John David WHEATLEY

Despite a long career that saw him playing beyond his 50th birthday. Patrick Wheatley had very little to show in terms of silverware for his longevity. Even so, he was one of Britain’s best players in the 1920s and between 1923-26 was selected for the Great Britain Davis Cup team eight times and was only twice on the losing side. He won 10 of 14 rubbers played. Sadly, his appearance at the 1924 Olympics was not as impressive. He took part in the singles, and after a bye in the first round lost to Japan’s Masanosuke Fukuda in straight sets. And in the doubles, with Algy Kingscote they lost in straight sets to the Spanish Alonso brothers, José María and Manuel.

In 1923 Wheatley reached all three finals at the Queen’s Club Covered Court Championships. He beat Ali Hassan Fyzee of India to win the singles in four sets after losing the first set 6-1. He then had to play another five setter in losing the doubles with Hamilton Price, later a Wimbledon referee, and he had to again go the distance in the mixed doubles but was once more runner-up, with Evelyn Colyer who, later in the year would become Wheatley’s fiancée. In all he played 12 sets of tennis in one day.