he won the australian junior singles in 1932 and the french junior singles in 1933. he was a member of the australian davis cup team from 1933 to 1937. he won the australian open doubles championship with his friend jack crawford in 1935. in 1937, he won the australian open singles title against john bromwich. mcgrath was ranked world no. 8 in 1935 by a. wallis myers of "the daily telegraph".