IN MEMORIAM: HALL OF FAMER BRIAN TOBIN

Written by Joel Drucker, ITHF Historian-at-Large

Hall of Famer Brian Tobin, who led Tennis Australia during a dynamic phase of growth, passed away on Monday, April 22 at the age of 93. Tobin also served two terms as president of the International Tennis Federation. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2003 for his transformative leadership in tennis administration.

Tobin served as president of Tennis Australia from 1977 – 1989, a pivotal time for the distinguished tennis nation. Tennis’ Open Era had begun in 1968, triggering tremendous economic growth and popularity. Globally, tournaments were racing to embrace the new challenges and opportunities, but Australia was seeing a decrease in cachet and in participation from top players.

Tobin, however, was relentless in pushing the Australian Open to the next level. He and his team took a major step forward, breaking ground on a new $94 million (AUD), state-of-the-art venue at Melbourne Park that opened in time for the 1988 Australian Open. Among the many innovations: the first Grand Slam event to feature a court with a retractable roof. Tobin also developed a significant partnership with the Victorian government, which has been instrumental in the tournament’s development over the years.

Devotion to his native land had long been the bedrock of Tobin’s life. He was born on December 5, 1930 in Perth, Australia. By his late teens, Tobin was an excellent tennis player, in 1949 making his Grand Slam debut at the Australian Championships. Throughout the ‘50s and ‘60s, Tobin competed at numerous Grand Slam events and was ranked among the top-10 Australians from 1956-62.

Seamlessly sliding into work outside the lines, Tobin, in 1964, became captain of Australia’s Federation Cup squad – the premier women’s international team competition now known as the Billie Jean King Cup. The highlight of Tobin’s four-year stint were the team’s the back-to-back runs in ’64 and ’65.

Tobin subsequently became more involved with tennis at a global level. From 1972-81, he served as Australia’s delegate to the International Tennis Federation (ITF), including lengthy terms as the ITF’s representative on the Men’s International Professional Tennis Council and the Women’s Professional Tennis Council.

Beginning in 1991, Tobin commenced a nine-year term as president of the ITF, leading the organization during a decade of tremendous progress. This included significant enhancements of each Grand Slam venues, as well as the continued growth of such events as the Olympics, Davis Cup, Federation Cup, and Hopman Cup. Over the course of his ITF tenure, Tobin travelled to 104 nations.

The creation of the first formalized ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour occurred during Tobin’s years at the helm. This major achievement was launched in 1992, with a circuit of 11 international tournaments. Since that inception, Wheelchair Tennis has grown immensely and thrives today around the globe and at all four of tennis’ Grand Slam events.

But as you would expect, Tobin’s heart remained on native grounds. He relished time at the Hopman Cup, the annual international dual-gender team competition played in Tobin’s native Perth. Seeing the Olympics come to Sydney in 2000 was also a highlight. And naturally, Tobin took particular pride in laying the groundwork for the Australian Open to flourish and thrive as one of tennis’ four most important events. Fitting indeed that at one point Roger Federer dubbed the tournament “the happy Slam,” a tribute to the work Tobin and his team began decades ago.

Tobin is survived by his wife Carmen, and his sons Geoff and Alan.