When looking at UCLA Men’s Tennis, it would be hard to find a more influential or dominant player than Mike Franks. Playing #1 singles all three years, Franks helped the Bruins win the 1956 NCAA team championship, was an NCAA singles semifinalist, and an NCAA doubles finalist. The two-time All-American lost just once in his collegiate singles career, earning the #2 ranking in 1956 behind Alex Olmedo.
Following his dominance at UCLA, Franks entered the pro ranks, reaching the third round at Wimbledon in 1957 and 1964, and the third round of the US Open in 1958. Franks made the 1956 US Davis Cup team and was the 1961 Maccabiah Games gold medalist in doubles with Dick Savitt. In his career, Franks was ranked as high as #3 in doubles in the US in 1956, 1957, and 1959 and as high as #7 in singles in 1958.
Franks defeated some of the game’s greatest including Arthur Ashe, Rod Laver, and Alex Olmedo. Because of his outstanding contributions to tennis, the ITA is excited to induct Mike Franks into the Men’s Collegiate Hall of Fame. The ceremony to celebrate Mike, and five other 2023 Men’s Hall of Fame Inductees, will take place at Dockside in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, May 21 at 6 pm.
About the ITA Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men’s and Women’s Halls of Fame aspire to preserve and celebrate the history and further the development of intercollegiate tennis through the collection of historic memorabilia and with inductions of notable players, coaches, and contributors.
About the ITA – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is the governing body and coaches association of college tennis, both an advocate and an authority for the sport and its members. Comprised of 1,260 colleges and universities, 20,000 student-athletes, 1,700 varsity programs, 3,000 coaches, and 1,350 college tennis officials, the ITA empowers college tennis coaches at all levels to deliver vibrant tennis programs that are vital to their college communities and transformational to their student-athletes. Follow the 2023-24 college tennis season on the ITA website and ITA social channels on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.