[Brian Stewart]

The final thread in the series. I'll be wrapping up with the other players. Note, to be included, a player has to have played in the main singles draw of a slam (with one exception). This will be almost exclusively bio info, and that will be incomplete. Perhaps some of you will be able to fill in the gaps (heights, weights, high rankings, titles). And, as always, stories welcomed.

Katrina Adams
Born: August 5, 1968, Chicago, IL, USA
Height: 5'5" (1.65m)
Weight: 145 lbs (65 kg)
Highest Singles Ranking: 67
Highest Doubles Ranking: 8
Career W/L: 181-195
Career Titles: Singles- 1; Doubles- 20; Grand Slam-0.

Titles Won:
Singles: 1991- Futures/New Braunfels, TX, USA
Doubles: 1997- Birmingham; 1996-Budapest, Cardiff; 1993- Chicago, Houston, Quebec City, Philadelphia; 1992- Indianapolis; 1991- Albuquerque; 1989- Houston, Indianapolis, European Open, Pan Pacific, Eastbourne; 1988- Tokto Doubles Chps, Boca Raton, Guaruja, Houston.

         Year End Rankings

1986-393  1987-158  1988-105  1989-86

1990-254  1991-93   1992-143  1993-179

1994-143  1995-113  1996-120  1997-279

         Grand Slam Results

Slam  88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97

Aus   1r 2r 1r  - 3r  -  -  -  - 1r

RG    1r 1r  -  - 1r  -  -  - 1r  -

Wim   4r 3r 1r  - 2r  - 1r 1r 2r  -

US    1r 1r 1r  -  - 1r 1r 3r 1r  - 

Notes:

• Reached the doubles final at Oklahoma City every year from 1991-96
• Vice President of WTA Players Association for 1995/96 and 1996/97; treasurer from 1994/95; served on Board of Directors from 1991. Has served on Special Olympics, Player, and Drug Testing Committees.
• 1996 WTA Tour Player Service Award
• 1997 WTA Tour Player Service Award
• Also nominated for 92, 93, and 94 Player Service Award, 89, 90, 91 Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award, and 1989 Doubles Team
• All-American in Tennis at Northwestern University in 1986-87. ITCA Rookie Player of the Year in 1986. Finished 1986 collegiate season ranked #1 in doubles and #6 in singles. Inducted into Northwestern University Hall of Fame in 1998.
• Started playing at age 6 in public parks program sponsored by the Martin Luther King Jr Boys Club
• Was surprised at being summoned to the interview room after her first round Wimbledon loss in 1994. Was then asked numerous questions, not about the match, but about the multi-colored tennis panties she wore.

-------------------------------------
Leslie Allen
Born: March 12, 1957, Cleveland, OH, USA
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 145
Highest Singles Ranking: 17
Titles Won: Singles: 1981- Detroit; 1977- ATA Championships.

           Year End Rankings

1978-152  1979-41



           Grand Slam Results

Slam  79  80  81  82  83  84  85

Aus    -   -  2r  3r   -   -   -

RG    3r  3r  4r  2r  1r  1r   -

Wim    -  1r  3r  2r  3r  1r   -

US    3r  2r  1r  1r  1r  1r  2r 

Notes:

• was sponsored for a time by Bill Cosby
• attended Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh), Fashion Institute of Technology (New York), Texas Southern, and the University of Southern California
• offered a track scholarship to Texas Southern
• member of USC's national championship team in 1977
• graduated Magna Cum Laude from USC in 1977 with a speech communication major

----------------------------------
Camille Benjamin
Born: June 22, 1966, Cleveland, OH, USA
Height: 5'10" (1.78m)
Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg)
Highest Singles Ranking: 27
Titles Won: Singles: 1987-Schenectady. Doubles: 1986- Tulsa

           Year End Rankings

1982-63  1983-49  1984-33  1985-62

1986-84  1987-66  1988-91  1989-93

1990-137  1991-216



           Grand Slam Results

Slam 82  83  84  85  86  87  88  89  90

Aus  1r  2r  1r  1r   -  3r  1r  3r  1r

RG    -  2r  SF  2r  3r  3r  1r  1r  3r

Wim   -  3r  3r  2r  2r  2r  1r  1r  2r

US   1r  1r  1r  3r  3r  2r  1r  3r  2r

Rene Blount
Born: May 12, 1957, Washington, DC, USA
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 135
Highest Singles Rank: 68 (through 1980)
Singles Titles: 1979- Avon Futures of Columbus, OH.

          Year End Rankings

1978-72  1979-83



          Grand Slam Results

Slam  78  79  80  81  82  83

Aus   2r   -  2r  1r   -   -

RG     -   -   -  2r  1r  2r

Wim    -  1r  2r  3r   -  1r

US     -  1r  2r  2r  1r   - 

Notes:

• 1978 All-American at UCLA
• first African-American woman to win a singles title since Althea Gibson
• first African-American woman to be seeded at a Grand Slam in the Open era
• played on the men's varsity tennis team at the Hampton Institute (Virginia)
• in 1979, struck the second fastest recorded serve for a woman

-------------------------------------
Andrea Buchanan
Born: April 6, 1955, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 125

         Grand Slam Results

Slam  79  80  81

Aus    -   -   -

RG     -   -  2r

Wim   2r  2r  3r

US    2r   -  2r 

Notes:

• briefly coached by Alex Olmedo
• swept Public Parks titles in 1978, and decided to give up her secreterial job and turn pro

---------------------------------
Jeri Ingram
Born: December 1, 1970, Washington, DC, USA
Height: 5'3" (1.60m)
Weight: 119 lbs (54 kg)
Highest Singles Ranking: 173
Career Titles: Singles: 1991- Futures/Freeport, BAH, Futures/Kingston, JAM

        Year End Rankings

1988-196  1989-206  1990-567

1991-413  1992-376  1993-205

        Grand Slam Results

Slam  89  93

Aus   1r   -

RG     -   -

Wim    -   -

US     -  1r 

--------------------------------------
Sonya Jeyaseelan
Born: April 24, 1976, Newestminster, BC, CAN
Height: 5'2" (1.57m)
Weight: 119 lbs (54 kg)
Highest Singles Ranking: 49
Career Titles: Singles: 1997- ITF/Rockford, USA; 1995- ITF/Ft. Lauderdale, USA; 1994- ITF/Vancouver, CAN. Doubles: 2000- Strasbourg

        Year End Rankings

1992-779  1993-223  1994-164  1995-181

1996-179  1997-96   1998-110  1999-149

2000-49   2001-

        Grand Slam Results

Slam  96  97  98  99  00  01

Aus   1r   -  2r  1r  3r  1r

RG     -  1r  2r  1r  2r  1r

Wim    -   -  1r  1r  3r  1r

US     -   -   -   -  2r   - 

-----------------------------------
Bonnie Logan
No slams played in Open era.
Note: First African-American to be permitted to play in a tournament in South Africa.
------------------------------------
Stacey Martin
Born: November 13, 1970, Washington, DC, USA
Height: 5'5" (1.65m)
Weight: 132 lbs (59 kg)
Highest Singles Ranking: 58

        Year End Rankings

1986-267  1987-NR   1988-89

1989-82   1990-105  1991-163

        Grand Slam Results

Slam  88  89  90  91

Aus    -   -  1r  2r

RG     -  2r  3r  1r

Wim    -  1r   -  1r

US    1r  2r  1r   - 

-------------------------------------
Diane Morrison
Born: August 11, 1958, San Fernando, CA, USA
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 125
Highest Singles Rank: 50 (through 1980)
Singles Titles: 1979- West Worthing (Pernod circuit in England)

        Year End Rankings

1977-125  1978-U  1979-62



        Grand Slam Results

Slam  79  80  81

Aus    -  2r   -

RG     -   -   -

Wim   1r  2r   -

US    3r  2r  2r 

Notes:

• Attended Stanford University, majoring in Math Sciences with an A- average
• won national college doubles championship in 1976 and 1977 (with Susie Hagey)
• won 1975 ATA championships
• was briefly coached on the pro tour by Benny Sims

-----------------------------------
Kim Sands
Born: October 11, 1956, Miami Beach, FL, USA
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 125
Highest Singles Rank: 66 (through 1980)

        Year End Rankings

1978-128  1979-117



        Grand Slam Results

Slam  78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86

Aus   2r  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

RG     -  - 1r 2r  - 2r 1r 2r  -

Wim    -  - 1r 2r 1r 2r 1r  - 1r

US     -  - 1r 1r 1r 1r 1r  - 1r 

Notes:

• graduated from the University of Miami (Florida) in 1978 with degrees in Education and Physical Education
• led her high school basketball team to the county championships, and played basketball her freshman year of college
• was first black woman to receive an athletic scholarship from the University of Miami
• when she first turned pro, was sponsored by heavyweight boxer Leon Spinks, which enabled her to earn enough ranking points and prize money to establish herself
• was coached by Greek Olympic pole vaulter Theodosios (Saki) Balafas

-------------------------------------
Mashona Lakuta Washington
(All info through end of 2001 season)
Born: May 31, 1976, Flint, MI, USA
Height: 5'6" (1.68m)
Weight: 130 lbs (59kg)
Highest Singles Ranking: 112
Highest Doubles Ranking: 95
Career W/L: 177-161
Career Titles: Singles- 2001-ITF/Albuquerque-USA

          Year End Rankings

1993-649  1994-403  1995-317  1996-347

1997-237  1998-166  1999-125  2000-142

2001-150

          Grand Slam Results

Slam  98  99  00  01

Aus    -   -   -   -

RG     -   -   -   -

Wim    -   -  1r   -

US     -   -  1r   - 

Note: Youngest of 5 siblings
-------------------------------------
Micheala Washington Abraham

         Grand Slam Results

Slam  84  85

Aus   1r   -

RG     -  1r

Wim    -  1r

US     -   - 

Note: Eldest of 5 siblings. Brothers Malivai and Mashiska played on ATP tour. Sister Mashona plays on WTA tour. Middle sister, Masanja, did not play pro tennis.

 

[Brian Stewart]

I've now updated this with bio info and notes for several players; particularly Allen, Blount, Buchanan, Morrison, and Sands. Feel free to add any information you have. (Rollo, can you give the details on Buchanan's death?)

Anyone interested in reading (or re-reading) the entire series, all 7 threads are still there. Just go to the bottom of the topics list in this forum and search for BHW

I'm still waiting for the other weeks (Spanish, Italian, etc.)

 

[CHOCO]

Wow Brian! Fantastic work.

I had a chance to meet Katrina and Jerri Ingram while doing some work for the Virginia Slims (WTA) tour 1988-89. I was impressed with Katrina as a person. She played doubles alot with Zina. As you noted, she was an excellent doubles player.

On the other hand, Jerri Ingram got some bad advice and left the U. of Maryland while she had a full ride. She and Monica were the talk of the tennis scene far as young phenoms. Funny thing, Monica and Jerri were about the same size then. As they say, the rest is history.

Thanks for the info on these young ladies who are often forgotten. They are very important part of tennis history. In fact, they helped pave the road for Venus and Serena and other Black women playing on the tour now.

Kudos Brian!

 

[Jakeev]

1. Renee Blount was the first African-American woman to be seeded in a Grand Slam tournament when she was only ranked as high as 68? Which one was it? The only one I can think of would have had to have been the Australian Open when the majority of the top women did not play in 1978-79.

2. I think Kim Sands eventually was a top 50 player wasn't she?

3. I think Michaela Washington won one of those futures titles and was runnerup in another. I think she is also a two-time champion of the prestigious U.S. Amatuer championships as well.

 

[Brian Stewart]

Blount was seeded at the 1978 Australian. The NY Times has her as #6 seed, while the WTA has her at #5. The top 3 seeds were Barker, Tomanova, and Norton. So it wasn't exactly a deep field.