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)

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

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

Legend
Grand Slam
ATP Masters Series
ATP Tour
Challengers
Futures

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

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

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

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

References

  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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