Vic Seixas Obituary

Elias Victor Seixas Jr., a towering figure in the world of tennis and a celebrated Wimbledon champion, passed away on July 5, 2024, at the remarkable age of 100. Known for his incredible longevity and numerous accolades, Seixas was an emblem of dedication and excellence in tennis.

Early Life and Background

Born on August 30, 1923, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Vic Seixas was the son of Anna Victoria (née Moon) and Elias Victor Seixas. His mother was of Irish descent, and his father was born in the Dominican Republic with Dutch-Jewish ancestry. Although often reported as Jewish, Seixas was raised Presbyterian. He attended the William Penn Charter School, where he emerged as a tennis star, setting the stage for his illustrious career.

Seixas’s education continued at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill after serving as a pilot in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. At UNC, he excelled in tennis, boasting a 63-3 record, and won the Southern Conference singles championship in 1948 and the doubles championship in 1949. He graduated in 1949, earning the prestigious Patterson Medal for his athletic achievements.

Tennis Career

Vic Seixas’s career in tennis was nothing short of extraordinary. He was ranked in the top ten in the United States 13 times from 1942 to 1956 and achieved the world No. 1 amateur ranking in 1954 according to Harry Hopman. In 1951, Seixas was ranked No. 4 amateur in the world and No. 1 in the U.S., ahead of his contemporary, Dick Savitt. By 1953, he was ranked No. 3 in the world by Lance Tingay.

Seixas’s major singles victories include winning Wimbledon in 1953 and the U.S. Championships (now the U.S. Open) in 1954. He also secured multiple Grand Slam titles in doubles and mixed doubles, winning the Australian Open, French Open (twice), and U.S. Open (twice) in doubles, and the French Open, Wimbledon (four times), and U.S. Open (three times) in mixed doubles.

Davis Cup Achievements

Seixas made significant contributions to the U.S. Davis Cup team, helping them reach seven consecutive finals from 1951 to 1957. The pinnacle of his Davis Cup career came in 1954 when he and Tony Trabert led the United States to victory against Australia, with Seixas winning a crucial singles match and the doubles match with Trabert.

Post-Retirement and Legacy

After retiring from professional tennis, Seixas worked as a stockbroker before transitioning to roles as a tennis director at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia and a Hilton Hotel in New Orleans. In 1989, he moved to Mill Valley, California, where he established a tennis program at the Harbor Point Racquet and Beach Club, now known as The Club at Harbor Point.

Despite knee issues that eventually prevented him from playing tennis, Seixas continued to contribute to the tennis community as a bartender at Harbor Point until his final retirement.

Halls of Fame and Honors

Seixas’s contributions to tennis were recognized through numerous hall of fame inductions. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1971, the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, and the Southern Conference Hall of Fame in 2011.

As the oldest living Grand Slam singles champion and the oldest living member of the Tennis Hall of Fame, Seixas’s legacy endured well beyond his competitive years. His centennial birthday on August 30, 2023, was a milestone that highlighted his incredible journey and contributions to the sport.