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John “Jack” Andrew Wright, tennis player, doctor, psychiatrist (born 11 November 1901 in Nelson, BC; died 21 September 1949 in Vancouver, BC). Jack Wright was named Canada’s top tennis player in the first half of the 20th century in a poll conducted by the Canadian Press. From 1920 to 1928, Wright played high-level intercollegiate tennis while attending McGill University. He won three Canadian men’s singles championships (1927, 1929, 1931) and four doubles titles (1923, 1925, 1929, 1931). He also won numerous provincial championships and doubles championships and played for Team Canada at the Davis Cup for 11 straight years (1923–33). An inaugural inductee of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, Wright was also inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame and the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame.
Early Life
Jack Wright was raised in Trail, BC, by parents Harry and Jane. As a child, he had significant success playing tennis in BC and the western United States. He was the boy’s tennis champion of the Inland Empire, the British Columbia junior tennis champion, the junior champion of the Northwest and the junior champion in the US states of Washington, Idaho and Oregon.
Technique
Jack Wright was noted for using an American-style twist serve, which puts topspin and slice on the ball and makes it break rightward after bouncing. From a mechanics standpoint, Wright was considered to have a fast forehand and backhand, with an especially accurate backhand. According to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, Wright was also considered a strong volleyer.
McGill University Playing Career
Jack Wright had an extensive career playing tennis at McGill University from 1920 to 1928. During this time, he graduated from medical school and became a doctor. He had exceptional success in singles and doubles with partner Willard Crocker, a native of Massachusetts.
Wright’s first success at McGill University came in men’s doubles with Crocker. They won the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU) title in 1920 over players from the University of Toronto. In 1924, Wright won his second Canadian university men’s doubles title with partner Dave Morrice.
While at McGill, Wright won four Dr. Charles Martin Cups, presented to the top men’s singles player at McGill University. The most memorable Martin Cup in this period came during the 1924–25 tennis season. Wright beat Crocker 6–1, 0–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 in front of a crowd of 500 people. McGill University considers this match one of the best tennis matches ever played in the city of Montreal.
During the 1924–25 CIAU tennis season, Wright won the Canadian intercollegiate singles title as well as a third Canadian university men’s doubles title. In 1925–26, Wright and Crocker represented McGill and joined players at the University of Toronto as they beat a tennis team from the British universities of Oxford and Cambridge. At the CIAU level, Wright won two more singles and doubles titles in 1926 and 1927 and also won singles titles again in 1927 and 1928.
Three-time Canadian Open champion
Jack Wright won the Canadian National Championships singles title (now known as the National Bank Open) in 1927, 1929 and 1931. Wright also won three Canadian Opens in doubles with Crocker, in 1923, 1925 and 1929. Wright also won in 1931 with doubles partner Marcel Rainville .
Other Tennis Accomplishments
Wright represented Canada at 11 straight Davis Cups from 1923 to 1933, playing for Canada in 40 matches. His most notable win came in 1927, when he beat Tacheichi Harada of Japan, who was ranked third in the world at the time.
Wright also enjoyed more success with Crocker. They won the 1923, 1925 and 1929 Canadian Indoor Doubles Championships, as well as provincial titles in Ontario and Quebec. Wright also won the 1927 and 1931 Western Canadian Singles Championship, the 1927 Canadian Indoor Doubles Championship and the 1931 Quebec Singles Championship.
Post-Tennis Career
After playing tennis at a high level and earning his medical degree, Wright became a psychiatrist. He was also an assistant superintendent at Vancouver General Hospital. During the 1930s, Wright excelled in squash and was the British Columbia Provincial Champion in 1934 and 1936. In 1938, Wright married Grace Anne Cromie and in 1940 their daughter Penelope was born.
Wright served in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps from 1940 to 1946. After his wartime service, he became an exceptional golfer. In 1949, he was hospitalized with Buerger’s disease in his right leg. He died of a heart attack later that year at the age of 47.
Honours
In 1950, a poll conducted by the Canadian Press named Jack Wright Canada’s most outstanding tennis player of the first half of the 20th century. In 1955, Wright was among the inaugural class of athletes inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1966, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1972, the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1991, and the McGill University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000.
