Remembering Paul Cranis: Eastern Tennis Hall of Famer with Deep Florida Ties

Paul Cranis, the well-known tennis professional with roots in New York and a long tenure in Florida, has passed away at age 91.

Cranis was known to his students as “Tall Paul” and as the 6-foot-4 lefty who had much success on the USTA senior tennis circuit. He won numerous gold and silver balls during his career and played and ranked nationally in nearly every age division from the 35s to the 70s. Most recently, he helped his tennis team win the championship in its division in Palm Beach County.

Cranis started his tennis career in Brooklyn as a teenager in the 1950s, training with Phil Rubell, father of Don Rubell, in the parks of Brooklyn. He quickly earned a reputation as a big serve-and-volleyer with a tough left-handed serve.

Photo courtesy of Peter Cranis.

After attending George Washington University on a tennis scholarship, Cranis served in the U.S. Army. He later traveled the world competing at the highest levels, including appearances at Wimbledon, the French Championships and the U.S. Championships.

Cranis’s prime came before tennis entered the Open Era, but his love of the game never waned. He competed extensively in the senior divisions of the USTA, winning and finishing runner-up in numerous national championships. In 1970, he reached the final of the U.S. Open Men’s 35 Championships after defeating Bill Tully and Bobby Riggs.

He also never shied away from helping junior players. Cranis founded Project Upswing, an innovative junior development program in New York that brought together some of the East’s leading young players. Among the juniors who participated in the program were future tennis standouts Dick Stockton, Eugene Mayer and Sandy Mayer.

Photo courtesy of Peter Cranis.

In 2001, Cranis was inducted into the Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame. He and his son Peter also competed together successfully in father-son tennis in Florida.

Later in his career, Cranis became a full-time tennis professional so he could do what he loved every day. He worked as a pro at a club in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and at various clubs in the Boca Raton area.

Amazingly, he taught tennis until he was 84, even sweeping the clay courts and taking down the screens during storms. His love for the game lasted a lifetime, and his friendships and connections throughout the tennis world spanned far and wide.

Cranis will be buried at the South Florida National Cemetery in Palm Beach County with military honors at a date to be announced.

He leaves behind his wife, Victoria; children Peter, Christopher and Whitney; daughters-in-law Melissa and Katie; grandchildren Parker, Chapin and Aiden; and niece Robin.

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This remembrance was written by his son, Peter Cranis.