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Biographies of Female Tennis Players

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#101 · (Edited by Moderator)
ARTH, JEANNE
United States
Born 25 July 1935 in St Paul, Minnesota
[Active: circa 1950-1959, then briefly in 1965 and 1971]

Growing up in the northern midwest, Jeanne began tennis by the age of six. She decided to concentrate in tennis at age 12, leaving behind football and hockey. The football experience may have helped her develop her serve, which became Jeanne's major weapon.

Jeanne Arth participated for the 1st time in the US Championships in 1950 as a junior. After that her play was limited mainly to summer events; college kept her occupied until her 1956 graduation from the College of St. Catherine with her teaching degree.

In 1957, Arth joined the international circuit while employed as a full-time high school teacher, and attained a remarkable No. 7 national ranking.

The following year, she and partner Darlene Hard captured the U.S. doubles title as an unseeded team, winning a thrilling three-set match against top-seeded Althea Gibson and Maria Bueno. Weeks later in singles Jeanne reached the SFs of the US Chmps (she lost to her doubles partner, Darlene Hard 7-5 6-2, but she had upset the 5th seeded Hopps and the 2nd seeded Head-Knode on her way). This was to prove her best singles result in a major.

She toured Europe in 1959 (the French Championships, some English tournaments including Wimbledon). Arth and Darlene Hard repeated their US Nationals victory in 1959, also taking the Wimbledon doubles crown, making them the #1 doubles team in the world for 1959.

Retiring from the circuit at the top of her game, Arth continued a distinguished 37-year career as an educator and counselor.

She probably came back to competitive tennis at least once in the 1960s, according to Ugarte's results she was a runner-up (in doubles, with Helen Perez) of the Western Indoors in 1965. After many years she returned to the Grand Slam level - in 1971 she was 36 when she lost in the first round of USO, defeated by BJ King; she also reached the QFs of mixed doubles playing with Ham Richardson, and played doubles Graciela Moran (not Gussie-as reported by the ITF site).

She returned to Wimbledon in 1989, on the 30th anniversary of her doubles title. In an interview with the International Tennis Women’s Hall of Fame, she said, “I was filled with pride. I had actually played and won on Wimbledon’s Centre Court.”

Arth remains best known for her 3 slams doubles victories.

ITA Hall of Fame page: http://web.wm.edu/tenniscenter/arth.html (includes phote with Darlene Hard)

St Paul Tennis Club site: Club History | St. Paul Tennis Club

Wiki entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Arth


Arth at Forest Hills with its iconic Tudor style buildings in the background.
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#102 · (Edited by Moderator)
ARMSTRONG, SHEILA
United Kingdom
Born 14 July 1939 in Manchester, England, UK
Died January 1979 in Nottingham
Married Brown
[Active: 1954-60]

Her fast paced game was best suited to doubles and grass.

Started tennis at age 11. Coached at first by Major Applewaithe.in 1951 won the under 18 event at Manchester Park, an event won by her mother Joan in 1925. At 15 she was chosen to represent England vs Wales-marking her entry into adult tennis.

A Manchester firm sponsored her trip to Australia in late 1955. She lost to #3 seed Beryl PenPenrose at the 1956 Aussie.

1957 saw several milestones, including her first Wimbledon (reaching the 4R), playing Wightman Cup doubles, and ending ranked #7 in GB.

She retired at the age of 21 due to a broken thumb.

Link to an image of Sheila (on left) with Shirley Bloomer on right:
http://www.tennisforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=62634&d=1362425250

[Thanks to Rosamund for information on this player]
 
#104 · (Edited by Moderator)
ANLIOT, "HELENA" (Aina Helena Gabriella Anliot)
Sweden
Born 26 September, 1956 in Falun, Sweden
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
[Active 1974-1980]

A blonde cutie with trademark headband, she drew more attention for dating Bjorn Borg than her tennis. #1 in Sweden from 1975. That year she was RU at the Scandinavian Open and held a year end rank of #85.

On the court she often had the bad luck to draw Chris Evert in opening round of Grand slams at least 2 times.

Helena's best WTA ranking was at #36 in October of 1977. She retired at the young age of 23. She later worked as an artist.

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Sources:

https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_Anliot
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_Anliot

Paintings Helena Anliot [showcasing her art]

1977 World of Tennis. page 280.
Hedges, Martin. The Concise Dictionary of Tennis. 1978. p. 14
 
#105 · (Edited by Moderator)
AMBLARD, BLANCHE (Blanche Matilde Amblard)
France
Born 09 September 1896 in Ville d’Avray, Paris
Died 25 August 1974 in La Celle-Saint-Cloud, Yvelines, Île-de-France
[Active circa 1912-14 and again after World War One]

Blanche Amblard was the twin sister of fellow lawn tennis player Suzanne Amblard. The two sisters often played doubles together and won the women’s doubles event at the French National Championships as a pair in 1913 and 1914. Suzanne was the better singles player of the two sisters.

After World War One, the Amblard sisters continued to take part in tournaments, but although Suzanne won the women’s singles title at the French Covered Court Championships in 1919, neither sister really fulfilled her early promise.


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[Thanks to Newmark for this information]
 
#106 · (Edited by Moderator)
AMBLARD, SUZANNE (Suzanne Émilie Amblard)
France
Born 09 September 1896 in Ville d’Avray, Paris
Died 17 May 1980 in Paris
[Active circa 1912-14 and again after World War One-

Suzanne Amblard was the twin sister of fellow lawn tennis player Blanche Amblard. The two sisters often played doubles together and won the women’s doubles event at the French National Championships as a pair in 1913 and 1914. The better singles player of the two twin sisters, Suzanne Amblard notably took a set from 15-year-old Suzanne Lenglen in the semi-finals of the women’s singles event at the World Hard Court Championships in 1914.

After World War One, the Amblard sisters continued to take part in tournaments, but although Suzanne won the women’s singles title at the French Covered Court Championships in 1919, neither sister really fulfilled her early promise.

Suzanne (on the left) and Blanche. They were twin sisters

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[Thanks to Newmark and Rollo for this information]
 
#107 · (Edited by Moderator)
ROGERS, "GINGER" (Virginia Katherine McMath Rogers)

Born 16 July 1911 in Independence, Missouri
Died 25 April 1995
Married (1) Edward Jackson Culpepper (aka Jack Pepper), 29 March 1929, divorced 11 July 1931
Married (2) Lew Ayres, 13 November 1934, divorced 13 March 1941
Married (3) Jack Briggs, 16 January 1943, divorced 7 September 1949
Married (4) Jacques Bergerac, 7 February 1953, divorced 7 July 1957
Married (5) William Marshall, 16 March 1961, divorced 1969 or 1971

Millions around the world know Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire as the dashing dance figures who epitomize style and grace from the 1930s. Her dancing overshadowed a serious acting career-she took home the Oscar award in 1940 for the drama Kitty Foyle. Did you know she also played tennis in a grand slam?

She participated in the US championships in 1950. While an unlikely candidate to play Forest Hills, Ginger was a serious player in an era when it was cool for Hollywood stars to play tennis. Movie bigwigs such as Ginger would always be found at the pacific Southwest event mixing with tennis luminaries.

Rogers partner at Forest Hills in 1950 was Frank Shields. Now better known as the grandfather of Brooke Shields, he and the 39 Ginger lost 3-6 5-7 in the first round of the mixed doubles in what was Ginger's only serious tournament appearance.

“I did everything Fred did, only backwards and in high heels.”
― Ginger Rogers
Click to expand...
Official site of Ginger Rogers:
http://www.gingerrogers.com/

Autobiography:
Ginger Rogers: Ginger My Story, New York: Harper Collins, 1991


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#108 · (Edited by Moderator)
#111 · (Edited by Moderator)
FALKENBURG, “JINX” (Eugenia Lincoln Falkenburg)
United States
Born 21 January 1919 in Barcelona, Spain.
Died 23 August 2003 in Manhasset, New York, US
Married Lieutenant Colonel John Reagan, "Tex," McCrary (b 13 Oct 1910) in New York on 10 June 1945.
son John Reagan, III, is born in New Yorkin August of 1946, Son Kevin Jock borm August 1948.

Parents Eugene L. Falkenburg, an engineer, and his wife, Marguerite "Mickey" Crooks Falkenburg, an accomplished amateur tennis player. Jinx's father has a series of assignments in Spain, where he works on electrifying railroads. Her mother nicknames her Jinx months before she is born because they expect a son. Her family moves to Chile and Brazil. Living in California by the mid 1930s, she graduated from Hollywood High School, plays the amateur tennis circuit, and become good friends with Paulette Goodard, wife of Charlie Chaplin. TV, modeling (she was proclaimed America’s #1 Glamour Girl by Life magazine in 1941) and radio make her famous, eclipsing her tennis.

Jinx was in many ways famous for being famous, playing herself in the 1944 hit Cover Girl with Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly. She also toured China in 1944 with the USO. It is her brother Bob Falkenburg who gains tennis fame by winning Wimbledon in 1948.

Still playing tennis in 1945 she and John Shea win the mixed doubles at the tennis finals held in La Jolla, California.

The McCary’s separated in the 1980s but never divorced. Tex died 29 July 2003 Jinx followed weeks later. Her son, Kevin was featured on "Hoarders" in November, 2011.

For her contribution to the television industry, Jinx Falkenburg has a star on the Hollywood Blvd. Walk of Fame at 1500 Vine Street.

Sources:

Jinx. By Jinx Falkenburg, 1951. 283 pages.
Paulette: The Adventurous Life of Paulette Goddard by Joe Morella and Edward Z. Epstein, 1985.
Tex McCrary: Wars, Women, Politics: An Adventurous Life Across the Twentieth Century, y Charles J. Kelly, (2009)

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#112 · (Edited by Moderator)
ARTH, SHIRLEY (nee Shirley Ernestine Arth)
Born 17 December, 1932 in St Paul, Minnesota
Married Lyle Loeding on 01 July 1961.
Died: 13 August, 2009 in Colorado
Active in the 1940s and 1950s.

The elder sister of Jeanne Arth. The pair learned tennis at the St Paul Tennis Club from their father Len. The family lived only 4 doors down from the club.

One favorite story recounts a lovely Sunday morning during the summer of 1950 when Shirley (17) and Jeanne (15) played two college men from Duluth during an inter-club tournament. As the men walked onto Court 3, one asked, “Who are we playing?” His partner answered, “I don’t know ... just a couple of girls!” The Arth sisters won the match 6-1, 6-2, leaving two surprised young men asking, “Who were those girls?” In the early days, Shirley won many matches against her sister, frequently by lobbing shot-after-shot, a style that Jeanne absolutely hated.

She taught school in Colorado, Waseca and Rochester. She married Lyle Loeding, a highway patrol officer, on July 1, 1961. Shirley was a top ranked state and national tennis player and was inducted into the U.S.T.A. Northern Tennis Hall of Fame in 2002.

Had 3 sons: (Shaun, Scott Loeding, and Steven) and 3 daughters (Laura,Lisa and Leslie).

Find a Grave: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=40748309
St Paul Tennis Club site: http://saintpaultennisclub.com/club-history
 
#114 · (Edited by Moderator)
BABCOCK, CAROLIN
United States
Born 26 May 1912 in Billings, Montana,
Died 25 March 1987 in Southampton, New York
Married Richard Salisbury Stark, 27 October 1937. Divorced circa 1947.
[Active: 1929-1937]

Best known for reaching the 1932 US final. She played the US Nationals 8 times form 1929 to 1937, missing only 1931. She was RU in 1932, SF in 1934, and QF in 1935 and 1936. She played Wimbledon in 1934 and 1936, as well as the French in 1934.

Carolin was even better in doubles. At the 1934 and 1935 US Nationals she lost in the finals with Dorothy Andrus. With Midge Van Ryn she finally won a major in 1936, upsetting #1 seeds Helen Jacobs and Sarah Palfrey. Babcock and Van Ryn lost the 1937 final in a rematch. 4 consecutive doubles finals was mighty impressive.

Babcock's main tennis assets were a hard and flat forehand (often compared to Ellsworth Vines-a male power player) and a strong first server.

Nationally ranked in singles and doubles from 1932 to 1936, she played on four Wightman Cup teams from 1933 through 1936.

Won Seabright in 1934.

Babcock was first taught tennis by her father. in 1927 the family moved to California.

She was married for 10 years to Richard S. Stark and she resided from the mid-1940's until 1980 in Malibu, Calif., before making her home in North Haven to be near her son.

Note unique spelling for her name. It is not spelled “Caroline”.

Babcock (on left) and Joan Ridley coming down the steps into the main stadium at Forest Hills-1932
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Sources:

https://billingslibrary.org/DocumentCenter/View/4137/BabcockCarolin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolin_Babcock
New York Times Obit:
Carolin Stark Is Dead - Tennis Star in 1930's - NYTimes.com
 
#116 · (Edited by Moderator)
BAGH, ELISABETH
Russia/Estonia/Canada
Born 1 July 1911
Died 21 October 1994
Married Malvet, 1938

Born in Saint Petersburg, Elisabeth Bagh grew up in Estonia and died in Canada. She was the elder sister of Antoine Bagh (20 May 1913-27 October 2007); the latter sister also played tournament tennis; Antoine spent her later life in Germany.

A short biography (in Estonian) and a photograph of Elisabeth Bagh can be seen here:
http://www.spordiinfo.ee/esbl/biograafia/Elisabeth_Bagh
 
#117 · (Edited by Moderator)
BAGNALL-WILD, ALICE (nee Alice Pfeil)
United Kingdom
Born 1851
Died 24 December 1933
Married Ralph Bagnall Bagnall-Wild, 4 July 1871

Alice Pfeil, a native of London, was always referred to as Mrs Bagnall-Wild after her marriage. She had some modest success in the early days of lawn tennis. Her husband, who had two Bagnalls in his name, also played lawn tennis and was involved in the administrative side of the game, too. The so-called ‘Bagnall-Wild” system introduced a new method of making tennis draws for tournaments.

[Thanks to Newmark for this information]
 
#118 · (Edited by Moderator)
BAIN, "ROGUIE" (nee Rosemary A. Moutray)
Ireland
Born circa 1920
Married Major William Bain on 13 February 1943 in Fisherwick Presbyterian Church, Belfast, Northern Ireland
[Active circa 1935-40 and 1946-55.]

Christened Rosemary, but popularly known as Roguie, this player was ranked no. 9 in Ireland for 1940. She is the Mrs Bain who took part in the Wimbledon singles event in 1948, competing again in 1952 (women's doubles and mixed doubles) and 1953 (mixed doubles only.

Source:The History of Irish Tennis by Tom Higgins (2006)

[Thanks to Newmark and Rosamund for this information]
 
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