Download - TENNIS PLAYERS
TENNIS PLAYERSYOU GOTTA KNOW…
MEN
ROD LAVER (1938–PRESENT)
• Aussie, mate
• Weighed 145 lbs
• Only player to win Grand Slam twice
• Won 5 US Pro Championships
• First to earn $1,000,000 in a career
PETE SAMPRAS (1971-PRESENT)
• Youngest man to win US Open
• Won Wimbledon 7 times in 8 years
• World #1 for 6 years in a row (‘93-’98)
• Married to actress Bridgette Wilson
• Retired in 2002
BJORN BORG (1956-PRESENT)
• Total of 11 majors
• Started at age 9
• Dominated from ‘74-’81 when John McEnroe beat him
• Retired at 26
• Never won US Open
BILL TILDEN (1893-1953)
• Unstoppable from ’20-’25
• “Big Bill” stood 6’2”
• Trademark “cannonball” serve
• Won 10 majors, becoming pro at 42 years, and touring until 50 years
• Performed on Broadway (Dracula)
ANDRE AGASSI (1970-PRESENT)
• 1996 Olympic Gold Medal
• Known more for image than (great) playing
• Fifth man to win career Grand Slam
• 8 major titles
• Married to Steffi Graf (getting to her later…)
JOHN McENROE (1959-PRESENT)
• Known for fiery temper and referee abuse
• Dominant player in 1980s
• Had an 83-2 record
• Total of 7 majors
• Won 77 doubles titles and played David Cup 12 times, captaining US team in 2000
ARTHUR ASHE (1943-1993)• First black man to win US
Championship and Wimbledon
• First American player to earn over $100,000 in one year (1970)
• Gotten AIDS virus from tainted blood in a 1983 heart surgery
• Arthur Ashe Stadium, home of US Open, named after him
WOMEN
MARTINA NAVRATILOVA (1956-PRESENT)
• Prague, but defected to US
• Grueling fitness regimen
• 18 singles Grand Slams, 167 total singles titles, and even more doubles titles with Pam Shriver
• 20 overall Wimbledons
STEFFI GRAF (1969-PRESENT)• “Fraulein Forehand”
• Turned pro at 13 years
• Only player to win the Grand Slam and Olympic Medal in the same year (1988)
• 22 major singles crowns • Married to Andre Agassi
CHRIS EVERT (1954-PRESENT)• Queen of Clay Courts
• Won French open record 7 times
• Won a major for 13 straight years
• Rivals with Martina N
• First female player to win $1 million in career
BILLIE JEAN KING (1943-PRESENT)
• 12 Grand Slam singles wins, 20 overall Wimbledon titles
• Advanced women’s athletics
• Co-founded Virginia Slims Tour
• First female athlete to earn $100,000 in a year
• Beat Bobby Riggs in “Battle of the Sexes”
MARGARET SMITH COURT (1942-PRESENT)
• Most prolific winner, male or female, with 62 Grand Slam titles
• “The Arm” because of height and reach
• Second woman to win Grand Slam
• Rival to King
• Became a lay minister
THE WILLIAMS SISTERS (1980-PRESENT)
• Advanced African Americans in sports
• Combined 22 Grand Slams
• Initially Venus was stronger, but since 2002 Serena’s been bringing it
• Serena is #1 right now
• Both fashion designers
HELEN MILLS MOODY (1905-1998)
• “Little Miss Poker Face”
• Dominated competition between 1927-1932 (didn’t lost a set!)
• Won 19 major singles crowns
• First player to win 3 Grand Slams in one season
• Swept at 1924 Paris Olympics