Alex Olmedo
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Luis Alejandro ("Alex") Rodríguez Olmedo (born March 24, 1936 in Arequipa) is a former tennis player from Peru, who was ranked as the number 1 amateur player in the world in 1959. Although born and raised in Peru, he graduated with a business degree from the University of Southern California (USC) in the United States. While at USC, he won the NCAA singles and doubles championships in 1956 and 1958. ( In 1957, USC was excluded from NCAA competition).
Olmedo represented the United States on the International Davis Cup team in 1958/1959, winning in both singles and doubles -- achieving 2 of the 3 points required to win the Davis Cup. He won the Wimbledon and Australian Open singles titles in 1959 as well as being a finalist in the US Open Championships in the same year losing to the same person he defeated in the Australian Open. At Wimbledon, he defeated Rod Laver in 3 sets in 71 minutes 6-4, 6-3, 6-1.
He was inducted into the international Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987. Alex Olmedo was the first Latin American to win the Wimbledon men's singles title.
[edit] Grand Slam singles finals
[edit] Wins (2)
Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
1959 | Australian Championships | Neale Fraser | 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 |
1959 | Wimbledon Championships | Rod Laver | 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 |
[edit] Runner-ups (1)
Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
1959 | U.S. Championships | Neale Fraser | 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 |