Abe Segal, South African tennis player, Died at 85

  Sports

Abe Segal was born on October 23, 1930, and died on April 4, 2016.

He was a South African tennis player.

In the mids of the 1950s and ’60s, Abe was the doubles partner of Gordon Forbes.

They were both considered one of the best doubles teams in the world.

Because of South Africa’s policy of Apartheid, Alex Metreveli and István Gulyás both refused to compete in the 1964 Wimbledon against Segal, a white South African.

Nonetheless, this helped the International Lawn Tennis Federation to pass a resolution prohibiting racial discrimination and dropping out of the tournament except due to “health or bereavement”.

Segal won the singles title at the Irish Open defeating Guy Jackson in the final in straight sets, in 1951.

Abe Segal played for the South African Davis Cup team in 19 ties in the years 1955, 57, 59, 61-65 and compiled a record of 24 wins and 14 losses.

When he retired from tennis, Segal took up painting.

Abe published a memoir titled Hey Big Boy, in 2008.

Abe Segal passed away at 85 yrs old, due to cancer.