David Aubrey
Samaai
Male
South Africa
1927-12-19
Paarl, South Africa
He was known for his big forehand, fearsome serves, his court speed, his enviable back hand, balance, excellent anticipation and impeccable net play. He retained the South African singles championship for 21 years.
Samaai was also a prolific doubles player and held the South African doubles championship title, with partner Ossie Woodman, for many years.
Despite playing during the apartheid years, Samaai defied the odds stacked against him to play at Wimbledon, the French Open, the Swiss Open and the German Open. In 1999, the Paarl resident received the Presidential Sports Award for lifetime achievements in tennis.
He also became the vice-chairperson of the South African Tennis Association in 1999 and continued to serve his community for many years. On Heritage Day 2018, at the age of 91, he was inducted into the Sports Legends Hall of Fame - along with 21 of the Western Cape's sports stars.
Tennis South Africa (TSA) vice-president Riad Davids said Samaai would be forever remembered in the hearts of tennis fans across South Africa.
1949 - 1960
8
79
48
1960 - Tally Ho! (Open)
1958 - South African Non-European Championships (Amateur)
1954 - Shirley Park (Amateur)
1954 - Sutton Coldfield (Amateur)
1954 - Moseley (Amateur)
1951 - Worcestershire Championships (Amateur)
1951 - Matlock (Amateur)
1951 - Hoylake & West Kirby (Amateur)
Round 1
David Samaai 1 *
Basil Wheeler
6-4
8-6
6-3
Round 2
David Samaai 1 *
Richard N. Hawkes
6-2
1-6
6-1
7-5
Round 3
Lew Gerrard 1 *
David Samaai
6-3
7-5
6-3
Round 2
David Samaai 1 *
Robert Bruloot
6-1
7-5
Round 3
Jose Edson Mandarino 1 *
David Samaai
6-2
7-9
7-5
Round 1
David Samaai 1 *
Geoff C. Bluett
6-2
6-1
Round 2
David Samaai 1 *
Oliver Prenn
6-0
6-4
Round 3
David Samaai 1 *
John Roderick McDonald
6-2
6-2
Quarterfinals
Keith Diepraam 1 *
David Samaai
6-4
6-4
Round 2
David Samaai 1 *
Roy W. Dixon
4-6
8-6
6-0
Round 3
David Samaai 1 *
Barry R. Butcher
6-2
6-3
Quarterfinals
Brian Woolf 1 *
David Samaai
6-4
8-6
Round 1
David Samaai 1 *
C.R. Evans
6-3
6-3
Round 2
David Samaai 1 *
A.A. Pierce
6-1
6-2
Round 3
Basil Wheeler 1 *
David Samaai
4-6
8-6
6-2
Round 3
David Samaai 1 *
Barry W. Geraghty
6-1
7-5
Quarterfinals
David Samaai 1 *
Donald Ralph Oliver
6-3
9-7
Semifinals
David Samaai 1 *
Robin F. Sanders
?
Final
Tony Pickard 1 *
David Samaai
6-2
5-7
6-3
Round 3
David Samaai 1 *
Richard N. Hawkes
8-6
7-5
Quarterfinals
David Samaai 1 *
Charles R. (Charlie) Applewhaite
6-4
4-6
8-6
Semifinals
Roger Becker 1 *
David Samaai
6-2
6-3
Round 1
David Samaai 1 *
John C. Harrison
6-3
6-4
Quarterfinals
David Samaai 1 *
Jose Edson Mandarino
6-4
2-6
6-2
Semifinals
Keith Diepraam 1 *
David Samaai
6-3
6-8
9-7
Round 2
David Samaai 1 *
A.J. MacKintosh
6-2
6-2
Round 3
David Samaai 1 *
D.A. Bishop
6-0
6-1
Quarterfinals
David Samaai 1 *
H. Clive Bernstein
6-1
6-4
Semifinals
David Samaai 1 *
Donald Ralph Oliver
6-1
6-3
Final
David Samaai 1 *
Brian Woolf
6-4
6-3
Final
Albert W. (Bertie) Gaertner 1 *
David Samaai
6-1
2-6
6-4
Semifinals
Michael Sangster 1 *
David Samaai
6-3
9-7
Final
David Samaai 1 *
Basil Smith
6-3
6-0
6-3
Round 1
David Samaai 1 *
Rupert Huber
6-2
6-1
6-2
Round 2
Staffan Stockenberg 1 *
David Samaai
7-5
9-7
3-6
6-3
Round 2
David Samaai 1 *
Ignacy Tloczynski
2-6
7-5
3-6
6-1
6-2
Round 3
Geoff Paish 1 *
David Samaai
6-0
6-0
ret.
Round 2
Malcolm Fox 1 *
David Samaai
6-2
6-2
Semifinals
Bobby Wilson 1 *
David Samaai
6-4
1-6
7-5
Round 1
David Samaai 1 *
Johann Christoph Biederlack
6-0
6-3
Quarterfinals
Ernst Buchholz 1 *
David Samaai
6-0
3-6
6-2
Round 2
David Samaai 1 *
Oliver (Bo) Roddey
6-4
6-4
Round 3
Hugh W. Stewart 1 *
David Samaai
6-4
6-3
Round 3
David Samaai 1 *
Robin S. Condy
6-2
4-6
6-3
Quarterfinals
David Samaai 1 *
Gerald Davies (Gerry) Oakley
6-3
6-2
Semifinals
Bobby Wilson 1 *
David Samaai
6-1
6-3
Quarterfinals
David Samaai 1 *
Douglas H. Reid
8-6
6-0
Semifinals
David Samaai 1 *
Roger Becker
6-2
6-2
Final
David Samaai 1 *
Ignacy Tloczynski
2-6
6-3
6-4
Semifinals
David Samaai 1 *
G. Bruce Robinson
6-3
6-2
Final
David Samaai 1 *
Donald C. (Don) Hamilton Jr
7-5
3-6
6-3
Final
David Samaai 1 *
Gerald Davies (Gerry) Oakley
6-2
4-6
6-3
Final
John Horn 1 *
David Samaai
6-2
8-6
Final
Mike Davies 1 *
David Samaai
15-13
1-6
8-6
6-1
Round 1
David Samaai 1 *
Michel Lemasson
6-4
4-6
6-3
2-6
6-4
Round 2
David Samaai 1 *
Hans Redl
3-6
7-5
7-5
6-3
Round 3
Ken McGregor 1 *
David Samaai
6-1
6-4
6-1
Round 1
David Samaai 1 *
Benjamin (Benny/Beni) Berthet
6-1
6-3
6-3
Round 2
Armando Vieira 1 *
David Samaai
6-4
6-1
6-3
Round 2
Koon Hung Ip 1 *
David Samaai
6-2
6-1
Round 3
David Samaai 1 *
Bengt Axelsson
7-5
7-5
Quarterfinals
David Samaai 1 *
Gerald Davies (Gerry) Oakley
6-3
3-6
6-4
Semifinals
David Samaai 1 *
Don Candy
6-2
6-4
Final
Czeslaw Spychala 1 *
David Samaai
1-6
7-5
6-3
Round 2
George Godsell 1 *
David Samaai
6-1
11-9
Round 2
David Samaai 1 *
Billy Knight
6-2
6-0
Quarterfinals
Straight Clark 1 *
David Samaai
6-4
6-1
Round 2
David Samaai 1 *
E.M.G. Earl
6-4
6-1
Quarterfinals
David Samaai 1 *
Keith Lavarack
6-4
6-3
Semifinals
Don Tregonning 1 *
David Samaai
6-3
2-6
6-3
Final
David Samaai 1 *
Josip Palada
1-6
7-5
7-5
Final
David Samaai 1 *
Chew Bee Ong
6-2
9-7
Final
David Samaai 1 *
A. Reader
7-5
6-2
Round 1
Jack Harper 1 *
David Samaai
6-1
6-4
6-3
Round 2
Adly Shafei 1 *
David Samaai
6-4
6-4
Quarterfinals
David Samaai 1 *
Stephen G. F. Nimr
6-4
7-5
Semifinals
Geoff Paish 1 *
David Samaai
6-1
6-2
Final
Milan Matous 1 *
David Samaai
7-5
8-6
Final
Erik Bjerre 1 *
David Samaai
9-7
3-6
6-2