Bridgend-born Gerald Battrick won junior titles at 1965 Roland Garros and those of Great Britain and Belgium. Educated on a scholarship at Millfield School, Somerset, he was a member of the Welsh senior team aged 14. His local rival was JPR Williams, who went on to become a fullback for Wales in the 1970s and is considered one of rugby�s greatest players. Battrick�s career overlapped those of Mark Cox and Roger Taylor, so he had to content himself as a long-time British No. 3. In 1968 he won the Wimbledon plate competition and British Under-21 Championships, which won the fiery Battrick a place in Great Britain�s Davis Cup squad against France. He did not make his debut until the following year, by which time he has beaten Cox, Tom Okker, Arthur Ashe and Stan Smith. Battrick played two Davis Cup ties in 1971-72, amassing a 2-3 record (1-2 in singles). In 1971 he reached the Wimbledon third round (l. to Newcombe) and captured the British Hard Court Championships in Bournemouth (d. Franulovic), become one of only five players to win the title since 1945. Caught up in the controversy of "amateurism", he turned professional in 1972, joining World Championship Tennis run by Lamar Hunt until 1975. He was also allowed to return to Wimbledon in 1974, after a three-year absence. He won two tour-level singles titles at 1971-Hilversum (d. Case) and Bournemouth, with one runner-up finish at 1973-Tanglewood (d. Fillol Sr). He attained a career-high No. 53 singles ranking (15 October 1973). As a doubles player, he reached three Grand Slam quarter-finals at 1968 Roland Garros (w/Hutchins), 1970 Roland Garros (w/David Lloyd) and 1975 Wimbledon (w/Stilwell). He won one tour-level doubles title at 1973-Columbus (w/Stilwell) and was a finalist at four other tournaments � 1968-Kitzbuhel (w/Wilson), 1971-Caracas (w/Curtis), 1973-London and Chicago (both w/Stilwell). In 1976 he retired and moved to Hamburg, where he played and coached. He set up his own coaching academy in Wales and later played senior events at Wimbledon. His father was the Medical Officer for Bridgend, Glamorgan, and his mother was a member of the Welsh Council. His wife, Carolyn Camp, was a Surrey county player. The couple had one son and a daughter. Battrick died aged 51, on 26 November 1998. Bio: James Buddell � September 2009