General Rupert William
Ferdinands
Male
Ceylon
1936-04-27
, Ceylon


About

Rupert Ferdinands well known product of St. Thomas College, Mt. Lavinia and former Head Prefect of the School, a B.Sc. (Hons) graduate, Sri Lanka Davis Cup player and Australian qualified tennis coach (Level 3). Rupert first won the Sri Lanka National Junior Under 16 Singles Title as a 12 year old, and continued to win the title till 15 years old when he won the National Junior Under 19 Singles title whilst still eligible to play in the U16s, and dominated the U19 title for the next 4 years.

He was selected in Ceylon's first ever Davis Cup team as a 16 year old school boy, and thereafter played in almost every Davis Cup tie for Ceylon until migration to Australia in 1972. Ranked No. 1 in Ceylon in 1957, Rupert continued to be ranked No. 1 for over a decade. In 1957, 1963, 1969 and 1970, he won the Ceylon National Singles title, also winning 4 National Mens Double and 5 National Mixed Doubles titles! In 1957 and 1970, he won the National Triple Crown title at one and the same tournament. Notable wins in his career were against Japan's No. 3, India's A and Amritharaj and Premjit Lal, and also England's Michael Davies as a junior of the same age and who subsequently became England's No. 1 player, Davis Cup player and ITF stalwart. Had match point against Canada's No. 1 player Don Fontana, and set point against India's Ramanathan Krishnan and Ham Richardson who was ranked within the top 5 players in America at the time.



Media


Archive statistics 1952 - 1971
8
31
17


Tournament wins 1971 - Bandarawela (Open)
1970 - Ceylon Championships (Amateur)
1969 - Ceylon Championships (Amateur)
1968 - Colombo Otters Open (Open)
1966 - Government Services Tennis Club (Amateur)
1963 - Ceylon Championships (Amateur)
1957 - Ceylon Championships (Amateur)
1955 - Bandarawela (Open)


Tournaments Bandarawela - 1971 Ceylon Championships - 1970 Ceylon Championships - 1969 Queen's Club (Ceylon) - 1969 Colombo Otters Open - 1968 Ceylon Championships - 1966 Government Services Tennis Club - 1966 Ceylon Championships - 1964 Ceylon Championships - 1963 Inter-Port Competition - 1961 Ceylon Championships - 1958 Ceylon Championships - 1957 Asian Championships - 1957 All India Championships - 1955 Ceylon Championships - 1955 Bandarawela - 1955 Malaysian International Championships - 1955 West of England Championships - 1953 Northern Lawn Tennis Association Tournament - 1953 London Hard Courts - 1953 Glamorgan - 1953 Ceylon Championships - 1952

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