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Don Candy
Don Candy
Don Candy
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Don Candy (31 March 1929 – 14 June 2020[1]) was an Australian tennis player who was mainly successful in doubles.[2]

Key Information

At the Grand Slam tournaments he reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Championships singles event in 1952 and 1959. In the singles event at the French Championships he reached the eighth-finals in 1956 and 1960.[3][4][5]

In June 1951 Candy won the singles title at the Kent Championships, a grass court tournament held in Beckenham, defeating Gardnar Mulloy in three sets.[6] The next year, 1952, he again reached the Kent final but on this occasion lost in three sets to Ham Richardson.[7] In July 1951 he won the Midlands counties men's singles title after a straight sets victory in the final against Naresh Kumar from India.[8]

In 1956 he won the Men's Doubles title at the French Championships. With his American partner Bob Perry he won against compatriots Ashley Cooper and Lew Hoad in three straight sets.[9]

After his active career he moved to Baltimore in 1967 where he coached the World Team Tennis Baltimore Banners and later became the coach of Pam Shriver.[10] In 2022 Shriver disclosed that she had been in a multi-year relationship with Candy, that started when she was a young player.[11][12]

Grand Slam finals

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Doubles (1 title, 6 runners-up)

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Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1951 US National Championships Grass Australia Mervyn Rose Australia Ken McGregor
Australia Frank Sedgman		 8–10, 4–6, 6–4, 5–7
Loss 1952 Australian Championships Grass Australia Mervyn Rose Australia Ken McGregor
Australia Frank Sedgman		 4–6, 5–7, 3–6
Loss 1953 Australian Championships Grass Australia Mervyn Rose Australia Lew Hoad
Australia Ken Rosewall		 11–9, 4–6, 8–10, 4–6
Loss 1956 Australian Championships Grass Australia Mervyn Rose Australia Lew Hoad
Australia Ken Rosewall		 8–10, 11–13, 4–6
Winner 1956 French Championships Clay United States Bob Perry Australia Ashley Cooper
Australia Lew Hoad		 7–5, 6–3, 6–3
Loss 1957 French Championships Clay Australia Mervyn Rose Australia Mal Anderson
Australia Ashley Cooper		 3–6, 0–6, 3–6
Loss 1959 Australian Championships Grass Australia Bob Howe Australia Rod Laver
Australia Robert Mark		 7–9, 4–6, 2–6

References

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Don Candy

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Donald (31 1929 – 14 2020) was an Australian player and coach known for his doubles success and mentorship of top players. As a player, he won the 1956 French Championships men's doubles title partnering Bob Perry and reached five Grand Slam doubles finals altogether, while also securing one singles title and the 1947 Australian junior . In coaching, worked with from age nine for over a decade, contributing to her world No. 3 singles ranking, 21 Grand Slam doubles titles, and status as the youngest U.S. Open finalist in 1978; he also coached and teams like the Banners. However, in 2022, Shriver disclosed having been in an inappropriate and damaging relationship with beginning when she was 17 and he was significantly older.

Early Life

Birth and Introduction to Tennis

Donald William Candy was born on 31 March 1929 in , . Candy displayed early promise in during his schooling at in , where his talent emerged prominently and he was considered the institution's most accomplished player. This foundational exposure at school laid the groundwork for his competitive development in the sport. By age 17, Candy had advanced to national prominence, capturing the Australian National Junior Championship and establishing himself as a prodigy. This achievement marked his formal entry into high-level junior competition, transitioning from local school play to broader Australian circuits.

Playing Career

Junior Successes

Don Candy demonstrated early promise in tennis as a junior, winning the Australian National Junior Championship at the age of 17. This victory marked him as a prodigy in Australian circles, highlighting his potential before transitioning to senior-level competition. Specific details on the tournament format or opponents from this event remain limited in available records, but the title underscored his foundational skills in the sport during the post-World War II era.

Professional Doubles Achievements

Candy partnered primarily with Australians Mervyn Rose and Robert Howe, as well as American , in major doubles competitions during the . His most significant achievement came at the 1956 French Championships, where he and defeated compatriots Ashley Cooper and in the final, 7–5, 6–4, 6–4, securing Candy's sole Grand Slam men's doubles title. Candy reached the finals of multiple Grand Slam men's doubles events, accumulating appearances that underscored his prowess in the discipline despite only one victory. In 1951 at the U.S. Championships, he and Rose fell to Kenneth McGregor and , 10–8, 6–4, 4–6, 7–5. The pair returned to the 1952 U.S. Championships final, again as runners-up. At the 1953 Australian Championships, Candy and Rose lost to and , 6–4, 7–5, 6–3. Beyond Grand Slams, Candy claimed the 1956 German International Championships doubles title with Hoad. Overall, sources describe him as reaching five Grand Slam doubles finals in total, with his agile style contributing to consistent contention in the pre-Open Era professional circuit.

Grand Slam Participation

Candy's Grand Slam singles career featured consistent but unremarkable results, with his deepest runs being quarterfinal appearances at the Australian Championships in 1952 and 1959. He advanced to the fourth round at the French Championships in both 1956 and 1960, and at Wimbledon in 1951, 1957, and 1960. His lone third-round finish in singles came at the 1951 US Championships. In doubles, Candy excelled as a specialist, reaching five Grand Slam finals across four tournaments and securing one title. Partnered with compatriot Mervyn Rose, he finished as runner-up at the Championships in 1952, 1953, and 1956. The pair also contended for the 1954 US Championships title, falling to John Bromwich and 10–8, 6–4, 4–6, 7–5. Candy claimed his only Grand Slam doubles crown at the 1956 French Championships alongside American Robert Perry, defeating Australians Ashley Cooper and 7–5, 6–3, 6–3.

Coaching Career

Transition to Coaching

Following the conclusion of his competitive playing career in the late 1950s, after a decade on the international circuit highlighted by a 1956 French Championships men's doubles title, Don Candy transitioned to coaching by relocating to , , in 1967. He secured a teaching professional position at the Suburban Country Club through classified advertisements in World Tennis magazine, marking his entry into professional instruction. Candy also worked as a pro at the Orchard Indoor Tennis Club, focusing on club members and developing instructional programs in the U.S. scene. This shift leveraged Candy's experience as a doubles specialist and junior champion, adapting his expertise to teaching amid the growing popularity of in America during the open era's early years. By 1974, his reputation led to appointment as head coach of the Baltimore Banners, the inaugural World Team Tennis franchise, where he managed a mixed-gender team in the league's debut season. These roles established Candy's foundation in coaching, emphasizing technical doubles skills and competitive preparation drawn from his own Grand Slam-level play.

Partnership with Pam Shriver

Don Candy began coaching in 1971 when she was nine years old, initially focusing on foundational skills in , where Candy had relocated from in 1967 to coach local players and teams like the Banners in World Team Tennis. Under Candy's guidance, Shriver's training emphasized technical precision, endurance, and tactical awareness, transforming her style into a competitive edge suited for doubles dominance. The partnership yielded immediate results in Shriver's junior and early professional career, culminating in her reaching the final as a 16-year-old , where she lost to in straight sets; this runner-up finish marked a breakthrough, propelling her into the professional ranks. Candy accompanied Shriver as her primary coach and chaperone during her transition to the tour, helping her secure a career-high singles ranking of world No. 3 by 1985. Candy's influence peaked in doubles, where he coached Shriver to the world No. 1 ranking and contributed to 21 Grand Slam titles between 1980 and 1991, including multiple Wimbledon, US Open, , and victories, primarily partnering with . Shriver amassed 112 WTA doubles titles overall during this era, with Candy's strategic input on positioning and net play credited for her consistency in high-stakes matches. The collaboration formally ended around 1986 when Shriver was 24, though Candy continued as an advisor until her retirement in 1997.

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Don Candy was married to Elaine, an American whom he accompanied on annual trips to before the couple relocated there permanently from , , where they had resided during his U.S.-based coaching tenure. The marriage produced at least one child, daughter , who lives in , . Candy's relationship with Elaine was marked by infidelity during his coaching of ; Shriver publicly stated in 2022 that she and Candy, then 50, began a "long and inappropriate " when she was 17, which involved him "cheating on his wife" and left her with guilt toward Elaine. Shriver described the as damaging but expressed conflicted feelings about Candy, acknowledging both its traumatic elements and positive aspects of his coaching influence. No public details indicate the led to , as Candy remained identified as a husband in tributes following his 2020 death.

Death

Don Candy died on 14 June 2020 in his hometown of , , at the age of 91, following a period of illness. expressed condolences on behalf of the tennis community, describing him as a significant figure whose loss was deeply felt. The also mourned his passing, highlighting his status as an iconic coach. No specific details on the nature of his illness were publicly disclosed in announcements from these organizations.

Controversies and Legacy

Relationship with Pam Shriver

began working with Australian coach Don Candy at the age of nine, a professional association that lasted into her professional career. In 2022, Shriver publicly disclosed that the relationship evolved into an "inappropriate and damaging" dynamic starting when she was 17 years old in 1979, with Candy then aged 50. She described the five-year involvement as emotionally abusive, though she specified it did not involve , emphasizing the power imbalance inherent in coach-player dynamics. Shriver's revelation, shared in interviews with outlets including and The Telegraph, stemmed from her desire to address persistent abusive coaching relationships in , which she claimed remain "alarmingly common." She expressed conflicted feelings about , who died in June 2020 at age 91, acknowledging his coaching contributions to her 21 Grand Slam doubles titles while critiquing the personal toll of their entanglement. No contemporaneous public allegations against emerged during their partnership, which spanned Shriver's rise to world No. 3 in singles and her doubles dominance from 1979 to 1997. The disclosure fueled broader discussions on ethical boundaries in coaching, with Shriver advocating for WTA policies prohibiting romantic or sexual relationships between coaches and players under 23, irrespective of . Critics, including Shriver herself, noted the scandal's underreporting due to the insular nature of the , where such dynamics often evade amid performance pressures. Her account, drawn from personal reflection rather than legal proceedings, underscores vulnerabilities in junior-to-professional transitions but lacks independent corroboration beyond Shriver's testimony.

Broader Implications for Tennis Coaching

Pam Shriver's 2022 public disclosure of her emotionally abusive relationship with Candy, which began when she was 17 and he was 50, illuminated longstanding risks in coaching involving power imbalances, isolation of young players, and blurred professional boundaries. Shriver emphasized that while no occurred, the dynamic caused significant guilt and performance disruptions, ending only after the 1984 season when she transitioned to other coaches at age 22. This revelation, absent formal safeguards at the time, highlighted how intensive, long-term coaching arrangements—such as Candy's oversight of Shriver from age 8—could foster dependency without adequate oversight, a pattern Shriver described as "alarmingly common" across sports. The case catalyzed Shriver's advocacy for systemic reforms, including mandatory for coaches, clear prohibitions on romantic or sexual relationships with players under 18 (and ideally all players), and enhanced parental or institutional involvement in junior development. She criticized governing bodies like the WTA for insufficient progress by 2023, urging rejection of any normalization of such relationships and better support for survivors, drawing parallels to broader abuse scandals in the . Shriver's efforts have contributed to heightened awareness, prompting discussions on grooming prevention and the need for independent reporting channels, though implementation remains uneven. Beyond individual cases, Candy's legacy via Shriver underscores tensions between traditional models—emphasizing unwavering and immersion—and modern imperatives for , influencing debates on whether academies and tours should mandate background checks, age-appropriate pairings, and psychological support to mitigate exploitation risks. Shriver maintains "conflicted feelings" about Candy's role in her 21 Grand Slam doubles titles but prioritizes prevention, arguing that unaddressed dynamics continue to endanger vulnerable athletes.

References

  1. https://www.atptour.com/en/players/don-candy/c182/overview
  2. https://www.wtatennis.com/news/1697406/in-memoriam-don-candy
  3. https://pac.edu.au/community/princes-men-gallery/don-candy/
  4. https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/61166511
  5. https://tennisthreads.net/obituary-don-candy/
  6. https://www.tennis.com.au/sa/news/2020/06/29/vale-don-candy
  7. https://www.baltimoresun.com/2020/07/01/don-candy-grand-slam-doubles-champion-in-tennis-who-later-shaped-pam-shrivers-game-as-a-coach-dies/
  8. https://www.usopen.org/en_US/visit/history/mdchamps.html
  9. https://ausopen.com/history/honour-roll/mens-doubles
  10. https://www.db4tennis.com/players/male/donald-william-candy
  11. https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/mervyn-rose
  12. https://www.espn.com/tennis/s/2002/0116/1312685.html
  13. https://www.tennisabstract.com/blog/2022/06/09/the-tennis-128-no-76-pam-shriver/
  14. https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/pam-shriver-breaks-silence-inappropriate-relationship-coach-don-candy
  15. https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/33773447/hall-fame-tennis-player-pam-shriver-says-was-inappropriate-damaging-relationship-coach-was-17
  16. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/apr/20/pam-shriver-had-traumatic-affair-with-50-year-old-coach-when-she-was-17
  17. https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12040/12594527/pam-shriver-i-was-in-an-inappropriate-relationship-with-my-former-coach-when-i-was-17-years-old
  18. https://www.si.com/tennis/2022/04/20/pam-shriver-details-inappropriate-relationship-with-coach-don-candy
  19. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2022/04/20/pam-shriver-exclusive-inappropriate-relationship-50-year-old/
  20. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/17/sports/tennis/pam-shriver-wta-sex-abuse.html
  21. https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/australian-open/tennis-players-must-stop-having-sex-with-their-coaches/news-story/f06ea08f97f3074c076365ab0f15bb34
  22. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/tennis/acceptance-of-coaches-sleeping-with-tennis-players-must-end-shriver-20230122-p5cejw.html
  23. https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/hall-fame-tennis-player-pam-shriver-inappropriate-damaging/story?id=84195660
  24. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/tennis/2022/04/20/pam-shriver-relationship-with-coach-tennis-don-candy/7380077001/
  25. https://people.com/sports/tennis-hall-of-famer-pam-shriver-alleges-inappropriate-damaging-relationship-coach-don-candy/
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