Inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in August 1997; inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1989.
Tall and well-built, Gerald Patterson played a strong serve-and-volley game that won him three major singles. Patterson was known as the 'Human Catapult' for his powerful serve that many of the top players had trouble returning.
Nephew of Dame Nellie Melba, who was Patterson's No.1 fan, he was somewhat ahead of his time, using a steel racquet strung with wire in 1925.
He also enjoyed great success representing Australia in Davis Cup and amassed a 32-14 win-loss record (singles 21-10, doubles 11-4) and was part of the winning team in 1919.