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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.
 
#2,632 · (Edited by Moderator)
PHILLIMORE, CORDELIA (nee Cordelia Mary Stiff)
United Kingdom
Born in 1858 in Snenton, Nottinghamshire
Died 22 July 1934 in Uley, Gloucestershire
Did not marry.
[Active circa 1890-1910]

Cordelia Phillimore was actually christened Cordelia Stiff, but her father, William, later changed the family name. William Phillimore is listed in census as a physician and landowner. For several years he was Superintendent of what the 1871 Census of England and Wales lists as the Nottingham Pauper Lunatic Asylum.

When the 1881 Census of Scotland was taken, Cordelia Phillimore was staying with some of her Stiff relatives in North Berwick in East Lothian. Interestingly, this census lists her occupation as "Formerly Art Student". There is evidence that Cordelia drew and, possibly, painted.

In later life Cordelia Phillimore travelled widely, not just to the European Continent, but also to South America and South Africa. There is evidence that she visited Portugal on several occasions. This would make sense as a Miss C. Phillimore several times won the women's singles title at the Portuguese Championships in the early years of the twentieth century.

Below is a link to a Portuguese sports and entertainment publication from October 1907 that features on page 8 a photograph of "Miss Phillimores", women's singles champion at that year's edition of the Portuguese Championships. As the photo indicates, Cordelia Phillimore played competitive lawn tennis well into her forties. This was not an uncommon habit in the early decades of the sport.

http://hemerotecadigital.cm-lisboa.pt/Periodicos/tiroesport/1907/N366/N366_master/TiroeSportN366.PDF

On 28 June 1934, Cordelia Phillimore arrived in London on the ship Almeda Star whose point of departure had been Buenos Aires, Argentina. The record of this voyage gives her age as 66, but it is more likely that she was in fact 76. Less than one month later she died in Uley, a small village in the western English county of Gloucestershire.

Could she be the same 'Phillimore' who entered and then defaulted at Wimbledon in 1888? No solid evidence supports this at present.

[Thanks to Newmark for this biography]
 
#2,634 · (Edited by Moderator)
BULLOCK, CHRISTINA (nee Christina Lilian Cardwell)
United Kingdom
Born 1878 in Sussex, England
Died 5 February 1964 in Ditchling, Sussex, England
Married Herbert Somerset Bullock in 1902 in Eastbourne, Sussex, England.

She is referred to as "Mrs H.S. Bullock" in contemporary sources. Her husband played doubles at Wimbledon in 1914. Christina never competed at the Championships.

[Thanks to Newmark for this biography]
 
#2,635 · (Edited by Moderator)
DOUGLASS, CHRISTINA (Christina Margaret Douglass)
United Kingdom
Born 21 May 1881 in Ealing, Middlesex, England
Died 1973 in Eastbourne, Sussex, England
[1914-1922]

Younger sister of the great Dorothea Douglass, later Mrs Lambert Chambers.
Their father Reverend Henry Douglass encouraged his daughters sporting activity.

Christina started handicap events in 1904. Her lone Wimbledon entry was in 1914.

Record at Wimbledon (Played Wimbledon in 1914 (all 3 events) and 1922 in mixed doubles only).

Singles: 2-1 (Third Round)
Doubles: 0-1
Mixed Doubles: 0-2

Source
:

Dorothea Chambers: Wimbledon Champion Seven Times
. by Alan Little. 1985. (Pages 1 and 2)

[Thanks to Newmark and Rollo for this informaton]
 
#2,638 · (Edited by Moderator)
GRANT, MARION (Marion Edith Grant)
India/United Kingdom
Born 29 July 1867 in Berhampore, Bengal, India
Died 13 October 1936 in London, England
Married Eustace Corrie Frere on 25 April 1895 in Saint James's Church, Paddington, London, England. Eustace Frere was South African in origin.


Marion is referred to as "Mrs E.C. Frere" in contemporary sources. Marion Frere appears in a draw along with a "Mrs L.C. Frere", but it hasn't been possible to find any information on her. Mabel never competed at Wimbledon.

[Thanks to Newmark for this biography]
 
#2,640 · (Edited by Moderator)
PUTMAN, LOIS
United Kingdom
Born 1885 in Dagnall, Buckinghamshire, England
Died 23 October 1962 in Pennsylvania, United States
Married Rowland Hawker in 1910 in Lymington, Hampshire, England.

There is an E.B. Hawker who played Wimbledon in 1906 and 1907, but there is no known connection to this person and Lois.

[Thanks to Newmark for this biography]
 
#2,641 · (Edited by Moderator)
RETALLACK, JOAN
United Kingdom
Born 1875 in Saint Enoder, Cornwall, England
Died 25 November 1937 in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, England

Did not marry. Joan Retallack had a long association with the Exmouth Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club where, in addition to talking part in tournaments, she was involved in the administrative side of things. She never competed at Wimbledon.
 
#2,643 · (Edited by Moderator)
TULLOCH, "BERYL" (Minnie Beryl Tulloch)
United Kingdom
Born 1879 in Maida Vale, London, England
Died 11 November 1948 in Westminster, London, England
[Active 1893-1914]

Known as Beryl. A left-hander. She never married.

Wimbledon Record (Competed every year from 1898 to 1914 except for 1907)

Singles: 23-16 (SF in 1899, QF 1900, and SF in 1906)
Doubles:1-2
Mixed Doubles: 4-2

[Thanks to Newmark for this biography]
 
#2,650 · (Edited by Moderator)
#2,653 · (Edited by Moderator)
SMITH, PAULA
United States
Born 10 January, 1957 in Boulder, Colorado
Height: 5' 7"
[Active: 1976-1989]

A doubles specialist who was the lesser known of two Smiths on tour during the late 70's/80's, Paula was widely known for her fun, carefree attitude on and off court. Paula rarely made an impact on a singles tournament, yet she reached the French Open final in women's doubles in 1981 with Candy Reynolds and was seeded as high as #5 with Reynolds in both Wimbledon and US Open events in the early 80's. She won 10 doubles titles in her career with partners such as Reynolds, Anne Smith, Pam Shriver and Betsy Nagelsen, and reached the French mixed final in 1985 with Francisco Gonzalez.

A broken leg in 1979 delayed success.

from page 232 of The Right Set, a Tennis Anthology...

All you need to know about Evert's attitude toward tennis was revealed in a briefmoment ... Having just lost a match, the amiable pro Paula Smith returned to the locker room and remarked. "Thank God my happiness doesn't depend on winning or losing a tennis match." Evert, sitting a few feet away, did not miss a beat. She quiped, "Thank God mine does."
The 1980 media guides lists her home as La Jolla, California. It also lists her hobbies as photography and bible study. Her states ambition was to eventually become an ordained minister.

Career Record

Singles career record 54–103
Doubles career record 304–214 (highest rank was #10)
Career singles titles: 2 (St. Joseph-1978; Avon Futues of Toronto (1980))
Career doubles titles: at least 17. 12 listed on her wiki, plus 2 in 1977 (one with Renee Richards) and 3 on 1978 Italian Ellesse circuit.

WTA Rankings

1977: #117
1978: #79
1979: #90

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_Smith

The Paula Smith thread:
https://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=379101

The 1980 WTA Avon Tennis Media Guide, page 137 (includes a picture)
1980 WTA Media Guide, page 127 (includes a picture)

[Thanks to Preacherfan for this biography]
 
#2,654 · (Edited by Moderator)
COLLINS, SANDY
United States
Born 13 October 1958 in Redlands, California
Career Span: 1978-1994 (turned pro in 1980)
Height: 5' 10" (1.78 m)

Played college in her native Texas for Odessa College. Sandy later earned a BA in Physical Education from the University of Texas Permian Basin. A media guide listed heavy topspin strokes and her serve as best weapons.

A good doubles player who reached a high singles ranking on 09 November 1981. Sandy manged wins over both Tracy Austin and Hana Mandlikova-both were slam winners that year. Collins finished 1981 ranked #18 in singles. 1981 was her only top 20 finish.

She played 17 consecutive US Opens from 1978 until 1994. She reached 18 doubles finals in her career and won four of those.
Her first fruitful partnership was with Sharon Walsh-Pete. Together they won the Japan Open in 1986; also making the QF of the Austrailian Open in 1987. In 1991, Sandy reached the quarterfinals of both the French Open (w/ Mary Pierce) and the US Open (w/ Rachel McQuillan). Her career results show a revolving door of doubles partnerships.

Collins appeared in the 1986 tour calendar. Off court she found time to do some modeling and TV commentary.

Sandy was recognized by Oakley Sunglasses and became the first tennis player to be endorsed by the company. After retirement, Sandy coached at several colleges and universities, including being the Head Tennis Coach at Texas Tech University.She is currently the Assistant Director Events Management at Texas Tech University.

Career Record (per WTA*note the WTA site mixed up her high singkes and doubles rankings)

Singles: 264-273
Doubles: 247-249

Titles: Won 4 doubles titles, including the 1986 Japan Open.




Sources:

1980 Avon Tennis Guide, page 80.
1991 WTAMedia Guide, page 98

[Thanks to Preacherfan for this biography and Binoxial for the pic.]
 
#2,655 · (Edited by Moderator)
MESKER, MARCELLA
Netherlands
Born 23 May 1959

Marcella Mesker was a Dutch #1 whose career spanned 1979-1988. She reached a career high of #31 in 1983 and won one WTA singles title over Lori McNeil in 1986. She had more success in doubles, winning 6 career titles (3 with Swiss player Christiane Jolissaint). Mesker & Jolissaint reached the US Open semifinals in 1984 beating #2 seeds Claudia Kohde-Kilsch and Hana Mandlikove en route. She served on the WTA Board and was awarded the Peachy Kellmeyer Player Service Award in 1986. Since her retirement, she has served as a tennis commentator and tournament director in the Netherlands. She has also written a book Women on the Center Court (2007) in which she tells about loneliness, jealousy, partnerships, setbacks and success, and the search for balance in life.

Titles

1986-Oklahoma City

Marcella (on left) in 1980 with Marianne van der Torre
184388



[Thanks to Preacherfan]
 
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