Alex Olmedo

Alex Olmedo was a Peruvian-American tennis player who was born on March 24, 1936, in Arequipa, Peru, and passed away on December 9, 2020. He had a successful career on the ATP tour, winning a total of 12 singles titles and 15 doubles titles.

Olmedo became a naturalized American citizen in 1960 and represented the United States in international tennis competitions. He reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 2 in 1959, a position he held for a total of 8 weeks.

Olmedo had his most successful year in 1959 when he won the Australian Open and Wimbledon singles titles, as well as the US Open doubles title with his partner, Ham Richardson. He was known for his powerful serve and his aggressive style of play.

Off the court, Olmedo was known for his charismatic personality and his love for music and dance. He retired from professional tennis in 1963 and became a successful coach, working with players such as Andre Agassi and Jim Courier.

In recognition of his contributions to the sport, Olmedo was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987.