Mark Cox, a tennis life well lived

Long before Andy Murray ended a 77-year drought for a man from the United Kingdom to win Wimbledon in 2013, a soft-spoken, red-headed lad from Leicester had to carry the weight and wait of a nation.

Mark Cox certainly didn't share the lofty expectations that Murray or Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski and even John Lloyd had to meet, but he did tease the tennis-adoring country by reaching The Championships round of 16 three times between 1968 and 1979.

"There was definitely pressure because the British public wanted you to win, so it was certainly very positive," said Cox, 74, after advancing to the round of 16 at the Super-Seniors World Individual 70s Championships at the USTA National Campus on Monday.

"But if you put your first serve into the net you got a [collective groan] from the fans and I just wanted to yell, I've still got another one'."

Cox certainly had nothing to be ashamed of by being dispatched by then No. 1 Jimmy Connors in 1979 or legendary Aussie Rod Laver in 1968, who was en route to his second Grand Slam sweep, but first as a true professional in the Open Era.

Cox recalls that 2-6 1-6 1-6 thrashing by the then No. 1 Connors.

"Connors gave me a lesson on Centre Court, but unfortunately I didn't learn from it," laughed Cox.

Two months earlier that year, Cox became the first amateur to beat a pro when he downed two-time US Open champion, a then 40-year-old Pancho Gonzalez in the British Hard Court Championships.

The prime opportunity that Cox let slip through his hands at Wimbledon had to be against Billy Martin in 1977, an American journeyman in the midst of a career-best quarterfinal run in a major.

Cox did gain some vengeance against Laver by bouncing him in the round of 16 in the 1971 Australian Open to reach his last of three career-best quarterfinal finishes in majors.

"I wasn't very popular that day," Cox smirked.

While the 10 Super-Senior age divisions (65 to 85) are tinged with former participants in Grand Slam tournaments, very few reached the heights of Cox. He was No. 13 in 1977 and won 10 singles titles during a solid career that bridged the amateur and Open Era.

Cox had wins over Hall of Famers such as Laver, Connors, Bjorn Borg, John Newcombe, Ken Rosewall, Tony Roche, Lew Hoad, Ivan Lendl and Roy Emerson.

"Very few former top pros would put it on the line like Mark does," said countryman and longtime friend Richard Tutt, the seventh seed in the 70s who also advanced to the fourth round. "He's the most humble guy ever. He's a superstar and no one would even know it."

For Cox, it's never been about fame, fortune or gold medals to hang in his London den, but about competition and the love of the sport that spurs him to prove his mettle against the world's top seniors.

"I was brought up in an era which basically we didn't play for money; we played for the pleasure of playing," Cox said. "For us British people, the two biggest things in your life was to play for your country in Davis Cup and play at Wimbledon. Those were the jewels in the crown. If you did that, you've had a fulfilled life."

Cox can certainly check off both of those boxes as he was a Davis Cup stalwart for Great Britain and played doubles when they reached the finals of Davis Cup against the U.S. in 1978.

"That was the biggest moment during my career," Cox said. "We played some young whippersnapper who I thought was Scottish, [John McEnroe]. He was amazing. His first serve was an ace against John Lloyd."

After retiring in 1981, Cox had a long stint as a tennis colour commentator for the BBC, but is now semi-retired while staying involved in several tennis organisations.

He plays about four senior events a year, including Cervia, Italy, where he finished runner-up this year. After a few testy moments questioning his opponent's line calls on Monday, Cox, the 20th seed, relocated his line-drive ground strokes, dug out of a 3-5 hole before winning 7-5, 1 -0 when Richard Johnson, the 15th seed from St. Louis and 2015 70s World Champion, retired due to fatigue on a blisteringly hot, humid afternoon.

"Tennis is a game for life," said Cox, with Suzie, his bride of nearly 10 years by his side. "It's a miracle to see all these people at this age running around, partly enjoying themselves, challenging themselves, extending their life and having a damn good time.

"Tennis has been my whole life. Some people are blessed to find something they enjoy, do reasonably well and have a reasonable living in it. If you're lucky enough to do that, you're extraordinarily fortunate."

That's another box Cox can check off.