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#4,641 · (Edited by Moderator)
BOTTING, ALICE (nee Alice May Corner)
Great Britain/South Africa
Born in 1880 in Somerset, England
Died in 1968 in the Transvaal, south Africa
Married Robert Frederick Botting (1874-1936) in 1910
[Active circa 1905-14]

Alice Botting notably won the women’s singles title at the Southern Transvaal Championships in 1912.

Daughter Elizabeth May born circa 1916. Her husband was an Engineer. All 3 are listed on a 1934 ship manifest sailing from South Africa bound for Cardiff, Wales. She was the benificiary of his 1939 English will, which left her 750 pounds.

She sailed from Mombasa to England in 14 April 1948.

Sources:

South Africa, Estates Death Notices Index.

[Thanks to Newmark for this information]
 
#4,642 · (Edited by Moderator)
MAPPIN, SUE
Great Britain
Born 07 November 1947 in Sheffield, England
[Active 1965-1978]

More successful in doubles than singles. Reached Grand Slam doubles semifinals with compatriot Lesley Charles on three occasions; 1977 French Open and 1976 / 1977 Wimbledon. With Charles she won 15 doubles titles in 1974, mainly on the British circuit.

Member of winning British Wightman Cup team in 1974 and 1978.

Sue was a PE teacher in the 1960s. After retirement she became involved in tennis administration and promotion of the game at the grassroots

Mappin (on left)

Image


Sources:

Wikipedia article
ITF profile
The Mappin Group - Founder
https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/sco...GB/scores/draws/archive/players/da9a4189-b69b-4bd1-b89c-fcd843bd646f/index.html

[Thanks to Wolbo for this information]
 
#4,643 · (Edited by Moderator)
FRATER, "ALLISON" (Ellen Alison Frater)
South Africa
Born circa 1905
Died ????
Married Captain Harold G. Willmott on 7 January 1930 in Cape Town Cathedral
[Active circa 1925-30]

Popularly known as Alison, this player enjoyed most of her successes at tennis before her marriage.

From the ‘Rand Daily Mail’, 6 January 1930: “The marriage of Captain Harold G. Willmott, of the South African Air Force, to Miss Alison Frater, the well-known Western Province tennis player, will take place at Paarl tomorrow. Miss Frater is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Frater, the well-known fruit farmers at Paarl, and the sister of Dr Frater. She will not come up to Roberts Heights until Captain Willmott’s return from the Cape-Khartoum flight.”

[Thanks to Newmark for this information]
 
#4,644 · (Edited by Moderator)
ALEXANDROVA, EKATERINA (Ekaterina Yevgenyevna Alexandrova) (In Russian Екатерина Евгеньевна Александрова)
Russia
Born 15 November 1994 in Chelyabinsk, Russia
Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
Plays Right handed with a two-handed backhand
[Active 2011-present]

Spent 2011-2015 in the minor leagues. 1st WTA main draw was in 2016. Slow but steady progress brought her into the world's top 100 as of 2017. Played all four Grand Slams main draw in 2017 for first time in career. Peaked in rankings # 35 on 07 October 2019… 2019 was her 3rd consecutive year in the top 100. She upset Simona Halep at the important Beijing premier tournament. Despite her Russian nationality Ekaterina resides in Prague, capital of the the Czech Republic.

Winning Shenzen was the highlight of 2020 for the Russian

WTA YEAR-END RANKING

2020: #033
2019: #035
2018: #093
2017: #073
2016: #133
2015: #269
2014: #256
2013: #410
2012: #772

Career Highlights

SINGLES

SINGLES
Winner (1): 2020 - Shenzhen.
Finalist (1): 2018 - Linz.

DOUBLES
Winner (1): 2019 - Budapest (w/Zvonareva).

ADDITIONAL
WTA 125K Series Titles - Singles (3): 2019 - Limoges; 2018 - Limoges; 2016 - Limoges.
Russian Fed Cup Team, 2020.

Winner: 2018 - 125/Limoges; 2016 - 125/Limoges. 7 ITF titles.


Coached by Petr Kralert; also works with father, Evgeny . . . Began playing at age 6 . . . Favorite shot is forehand; favorite surface is hard . . . Speaks Russian, English and Czech . . . Likes to cook, especially making cakes . . . Admires Serena Williams . . . Short-term goal is to make Top 100

Image
.

Sources:

2017 WTA Media Guide, page 36.

Ekaterina Alexandrova
 
#4,645 · (Edited by Moderator)
PEER, SHAHAR (Shahar Pe'er)
Israel
Born 01 May 1987 in Jerusalem, Israel
Height: 5' 7" (1.70m)

Plays: Right Handed (Double Handed Backhand)
[Active: 2001-2016]

Israel's best female tennis layer ever. 2007 Australian Open and US Open quarterfinalist. Made the final 16 at all of the 4 majors.

Took up tennis at the age of six. Peer joined the Israeli armed forces at the age of 19. This is required of everyone in Israel.

Peer built up a game based on supreme fitness and consistency. Shahar maximized her potential to the fullest. In 2004 she won the Australian junior title and turned pro. Moving steadily up the rankings, it all came together for her in 2006 and 2007.

Peer captured 3 lower level WTA events in 2006 at Pattaya, Prague, and Istanbul.

This set the stage for her to make Israeli tennis history in 2007. Peer upset #4 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the 4th round. Though overpowered by Serena Williams in the quarters, Peer made history as the 1st female from Israel to make the final 8 of a grand slam. a 2nd quarterfinal came at the US Open some months later.

Peer became the focus if intense scrutiny in 2009 after she was refused a visa to compete in Dubai. The Arab nation did not have diplomatic relations with Israel. Several players, corporations, and the WTA protested. The event caved in and let her compete in 2010, but it was hardly business as usual. "She was not allowed to mix with other players off the court, was required to exercise in a separate gym, and was under strict guard on her way from the hotel to the court. ... Pe'er was widely praised by her fellow competitors for her composure under pressure during the tournament. In particular, Venus Williams remarked: "I can't imagine playing so well with these kinds of circumstances. I just have to give her congratulations and props. She's courageous. I don't think anyone else on the WTA Tour could do what she's doing". (wiki)

Realistically a top ranking in the bottom half of the top 20 was her peak. Peer reached the last sixteen 8 times at majors advancing the the quarterfinals 2 out of those 8 times. The lack of a weapon also prevented her from winning a premier level title or the semis of a major.

In 2009 Peer won 2 more WTA titles at Guangzhou and Tashkent .

The hard work and dedication required to maintain her game took a toll as the 2010s wore on. A shoulder injury took her out of the top 100 after 2013. After struggling with it for over 2 years she had enough. In February of 2017 Shahar announced her retirement.

“For me she is the greatest sportswoman the country has ever seen, both in her achievements down the years and in her character and the very hard work that always characterized her,” said Israel Tennis Association CEO Shlomo Glickstein. “She is a winner in her soul with a remarkable work ethic which is rare everywhere and especially in Israel. She registered outstanding accomplishments throughout her career and I salute her.”
Click to expand...
Image


Singles

Career record: 412-276
Career titles: 5 WTA, 1 WTA 125K, 4 ITF
Highest ranking: # 11 (31 January 2011)

Doubles

Career record: 189-175
Career titles: 3 WTA, 4 ITF
Highest ranking: # 14 (12 May 2008)

Personal:

Father is Dovik (computer software specialist); mother is Aliza (housewife) ... Began playing at age 6 by joining older siblings, brother Shlomi and sister Shani, in tennis lessons ... Loves visiting US, reading, romance movies and being at home with family and friends ... Also really enjoys baking and trying new food, especially because of travelling to new cultures and experiencing the local food and spices? Commenced mandatory Israeli Army military training in November 2005 ... Led 2010's March Of The Living, remembering 6 million victims of the Holocaust by marching from Auschwitz to Birkenau (asked by head of Jewish Agency for Israel to lead march of officials and 10,000 students from around the world) ... Awards received include Athlete of the Year in Israel (2006, 2007); Kids' Favorite Athlete of the Year in Israel (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009); Woman of the Year in Press (2009); and Key Person in Media at ceremony of Israeli Organization of Public Relations and Spokespeople.

Career Highlights:

SINGLES

Winner (5): 2013 - 125/Suzhou; 2009 - Guangzhou, Tashkent; 2006 - Pattaya City, Prague, Istanbul.

Finalist (4): 2013 - Baku; 2011 - College Park; 2010 - Hobart; 2007 - Memphis.


Also won 5 ITF titles.


DOUBLES

Winner (3): 2007 - Stanford (w/Mirza); 2006 - Prague (w/Bartoli), Stanford (w/Groenefeld).

Finalist (6): 2014 - Nurnberg, Baku (both w/Olaru); 2013 - Brussels (w/Dabrowski); 2010 - Tokyo [Pan Pacific] (w/Peng); 2009 - Indian Wells (w/Dulko); 2008 - Australian Open (w/Azarenka); 2007 - Luxembourg (w/Azarenka).

WTA Year-End Top 100 Rankings

2016: #1160
2015: #174
2014: #119
2013: #77
2012: #74
2011: #37
2010: #13
2009: #31
2008: #38
2007: #17
2006: #20
2005: #45
2004: #183
2003: #709
2002: #832


Image



Sources:


https://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/311168/title/Shahar-Peer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahar_Pe'er
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/S...ews/Sports/Shahar-Peer-announces-her-retirement-from-professional-tennis-482854
https://www.itftennis.com/procircuit/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=100012630
 
#4,646 · (Edited by Moderator)
LEYRER, Mrs MARIA
Austria
Married R. Leyrer by 1960
Nickname: "Ria"
[Active from at least 1959 to 1966]

Her lone entry at Wimbledon came in 1965. Mrs Leyrer had the misfortune of running into Margaret Smith, the wprld #1, who utterly demolished her to the tune of 6-0 6-1.

Her husband R. Leyrer was also a tennis player, competing at Wimbedon from 1960 to 1962.

Known Austrian rankings

1959: #9 (name given as G. Leyrer)
1962: #6 (as Ria Leyrer)
 
#4,647 · (Edited by Moderator)
O'NEILL, LORRAINE
Australian
Born on or after May 1943.
[Active in 1962]

Younger sister of the Australian Test Cricketer, Norman O'Neill (1937 -1998). Mother Gwen Wallace was an athlete competing at the 1954 Commonwealth Games in Vancouver.

Playing in Under 17's Tennis Competitions May 1960.(source Sydney Morning Herald 22nd May 1960)

Played singles in 1962 Australian Championships.
 
#4,648 · (Edited by Moderator)
BROCK, SIDNEY (nee Sidney Kathleen Long)
Great Britain
Born 25 August 1910 in Eton, England
Died July 1998 in Cheltenham, England
Married Harold L. K. Brock circa July to September of 1940 in Lewisham, England
[Active 1953-1967]

Competed at Wimbledon in singles every year from 1953 to 1962-most often starting in qualifying. Sidney qualified 4 times for the main draw but could not win a main draw match in singles.

Mrs Brock did win one Wimbledon main draw match, this being a doubles match in 1957. She competed in doubles only at the Championships in 1963 and 1964.

Sources:

https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/sco...GB/scores/draws/archive/players/9b02cffe-3d27-4af2-b790-e79177db575b/index.html

[Thanks to Peter2003 and Rollo for this information]
 
#4,649 · (Edited by Moderator)
DALY, NORAH (Norah Margaret Daly)
Ireland
Born 16 July 1900
Died 08 May 1965
Married Dr Richard Edward Tottenham on 16 October 1925
[Active circa 1920-30]

Norah (Daly) Tottenham was the daughter of fellow lawn tennis player Henry J. Daly; she took part in the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships several times during the 1920s. Dr Richard Tottenham was also a lawn tennis player, but was better known as a distinguished gynaecologist and obstetrician.

[Thanks to Newmark for this information]
 
#4,650 · (Edited by Moderator)
FLEMING FRANCES (Frances Mary Fleming)
Ireland
Born 09 January 1899 in Omagh, County Tyrone
Died 11 May 1987 in Bexley, Kent
Did not marry.
[Active circa 1920-39]

Often listed as Miss F. M. Fleming

Frances Fleming was one of the eight surviving children of Dr Hans Beresford Fleming and Emily Beatrice Fleming (née French). At least one of Frances’s siblings, her brother Percy Beresford Fleming, also took part in lawn tennis tournaments.

Frances Fleming achieved most of her success in doubles events, in particular at the Irish Championships in the years 1928-33. Her most notable achievements in this respect were as follows:

1928 Won women’s doubles title (w. Phoebe Blair-White); won mixed doubles title (w. Alexander Dudley Pitt)
1930 Runner-up in women’s doubles event (w. Phoebe Blair-White)
1931 Runner-up in women’s doubles event (w. Phoebe Blair-White); won mixed doubles event (w. Edward McGuire)
1932 Runner-up in mixed doubles event (w. Edward McGuire)
1933 Runner-up in women’s doubles event (w. Phyllis Wallis)

[Thanks to Newmark for this information]
 
#4,651 · (Edited by Moderator)
FRENCH, MARY (Mary Penrose French)
Ireland
Born 09 March 1908 in Roscarberry, County Cork, Ireland
Died in 2006 in Oakville Park Nursing Home, Harrogate, Yorkshire, England
Never married
[Active circa 1922-35]

Mary French was the daughter of Alan Edward Penrose French, a Church of Ireland clergyman, and Caroline French (née Shore). Alan French was also secretary of Rushbrooke Lawn Tennis Club in Rushbrooke, County Cork, for a number of years.

Source:

Family history Rector Alan E Penrose French Clonakilty Cork. (Cork) Page 1 RootsChat.Com

[Thanks to Newmark for this information]
 
#4,654 · (Edited by Moderator)
MCGOUGH, MERCY (Mercy Stuart Campbell McGough)
​
Australia
Born 30 May 1879 in Goulds County, Tasmania
Died 19 December 1968 in Moonah, Hobart
Married Thomas William Newton (died 1947) on 14 December 1909
[Active circa 1900-14]

Mercy’s husband, Thomas, and their two daughters, Phyllis and Mercia, were also tournament tennis players.

[Thanks to Newmark for this information]
 
#4,655 · (Edited by Moderator)
NEWTON, MERCIA (Mercia McGough Newton)
Australia
Born 5 October 1915 in Moonah, Hobart
Died ????
[Active circa 1935-40]

Mercia was runner-up to her sister Phyllis in the women's singles event at the Tasmanian Championships in 1938. Their father, Thomas, and mother, Mercia Newton (née McGough), were also successful tennis players.

[Thanks to Newmark for this information]
 
#4,656 ·
TURNER, "PAT"(Patricia Turner)
Australia
Born ????
[Active 1964-1966]

Younger sister of Lesley Turner.

Played singles at 1964 and 1966 Australian Championships.

Won Australian Junior doubles 1966 with the late Karen Krantzcke.

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]
 
#4,657 · (Edited by Moderator)
TYSON, BARBARA
Australia (Tasmania)
Born 16 March 1939 in Launceston, Tasmania (from International Tennis Who's Who 1983)
Married Merv Whybrow
[Active in 1959]

Played singles 1959 Australian Championships.

Played at Riverside TC Launceston, Tasmania.

www.tennis.com.au have a file on Riverside TC gives husbands name.

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]
 
#4,658 ·
TORRAS, ROSA ( Rosa Torras Buxeda)
Spain
Born 01 January 1895 in Barcelona
Died 26 August 1986
Did not marry.
[Active circa 1915-35]

Rosa Torras was the daughter of César Augusto Torras Ferrer, author of the Guides to the Catalan Pyrenees and president of the Catalan Association for Scientific Excursions and of the Excursionist Centre of Catalonia. Although Rosa grew up in a very bourgeois environment in the Barcelona of the early 20th century, her education was far from typical of the education girls of her class usually received at that time. According to her obituary in “La Vanguardia” newspaper, Rosa’s father ensured that she did not have to deal with any of the restrictions usually imposed on girls from her background; she was allowed to wear trousers, to wear her hair in the garçonne style and to smoke cigarettes using a long filter.

Rosa Torras was a member of the Real Barcelona Lawn Tennis Club, one of the oldest clubs in Spain. During her tennis career, she won eight titles at the Spanish Closed Championships: the singles in 1927; the women’s doubles in 1928 (with Maria Luisa Marnet), 1929 and 1930 (with María Cruz López de Lerena) and 1931 (with Bella Dutton); and the mixed doubles in 1929 and 1931 (with Enrique Maier) and 1932 (with A. Durall). She was also several times lawn tennis champion of her native Catalonia.

Image



For a photograph of Rosa Torras, see here: https://www.naciodigital.cat/generapdf.php?id=112175

Sources:

http://barcelonasportiva.blogspot.com/2015/06/rosa-torras-1895-1986-la-primera.html

[Thanks to Newmark for this information]
 
#4,659 · (Edited by Moderator)
PETKOVIC, ANDREA
Germany
Born 08 September 1987 in Tuzla, Bosnia
Height; 6' 11" (1.80M)
Plays: Right-handed with a two handed-backhand
[Active 2002-present]

Grand Slam highlights

2014 French Open semifinals.
2011 Aussie, French, and US Open quarterfinals.

An engaging personality on and off the court. Andrea entertain fans with a celebratory "Petco" dance, blogs about life of tour, and provides thoughtful responses instead of the usual robotic answers given by 99% of the tour.

Personal:

Coached by Jan De Witt ... Baseliner whose favorite shot is forehand; favorite surface is clay ... Began playing at age 6 when father introduced her to the sport ... Formerly coached by father, Zoran; mother, Amira, is a dentist's assistant; younger sister, Anja, is a student ... Speaks French, German, English, Serbian ... Favorite movie is Biutiful; favorite actors are Edward Norton and Javier Bardem ... Favorite types of music are rock, funk; favorite group is Bloc Party ... Enjoys reading, writing; favorite authors are Goethe, Wilde, Flaubert; people most admired are Goethe (genius in writing) and Che Guevara (genius in fighting) ... Other favorites include going to museums and watching basketball when in America ... Favorite city is Barcelona; favorite tournament is Stuttgart ... Most memorable experience was playing first Grand Slam at 2007 Roland Garros ... Self-described as thoughtful, outgoing and happy.

Career Highlights:

SINGLES

Winner (6): 2015 - Antwerp; 2014 - Charleston, Bad Gastein, Sofia; 2011 - Strasbourg; 2009 - Bad Gastein.

Finalist (5): 2013 - Nürnberg, Washington DC; 2011 - Brisbane, Beijing; 2010 - 's-Hertogenbosch.

Highest singles ranking at #9 on 10 October 2011

DOUBLES

Finalist (2): 2016 - Brisbane (w/Kerber); 2009 - Bad Gastein (w/Maria).

Highest doubles ranking at #47 on 14 July 2014

Year-End Rankings

2019: #79
2018: #64
2017: #97
2016: #56
2015: #24 (Won Antwerp)
2014: #14 (Semis of Frrench Open and 3 titles: won three WTA at Charleston, Bad Gastein and Sofia
2013: #39 (came back from knee injury and outside top 100 to finish solidly inside Top 50.)
2012: #143 (suffered through separate back and ankle injuries)
2011: #10 (3 slam quarters, only player to get to quarters or better in 3 majors.Won Strasbourg)
2010: #32
2009: #56 (Won Bad Gastein)
2008: #315
2007: #100
2006: #238
2005: #338
2004: #416

Image



The "Petko" Dance





Sources:

Andrea Petkovic | WTA Tennis

[Thanks to Rollo for this information]
 
#4,660 · (Edited by Moderator)
MARNET, "LOLA" (Dolores Laurence Marguerite Marnet)
Spain
Born in 1899 in Vic, Catalonia, Spain
Died in 1973 in Barcelona, Catalonia, spain
Married Emmanuel Marie Pierre Baurier on 19 September 1929 in Roda-de-Ter, Catalonia
[Active circa 1912-30]

Popularly known as "Lola", she was the sister of fellow lawn tennis player Maria Luisa Marnet. Lola's husband was a French textile businessman.

For several photographs of the Marnet sisters, see here: BARCELODONA: Les germanes Marnet

The sisters in 1912.

Image


[Thanks to Newmark for this information]
 
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