Jack Kramer
A dominant tennis champion whose powerful serve-and-volley game and relentless push for open competition reshaped the sport's professional landscape.
1921–2009 (age 88)·American tennis player·Birthday: August 1·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Jack Kramer was not just a champion; he was an architect of modern tennis. In the late 1940s, his game was a revolution—a relentless, attacking serve-and-volley style that overwhelmed opponents and won him Wimbledon and U.S. National titles. But his impact off the court was even greater. As the amateur era crumbled, Kramer became the sport's most forceful advocate for professionalism. He organized and promoted professional tours, barnstorming the world with a troupe of top players to prove that tennis could thrive as a paid spectacle. His vision and business acumen created the economic foundation that would eventually lead to the Open Era in 1968, where amateurs and professionals could compete together. Later, as a broadcaster and equipment innovator, his name became synonymous with the sport itself through the Wilson Jack Kramer Autograph racket, one of the best-selling rackets of all time. Kramer fought the establishment to ensure players could make a living, fundamentally changing tennis from a genteel pastime into a major professional sport.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Jack was born in 1921, placing them squarely in The Greatest 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 Jack Was Born
The biggest hits of 1921
#1 Movie
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Jack's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1921Born
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1926Started school
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1934Became a teenager
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Could drive
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1939Could vote
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Turned 21
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
1951Turned 30
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 40
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 50
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 60
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 70
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 80
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Died at 88
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
Key Achievements
- Won the Wimbledon singles title in 1947 and the U.S. National Championships (now the U.S. Open) in 1946 and 1947.
- Led the United States to victory in the Davis Cup in both 1946 and 1947 as the team's top player.
- Pioneered and promoted professional tennis tours in the 1950s and 60s, a crucial force in creating the Open Era.
- The Wilson Jack Kramer Autograph tennis racket, endorsed by him, became an iconic piece of sports equipment for decades.
Did You Know?
He was ranked world No. 1 amateur for most of the period from 1946 to 1953 by various contemporary sources.
Kramer served as the first executive director of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
He worked as a lead tennis commentator for CBS and NBC for over 20 years.
A back injury cut short his full-time playing career in his prime, forcing him to focus on promotion and commentary.
“The serve is the most important shot in tennis. It's the only one you have complete control over.”
