# 1953 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles

In the 1953 Wimbledon Championships – Gentlemen's Singles, second seed Vic Seixas defeated the unseeded Kurt Nielsen in the final, 9–7, 6–3, 6–4, to take the gentlemen's singles tennis title. Frank Sedgman was the defending champion, but was ineligible to compete after turning professional.

## Progress of the competition

It was the first of two men's singles competitions at Wimbledon in which an unseeded Nielsen had progressed to the final. On the way, he defeated both the number one seed Ken Rosewall and a favourite with the Wimbledon crowd, fourth-seeded Jaroslav Drobný, the latter in straight sets.
Drobný's earlier third-round match against Budge Patty, came to be regarded as a classic in Wimbledon history. The match lasted for 93 games, and held the Wimbledon record for the longest match until 1969.

## Seeds

    01. Ken Rosewall (quarterfinals)
    02. Vic Seixas (champion)
    03. Mervyn Rose (semifinals)
    04. Jaroslav Drobný (semifinals)
    05. Gardnar Mulloy (fourth round)
    06. Lew Hoad (quarterfinals)
    07. Art Larsen (quarterfinals)
    08. Enrique Morea (second round)
Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.

## Draw
### Key

* Q = Qualifier
* WC = Wild card
* LL = Lucky loser
* Alt = Alternate
* SE = Special exempt
* PR = Protected ranking
* ITF = ITF entry
* JE = Junior exempt
* w/o = Walkover
* r = Retired
* d = Defaulted
* SR = Special ranking

### Finals

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 2 | Vic Seixas | 5 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Lew Hoad | 7 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Lew Hoad | 7 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 2 | Vic Seixas | 6 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 3 | Mervyn Rose | 4 | 12 | 11 | 4 | 3 | | | | | |
| 3 | Mervyn Rose | 6 | 6 | 16 | | | 3 | Mervyn Rose | 4 | 12 | 11 | 4 | 3 | | | | | |
| 7 | Art Larsen | 3 | 3 | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Art Larsen | 3 | 3 | 14 | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Vic Seixas | 9 | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Kurt Nielsen | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| | Sven Davidson | 5 | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Kurt Nielsen | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | Jaroslav Drobný | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Jaroslav Drobný | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | 4 | Jaroslav Drobný | 4 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Kurt Nielsen | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Kurt Nielsen | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | Kurt Nielsen | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Ken Rosewall | 5 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Top half
#### Section 1

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 2 | Vic Seixas | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bob Lee | 3 | 0 | 1 | | | 2 | V Seixas | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Władysław Skonecki | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | W Skonecki | 2 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Robin Kipping | 2 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | 2 | V Seixas | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Liep-Tjiauw Tan | 6 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | P Washer | 3 | 1 | 3 | | | | | |
| | Doug Scharenguivel | 4 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | | L-T Tan | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jim McArdle | 0 | 3 | 4 | | | | P Washer | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Philippe Washer | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | V Seixas | 10 | 7 | 6 |
| | George Worthington | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | G Worthington | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| | Armando Vieira | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | | | G Worthington | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jørgen Ulrich | 3 | 5 | 3 | | | | L Bergelin | 6 | 0 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lennart Bergelin | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | G Worthington | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | |
| | Zoltán Katona | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | F Ampon | 2 | 2 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Boebi van Meegeren | 2 | 8 | 4 | 1 | | | Z Katona | 4 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Felicisimo Ampon | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | F Ampon | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gérard Pilet | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 2

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 6 | Lew Hoad | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Russell Seymour | 4 | 2 | 5 | | | 6 | L Hoad | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Clive Bernstein | 5 | 3 | 3 | | | | N Nath | 0 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Narendra Nath | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | 6 | L Hoad | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Gianni Clerici | 6 | 8 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | J Barrett | 2 | 2 | 1 | | | | | |
| Q | Stefán László | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | Q | S László | 1 | 3 | 8 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | John Barrett | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | J Barrett | 6 | 6 | 6 | 14 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ron Reeve | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | L Hoad | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Douglas Snart | 0 | 6 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | H Stewart | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Q | Sima Nikolić | 6 | 8 | 4 | 6 | | Q | S Nikolić | 4 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Tony Mottram | 4 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 | | H Stewart | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hugh Stewart | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | H Stewart | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Bernard Crouch | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | H Redl | 3 | 1 | 0 | | | | | |
| | Edmund David | 3 | 3 | 3 | | | | B Crouch | 2 | 3 | 7 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Peter Hare | 0 | 3 | 6 | | | | H Redl | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hans Redl | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 3

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 3 | Mervyn Rose | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Ramanathan Krishnan | 6 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 3 | M Rose | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Colin Hannam | 3 | 5 | 6 | 3 | | N Lewis | 3 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Tim Lewis | 6 | 7 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | 3 | M Rose | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Jacques Peten | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | J-C Molinari | 4 | 0 | 4 | | | | | |
| Q | Robin Condy | 1 | 2 | 2 | | | J Peten | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jean-Claude Molinari | 8 | 6 | 8 | | | J-C Molinari | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Geoff Ward | 6 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | M Rose | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| | John Horn | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | J Brichant | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| | Gheorghe Sturdza | 0 | 2 | 0 | | | J Horn | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Czesław Spychała | 7 | 1 | 2 | | | D Black | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Don Black | 9 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | D Black | 5 | 8 | 3 | | | | | |
| | Roger Becker | 6 | 7 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | J Brichant | 7 | 10 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Jacques Brichant | 3 | 9 | 6 | 6 | | J Brichant | 8 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Claude Lister | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | C Lister | 6 | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Horst Hermann | 4 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 4

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 7 | Art Larsen | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Antal Jancsó | 2 | 4 | 6 | | 7 | A Larsen | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Don Butler | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | D Butler | 4 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Carlos Ferrer | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | 7 | A Larsen | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | |
| Q | Ralph Oliver | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | J Palada | 1 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | |
| Q | Jeffrey Michelmore | 6 | 8 | 8 | | Q | J Michelmore | 1 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Josip Palada | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | J Palada | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Billy Knight | 2 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | A Larsen | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| | Johann Kupferburger | 5 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | T Johansson | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| | Jean-Noël Grinda | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | J-N Grinda | 6 | 1 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Philippe Chatrier | 0 | 3 | 0 | | | T Johansson | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Torsten Johansson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | T Johansson | 7 | 6 | 2 | 7 | | | | | |
| Q | Laurie Proctor | 1 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | T Ulrich | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | | | | | |
| | Torben Ulrich | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | T Ulrich | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Guy Jackson | 4 | 4 | 5 | | | G Merlo | 4 | 6 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Giuseppe Merlo | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Bottom half
#### Section 5

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Bobby Wilson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Cliff Hovell | 2 | 4 | 2 | | | R Wilson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | René Buser | 0 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | René Buser | 4 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hans van Dalsum | 6 | 4 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | R Wilson | 3 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 2 | | | | |
| | Darrell Shaw | 2 | 9 | 5 | | | | | | | | S Davidson | 6 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Sven Davidson | 6 | 11 | 7 | | | S Davidson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Grant Golden | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | G Golden | 3 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Vladimir Petrović | 1 | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | S Davidson | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Clive Wilderspin | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | I Ayre | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| | Ernst Buchholz | 4 | 2 | 4 | | | C Wilderspin | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Eric Bulmer | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | E Bulmer | 2 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Vivian Gotto | 2 | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | C Wilderspin | 5 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | |
| | József Asbóth | 6 | 7 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | I Ayre | 7 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | |
| | Ian Ayre | 4 | 9 | 6 | 6 | | I Ayre | 6 | 6 | 11 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ian McDonald | 4 | 6 | 0 | | 8 | E Morea | 8 | 4 | 9 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Enrique Morea | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 6

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Rex Hartwig | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| LL | Wayne Van Voorhees | 3 | 2 | 1 | | | R Hartwig | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Geoffrey Paish | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | G Paish | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ian Vermaak | 4 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | R Hartwig | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Ignacy Tłoczyński | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | I Tłoczyński | 1 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Eduardo Argon | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | | I Tłoczyński | 6 | 4 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Tony Starte | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | | A Starte | 4 | 6 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Søren Højberg | 2 | 3 | 7 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | R Hartwig | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| | Jacques Thomas | 2 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | J Drobný | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| | Budge Patty | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | J Patty | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Headley Baxter | 1 | 8 | 3 | 3 | | E Tsai | 5 | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Edwin Tsai | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | J Patty | 6 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 10 | | | | | |
| | Howard Walton | 2 | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | 4 | J Drobný | 8 | 16 | 3 | 8 | 12 | | | | | |
| | Tut Bartzen | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | B Bartzen | 4 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bernard Destremau | 0 | 1 | 2 | | 4 | J Drobný | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Jaroslav Drobný | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 7

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Barry Green | 3 | 2 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kurt Nielsen | 6 | 6 | 4 | 7 | | K Nielsen | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Keith Malcolm | 7 | 6 | 1 | 6 | | R Malcolm | 1 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Joe Hackett | 5 | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | K Nielsen | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Bryan Woodroffe | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | B Woodroffe | 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | |
| | Gerry Oakley | 2 | 2 | 3 | | | B Woodroffe | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fausto Gardini | 5 | 3 | 1 | | | I Sikorszki | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | István Sikorszki | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | K Nielsen | 10 | 6 | 7 |
| | Staffan Stockenberg | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | G Mulloy | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| | Matthew Mohtadi | 2 | 4 | 2 | | | S Stockenberg | 7 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | John Ager | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | J Ager | 5 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gil de Kermadec | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | S Stockenberg | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 | | | | | |
| | Gino Mezzi | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 5 | G Mulloy | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 9 | | | | | |
| | Freddie Huber | 6 | 7 | 4 | 8 | | A Huber | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Malcolm Fox | 4 | 9 | 2 | | 5 | G Mulloy | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Gardnar Mulloy | 6 | 11 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 8

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Jack Arkinstall | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Naresh Kumar | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | | J Arkinstall | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fred Dehnert | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | A Dehnert | 1 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Ilija Panajotović | 3 | 4 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | J Arkinstall | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Cyril Kemp | 6 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 2 | | | | | | | | | R Deyro | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | Tony Pickard | 3 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | A Pickard | 2 | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Raymundo Deyro | 8 | 6 | 8 | | | | R Deyro | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Henry Billington | 6 | 0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | J Arkinstall | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| | Jaime Bartrolí | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | K Rosewall | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Ivan Devroe | 3 | 2 | 2 | | | | J Bartrolí | 6 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alexander Wellford | 4 | 6 | 2 | 3 | | Q | I Warwick | 8 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Ivor Warwick | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Q | I Warwick | 3 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Robert Abdesselam | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | K Rosewall | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Malcolm Gracie | 3 | 4 | 4 | | | | R Abdesselam | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mike Davies | 2 | 4 | 2 | | | 1 | K Rosewall | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Ken Rosewall | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |