Ferry Sonneville


Ferdinand Alexander "Ferry" Sonneville was an Indonesian badminton player noted for his touch, consistency, tactical astuteness, and coolness under pressure. He won numerous international singles titles from the mid-1950s through the early 1960s and his clutch performances helped Indonesia to win its first three Thomas Cup titles consecutively in 1958, 1961, and 1964, setting the pattern for his country's continued formidable presence in world badminton. Sonneville's playing career ended on a sour note in the 1967 Thomas Cup final in Jakarta when, past his prime, he was roundly booed by his countrymen after dropping singles matches in Indonesia's controversial loss to Malaysia.
After his high-level playing days ended Sonneville was elected to terms as both president of the International Badminton Federation and president of the Badminton Association of Indonesia.

Private life

Sonneville inherited his sports talents from his parents. His father was Dirk Jan Sonneville, a local tennis champion in the 1930s, and Leonij Elisabeth de Vogel , a badminton champion between 1935 and 1945, who taught him the game in the 1940s. His father was a brigade major of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army in the war and was executed by the Japanese.
Sonneville married Yvonne Theresia de Wit in September 1954 and had 3 children, called Ferdinand Rudy Jr., Genia Theresia, and Cynthia Guedolyn. Sonneville also had two grandchildren.
His religion was Catholic.

Education

, Netherlands

Sports career

Open Tournaments

Men's singles
YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
1954Selangor Open Ong Poh Lim15–11, 15–8 Champion
1955Malaysia Open Jørn Skaarup15–5, 15–4 Champion
1956Dutch Open Hugh Findlay15–3, 15–6 Champion
1956German Open Eddie Choong6–15, 0–15 Runner-up
1957French Open David Choong15–4, 15–3 Champion
1957German Open Eddie Choong12–15, 12–15 Runner-up
1958Dutch Open Erland Kops15–3, 15–8 Champion
1958German Open Bo Nilsson15–11, 15–4 Champion
1959All England Tan Joe Hok8–15, 15–10, 3–15 Runner-up
1959Dutch Open Knud Aage Nielsen13–18, 9–15 Runner-up
1959Belgian Championships Kurt Nielsen13–15, 2–15 Runner-up
1960Dutch Open Hugh Findlay15–11, 15–4 Champion
1960French Open William Havers15–1, 15–1 Champion
1960German Open Lee Kin Tat15–9, 18–13 Champion
1961Dutch Open Charoen Wattanasin15–8, 15–5 Champion
1961German Open Lee Kin Tat15–5, 15–1 Champion
1961French Open Erland Kops12–15, 10–15 Runner-up
1962Dutch Open Charoen Wattanasin15–7, 15–3 Champion
1962German Open Erland Kops10–15, 15–14, 3–15 Runner-up
1962Canadian Open Jim Poole17–16, 17–18, 15–9 Champion
1962US Open Tan Joe Hok17–15, 18–17 Champion

Men's doubles
YearTournamentPartnerOpponentScoreResult
1960French Open David Choong Pierre Lenoir
Ghislain Vasseur		15-4, 15-9 Champion
1962Canadian Open Jim Carnwath Jim Poole
Bobby Williams		6-15, 8-15 Runner-up
1962US Open Tan Joe Hok Joe Alston
Wynn Rogers		12-15, 13-15 Runner-up
1963All England Open Tan Joe Hok Finn Kobberø
J. H. Hansen		6–15, 5–15 Runner-up

Mix's doubles
YearTournamentPartnerOpponentScoreResult
1960French Open Yvonne Theresia Sonneville Yeoh Kean Hua
Rita A. Rabey		w.o Champion
1963German Open Yvonne Theresia Sonneville Poul-Erik Nielsen
Kirsten Thorndahl		4–15, 14–17 Runner-up

Business career