SOMOZA, NORA (nee Nora Bonifacino)
Argentina
Born 08 August 1930
Died 17 January 2013
Married José Somoza
Nickname: "Norita"
[An English summation of the Spanish site listed as a source]
Nora was number 1 in Argentina in 1956, and from 1959 to 1961, in addition to representing her country in the Fed Cup and Pan American Games.
The following is a summary of his career, courtesy of journalist Eduardo Puppo, co-author with Robert Andersen Trilogy History of Argentine Tennis.
"Norita" won with a lethal combination of "Drive and drop".
Without a doubt Nora was one of the most iconic characters of Argentine tennis. She starred in big moments of national history and held sway between the late 50s and early 60s. In 1956 she occupied the No. 1 spot in her nation, winning, among others, the traditional Open singles Republic. The tranquility of "mission accomplished" with the flag flying proud justified the tennis lessons and trips around the world for Nora Bonifacino Somoza.
Accompanied by her husband, Joseph Somoza, she conveyed the passion that would never leave her penetrating gaze. She became a major pillar of our sports history, who knew feats here and there until she decided to leave behind the competitive game. Thus was born her other weakness: teaching.
"Norita" as she was always called, was started in tennis by the enthusiasm of her father, Alexander, in Coronel Suárez, southwest of the province of Buenos Aires.
O her drop shot she said fervently, "It was my favorite weapon, and it was that hit cramped." Nora was associated with the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club where she met teachers like Soto, Cerdá and Moya.
She debuted at the Republic Open in 1948. This earned her a national ranking, which she would later dominate absolutely. The victories came: the "Autumn", "South of the Republic", "City of Buenos Aires", "River Plate" and the coveted "Republic" which was in her hands twice in singles, one double ladies and three in mixed doubles. Other greats of her era were Enrique Morea, Alexius Russell, Augusto Salvador Soriano or Zappa; Lehmann and colleagues like Elena, Julia Borzone, Margarita Zavalía, Mabel Bove, Ana María Goiter, Graciela Lombardi, June Hanson, and Viola Livetti. Participating at Roland Garros in 1961, she reached the third round where she lost to Australian Mary Reitano for 8-6, 0-6 and 6-2.
Her grand slam debut was in the US National in 1959, where she was eliminated by Janet Hopps.
In 1965 she played Fed Cup with Norma Baylon in Melbourne, Australia. They did not do well on grass, knoced out in the opener by New Zealand. That season was very special to Somoza, because even her prime she decided to retire from competitive tennis.
"You have to know when to quit," she told everyone who asked why. By April of '65 she was teachuing tennis at the Club de Golf Bartolomé Mitre in Migueletes station and found a way to remian immersed in her milieu.
Norita taught until April 2005, at the Club Belgrano Athletic, retiring after a spinal problem. "I fell easily without knowing why, but it never happened to me in a tennis teaching One day I I broke my wrist and decided to stop working. I went to the doctor and found that I had hurt a vertebra.
Her titles include:
Argentine Open
Singles: 1956-1960 champion; Finalist 1957-1959 (shared with Norma Baylon)
Double Shirt: finalist 1950 (Marga Trede de Fitting)
Mixed Double: champion 1956 (Enrique Morea), 1959 (Alejo Russell); runner 1950 (Augusto Zappa)
River Plate Championships
Singles: Champion 1958-1963-1964; finalist 1952-1954-1955-1957-1962
Double Shirt: Champion 1957 (Julia Borzone), 1958 (Elena Lehmann)
Mixed Double: champion 1951 (Salvador Soriano), 1957 (Alejo Russell), 1962 (Oscar Escribano)
Argentine Championships (TCA)
Singles: Champion 1951-1954-1956-1963-1964
Doubles: Champion 1956 (Mabel Bove), 1960 (Margarita Zavalía), 1962 (Elena Lehmann), 1963 (Ana María Goiter)
Mixed Doubles: champion 1951 (José Luis Morea), 1957-1958 (Alejo Russell)
Buenos Aires Championships
Singles: Champion 1956-1960-1963-1964
Double Shirt: champion 1948-1950-1956-1960-1963
Mixed Double: 1954-1956-1959 champion
Source:
http://aatenis.com.ar/es/bel-falleci...-de-nora-b.php (photo on page)
[Thanks to Rosamund for this biography]