Sad News Clouds Tennis World As Veteran Doubles Legend Who Scripted Incredible History With Billie Jean King and Others Passes Away

Australian Doubles tennis legend, Owen Davidson, who was captivating on the mixed doubles court, passed on the 13th of May. Davidson was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 2011, and died aged 79, leaving behind a fair share of nostalgia for the tennis community.

The 6 foot 1 Davidson was as delicate as he was forceful. Having won three mixed double crowns before teaming up with the legendary Billie Jean King, in 1967. After hearing the saddening news regarding the Aussie doubles legend, the official website of ATP shared a heartwarming emotional tribute recalling the tennis player’s contribution to the sport.

Owen Davidson passes away at 79 

Davidson has won 11 major mixed doubles titles, 8 of them won alongside King. The Aussie posed a huge threat at the net and was only the third tennis player to win four mixed doubles majors and bone a calendar year Grand Slam in mixed doubles. After decades, Davidson still holds the record for the most mixed double titles won by a male tennis player at Wimbledon. Inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame, the retired Australian tennis player went on to coach the British Davis Cup team from 1967 to 1970. 

The former tennis player, who first teamed with Aussie Lesley Turner to win the Australian Championships, holds a number of mixed records that have stood the test of time and have not been surpassed by any other mixed champions. 

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The mixed doubles winner ultimately chose to give up the sport, though. Even outside of tennis, however, his connection with the 12-time Grand Slam champion, Billie Jean King, was truly remarkable. Earlier in the month of April, the American tennis star visited her close buddy and shared a message for him on social media. 

A month ago: Billie Jean King met her dear tennis buddy 

The American WTA legend recently shared a photo of her and her former tennis partner on Twitter. With that sweet picture, she wrote, “After all the basketball, it was so great to visit with one of our dearest friends and my mixed doubles partner, Owen Davidson.” 

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Billie Jean King also highlighted their incredible achievements together, mentioning proudly that they won the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon in 1967, 1971, 1973, and 1974. 

Behind every great player is a great coach or partner, and Owen Davidson was both.