Maskell, Dan (1908–1992)

British tennis broadcaster, player, and coach. He was the BBC's chief tennis commentator for 43 years, the ‘voice of Wimbledon’.

Pro and coach Born in Fulham, London, Maskell developed a love of tennis as a ball-boy at the nearby Queen's Club during his school holidays. He quickly progressed through the club's ranks, moving from professional ball-boy to teaching professional. By 1926 he had a five-year teaching contract at Queen's. Maskell became world professional champion 1927, and in 1929 he moved to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon as their first professional coach. During that time he coached the Davis Cup team to victory, in the great years of the tennis champion Fred Perry. By 1951 Maskell had won the British Professional Championships 16 times. Between 1947 and 1973 he was also the Lawn Tennis Association training manager, devoting himself to the transformation of its coaching and development work.

Broadcaster Maskell's broadcasting career began 1949 when he became a radio commentator at Wimbledon. Two years later he moved into television coverage of the tournament. It was not long before his distinguished style of commentary became as much a part of Wimbledon as its strawberries and cream. He retired from commentating after the 1991 Wimbledon Championships.