Stan Smith is now best known for his iconic tennis shoe still worn by Hollywood A-listers and the Royal Family and rapped about by Jay-Z. But the American, now 67, was first famous here for winning Wimbledon in 1972 – and then refusing to defend his title 50 years ago when he joined a player boycott which changed pro tennis.
In May 1973, Yugoslav No.1 Niki Pilic was banned by the International Lawn Tennis Federation for missing a Davis Cup tie to play a lucrative doubles tournament in Montreal.
“We had just formed the ATP and one of the reasons was to allow us independent pros to be able to play and when and where we wanted in the world,” Smith recalled. “Before we were controlled by our federations. We felt that it wasn’t fair that Niki Pilic was not allowed to play because he wasn’t in good standing with the Yugoslavian Federation because he didn’t play in the Davis Cup for them.”
With Wimbledon caught in the political crossfire, 81 players – including 13 of the 16 seeds – joined the unprecedented industrial action and the field was filled with British amateur players
“Roger Taylor went back and forth and then didn’t join us,” said the Californian who now lives in South Carolina. “Mark Cox supported the boycott.
“For me, it was very difficult but I thought it was the right thing to do and it really helped bond the players in our new association.”
Smith, the top seed and defending champion, perhaps paid the biggest price as he watched Czech claycourter Jan Kodes beat Taylor in the semis before becoming the champion with the asterisk. “I was playing my best tennis and I felt confident so it was not fun watching the tournament,” admitted the 6 ft 4 giant in his day.
Kodes, like Smith the previous year, banked £5,000 as the singles champion (the ladies champions only £3,000). This year the winners will bank another £2.35m out of a total prize fund of £44.7m.
“It was critical for our future and was a tipping point for the men’s pro tour like the Original Nine (the nine founders of the WTA Tour in 1973) for the women’s tour,” he said.
Since then the 1971 US Open champion has enjoyed a second life of fame due to his adidas tennis shoe which has become classic streetwear while being refashioned by top designers. “It has been fun to spend some time with Stella (McCartney), Pharrel Williams, Paul Smith and others,” he said. “It has been great that folks like Jay-Z and many others have worn the shoe because they like it and not because they are getting paid to wear them.”
Smith, now a regular in the Wimbledon Royal Box, has presented the Duchess of Cambridge with mini pairs for her children.
“I gave her some shoes for George and Charlotte a couple of years ago and then for Louis last year,” said the former world No.1. “I didn’t mean that a photo would be taken but someone got it at the moment I gave it to her. She was very gracious.”
Smith, who still sports his sneakers with a suit, will be back this year enjoying the action with him naming Djokovic, Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka as his favourites. “I like Cam Norrie and his fighting spirit a lot,” he added. “He could beat anyone at Wimbledon if all the stars align.”
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