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Biographies of Female Tennis Players

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#1 · (Edited)
This thread will feature biographies of women who played tennis at a world class level. Note that the women will be added as we find information, so they will not appear in alphabetical order.

To find women listed in alphabetical order please go to the Blast Encyclopedia of Female Tennis Players at http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=497938

The Blast Encyclopedia of Female Tennis Players lists women by both their maiden and married names. Under the main listing for a player a link will be provided back to this thread to a biography.
 
#4,383 · (Edited by Moderator)
WRIGHT, MARION (Marion Wright)
United States
[Active 1888-1889]

1888 singles US All-Comer's finalist.
1889 doubles US finalist

Marion was a participant in the early US Women's Championships in Philadelphia.

In 1888 she won two matches and got a bye in the semifinals (this was an era before standard byes) to reach the All-Comer's final.

"Bertie" Townsend got the best of her in the All-Comer's final 6-2 6-2 and won the event by defeating defending champ Ellen Hansell in the challenge round.

Marion defaulted in the 1889 singles event at Philadelphia. She did play doubles though, and with partner Laura Knight has the distinction of being the first doubles runnerup in the US Championships.

1889 US Doubles final: Margaret Ballard/Bertha Townsend d. Laura Knight/Marion Wright 6-0 6-2

Marion also won the 1888 and 1889 mixed events with Joseph Clark. Unfortunately this did not become a championship event until 1892.

Note her name was Marion, NOT Marian. Our source (in fact the only contemporary source for her) being Valentine Halls's book from 1889.

Note that a Marion Randolph Wright (1870-1914) and Albert Empie Wright were tennis playing brothers from this era. Was Miss Marion a female relation? Mr Marion Wright's last known address as of 1905 was at 1937 Chesnut Street, Philadelphia. This is highly suggestive as the US Championships were at Chesnut Hill. There is no real apparent connection at present.

There is a female Marion A. Wright born circa 1866 in the 1880 US census in Philadelphia. Could this be out tennis playing finalist? Until more information is found this will remain a mystery.

Sources:

Lawn tennis in America. Biographical sketches of all the prominent players ... knotty points, and all the latest rules and directions governing handicaps, umpires, and rules for playing, by Valentine G. Hall. 1889. Pages 21-22.

Albert Empie Wright

Seventy-five Years of I.K.A. 1829-1904. By Trinity College (Hartford, Conn.). I.K.A. Society. 1905 Page 72.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/...=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=25250768&df=all&

[Thanks to Rollo for this information]
 
#4,384 · (Edited by Moderator)
DOVE,GILLIAN
South Africa
Born 28 January 1949 in Johannesburg, South Africa
[Active 1967-1969]

Never played in any Grand Slam singles matches, but withdrew from the 1968 French Championships after being in the draw.
Failed to qualify for singles at Wimbledon in 1967,68 and 69 but played in both doubles events in 1969.

Source British Lawn Tennis Magazine July 1966.

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]
 
#4,386 · (Edited by Moderator)
TAYLOR, CHARLOTTE (Charlotte Laura Taylor)
Great Britain
Born in 1861 in East Ogwell, Devon
Died 1 August 1949 in Devon
Did not marry.
[Active circa 1880-85]

Sister of fellow lawn tennis player Maude Taylor. Charlotte Taylor was notably runner-up in the women’s singles event at the Exmouth tournament in 1882. She and Maude were the daughters of Fitzwilliam John Taylor, a clerk in holy orders, and Alice Taylor (née Lisle Fortescue).

[Thanks to Newmark for this information]
 
#4,387 · (Edited by Moderator)
TAYLOR, MAUDE (Maude Eliza Taylor)
Great Britain
Born in 1860 in East Ogwell, Devon
Died 22 February 1929 in Devon
Married Henry William Carew on 28 April 1885 in the Parish Church, East Ogwell, Devon
[Active circa 1880-84]

Sister of fellow lawn tennis player Charlotte Taylor. Reverend Henry Carew was vicar of the parish of Rattery in Devon at the time of his marriage to Maude Taylor. The latter’s father, Fitzwilliam Taylor, rector of East and West Ogwell in Devon, assisted in the wedding ceremony for the bride and bridegroom.

[Thanks to Newmark for this information]
 
#4,389 · (Edited by Moderator)
KIM, GRACE
United States
Born 16 April 1968 in Deoul, South Korea
[Active 1983-1988]

Grew up in Ridgwood, New Jersey. On pro tour before turning pro in 1984. Twice made the 3rd round at a major during the 1983 and 1985 US Opens.
Career win over Gabriela Sabatini.

Year-End WTA Rankings:

1984: #63
1985: #60
1986: #71

Wikipedia indicates highest WTA ranking at #78 on 31 August 1987, but this is clearly an error given her year-end rankings.

Grace played a steady brand of tennis patterned after Chris Evert.

 
#4,394 · (Edited by Moderator)
WILLARD, MILDRED (Mildred H. Willard)
United States
Born 06 October 1896 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died December 1985 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Married John F. Gardiner (1891-1942) in late 1926 to early 1927
[Active 1917-1927]

3 time Philadelphia and district tennis "champ".

Mildred competed in the US Championships on 6 occasions (1917-1918, 1920-1921, 1924, and 1926), compiling a respectable 7 wins and 6 loses in singles.

Mildred was the daughter of a Philadelphia lawyer. Her younger sister Venette competed in the 1920 US event but was not as talented in tennis as Mildred. She briefly competed as Mrs Gardiner after her marriage.

Her son John F. was born February 19, 1929 in Philadelphia. According to the 1930 US census she was a school psychologist.

Sources:

1930 US Census

US Social Security Index

John Gardiner Obituary, Macomb Twp., MI
 
#4,395 · (Edited by Moderator)
WILLARD, VENETTE
United States
Born 07 January 1898 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died 09 July 1957 in Byrn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Married to Andrew Shearer between 1920 and 1925
[Active in 1920]

Children; Andrew (b. c. 1925) and Venette (born c. 1927)

Venette entered the 1920 US Championships and made the 3R via a bye and a default. She lost in the 3R in her only US appearance. Her sister Mildred Willard was a much better tennis player.

Source:

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/f...5&ref=acom

[Thanks to Rollo for this information]
 
#4,396 · (Edited by Moderator)
HAWTHORNE, MARGARET (nee Margaret Farrer)
South Africa
Born 11 November 1935
Married Barry Hawthorne 15th December 1956
[Active in the mid 1960s]

Sister of Buster Farrer who played at Wimbledon in 1956 and test cricket for South Africa in the 1960's.

Won singles Griqualand West 1965 and 1966; doubles in 1966. She barely missed out on a "triple" i 1966 when she lost the mixed doubles final.

There was a Mrs M Hawthorne who was RU in the 1949 Griqualand West mixed doubles.

Both the date and the marital status of Margaret normally preclude this being her. It is possible that she won the mixed doubles at 14 and the source (the Eldridge book) has put her win under her married name to avoid any confusion. Alternatively since Barry Hawthorne came from Kimberley it could well be a relation of his such as aunt or mother.

Colin Bryden's book "the Buster Farrer story " tells us that she met her husband at Rhodes University in 1953. Barry Hawthorne's career was a geologist and his home town was Kimberley. He was a high jumper and pole vaulter and played hockey for Rhodes. The book also tells us that Margaret played tennis for Border Junior, Rhodes University and Griqualand West.

Sources:

1983 International Who's Who of Tennis
www.gendatabase.com

The South African Tennis Story.
Eldridge, Russell (editor).1978. pages 101

The Buster Farrer Story . Bryden, Colin.

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]
 
#4,397 · (Edited by Moderator)
KASATSKINA, DARIA
Russia
Born 07 May 1987 in Togliatty, Russia
Height: 5' 7" (1.70 m)
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Nickname: "Dasha"
[Active 2013-present]

An artist on the court with a wide array of spins, shots, and stratagems. Daria finished 2018 inside the world top 10.

As an up and coming teen Daria demonstrated signs of maturity by taking a premier level event at Charleston in 2017. "Playing in her first final, Kasatkina showed the poise and focus of a veteran, flummoxing the big-hitting Latvian with her slice and defense. " (WTA)

Up to April of 2017 all 7 of her previous singles titles came on the ITS circuit.


2019 was a massive disappointment. Daria failed to make the semis at any event.


More on Daria from her WTA mini-biography

Coached by Vladimir Platenik ... Parents are Sergey and Tatiana; brother is Alexsandr (Daria's fitness trainer) ... Introduced to tennis by brother at age 6 ... Speaks Russian and English ... Baseliner whose favorite surface is clay; favorite shot is forehand ... Loves soccer (favorite team is FC Barcelona) ... Best tennis memory is winning Roland Garros juniors and 2015 US Open run.

Career Highlights:

SINGLES

Winner (2): 2018 - Moscow; 2017 - Charleston

Finalist (3): 2018 - Dubai, Indian Wells; 2017 - Moscow.

DOUBLES

Winner (1): 2015 - Moscow (w/Vesnina).

Finalist (2): 2017 - Tokyo (Pan Pacific) (w/Gavrilova); 2016 - Moscow (w/Gavrilova)

Year-End WTA Rankings

2019: #69
2018: #10
2017: #24
2016: #27
2015: #72
2014: #370

Daria with her Charleston Trophy


Sources:

Players | WTA Tennis English

News | WTA Tennis English

News | WTA Tennis English
 
#4,398 · (Edited by Moderator)
TOMLINSON, WENDY
South Africa
Born 18 September 1950 in Johannesburg, South Africa
Married Grant Lawsonb in 1970
[Active 1967-1970]

Ranked #9 In South Africa for 1968.

Played singles at French and Wimbledon 1969 and 1970 and US Open 1969. Wendy won the Southern Transvaal doubles with Brenda Kirk in 1969. They also teamed up that year to represent South Africa in the Federation Cup.

As of 1983 she was living in Canada.

Source 1983 International Who's Who in tennis.

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]
 
#4,399 · (Edited by Moderator)
GRAY, ELSIE (nee Elsie May Wade)
Canada
Born 03 December 1900 in Ilford, Essex, England.
Died 15 April 1998 in the United States
Married Oswald Eugene Gray (1898-1962) 25 October 1920 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
[Active in the late 1920s to 1932]

1929 Canadian doubles winner with her younger sister Olive Wade. Mrs Gray was the superior player before 1929, when Olive started to eclipse her in singles. She traveled with her sister in 1929 to New York City for the US Championships at Forest Hills, losing in the 1st round 6-0 6-3 to Gertrude Dwyer.

Elsie was the oldest child of Alfred Wade (a stonecutter) and Elizabeth Mason of Essex, England. The family emigrated to Canada in 1907.

Married in 1920 (or less likely 1926) to Oswald Eugene Gray, she is usually listed as Mrs O. E. Gay. The birth of their son James Richard in August of 1933 in Toronto effectively put an end to her tennis days at the upper levels of the sport.

Emigrating to the US in 1945, by 1946 they took up residence in Florida, she received her Social security card from there that year. A 1951 Florida naturalization paper for Oswald lists his job as "tennis professional". He was born in Gibralter in 1898. it also gives their marriage date as 1920. The couple were living in Ft Lauderdale, Florida at the time. Later in life she may have moved to New Jersey after the death of her husband in 1962.

For her sister Olive see: http://www.tennisforum.com/25566626-post2079.html

Sources:

Wright and Ditson Lawn Tennis Guide for 1930, page 170 (which informs us that Olive Wade is her sister)

Elsie Wade - Ancestry.ca

Ancestry.com. Florida, Naturalization Records, 1847-1995

Another page gives 25 Oct 1926 as her marriage date, but it is not correct.
https://www.ancestry.ca/genealogy/ma...wald-gray.html

Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928; Series: MS932; Reel: 522
[Marriage certificate of 1920 showing her parents as witness and Oswald's occupation as "tennis instructor"]

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=156626369&ref=acom

[Thanks to LKK and Rollo for this information]
 
#4,401 · (Edited by Moderator)
FERNANDEZ, "GIGI" (Beatriz Fernandez)
United States (Puerto Rico)
Born 22 February 1964 in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Height: 1.70 M (5; 7")
Plays Right-handed (two handed-backhand)
[Active 1983-1997]

One of the greatest ever in doubles. Gigi 14 of 17 slams in doubles won with Nataha Zvereva. Together they were the dominant pair of the 1990s.
Fernandez also won the Olympic gold medal doubles twice, in 1992 and 1996. Both times her partner was Mary Joe Fernandez.

The feisty Fernandez won a doubles major 8 consecutive years from 1990 to 1997.

After a two tear stint of college tennis at Clemson Gigi hit the tour full time when she turned pro in 1983.

[From the International Hall of Fame site]

In October 2014, espnW voted Gigi Fernández the 10th-most-influencial Hispanic athlete in history. The big-serving and hard-hitting native of San Juan, Puerto Rico was the first female athlete from her country to become a professional in any sport, and she carved out a legacy, largely based on astounding doubles success, a scant few in the sport have ever achieved.

Fernández, who was fiery, tenacious, exuberant, and displayed her emotions on the court freely – both a blessing and a curse at times – won 17 major doubles titles with four different partners. Fourteen of those titles were shared with Natasha Zverera, who complimented her spirited partner perfectly. While the duo weren’t complete opposites, Zvereva’s all-court game balanced her partner’s aggressive mantra and while Fernández was fire, Zvereva was ice. Appropriately, the pair entered the Hall of Fame together in 2010.
Their fun sense of humor and antics on and off court earned Fernandez and Zvereva a reputation for being entertainers par excellence. Fun or not, they were a deadly combo. They won 6 consecutive majors from the 1992 French through Wimbledon 1993. Only Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver (with 8 consecutive slams) can top that. Gigi and Natasha won 14 of 18 major finals.

The biggest dissapointment for the dynamic duo came at the 1993 US Open where, having won the other 3 majors that year, they were chasing the Grand Slam. They fell in the semifinals to Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Helena Sukova 1-6 6-3 6-4.

Tagged as a future Martina Navratilova in her youth, Gigi never developed as her early idol had. Some put it down to a lack of work ethic or discipline. For others it was mental. "Her grace at net was overshadowed at times by her trigger temper." (Crouse) As she matured with years on tour the mental lapses lessened, Gigi also cited relaxation techniques learned from the Deepak Chopra Center in 1992.

Though her tennis was primarily geared towards doubles the flashy Fernandez could make inroads in singles on faster surfaces. 1994 saw the most success in slams, as Gigi made the semifinals at Wimbledon losing 6-4 7-6 to Martina Navratilova) and the quarters at the US Open a couple of months later.

Fernandez retired in 1997 at age 33. That same year Gigi met former pro golfer Jane Geddes, who became her life partner. After many months of trying, Gigi bore twins after a friend donated eggs. Carson and Madison Fernandez-Geddes were born in April 2009.

Fernández was named Puerto Rico's "Female Athlete of the Century" in 1999. In 2010 she entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame next to her former double partner Natasha Zvereva.

Doubles

Career record 664–184
Career titles 69
Highest ranking No. 1 (March 4, 1991)

Grand Slam Doubles results

Australian Open W (1993, 1994)
French Open W (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997)
Wimbledon W (1992, 1993, 1994, 1997)
US Open W (1988, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1996)

WTA Finals W (1993, 1994)

Singles

Career record 270–232
Career titles 2
Highest ranking No. 17 (October 6, 1991)

Grand Slam Singles results


Australian Open 4R (1990, 1993)
French Open 2R (1986, 1987, 1991)
Wimbledon SF (1994)
US Open QF (1991, 1994)






Olympic gold with Mary Joe Fernandez



Sources:


https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/gigi-fernandez/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigi_Fernández

What about Gigi? - TennisForum.com [A Blast thread]

Crouse, Karen. "A Dream Deferred, almost Too Long." New York Times (1923-Current file), Aug 30, 2010, pp. 2, ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times with Index, https://search.proquest.com/docview/...ccountid=10274.

[Thanks to Rollo for this information]
 
#4,402 · (Edited by Moderator)
SZAPARY, "GABRIELE" (Maria Gabrielle Christiane Ferdinandine Wilhelmine Mathilde Antonia Agnes Martina Szapary de Muraszombath)
Austria
Born 28 January 1913 in Vienna, Austria
Died 30 November 2007
[Active in 1934-1935]

Countess Szapary was from a noble family of Hungarian origins. She represented Austria however, being born and raised in Vienna. Her father played a notable role in setting off the powder keg we know today as World War I, being the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador to Imperial Russia in 1914.

She was active as a tennis player on the French Riviera in the 1934 and 1935 seasons. Her lone entry at Wimbledon was in 1934, where she lost opening matches in singles and doubles but got to the 3R in mixed.

The Countess was no easy out on the Riviera, reaching many quarter and semifinals, where she often pushed quality players to long three set matches.

Author Morris Wright was in Vienna in 1933 and writes about a Countess Maria Szapary. Gabriele's first name was actually Maria, and it is tempting to connect his Countess to Gabriele.

From Writing My Life, An Autobiography, page 163

"The Countess Maria Szapary was also a scholar, taking her doctorate in history at the university. She was a heavy, powerful woman with frizzly orange hair, a broad flat face with small features. Her eyes were so far apart I looked at just one at a time. ...Though she was built like a fullback, she was not unattractive. . Her English was pretty good for the usual sort of talk, but she was crazy to talk about religion. ..She was Countess Szapary, from Abony near Pest, and everybody at the club kowtowed to her. ...She took me to watch her play tennis at a club, where she served and volley like a cannon. She either double faulted or served an ace."

Gabriele as an infant with her mother in St Petersburg, 1914





Sources:

Descendants of Ct. Ferenc Szapary de Muraszombath (1804-1875)

Szapary

Archive - Draws Archive : Gabriele Szapary - 2015 Wimbledon Championships Website - Official Site by IBM

https://books.google.com/books?id=O...I#v=onepage&q=countess szapary tennis&f=false
[Author Wright Morris mentions a Countess Maria Szapary who plays tennis. Could this person and Gabriele be one and the same?]

[Thanks to Rollo for this information]
 
#4,403 · (Edited by Moderator)
KELLY, "MAY" (nee Marion Elinor Farr)
Great Britain
Born 1874 in Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka)
Died 1958
Married to Douglas Edmund Kelly (1877-1967) by 1903
Possible nickname: "Margaret'
[Active from at least 1904 to 1907]

Daughter of Tom Farr, a tea planter in Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka). Farr planted North Cove (Bogo) and built Farr Inn at Horton Plains. Though born in Ceylon, in 1891 she was in an English boarding school located in Colchester.

In 1907 the husband and wife pair of D. E. Kelly & Mrs. D. E. Kelly won the Ceylanese Championships. Her husband was 6 times winner of the event. He was a tea Planter in Killarney, Ceylon.

She had 3 children, Wilfred (1903-1986), Elizabeth (1912-1990) and Elinor Margaret ("Peggy") born circa 1914.

Though the 1904 lady champion is listed as Mrs D. K. Kelly, this person and Mrs D. E. Kelly are almost certainly one and the same or at least related by marriage.

Douglas and his wife lived on the Killarney estate in Bogawantalawa. Moira Colin-Thome’s article on the Kelly’s of Killarney mentions "Douglas and Margaret" when Moira visited in 1954. It goes on to state she died in 1958 and buried at the St Mary’s Church cemetery.



Sources:

1891 Census of England

Print Page - The Kellys of Killarney

Family Tree - The Cobbold Family History Trust

The Kellys of Killarney Moira Colin Thome | History of Ceylon Tea

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonath...elevised-art-forgery-book-excerpt-2/#2992dca7 [which calls her "May Elizabeth" but cites no solid sources]

[Thanks to Rollo for this information]
 
#4,404 · (Edited by Moderator)
VONDROUSOVA, MARKETA (Markéta Vondroušová)
Czech Republic
Born 27 June 1999 in Sokolev, Czech Republic
Height: 1.72 m
Plays: Lefthanded with two-handed backhand
[Active 2014 to present]

2019 French Open semifinalist
2019 Australian Open doubles semifinalist

Out of the blue Marketa made the finals at the French Open. This made her the first teenage finalist at the French since Ana Ivanovic in 2007. Unfortunately the nervous Czech was outclassed by Ashleigh Barty 6-1 6-3. Only weeks later she had to end her season when she was forced to undergo a wrist surgery.

Born in Sokolov, Czech Republic, now lives and trains in Prague...Won first WTA title at 17-years-old in Biel as a qualifier, in just her second WTA main draw appearance....Favorite surface is clay because she grew up on it, but believes her game is more suited for hard courts....Began playing tennis at 4 years old with her father, and by 10-years-old she was practicing in Prague....Moved to Prague by herself at 15-years-old to train....Chose tennis over soccer because she prefers the individual nature of the sport....Tennis idol is Roger Federer....Describes herself as "quiet" and "calm".

A rising young star, at only 17 she was aiming for upward mobility in the rankings, as evidenced by her maiden title at Biel in 2017. Biel was only her 2nd WTA tournament-ever. The Daily Telgraph declared her "game is based on creating angles and clever shotmaking rather than brute force", noting that after Biel her ranking "will move up 116 places to 117 in Monday's rankings."

Tennis forum member Tripolis had this to say about her game after her Biel title.:

17 freaking years old and she's already playing well beyond her years. SO clutch under pressure, seems to be mentally strong too, and just gets on with it after every missed shot or bad call. I mean, it's just so refreshing and great to see a talented youngster just playing her game and managing to breakthrough.

2nd WTA main draw, and she wins the title, not even losing a single set in the MD, notching wins over top 20 Strycova in the process.

She's got all the goods needed to be part of the tennis elite, and probably a future GS champ -- great lefty serve, awesome groundstrokes off both the FH and BH as well as exquisite touch on her dropshots and lobs. Her net game seems decent as well. I can't think of any severe weaknesses that may hinder her rise to the top, and since she's still young I'm pretty sure her game will develop even more as she grows older and gains more experience. But, wow. What a journey she has had this week, and I've become a fan
SINGLES
Winner (1): 2017 - Biel/Bienne.
Finalist (3): 2019 - Budapest, Istanbul, Roland Garros.

ADDITIONAL
Czech Fed Cup Team, 2017, 2019.

WTA YEAR-END RANKINGS

2020: #21
2019:#16 (Career high #14 on 01 June)
2018: #67
2017: #67
2016: #376
2015: #429




Sources:

Marketa Vondrousova | Player Stats & More – WTA Official
Vondrousova: “It’s been life-changing” - Roland-Garros - The 2020 Roland-Garros Tournament official site


Biel Final (Q)'17 years old' Vondrousova takes 1st WTA title def Kontaveit 6-4 7-6(6)

Czech 17-year-old Marketa Vondrousova wins first WTA title in only her second event

Czechmate! [Her active player forum]

[Thanks to Rollo for this information]
 
#4,405 · (Edited by Moderator)
BUCHANAN, ANDREA
United States
Born 06 April 1955 in Los Angeles, California
Died 29 January 1982 in Culver City, California.
Married Archie Whitmore-a pro basketball player, by 1979. Divorced in early 1980.
Height: 5' 6"
Played: Righthanded
[Active 1978-1981]

1981 and 1982 Nigerian Open champion.

A promising serve and volley doubles player whose life was tragically cut short by a senseless homicide. Her family was involved in the film industry in Califoirnia.

Began playing at 16 when she discovered tennis in high school. The late start made it tough to progress up the singles rankings in a sport where most girls start before the age of 7 or 8. Luckily for her tennis at Dorsey High School eventually led to professional tennis.

In 1978, Buchanan won the singles, doubles and mixed doubles championships at the U.S. Public Parks tournament in Los Angeles – the first black woman to win all three major titles in the history of the tournament. This encouraged her to make a go of the pro tour at the relatively old age of 23 in the summer of 1978.

Andrea got some help along the way, namely some coaching form former great Alex Olmedo, sponsorship by football star Jim Brown and some guidance from Althea Gibson.

Earned a 22-12 record on the 1979 Avon Futures circuit as Andrea Whitmore. By the summer of 1979 her ranking reached 90-a career high. 1980 was much rougher, as she went through a divorce (her name was back to Buchanan by Wimbledon) and saw her record drop to 6-6.

Buchanan qualified for Wimbledon 3 years running. The 3R at 1981 Wimbledon and 2R at the US Open that year were her best singles results in a major.

In November of 1981 Andrea won the Nigerian Open, repeating as champion. First prize was $5,800. It proved to be her last event. At the time a woman ranked in the 90s and low 100s had a tough time makes ends meet just to pay for living expenses. Demoralized by what she saw as an unfair computer ranking, Buchanan decided to work at a Los Angeles fish market and save money until April of 1982, when she planned to rejoin the tour.

Andrea and her boss Nathaniel Brown were murdered in the early morning hours of 29 January 1982. Both were fatally shot with multiple wounds. Andrea died a short time after arriving at the hospital. While owning the fish shop Brown had also dealt in cocaine. Policie believed Brown was the target with Buchanan being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The crime remains unsolved.

At the time of her death she was ranked #102 on the WTA tour in singles.

Billie Jean King remembered Buchanan as one of the friendliest players on the tour, a view shared by many other pros:

"She was outgoing with everyone, from the promoter to the ball kids," said Leslie Allen, whose close friendship with Buchanan began on the Avon Futures circuit in 1979. "I was used to being dry and dull. Andrea ; made me loosen up and have fun." "She was the one person on the tour who could deal with everybody," said Diane Morrison, a former; tour player and a distant cousin of Andrea's. "I never saw her depressed, and everybody is depressed on the tennis circuit. Tennis was not going to change her personality. -from an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Andrea playing an Avon Futures event





Sources:

1980 Avon Media Guide, page 154.
1980 WTA Media Guide, page 148.

"Buchanan: A blooming life and career, cut short" Philadelphia Inquirer, 22 March 1982)

Tennis player killed on coast (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 30 January 1982)
Blacks at the net (p. 192)

Grave Spotlight

https://sports.vice.com/en_us/artic...-racket-the-untold-story-of-freeway-rick-ross

Archive - Draws Archive : Andrea Whitmore - 2015 Wimbledon Championships Website - Official Site by IBM
Archive - Draws Archive : Andrea Buchanan - 2015 Wimbledon Championships Website - Official Site by IBM

[Thanks to Rollo and Wolbo for this information]
 
#4,406 · (Edited by Moderator)
SIEGEL, LINDA
United States
Born 05 June 1961 in Oakland, California
Married Phlip Gammon (born 04 January 1957) 16 February 1985 at Alameda California
Height: 5' 9"
Played: Righthanded with two-handed backhand
[Active 1978-1980]

Attractive Californian who caused a sensation when she literally popped out of her dress versus Billie Jean King at Wimbledon in 1979. Turned pro in August 1979 after having some success on the tour.

"Although slender, she has a devastating flat forehand and lobs well with her two-handed backhand."

Siegel was the 1978 US Open junior girls champ. She was a finalist at the South African Open in November that yeat, her first final outside the juniors.

Her final 1979 computer ranking was #60. She entered the French, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Those ended up being her only 3 majors in the main draw. Midway through a lackluster 1980 she dropped off the tour.

For better or worse it is the Wimbledon wardrobe malfunction she is most remembered for:

Linda Siegel, a shapely 18-year-old Californian, made her Wimbledon debut in 1979. After a first-round bye, she lost in straight sets to seventh-seed Billie Jean King 6-1, 6-3 in the second round--but her photograph made the front pages of the British tabloids. Why? Following one of her serves, Siegel 'fell out' of her low-cut dress, much to the delight of the courtside photographers. Among the cheeky headlines in the next day's British newspapers was 'Thanks For The Mammary.' Siegel never played at Wimbledon again.
At Wimbledon in 1979 before full exposure.


Source:

1979 World of Tennis, page 343.

1980 WTA Media Guide,
page 173.

YouRememberThat.Com - Taking You Back In Time... - Linda Siegel Tennis Dress Accident

Wimbledon's top 10 controversial fashion moments | Metro News

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arch...01c-bf95-1b0ffab359d4/?utm_term=.0fc4832eeab4

www.ancestry.co.uk

[Thanks to Rollo for this information and to Rosamund for the date of her marriage]
 
#4,407 · (Edited by Moderator)
FIELD, LOUISE
Australia
Born 25 February 1967 in Melbourne
Height: 5' 5"
Plays: Righthanded
[Active 1983-1995]

Entered the main draw at the Australian Open each year from 1984 to 1994. Her loss at the 1995 Aussie in qualifying was her last event on tour. Better at doubles.

In singles her slam highlight came in 1989, when she reached the 3rd round, upsetting world #5 Zina Garrison along the way. This was her only time to reach the 3R of a major. "A player sometimes guilty of trying too hard in matches..." Her defeat of Garrison was typical, as Louise blew a 5-1 lead in the third set due to nerves. Field finally won at 7-5 when Garrison herself choked.

According to respected poster Louloubelle she had a " Nice all round game but no huge weapons". Filed liked to serve and volley.

Field later became an osteopath.

Singles

Career record 183–210
Highest ranking #96 (28 August 1989)
Highest year end ranking #100 (1989)

Finalist at Auckland in 1985

Doubles

Career record 168–171
Highest ranking 48th (22 October 1990)
Won Geneva and Bayonne in 1990.




Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Field

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Field

1988 World of Tennis
, pages 308-309

http://www.tennisforum.com/203-tennis-australia/101187-louise-field.html

https://2017.ausopen.com/en_AU/event_guide/history/players/8040.html

[Thanks to Rollo for this information and to Postcard for a thread on her]
 
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