Tall and well-built, Patterson played a strong
serve-and-volley game. At Wimbledon 1919, Patterson beat 41-year-old
Norman Brookes, who was defending champion (Brookes' 1914 title was the last held before World War 1) in the Challenge Round. At Wimbledon 1922, the Challenge Round was abolished and Patterson won the title (the first to be held at the current site at Church Road) beating
Randolph Lycett in the final. In 1927, Patterson was five championship points down in the Australian singles final against
Jack Hawkes, but won in five sets. Patterson was known as the "Human Catapult" for his powerful serve that many of the top players had trouble returning. 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. Patterson played Davis Cup in 1920, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1928 and finally as captain in 1946. He was a player ahead of his time, playing with a steel racquet strung with wire in 1925. He was inducted into the
Sport Australia Home of Fame in December 1986. This was followed by induction into the
International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1989 and the
Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in August 1997. ==Personal life==