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Bunny: Henry Austin Few players have ever been more innovative, few have ever been so successful in Davis Cup play as Henry "Bunny" Austin, who, when joining the British side with the 'star' Fred Perry lead the British Isles to three successive Challenge Round victories between 1933 to 1936.
The Londoner was the first player to wear shorts at Wimbledon in 1932, raising a few eyebrows in front of Queen Mary. (Perry, Gottfried von Cramm, Don Budge and Bobby Riggs would follow his lead, while other players of the time stuck to trousers.) He could often be seen using the latest in racket technology such as the three-pronged Hazells "Streamline." In a time dominated by Bill Tilden and the Four Musketeers, then Perry, Austin was good enough to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals in ten of the 11 years he played.
Reaching the final twice in 1933 - losing to Ellsworth Vines 6-2, 6-2, 6-0 - and 1938, when he was swept aside by Budge on the way to his Grand Slam 6-1, 6-0, 6-3. Bunny remains the last British to get to a Wimbledon singles final. He reached the French Championship final in 1937, losing however to Germany's Henner Henkel, never winning a Grand Slam crown. He was however the second best player in the world in 1931 and 1938, establishing himself in the world's top ten between 1928-38. Charismatic, who inspired good sportsmanship on and off the court, Austin was also a runner-up in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon (1934) and the French Championships (1931). Bunny was part of the Millenium celebrations at Wimbledon, joining over 60 former champions. He died shortly afterwards. Grand Slam Record French Singles finalist 1937; Mixed finalist 1931 Wimbledon Singles finalist 1932, 1938; Mixed finalist Tournament Record (inc. Davis Cup) British Isles Davis Cup team member 1933-36,
winning side 1933-36
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