis was born in 1942, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dennis Was Born
The biggest hits of 1942
#1 Movie
Bambi
Best Picture
Mrs. Miniver
Dennis's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1942Born
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1947Started school
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1955Became a teenager
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1958Could drive
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1960Could vote
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Turned 21
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1972Turned 30
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 40
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 50
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 60
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 70
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2020Died at 78
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
Key Achievements
- Won the Wimbledon men's doubles title in 1960 with partner Chuck McKinley.
- Reached the men's singles final at Wimbledon in 1966, losing to Manuel Santana.
- Was a key member of the U.S. Davis Cup team that won the trophy four consecutive years (1960-1963).
- Coached Chris Evert for several years during the peak of her career in the 1970s.
Did You Know?
He was the last American man to reach the Wimbledon singles final for 18 years, until John McEnroe in 1980.
He played college tennis at the University of Southern California, winning NCAA titles.
He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987.
“A good backhand down the line is the answer to most questions.”
