SMOKER, AUREOLA (nee Aureola Athiel Walker)
United States
Born 28 September 1880 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died 01 October 1938 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Married Amos D. Smoker (1870-1951) in 1900
[Active 1917-1920]

Mrs Smoker entered the US Nationals from 1917 to 1920. Her tennis skills were modest; she lost every match she ever competed in across singles, doubles and mixed. In 1919 Mrs Smoker entered the mixed with her husband Amos D Smoker. The pair were thumped in the 1st round, winning only 1 game. After 1920 the US women's Nationals moved from Philadelphia to New York City. Mrs Smoker is not present in any of the US draws after 1920. If she continued to play past her 40s it would have been only in local Philadelphia events.

Mrs Smoker and her husband were members of the Belfield Country Club.

Her death certificate lists breast cancer as the cause of her death.

Daughter of Samuel Walker, the family lived on Knox Street in 1900. Her name on the 1900 census in Athiel, and her occupation was a bookkeeper. There is some confusion over her middle name, appearing variously as "Athiel" or "Ithiel"-cencus records almost always have Athliel, indicating this was the name she usually went by.

Mrs Smoker and her husband Amos lived with her parents on 4924 Knox Street even after marriage. The couple had no children.

Sources:

1910 and 1920 US Census
Death certificate.
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=91220733&ref=acom

[Thanks to Rollo for this information]

 

COLLIN, HANNAH
Great Britain
Born 18February 1982 in Thames Ditton, Surrey, England
[Active 1997-2005]

Highest singles ranking was 217 on 16th July 2001.
Played singles at Wimbledon 3 times 2000 to 2002.

As at August 2017 coaching at Wimbledon

Sources ITF website
Wikipedia

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]

 

O'DONOGHUE, JANE
Great Britain
Born 29 March 1983 Wigan, Lancashire.
[Active 1998-2007]

Highest ranking was 189 on 26th July 2004.

Appeared in Wimbledon singles from 2002 to 2005 winning 2 matches.
Wimbledon debut in 2002 was on Centre Court against defending champion Venus Williams.

After retirement coaching for the LTA.

Sources www.ancestry.co.uk
Wikipedia

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]

 

PULLIN, JULIE (Julie M. Pullen)
Great Britain
Born 05 November 1975 in Cuckfield, Sussex, England
Married Lawrence Hobbs July 2004, Brighton. 2 children Jayden and Mia.
[Active from 1991-2003]

Highest singles ranking was 125 in April 2000.

Received 9 wildcards for Wimbledon singles 1994 to 2003 losing in 1st round everytime. Had match points against Marlene Weingartner in 2001 before losing.

Qualified for Australian Open singles in 2000 and then reached 2nd round.
Played doubles at 2000 Olympics.

In 2016 was head coach at Pavilion and Avenue Tennis Club Brighton.
Active in senior tennis events.

Sources LTA Handbook.
www.ancestry.co.uk
Google

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]

 

SIDDALL, SHIRLI-ANN
Great Britain
Born 20 June 1974, in Liverpool, England
Married Nicholas J. Valentine 06 July 1992 in Bournemouth, England
[Active from 1990-1998,when she retired due to back problems]

Highest ranking was 181 on 8th December 1997.

Played singles at Wimbledon 5 times between 1992 and 1997 winning 2 matches. Lost to Jennifer Capriati in 3 sets in 1st round 1993.

Played Fed Cup and Maureen Connolly Trophy.

In later years has been coaching and resides in Poole.

Sources:

www.ancestry.co.uk
itf website
LTA Official Handbook 1998

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]

 

CROSS, KAREN
Great Britain
Born 19 February 1974, in Exeter, England
[Active 1993-2001]

Active between 1993 and 2001 reaching a career high of 134 on 15th June 1998.

Played at Wimbledon 8 times between 1993 and 2001 winning 5 matches.
Qualified for Wimbledon 1997 and 2001 and as at August 2017 these are the last 2 occasions when a British woman qualified for the singles at Wimbledon.

At Wimbledon 1997 reached the 3rd round where she lost to the then French Champion Iva Majoli having had a match point.

Played in Fed Cup.

Later coaching at Roehampton Club and also active on ITF seniors circuit.

Sources:

LTA Official Handbook 2000.
2017 Wimbledon Compendium.
Google

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]

 

WOODROFFE, LORNA
Great Britain
Born 18 August 1976 in Epsom, England
[Active 1993-2001]

Played singles at Wimbledon 6 times between 1993 and 2001. Only win was in 1997 when she beat Patty Schnyder.

Highest singles ranking was 133 on 26 January 1998.
Played in Fed Cup and doubles at 2000 Olympics

Later coaching for WimXTennis.

Sources:

www.ancestry.co.uk
LTA Handbook 1998
Google

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]

 

REGGI, RAFFAELLA
Italy
Born 27 November 1965 in Faenza.
Married Maurizio Concato on 14 September 1991 in Faenza
Height: 170 cm
Played: Right-handed with two-handed backhand
Nickname: "Raffe"
[Active 1981-1992]

Feisty Fighter

1986 United States Mixed Doubles champion with Sergio Casal.
1987 French QF

The fun loving and ever-smiling Italian was a popular fan favorite in the late 1980s and early 1990s. While friendly, she could also be grim and unrelenting in the heat of battle. Extremely feisty as a competitor, she lacked weapons to break into the top 10. Most often Reggi fell in the the round of 16 at majors, losing 6 out of 7 times once she reached that stage.

Reggi took up tennis at the age of 5. When only 14 she moved to Florida in the United States to train at Nick Bollettieri's tennis academy, the first Italian to train in this fashion.

In 1985 she became the first Italian woman to win the Italian Open since Annelies Bossi won in 1950. Bossi, Reggi, and 2014 finalist Sara Errani are the only Italian women to reach the singles final of Italy's top tennis tournament since World War II. The year Reggi won the Italian was a minor event.

1986 was most memorable for her victory at the Swiss Open at Lugano. Reggi upset world top tenner Manuela Maleeva in the final; the match ending in a dramatic 3rd set tiebreaker.

Reggi finished her career with five singles titles and four doubles titles. She was a member of the Italian Fed Cup team from 1982 through 1991 and the Italian Olympic Team in 1988 and 1992. She had career victories over Steffi Graf, Chris Evert, Evonne Goolagong, Jana Novotná, Hana Mandlíková, Manuela Maleeva, Nathalie Tauziat, Helena Suková, Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, Zina Garrison, and Jo Durie.

Reggi famously defeated Chris Evert at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea. She has confessed to not being fond of Evert. This win, more than any other, gives her the most satisfaction.

On her marriage in 1991 she was listed as Reggi-Concato. Mounting injuries to her hip and a bone spur in her foot led Reggi to retire after the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

Since retirement she beame a mother (daughter Julia was born in or around 1984) and worked as a television commentator.

Singles

Career record 296–189
Career titles 5
Highest ranking No. 13 (25 April 1988)

Titles

1985: Italian Open
1986: Swiss Open (Lugano) and Puerto Rican Open (San Juan)
1987: San Diego
1990: Taranto

Doubles

Career record 126–122
Career titles 4
Highest ranking No. 25 (24 June 1991)

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

http://www.itftennis.com/procircuit/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=20000257

https://twitter.com/raffaellareggi?lang=en [Reggi on twitter]

[video of Reggi vs Chris Evert in 1988 at Stuttgart]

Raffaella Reggi: ?In Italia mentalità sbagliata? ? SPAZIO TENNIS

[Thanks to Rollo for this information]

 

WARD, JO
Great Britain Born 22 June 1975 in South Shields
[Active 1994-2000]

Played singles at Wimbledon five times between 1994 to 2000.

Highest ranking 156 in November 1998.

Involved at WimX coaching from 2006.
Tennis Consultant and Coach Educator for LTA from 2017.

Sources LTA Handbook 1999.
Linkedin account

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]

 

WAINWRIGHT, AMANDA (Amanda M.H. Wainwright)
Great Britain
Born 24 March 1976 in London, England
[Active 1993-1995]

Played singles Wimbledon 1993 (won 1 match) 1994 and 1995 (qualified)

Left tennis to study at Emmanuel College, Cambridge University,

Became a P.E. teacher at Bancroft's School, Woodford Green, Essex

Sources LTA Handbook 1994
Google

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]

 

RICKETT, "KATIE" (Kathryn Ann Rickett)
Great Britain
Born 19 August 1968 in Birmingham, England.
Married David Alan Shaw 28 September 1996 Lee, Florida
[Active in 1988]

Only Grand Slam singles was 1988 Australia.

Laterly coach at Edgbaston Priory Tennis Club.

Source 1990 LTA Handbook.
www.ancestry.co.uk

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]

 

BROWN, AMANDA
Great Britain
Born 02 May 1965,in Barking, Essex, England
Married Jason G. Michelow May 2001, Brentwood, Essex. 2 children.
[Active 1982-1986]

Daughter of Ken Brown ,West Ham and England footballer.

Active on the circuit 1982 to 1986, retiring after Wimbledon 1986.
Highest ranking was 63 in May/July 1984.

Won Australian Junior singles 1982 and 1983.
Won Wimbledon plate 1983.
Played Fed Cup 1984.

Sources:.

www.ancestry.co.uk
WTA Media Guide 1987

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]

 

HUNTER, KAREN
Great Britain
Born 26 August 1968 in Surrey, England
[Active 1988]

Highlight of career was to qualify for Wimbledon singles in 1988.
Apart from Mandy Wainwright in 1995, and Karen Cross in 1997 and 2001 this was the last time (as at August 2017) a British woman qualified for the Wimbledon ladies singles.

Married James Whishaw Aug 1993 Surrey. 2 sons.
At summer 2013 living in Walton on Thames.
At April 2014 coach at Premier Tennis Tots Surrey.
Active in ITF Seniors tennis

Sources:

Wimbledon Compendium 2017
ITF Seniors website.
www.ancestry.co.uk

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]

 

GAGLIARDI, EMMANUELLE
Switzerland
Born 09 Juy in Geneva, Switzerland
Played: Right Handed (Double Handed Backhand)
[Active 1994-2008]

From a wealthy family, the Swiss was a solid if unspectacular top 100 player for most of her days. In majors Emmanuelle reached the 3rd round three times.

Gagliardi played 8 WTA semifinals from 1997 to 2003 (including 2002 Indian Wells) without a victory. This she never reached a WTA tour level final.

Singles Titles (all titles were ITS level)

2007 $75,000 Rimini (Clay);
2001 $50,000 Largo, FL (Hard);
1998 $25,000 Welwyn (Indoor Clay);
1997 $75,000 Austin, TX (Hard);
1996 $25,000 Florianopolis (Clay); $25,000 Salzburg (Clay)

Career Singles (Won-Lost) 342-303
Career Doubles (Won-Lost) 230-191

*includes ITS results

Career High Singles Ranking: #42 on 13 May 2002
Career High Doubles Ranking: #22 on 27 September 2004

Year End WTA Rankings (Singles and Doubles)

2008 256 175
2007 132 112
2006 113 79
2005 93 54
2004 104 22
2003 56 26
2002 61 83
2001 70 80
2000 97 -
1999 68 -
1998 105 -
1997 77

[WTA Min-bio]

Started tennis at age 9. Enjoys relaxing at the beach, taking walks, visiting museums, writing, doing puzzles, patchwork, yoga, cafe chats with friends, watching DVDs, playing golf and sleeping in on Sundays

Sources:

http://www.itftennis.com/procircuit/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=20003520

[Thanks to Rollo for this information]

 

PASSMORE, EUNICE
South Africa
Born 12 December 1942 in Hermanus, Western Cape, South Africa.
Married a Mr. Rademeyer in 1966 (after Easter)
[Active in 1959-1973]

1964 Eastern Transvaal triple champion in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.

Her family sailed to Great Britain in 1959. While on this trip Eunice took the opportunity to enter the qualifying competition at Wimbledon. She lost in the 2nd round of qualifying. This was the only time Passmore entered the Championships at Wimbledon.

Apparently Eunice never cracked the top ten in her native country.

Sources:

www.ancestry.co.uk.
www.gendatabase.com.

[Thanks to Jimbo and Rosamund for this information]

 

HUBER, LIEZEL (nee Liezel Horn)
South Africa/United States
Born 21 August 1976 in Durban, South Africa
Married Tony Huber on 19 February 2000.
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
[Active 1993-2014, 2016-2017]-Announced official retirement in August 2017.

A South African doubles specialist with multiple majors and interests.

Liezel hoisted 7 slam trophies in all; 5 in ladies doubles and 2 in mixed doubles.

Doubles Slams (all except 2001 US open won with Cara Black):

2005 French Open and Wimbledon
2007 Wimbledon
2008 US Open
2011 US Open.

Her 2 slam wins in mixed were at the 2005 Australian Open and 2009 French Open.

In international competitions she played for South Africa through 2008; representing the United States in Fed Cup from 2009.

Huber also won the WTA Tour finals in 2007 and 2008 and 2011.

In her youth Liezel Horn grew up with a mother who loved tennis. Encouraged by her parents, Liezel made a brave decision to leave South Africa at the age of 15 to attend a United States tennis academy.

2004-abandoned singles to concentrate solely on doubles.

2005 was a turning point for Liezel in several regards. In June she won her first major by capturing the Wimbledon doubles crown with Cara Black. 4 days later she blew out her knee. The injury threatened to end her playing days for good. She came home to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Liezel opened both her heat and her purse in helping over 20 families affected by the storm. Ever since her charity work has continued, ranging from animal shelters to building playgrounds for poor children in her native South Africa. "Liezel's Cause" is the official name of her charity.

Huber on on her charity work--“You know how Billie Jean King made a difference?” Huber said. “I would just like to really make a difference. I don’t know how. I’m starting so little. But she’s my absolute idol. It’s not that I need to be well known or people have to remember that’s what I did. I just want to make a difference.”

2007-became a US citizen.

Black and Huber complemented each other perfectly as a doubles team. Cara had magic hands at the net to poach off of Liezel's heavy and powerful groundstrokes. From 2005 to 2010 they were at or near the top of women's doubles duos.

Liezel and Cara had an acrimonious split in 2010, ending what had been a wildly successful doubles partnership. Losing 2 consecutive defeats in major finals (2009 US and 2010 Aussie Opens) at the hands of the Williams sisters put a large dent in their confidence. Huber admitted to being the one to drop Black, using the analogy that, ‘We are like a 2002 Lexus. We are OK. But you know, 2003 is better, 2004 is better. We are competing against 2010 models.’” Feeling Black's form was slipping, Huber cut the cord.

Huber quickly proved she could win majors without Black. In 2011 she and new partner Lisa Raymond won 6 titles, including the US Open and WTA Tour finale.

On court Liezel managed to get herself embroiled in various controversies. One famous incident was at the 2012 Australian Open. At a crucial stage in the doubles semifinal (the 3rd set tiebreak) Huber hit a ball after it had clearly bounced twice. The umpire missed the double bounce, and Huber played on until she and Lisa Raymond had won the point. Foes Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina exploded in anger as Huber played innocent or was truly unaware of what she has done. Huber developed a bit of a reputation for similar incidents. She also got hit quite often in quick volley exchanges. While not uncommon in top flight doubles, Huber was nailed in a number of high profile matches. Detractors labeled her as being overly dramatic when hit.

Tony and Cara adopted an infant son named Joshua in September of 2012. Age and motherhood slowed her down. The Huber's Tennis Ranch in Texas took up more of the couple's energy. She was off the tour completely in 2015 and entered only 1 minor event in 2016.

Huber quietly announced her retirement at the 2017 US Open, where she had entered the mixed doubles as a one-off last hurrah.

Her consistency in doubles is unmatched in the 21st century. Huber won a WTA tour title every year from 2000 to 2013-14 years in all.

Doubles

Career record 790-395
Career titles 53 WTA, 11 ITF
Highest ranking # 1 (12 November 2007)


Singles

Career record 175–159
Career titles 0
Highest ranking # 131 (29 March 1999)
Best result was 2R at 1998 french Open

Huber and Cara Black (on right)

Liezel with her young son in 2013

Sources:

http://www.itftennis.com/procircuit/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=35003808

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

Huber, Doubles Champion, Rebuilds Her Career and Others? Lives - The New York Times

Doubles Trouble: Black and Huber on their sudden split | TENNIS.com

https://www.tennisforum.com/1198-doubles-forum/468846-liezel-huber-adopts-baby-boy.html#post22249891

[highlights from 2008 US Open doubles]

[video of Huber from 2012 of the "double bounce' incident"

[Thanks to Rollo for this information]

 

GUILLIER, PAULETTE
France
Born circa 1908
Died ???? [alive in 1979]
Married Viel between 1931 and 1953
[Active 1928-1931, 1953, and 1957]

Lower ranked French player who almost cracked her nation's top ten ranking in the early 1930s.

She competed at Roland Garros from 1929 to 1931. Her match record was 1 win to 3 defeats. In 1931 she won one match by default and won another to reach the round of 16, losing 6-3 6-3.

French National ranking

1930: #14
1931: #14
1932: #12

Her marriage to a Mr Viel cannot be dated with certainty. Her return as Mme Viel in 1953 and 1957 was strictly limited to the Riviera in the south of France. Paulette is most likely to have married and had children in the 1930s and returned to compete in a limited capacity.

Here you will see photos from Tennis Magazine, January 1979, about Paulette Viel that played at the age of 70.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Galmiche

In 1953 thread we have a Viel that played at the Gallia Tournament, and that could be Paulette, aged 45.
1953 Results

In 1957 thread we have a Viel that played at the Carlton Tournament, and that could be Paulette, aged 49
1957 Results

http://www.fft.fr/sites/default/file...e_feminine.pdf

Paulette in 1979 at the age of 70

[Thanks to Jimbo and Rollo for this information]

 

BAKKUM,CARIN
Netherlands
Born 25 July 1962, Heemsker, Netherlands
[Active 1985-1994]

Active on circuit 1985 to 1994. Highest singles ranking was 141 on 27th March 1989.

Played singles at Australian Open 1988,89 and 1990 winning 1 match. Also qualified for singles at Wimbledon 1989 losing to Pam Shriver.

Later tennis coach at Festina Netherlands.

Active on ITF Seniors circuit.

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]

 

BASTING,YVETTE
Netherlands
Born 08 June 1977, Breda , Netherlands.
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Plays Right-handed
[Active 1993-2002]

Ranked from 1993 to 2002. Highest singles ranking was 92 on 5th March 2001.

Played in singles Australian Open 1995 and 2001 and Wimbledon 2000 (where she qualified and lost to Serena Williams in the 2nd round) and 2001.

Basting won 8 ITF level titles in singles.

Singles
Career record 206-130
Career titles 0 WTA, 8 ITF
Highest ranking 92 (5 March 2001)

Doubles

Career record 92-75
Career titles 0 WTA, 9 ITF
Highest ranking 106 (28 May 2001)

Sources various WTA Media Guides

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

Yvette (on left) and Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2000.

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]

 

CANDY, FRANCES
Great Britain
Born 03 August 1954 Hastings, Sussex
[Active 1972-1975]

Only Grand Slam singles main draw was at the 1974 Australian Open. Candy tried without success to qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon from 1972 to 1975.

Active on ITF senior circuit.

Latterly Head Coach at Rye Lawn Tennis and Squash Club.

Frances is not related in any way to Australian tennis player and coach Don Candy.

Sources:

ITF website

Player Profile - The Championships, Wimbledon 2017 - Official Site by IBM

[Thanks to Rosamund for this information]