Andres Gimeno

Andres Gimeno was the man who made Spain an international tennis powerhouse. He was a highly skilled amateur when, in 1960s, the International Lawn Tennis Federation voted not to professionalize. He switched sides and began playing as a pro on the breakaway circuit – earning a whopping $16,000 a year, plus expenses. The tennis world reformed in 1968 with the start of the Open Era, and in 1972, at the age of 34, Gimeno won the French Open. He remains the oldest ever first-time tennis major winner, in either the male or female game. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2009.

Andres Gimeno
3 August 1937 – 9 October 2019
Died aged 82 (unique hit)