Bill Johnston was born November 2 , 1894 , in San Francisco , the son of Robert Johnston , an electrical plant mechanic and Margaret Burns , of Irish origin . Bill started to play tennis in early 1906 , aged eleven , on the public asphalt courts in Golden Gate Park . After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake the schools were closed and he spent much of his spare time practicing on the tennis courts . He achieved his first tournament victory at the 1910 Bay Counties junior singles competition
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Bill Johnston (tennis)