As the second-oldest tournament in the United States, the SAP Open has a long, distinctive history. Many of tennis’ greatest players have won this event. For many years, it was known as the Pacific Coast Championships. When tennis’ Open era dawned in 1968, the tournament’s growth accelerated, and it attracted a number of notable sponsors, including Redwood Bank, Fireman’s Fund Insurance, Transamerica, Volvo, Sybase, Siebel Systems and SAP.

Over the last 30 years, many players who made their first big splash at this event as teenagers rapidly went on to win a Grand Slam. Within a year of reaching the finals or winning here, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, Michael Chang all went on to win Grand Slam titles.

Here are profiles of a few notable champions.

Bill Johnston (1894 -1946)
The 1920’s are often referred to as sport’s Golden Age – a time when such athletes as Babe Ruth, Red Grange and Jack Dempsey turned sports from a sidelight into a main cultural attraction.

Tennis’ king during that time was “Big Bill” Tilden, a player still considered one of the greatest ever. But Tilden only became big by dint of his ability to overcome the challenges of a tenacious San Francisco native, “Little Bill” Johnston. Indeed, in much the same way that a gritty Michael Chang would force Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi to improve their games, the 5′ 8″ Johnston was a classy champion who will likely be remembered even more for being a catalyst.

Raised on the public parks of Golden Gate Park, Johnston mastered a Western forehand that would resurface five decades after his glory days in the hands of Agassi, Jim Courier and others. Johnston’s forehand and all-court prowess brought him an astounding ten Pacific Coast Championships, one Wimbledon (’23) and two U.S. titles (’15 and ’19). The latter victory, a straight-sets triumph over Tilden, motivated Tilden to spend an entire winter strictly improving his backhand – a course of action that soon made him the world’s top player. For much of the ’20s, Johnston was number two, a formidable motivator and a Davis Cup stalwart. All of these attributes made him one of tennis’ most-beloved players.

Don Budge (1915 – 2000)
As a boy growing up in Oakland, Don Budge played a wide range of sports. Baseball was his favorite, particularly when he had a chance to show off his left-handed swing. Years later, meeting another Bay Area sports legend, Joe DiMaggio, he would learn that the Yankee Clipper had also enjoyed tennis.

Don’s older brother, Lloyd, played tennis. When young Don won the first tournament he ever entered, he was hooked. His southpaw batting style smoothly transitioned into one of the most powerful backhands in tennis history, a compact, unruffled motion. Working with his coach, the legendary Tom Stow, Budge built an all-court pressing game that made him the Andre Agassi of his day – a player with a one-two combo that would leave opponents helpless. By 1937, he’d arrived at the summit, winning Wimbledon, Forest Hills and helping the U.S. reclaim the Davis Cup for the first time in more than a decade. That same year he also won his third straight Pacific Coast Championship.

But those achievements were only prologue. Arriving at the Australian Championships in 1938, Budge commenced an extraordinary achievement, becoming the first player in tennis history – and only the second male to date – to earn all four Grand Slam singles titles in a calendar year. In an era of long-white flannels and country-club elegance, Budge ruled with class and style.

Jack Kramer (1921 – 2009)
Jack Kramer accomplished so much in so many areas – crusader for Open tennis, pro tour director, tournament director, club owner, Wilson Sporting Goods icon – that it’s tempting to forget how effective he was as a player. A rangy athlete with a hearty work ethic and keen mind, Kramer became a strategic innovator. At a time when players like Budge, Ellsworth Vines and Fred Perry played primarily from the baseline, Kramer honed a serve-volley attack that was as revolutionary to tennis as the fast break was to basketball. Smothering opponents with pinpoint serves and crisp volleys, Kramer emerged from World War II as a dominant champion. In 1946 and ’47, he lost but one match, his titles including one Wimbledon, two U.S., two Pacific Coast titles and the top dog role on two U.S. Davis Cup- winning squads.

As was the custom of the time, Kramer turned pro, commencing a worldwide barnstorming tour versus Bobby Riggs that he won handily. Future Kramer tours saw him vanquish such rough customers as Pancho Gonzales, Pancho Segura and Frank Sedgman. During all these years, Kramer also ran the business side of the pro game. Whether playing over ice skating rinks, on cow dung or any other surface, Kramer was indefatigable in his quest to make tennis a big-time sport. It was a long struggle. Twenty years after he’d turned pro, tennis at last went Open. Kramer’s tenacity had at last opened the floodgates for today’s multi-million dollar circuit. In 1972, Kramer – declining to accept a salary – became the ATP’s first executive director. No man in tennis history has done more on and off the court.

Tony Trabert (1930 – )
An All-American crew cut, a clean, hard-hitting game and the logical approach of a mathematician made Tony Trabert such a comprehensive champion his brilliance was virtually overshadowed by his dominance. In winning Wimbledon (’55) and two U.S. titles (’53, ’55), the tall Cincinnatian failed to drop a single set. Added to his resume were two French championships (’54-’55), making him the last American to win at Roland Garros until Michael Chang in 1989.

He’d begun playing tennis at age six. Thoroughly dedicating himself to the game, he became a strong, complete player, comfortable playing points from the baseline or at the net. His one-handed backhand was lethal, virtually always a hard, topspin drive. Under the tutelage of legendary doubles star Bill Talbert, he learned even more about mastering the angles and subtleties of tactics. Moreover, Trabert was willing to pay the price, putting in hours of time on the practice court and on conditioning. It made him a big-match player of the highest- caliber, as evidenced by his starring role on the 1954 U.S. Davis Cup-winning squad. After winning 17 tournaments in 1955, including his third straight Pacific Coast title, he was head and shoulders better than any amateur, and became a touring professional for eight years, eventually playing a role in running the tour as well.

Once retired, he brought trademark rigor and precision to a variety of duties. Whether starting his own tennis camp, captaining the U.S. Davis Cup team or stepping into the broadcast booth, Trabert maintained his steadfast commitment to thorough preparation and clean, straight talk.