For many years Louise was women’s representative to the Player’s Association while her husband Ross was at one time the President of the Ontario Tennis Federation. Louise Brown passed away at age 81 in November 2003.
David Brown, left, with mother Louise and Canadian golfing great Al Balding, share a special moment. Photo courtesy of David Brown
David Brown was around five years of age when the family purchased their Courtland Crescent home in 1952. He grew up in a tennis atmosphere and it was only natural that he would have more than a passing interest in the sport.
David showed promise as a tennis player when he won his first tournament playing at Westacres. Six years later, he won the first of his Canadian Junior Championship titles in Doubles.
Where David really got hooked on competitive tennis was earlier at the Toronto Telegram Tournament, a popular event in the 1950’s. He won the Regional Finals at Kew Gardens in Toronto and the seed was planted.
From Kew Gardens, David went on to loftier heights and to the University of Indiana where, exposed to top-notch coaching, his talents really started to blossom. It was at university that David met his future wife, Jody, also a tennis player.
In four years at the University of Indiana, David rose to become captain of the tennis team and earned the coveted “l” letter, the only Canadian ever to do so. He also reached the finals of the NCAA Men’s Singles in Minnesota in 1969, once again, the only Canadian to claim that distinction. He was ranked both Indiana’s top singles and doubles player.
David was chosen for the Canadian Davis Cup Team several times while at the University of Indiana. However, his commitment to the tennis program prevented him from playing for his country as often as he would have liked.
The memorable moment of his competitive tennis career came at a Davis Cup event in which he did manage to compete. It was in Bogota, the high-altitude capital of Columbia where visitors have to battle not only thin-air atmosphere, but the highly partisan crowds not above throwing coins at opposing players in an attempt to distract (and often completely destroy) their concentration. “You cannot imagine the feeling of standing there and having the Canadian National Anthem being played,” he was quoted.
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