Herbert Flam (November 7 1928 – November 25 1980) was an American amateur tennis player who achieved a world‑ranking of No. 4 in 1957, according to British tennis journalist Lance Tingay, and No. 5 in the same year as assessed by Australian player Adrian Quist.
Born in New York City to a Jewish family, Flam began competing on the amateur circuit in the mid‑1940s and turned professional in 1945. He was right‑handed with a one‑handed backhand and compiled a career singles record of 382–131, winning 20 titles.
Major tournament results
- U.S. National Championships – Finalist in 1950 (lost to Art Larsen).
- French Championships – Finalist in 1957 (lost to Sven Davidson).
- Wimbledon – Semifinalist in 1951 and 1952.
- Australian Championships – Semifinalist in 1956.
Flam was a consistent presence in the United States top‑ten rankings for a decade (1948‑1958), reaching a career‑high U.S. ranking of No. 2 in 1956 and 1957. He contributed to the United States Davis Cup team, which won the competition in 1956 and 1957.
Honours and legacy
- Inducted into the International Tennis Association Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame (1987).
- Inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (1990).
- Inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (1992).
- Inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame (2006).
- Inducted into the Southern California Tennis Association Hall of Fame (2017).
Flam’s playing style was noted for its speed and resourcefulness, and he is regarded as one of the most accomplished Jewish tennis players in American history. He passed away in New York City at the age of 52.