Charles Darlington "Buzz" Strode Jr. (born September 5, 1957) is an American former professional tennis player.

Career

Strode was most successful at doubles, often playing beside his brother Morris "Skip" Strode. It was with his brother that he made the men's doubles quarter-finals at the US Open and Australian Open in 1982. His other Grand Slam quarter-final appearance in the men's doubles, at the 1985 Wimbledon Championships, was with South African Eddie Edwards. Strode and his brother won the 1982 Hong Kong and were also runners-up in Bangkok that year.

He made one Grand Slam mixed doubles final, which was with Leslie Allen at the 1983 French Open. They lost the final to fellow Americans Barbara Jordan and Eliot Teltscher.

Strode competed in the singles draw at three Grand Slam tournaments, but lost in the opening round each time, to Gustavo Tiberti at the 1982 French Open, Rod Frawley at the 1982 Australian Open and Mark Edmondson at the 1983 Australian Open. His best singles performance on the Grand Prix tennis circuit came at the Tokyo Outdoor tournament, where he had a win over Tim Gullikson, en route to the quarter-finals.

Personal life

Charles has a daughter Courtney Strode who is a professional soccer player.

Grand Slam finals

Mixed doubles: 1 (0–1)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss1983French OpenClayUnited States Leslie AllenUnited States Barbara Jordan United States Eliot Teltscher2–6, 3–6

Grand Prix career finals

Doubles: 2 (1–1)

ResultW/LYearTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–01982Hong KongHardUnited States Morris StrodeAustralia Kim Warwick United States Van Winitsky6–4, 3–6, 6–2
Loss1–11982Bangkok, ThailandCarpetUnited States Morris StrodeUnited States Mike Bauer United States John Benson5–7, 6–3, 3–6

Challenger titles

Doubles: (7)

No.YearTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
1.1982Chigasaki, JapanClayUnited States Morris StrodeIndia Sashi Menon United States Walter Redondo6–3, 6–4
2.1982Nagareyama, JapanHardUnited States Morris StrodeIndia Sashi Menon United States Walter Redondo4–6, 6–1, 6–4
3.1982São Paulo, BrazilClayUnited States Morris StrodePeru Pablo Arraya Paraguay Víctor Pecci6–1, 6–4
4.1983Tokyo, JapanHardUnited States Morris StrodeUnited States David Dowlen United States Jeff Turpin6–3, 6–4
5.1984Agadir, MoroccoClayUnited States Morris StrodeSpain Juan Avendaño Spain Emilio Sánchez6–3, 6–4
6.1985Ogun, NigeriaHardUnited States Chris DunkUnited States Egan Adams United States Mark Wooldridge7–5, 2–6, 6–3
7.1986Enugu, NigeriaHardCzechoslovakia Stanislav BirnerUnited States Brett Buffington United States Ted Erck6–4, 7–6