Grass Court Statistics Overview
John Clifton has found grass courts difficult, recording 11–19 across 30 matches (36.7%). The numbers point to a surface that has not consistently suited the game — a key area of opportunity on the calendar.
At Grand Slam level (Wimbledon): John Clifton has struggled at Grand Slam level on grass: 1–6 (14.3%) in 7 matches. The best-of-five format and elite fields make this the toughest benchmark on this surface.
By format on grass — best-of-five: 1–6 (14.3%); best-of-three: 10–13 (43.5%). Markedly stronger in three-set formats; the win rate drops noticeably in five-setters, which has direct implications for Grand Slam performance on grass.
Best season: 1969 — 4–3 (57.1%) from 7 matches. The best single-season display to date — a useful reference point as the grass record continues to develop.
John Clifton Grass Court Record by Year
| Year | W | L | Win% | Titles | Finals | SF | QF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 2 | 1 | 66.7% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | 0 | 4 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1971 | 1 | 4 | 20.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970 | 2 | 4 | 33.3% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1969 | 4 | 3 | 57.1% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1968 | 2 | 2 | 50.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Recent Grass Court Matches
| Date | Result | Opponent | Tournament | Round | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-06-03 | Win | D. Beasant | Manchester | R32 | 6-4 6-2 |
| 1974-06-03 | Win | Arlo Elkins | Manchester | R64 | 7-5 6-2 |
| 1974-06-03 | Loss | (255) Rayno Seegers | Manchester | R16 | 6-3 5-7 6-1 |
| 1973-06-25 | Loss | Jaime Pinto-Bravo | Wimbledon | R128 | 6-4 3-6 2-6 6-4 6-3 |
| 1972-07-10 | Loss | Andrew Pattison | Newport | R32 | 3-6 6-3 8-6 |
| 1972-06-26 | Loss | Torben Ulrich | Wimbledon | R128 | 6-2 3-0 RET |
| 1972-06-19 | Loss | Ilie Nastase | Eastbourne | R32 | 6-1 5-7 6-1 |
| 1972-06-12 | Loss | Bill Freer | Beckenham | R64 | 6-2 8-9 6-4 |
| 1971-09-01 | Loss | Allan Stone | US Open | R128 | 6-2 6-2 6-0 |
| 1971-07-05 | Loss | Bob Hewitt | Newport | R32 | 7-5 6-2 |
John Clifton
Matches — Grass