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Biographies of Female Tennis Players

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#662 · (Edited by Moderator)
FLORIAN, ALICE
Yugoslavia/Hungary/Germany
Born circa 1921
Died 13 May 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Married Denes Von Tarnay (died 2011) in 1945.
Name variant: Alicia
[Active 1934-1950]

Daughter of Bela and Antonia Florian. The highlight of her career was reaching the doubles final at the 1939 French Championships with Hella Kovac. They lost a close match 7-5 7-5 to Jadwiga Jedrzejowska and Simone Mathieu.

She went on to Wimbledon in 1939. Most sources (including her obit) use Alice; John Barrett has Alicia. There are many variants however.

A report from September 1934 cites her age as 13. She was active during WII-playing in Germany in 1942, survived the war, and wed Denes Von Tarnay around 1945. Her obit states she was married to Denes for 66 years. As he died in 2011, we can securely date her marriage to 1945.

Alice won titles in Belgrade (1934), Wurzberg (1949) and Stuttgart (1950)

Image


Sources:

tennis Archives - Bodnar-Mahoney Funeral Home & Crematory
ALICE TARNAY Obituary - Cleveland, OH | The Plain Dealer

DENES TARNAY Obituary - Cleveland, OH | The Plain Dealer

21 Sep 1934 - LAWN TENNIS. - Trove

[Thanks to Jimbo and LKK for information about this player]
 
#663 · (Edited by Moderator)
FLOYD, DONNA
United States
Born 14 September 1940 in Atlanta, Georgia
Married Herbert Gordon Fales on 08 December 1962 in Alexandria, Virginia.
[Active 1959-1966]

From the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame website: Donna Floyd Fales was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1940 and moved to Arlington, Virginia in 1953. By the age of 14, she was the top-ranked 15 and under tennis player in the United States, winning the U.S. Girls 15 and under National Championships.

A 1962 graduate of the College of William & Mary, Fales was ranked among the top ten women in the country six times from 1960-1966 and twice ranked number 2 in doubles. Playing on the international circuit, she won the U.S. Clay Court Women’s Singles, the Canadian Singles and Doubles Championship, the U.S. Open Mixed Doubles and was a quarter-finalist at the French, Wimbledon and U.S. Open Championships. Fales played for the United States on the 1963 and 1964 Wightman Cup team, and was the team captain in 1964. She captained the U.S. Federation Cup team in 1967, 1969, 1972 and 1974 and most recently, she was the Captain of the U.S. Bueno Cup.

For her many achievements, Fales received the USTA Service Bowl Award in 1967, the Sarah Palfrey Danzig Award in 1989, the USTA Community Service Award in 1989, and the USTA Educational Merit Award in 1996. She has been inducted into the Women’s Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame, the William & Mary Athletic Hall of Fame, the National Capitol Tennis Hall of Fame and the Florida Tennis Hall of Fame. Fales served as the Tournament Director for the Orange Bowl Championships for seven years and as the Tournament Director for the ITF Sunshine and Connolly Continental Cup.

Additional Comments: Floyd Fales also reached the semifinals of the US Championships in 1960 defeated #5 seed Karen Hantze and #2 seed Ann Haydon. In her final US Championship, she reached the doubles final in 1967 with Mary Ann Eisel where they fell to Rosie Casals and Billie Jean King in a tough 3-setter.

Tournament wins:
1959 - Cincinnati (d. Carol Hanks)
1960 - Canadian (d. Ann Barclay)
1962 - Alexandria, Egypt (d. Lorna Cawthorn); US Clay Courts (d. Carole Caldwell); Napoli (d. Judy Tegart); Egypt International (d. Cawthorn)
1964 - Bastad, Sweden (d. Ulla Sandulf); Le Touquet (d. Janine Toffier)
1965 - New York State Championships (d. Carole Wright)
1966 - Eastern Grass Courts (d. Rosie Casals); Middle States Grass Courts (d. Mimi Arnold)

Image


https://vasportshof.com/inductee/donna-fales/

Image


[Thanks to Preacherfan for this biography]
 
#667 · (Edited by Moderator)
FORBES, JEAN (Jean Rosamund Forbes)
South Africa
Born 23 September 1939 in Burgersdorp, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Died 31 March 1984 in Travis, Texas, United States of a rare disease.
Married Eric Clifford “Cliff” Drysdale, 6 July 1967 in London

Sister of Gordon Forbes, writer of A Handful of Summers. He dedicated his book “Too Soon to Panic “ to his late sister.

The Forbes children grew up in rural South Africa on a farm. The family had a tennis court made of material from crushed termite mounds.

In 1955 many felt she was treated unjustly by Wimbledon, which denied her entry for singles due to her youth. Jean was still 15. To add fuel to the controversy Jean beat Louise Brough at Queen's Club on the eve of Wimbledon. Two weeks later Brough won the Championships at Wimbledon.

Her best effort at Wimbledon came in 1962, when she reached the 4R in singles and the QF of the mixed with her brother Gordon.

Wimbledon record (1956-58, 1962,1967-68, and 1970-71-doubles only)

Singles: 6-5
Doubles: 2-5
Mixed: 6-5

Image


[Thanks to Newmark, Rollo, and Rosamund for this information]
 
#669 · (Edited by Moderator)
FORCE, KATHERINE (Katherine Emmons Force)
United States
Born 12 March 1891 in Brooklyn
Died 8 September 1956 in Newport, Rhode Island
Married Lorillard Suydam Spencer (4.7.1883-10.6.1939), 6 December 1922 in New York
[Active 1914-1916]

A minor player in 1914, when she competed in the US Indoors. Better known for being the sister of Mrs John Jacob Astor.

In 1916 Miss Force competed in the US Nationals.

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

Katherine-and a second photo with Katherine and Madeleine, Mrs JJ Astor.



[Thanks to Jimbo for this information]
 
#670 · (Edited by Moderator)
FORD, FLORENCE (nee Florence Stretton Ford)
Great Britian
Born 1 August 1909 in Derby, Derbyshire, England
Died (still alive as of 1991)
Married George A Smith, circa August 1938

Won Buxton in 1933 and 1935. Still active in 1950. Fleet of foot and steady without spectacular shots.

[Thanks to Newmark for more information on this player]
 
#672 · (Edited by Moderator)
HOLZSCHUCH, FRANCOISE (Françoise Holzschuch)
France
Born 16 November 1904 in Hondainville (Oise)
Died 22 February 1977
Married (1) Jacques Fourcade on 17 October 1927; divorced circa 1929
Married (2) François Fort
[Active 1925-1933]

From "Le Gaulois" newspaper, 21 July 1927: "We announce the engagement of Mlle Françoise Holzschuch, daughter of M. Maurice Holzschuch, knight of the Legion of Honour, decorated with the War Cross, and of Mme Holzschuch, née Boulenger, to M. Jacques Fourcade, son of M. Manuel Fourcade, former bâtonnier, and Mme Fourcade, née du Buit."

Maurice had been a mayor of Hondainville in Oise Department.

Later in 1927, "Le Gaulois" announces that the marriage of Jacques Fourcade and Françoise Holzschuch is due to take place on Monday, 17 October, 1927. "Tennis et Golf" of November 1927 confirms that the marriage did indeed take place between the tennis player Françoise Holzschuch and Jacques Fourcade, a lawyer.

The pair were divorced, probably in 1929, as Le Figaro mentioned both her maiden and married names in the results of the Vittel tournament. In early August the same newspaper announced that Mme F. Holzschuch was going to participate in the German Championships and it seems that the name "Fourcade" never appeared again in the tennis results.

In 1931-32 she is once again listed as Mlle Holzschuch at Roland Garros.
Le Figaro also mentions a youthful Mme Holzschuch in 1931, perhaps the "Mme' is an error or a way of indicating she had been married.

Note that any mention of her as Mme Rene (not Jacques) Fourcade is in all probability an error.

[Thanks to Mark, Rollo, Jimbo, and LKK for this biography]
 
#674 · (Edited by Moderator)
FOX, RAYNI
United States
Born 24 May 1956 in Miami Beach, Florida
Married Arthur D. Borinsky (died 1994) on 10 October 1980.
Height: 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Played: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
[Active 1973-1980]

A blonde and attractive Floridian with a two-handed backhand. In singles her baseline game was best on clay. In the end good volley skills led to more success in doubles-with at least 5 titles in the late 1970s.

Rayni played on the 1973 USTA tour as an amateur. Rather than turn pro, Fox attended Rollins College in Florida from 1973 to 1975. Rollins is well known for tennis, with past champions such as Pauline Betz and Shirley Fry playing for it.

Lured at last by increasing prize money opportunities for women, Fox turned pro in August of 1975.

Fox's Grand Slam highlight was at the 1977 French Open. With partner Helen Crawlwy she was a losing finalist to Regina Maršíková/Pam Teeguarden 5-7 6-4 6-2. She also won a tournament at Hobart that year, and reached the quarters at the 1977 Australian Open in December. Seeded #8 (her highest seed in a major) Rayni lost 6-3 6-0 to #2 seed Sue Barker.

Her highest computer rank was at #46 in September of 1979.

She settled in New Jersey after marriage and is the mother of 3 daughters and 2 sons. Rayni's last event on tour was the 1980 US Open, where she made the quarterfinals in mixed doubles.

In 2006 she was inducted into the MetroWest Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. As of 2017 Mrs Fox-Borinsky is a tennis coach in Chatham, New Jersey. The website declares, "When on court with you, she loves to teach the Volley, so be ready."

Image

Sources:

WTA Media Guide 1981

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayni_Fox [created by Wolbo. The most comprehensive source for Fox]

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

There is also a very brief clip of her on the WPA Film Library site (along wth some other nice but short clips on women's tennis).

http://www.strandtc.com/about-us/professional-staff-2/

[Thanks to Rosamund and Wolbo for this information]
 
#675 · (Edited by Moderator)
FOY, JACQUELINE
France
Born 20 August 1916 in Paris
Died ????
[Active as early as 1938 to 1951]

French record (entered every year from 1946 to 1951)

Singles record: 2 wins-6 defeats.

Jacqueline never entered Wimbledon.

Foy was Jewish, and during the Nazi occupation of France naturally feared for her life when her father was rounded up and sent away. Fellow tennis player Raymonde Vever takes up the tale:

“One night there was a frantic knocking on our apartment door,” she [Raymonde Veber] remembers. “I opened it to find a woman I knew from tennis, one of my hitting partners, named Jacqueline Foy. She was crying hysterically. Her father had been taken away, she said. She feared she was next — no Jews were safe. I didn’t know her very well, but she was shaking and so afraid, so I let her in.”
Foy was about 26 or 27 at this time, several years older than Raymonde, a talented player who competed internationally. They became unexpected roommates. “She didn’t leave,” Raymonde says. “Jacqueline lived in our apartment for the next six months. She was terrified. She never went outside the entire time, just hid in our apartment. She had no fresh air. I don’t know how she could stand it, but of course she feared what would happen if she left. We fed her and never breathed a word about where she was.”

“Finally, after six months, Jacqueline’s mother sent word that she was safe in the countryside, and that Jacqueline should come and join her. So she slipped out of our apartment. I never saw her again.”

Raymonde hasn’t returned often to France over the years, but on one trip back to her native country she was told that Jacqueline had survived and had returned to Paris after the war. Raymonde headed straight for Jacqueline’s last known address and knocked on the door. Alas, the family member who answered told Raymonde that Jacqueline had recently passed away.

Raymonde asked if Jacqueline’s father had survived.
“He was never seen again,” she was told.

(From the memories of Raymonde Veber in the online article, "Roland Garros at War")
Click to expand...
Raymonde beat Foy at the 1951 French, so her memory in regards to Foy after the war appears somewhat muddled. Clearly she did see her again after the incident. We also don't have the year Foy was hiding with the Vebers-a best guess would be 1942.

Sources:

Roland Garros at War - SBNation.com


[Thanks to Rollo for this information]
 
#676 · (Edited by Moderator)
FRANCIS, ALICE (Alice Constant Francis)
United States
Born 6 January 1907 in New Jersey
Died 11 April 1990 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
Married Harry Florian Wolf (31 March 1907-), in April 1934 in Orange, New Jersey.
Active circa 1922-34.

Ranked #10 in the US for 1927. Her biggest title was the 1928 Bermuda Championships.

Titles

1927 Ardsley Invitational-RU 1928 and 1932.
1928 Bermuda Championship in Hamilton, Bermuda
1928 Mason & Dixon Championships in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
1928 North and South Tournament in Pinehurst
1931 New Jersey State Championship.

Alice often played mixed doubles with her husband Harry Wolf. Harry garnered the most attention for his squash, where he was the US champion from 1929 to 1940.


Source:

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

[Thanks to Newmark and Rollo for this information]
 
#677 · (Edited by Moderator)
FRANCISCO, ”FLO” (Florence Margaret Francisco)
Australia (NSW/Queensland)
Born in 1912
Died 25 November 1981
[Active circa 1928-38]

Although Florence Francisco was born in New South Wales, her family later moved to Queensland. She was notably runner-up in the women’s singles event at the Queensland Championships in 1935. Florence Francisco turned professional on 16 June 1938 and might have been the first female Australian tennis player to take this step. As there was no pro tour for females the purpose would be so she she charge money to teach tennis-a "reaching pro" in the jargon of her day.

[Thanks to Newmark for this information]
 
#679 · (Edited by Moderator)
FRENCH, JEAN (Jean Marion French)
United States
Born
Married L Robert Fallot 19 October 1950 in Garden City, Long Island, New York
[Active circa 1948 to 1955]

Played in the 1951 US Nationals. Jean and her husband were both from Amityville, Long Island. She was #6 in the 1951 and 1952 Eastern US Women's rankings.

In 1943 French graduated from Adelphai College. She also studied at Columbia University. She was a member of the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills and the Bath and Tennis Club in Palm Beach, Florida.


Sources:

JEAN FRENCH WED TO DR. L.R. FALLOT: She Wears Satin and Lace at Her Marriage to Physician in Garden City Cathedral
Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.David Berns. New York Times 20 Oct 1950: 31.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?...s?nid=1310&dat=19520319&id=0spQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rOIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3812,6205497&hl=en [her photo]
 
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