Hart in 1953 | |
| Country (sports) | United States |
|---|---|
| Born | (1925-06-20)June 20, 1925 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | May 29, 2015(2015-05-29) (aged 89) Coral Gables, Florida, U.S. |
| Retired | 1955 (but played at the1968 Wimbledon Championships and the1969 US Open) |
| College | University of Miami |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1969(member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 679–123 |
| Career titles | 86 |
| Highest ranking | No.1 (1951) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1949) |
| French Open | W (1950, 1952) |
| Wimbledon | W (1951) |
| US Open | W (1954, 1955) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 0–0 |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1950) |
| French Open | W (1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953) |
| Wimbledon | W (1947, 1951, 1952, 1953) |
| US Open | W (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1949, 1950) |
| French Open | W (1951, 1952, 1953) |
| Wimbledon | W (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955) |
| US Open | W (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955) |
Doris Hart (June 20, 1925 – May 29, 2015) was an Americantennis player who was active in the 1940s and first half of the 1950s. She was ranked world No. 1 in 1951. She was the fourth player, and second woman, to win a Career Grand Slam in singles. She was the first of only three players (all women) to complete the career "Boxed Set" ofGrand Slam titles, which is winning at least one title in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at all four Grand Slam events. Only she andMargaret Court achieved this during the amateur era of the sport.
Hart played collegiate tennis for theMiami Hurricanes at theUniversity of Miami inCoral Gables, Florida.
Hart reached 67Grand Slam finals and won 35 titles, tying withLouise Brough for sixth on the all-time list (behindMargaret Smith Court (64),Martina Navratilova (59),Billie Jean King (39),Serena Williams (39), andMargaret Osborne duPont (37)). Six of her titles were in women's singles, 14 in women's doubles, and 15 in mixed doubles.[1] Hart is one of only three players, all women, to have a "boxed set" of Grand Slam titles — every possible title (singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles) from all four Grand Slam tournaments. The others are Margaret Smith Court and Martina Navratilova.[1] Hart was the first person to accomplish this feat.[2]
As a child, Hart suffered fromosteomyelitis, which resulted in a permanently impaired right leg. She started playing tennis when she was 10 years old, greatly encouraged by her brother Bud.[1]
After losing seven Grand Slam finals from 1942 through 1946, Hart won her first Grand Slam title at the1947 Wimbledon Championships inwomen's doubles. At that point, she was still a student at theUniversity of Miami.[3][4]
Her first Grand Slam singles title came at the1949 Australian National Championships, where she was the only non-Australian player in thedraw. She also won singles titles at the1950 and1952 French International Championships, the1951 Wimbledon Championships (routing doubles partnerShirley Fry in the final),[3] and the1954 and1955 U.S. National Championships.[3][5] The 1955 U.S. singles final was the last Grand Slam singles match of her career.[5]
Hart won thesingles,women's doubles, andmixed doubles titles at the 1951 Wimbledon Championships, playing the finals of all three events on the same day (July 7, 1951).[3] She also won the "triple crown" at the 1952 French International Championships and the 1954 U.S. National Championships.[6]
During herWightman Cup career from 1946 through 1955, Hart was a perfect 14–0 in singles matches and 8–1 in doubles matches.[1]
Hart did not lose a Grand Slam women's doubles match from the1951 French International Championships through the semifinals of the1954 Wimbledon Championships, 43 matches in total, although she skipped 4 Grand Slam tournaments during this period. She also did not lose a mixed doubles match at the 13 Grand Slam tournaments she played from the 1951 French International Championships through the 1955 U.S. National Championships. She (and partnerStan Smith) lost in thethird round of the1968 Wimbledon Championships toFrew McMillan andAnnette Van Zyl Du Plooy 6–3, 12–10.
According to John Olliff and Lance Tingay ofThe Daily Telegraph and theDaily Mail, Hart was ranked in the world top 10 from 1946 through 1955 (no rankings issued from 1940 through 1945), reaching a career high of world No. 1 in those rankings in 1951.[7] Hart was included in the year-end top 10 rankings issued by theUnited States Lawn Tennis Association from 1942 through 1955. She was the top ranked U.S. player in 1954 and 1955.[8]
Hart retired from the tour in late 1955 to become a tennis teaching professional. Her autobiographyTennis with Hart was published that year.[6]
She was inducted into the inaugural Class of 1967 inductees to the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame and inducted into theInternational Tennis Hall of Fame in 1969.
She died on May 29, 2015, at her home in Coral Gables, Florida, at age 89.[9]
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1946 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 9–11, 3–6 | |
| Loss | 1947 | Wimbledon | Grass | 2–6, 4–6 | |
| Loss | 1947 | French Championships | Clay | 3–6, 6–3, 4–6 | |
| Loss | 1948 | Wimbledon | Grass | 3–6, 6–8 | |
| Win | 1949 | Australian Championships | Grass | 6–3, 6–4 | |
| Loss | 1949 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 3–6, 1–6 | |
| Loss | 1950 | Australian Championships | Grass | 4–6, 6–3, 4–6 | |
| Win | 1950 | French Championships | Clay | 6–4, 4–6, 6–2 | |
| Loss | 1950 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 4–6, 3–6 | |
| Loss | 1951 | French Championships | Clay | 3–6, 6–3, 3–6 | |
| Win | 1951 | Wimbledon | Grass | 6–1, 6–0 | |
| Win | 1952 | French Championships | Clay | 6–4, 6–4 | |
| Loss | 1952 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 3–6, 5–7 | |
| Loss | 1953 | French Championships | Clay | 2–6, 4–6 | |
| Loss | 1953 | Wimbledon | Grass | 6–8, 5–7 | |
| Loss | 1953 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 2–6, 4–6 | |
| Win | 1954 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 6–8, 6–1, 8–6 | |
| Win | 1955 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1942 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 6–2, 5–7, 0–6 | ||
| Loss | 1943 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 4–6, 3–6 | ||
| Loss | 1944 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 6–4, 4–6, 3–6 | ||
| Loss | 1945 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 3–6, 3–6 | ||
| Loss | 1946 | Wimbledon | Grass | 3–6, 6–2, 3–6 | ||
| Loss | 1946 | French Championships | Clay | 4–6, 6–0, 1–6 | ||
| Win | 1947 | Wimbledon | Grass | 3–6, 6–4, 7–5 | ||
| Loss | 1947 | French Championships | Clay | 5–7, 2–6 | ||
| Loss | 1947 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 7–5, 3–6, 5–7 | ||
| Win | 1948 | French Championships | Clay | 6–4, 6–2 | ||
| Loss | 1948 | Wimbledon | Grass | 1–6, 1–6 | ||
| Loss | 1948 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 4–6, 10–8, 1–6 | ||
| Loss | 1949 | Australian Championships | Grass | 0–6, 1–6 | ||
| Loss | 1949 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 4–6, 8–10 | ||
| Win | 1950 | Australian Championships | Grass | 6–3, 2–6, 6–3 | ||
| Win | 1950 | French Championships | Clay | 1–6, 7–5, 6–2 | ||
| Loss | 1950 | Wimbledon | Grass | 4–6, 7–5, 1–6 | ||
| Loss | 1950 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 2–6, 3–6 | ||
| Win | 1951 | French Championships | Clay | 10–8, 6–3 | ||
| Win | 1951 | Wimbledon | Grass | 6–2, 13–11 | ||
| Win | 1951 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 6–4, 6–2 | ||
| Win | 1952 | French Championships | Clay | 7–5, 6–1 | ||
| Win | 1952 | Wimbledon | Grass | 8–6, 6–3 | ||
| Win | 1952 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 10–8, 6–4 | ||
| Win | 1953 | French Championships | Clay | 6–4, 6–3 | ||
| Win | 1953 | Wimbledon | Grass | 6–0, 6–0 | ||
| Win | 1953 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 6–2, 7–9, 9–7 | ||
| Loss | 1954 | Wimbledon | Grass | 6–4, 7–9, 1–6 | ||
| Win | 1954 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 6–4, 6–4 | ||
| Loss | 1955 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | 3–6, 6–1, 3–6 |
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1945 | U.S. Championships | Grass | 4–6, 4–6 | ||
| Loss | 1948 | French Championships | Clay | 3–6, 6–3, 3–6 | ||
| Loss | 1948 | Wimbledon | Grass | 2–6, 6–3, 3–6 | ||
| Win | 1949 | Australian Championships | Grass | 6–1, 5–7, 12–10 | ||
| Win | 1950 | Australian Championships | Grass | 8–6, 6–4 | ||
| Loss | 1950 | U.S. Championships | Grass | 4–6, 6–3, 3–6 | ||
| Win | 1951 | French Championships | Clay | 7–5, 6–2 | ||
| Win | 1951 | Wimbledon | Grass | 7–5, 6–2 | ||
| Win | 1951 | U.S. Championships | Grass | 6–3, 6–2 | ||
| Win | 1952 | Wimbledon | Grass | 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 | ||
| Win | 1952 | French Championships | Clay | 6–8, 6–3, 6–3 | ||
| Win | 1952 | U.S. Championships | Grass | 6–3, 7–5 | ||
| Win | 1953 | French Championships | Clay | 4–6, 6–4, 6–0 | ||
| Win | 1953 | Wimbledon | Grass | 9–7, 7–5 | ||
| Win | 1953 | U.S. Championships | Grass | 6–2, 4–6, 6–4 | ||
| Win | 1954 | Wimbledon | Grass | 5–7, 6–4, 6–3 | ||
| Win | 1955 | Wimbledon | Grass | 8–6, 2–6, 6–3 | ||
| Win | 1954 | U.S. Championships | Grass | 4–6, 6–1, 6–1 | ||
| Win | 1955 | U.S. Championships | Grass | 7–5, 5–7, 6–2 |
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
| Tournament | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 19461 | 19471 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | Career SR | Win–loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Championships | A | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | A | A | A | W | F | A | A | A | A | A | 1 / 2 | 8-1 |
| French Championships | NH | R | R | R | R | A | QF | F | SF | A | W | F | W | F | A | A | 2 / 7 | 28-5 |
| Wimbledon Championships | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | QF | F | F | A | SF | W | QF | F | SF | SF | 1 / 9 | 43-8 |
| U.S. National Championships | 2R2 | 1R | QF | SF | QF | SF | F | SF | QF | F | F | SF | F | F | W | W | 2 / 16 | 57-13 |
| SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 1 / 2 | 1 / 4 | 1 / 3 | 1 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 1 / 2 | 1 / 2 | 6 / 34 | |
| Win–loss | 0-0 | 0-1 | 3-1 | 3-1 | 2-1 | 3-1 | 10-3 | 14-3 | 11-3 | 9-1 | 20-3 | 15-2 | 13-2 | 14-3 | 10-1 | 9-1 | 136-27 |
| Tournament | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 19461 | 19471 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956– 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | Career SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Championships | NH | NH | NH | NH | A | A | A | F | W | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1 / 2 |
| French Championships | R | R | R | A | F | F | W | A | W | W | W | W | A | A | A | A | A | 5 / 7 |
| Wimbledon Championships | NH | NH | NH | NH | F | W | F | A | F | W | W | W | F | 2R | A | 2R | A | 4 / 10 |
| U.S. National Championships | F | F | F | F | SF | F | F | F | F | W | W | W | W | F | A | A | 1R | 4 / 15 |
| SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 1 / 3 | 1 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 2 / 4 | 3 / 3 | 3 / 3 | 3 / 3 | 1 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 14 / 34 |
| Tournament | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 19461 | 19471 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956–1967 | 1968 | 1969 | Career SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Championships | NH | NH | NH | NH | A | A | A | W | W | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2 / 2 |
| French Championships | R | R | R | A | 2R | A | F | A | 3R | W | W | W | A | A | A | A | A | 3 / 6 |
| Wimbledon Championships | NH | NH | NH | NH | 4R | SF | F | A | SF | W | W | W | W | W | A | 3R | A | 5 / 10 |
| U.S. National Championships | 2R | 1R | QF | F | QF | 1R | SF | QF | F | W | W | W | W | W | A | A | QF | 5 / 15 |
| SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 1 / 2 | 1 / 4 | 3 / 3 | 3 / 3 | 3 / 3 | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 15 / 33 |
R = tournament restricted to French nationals and held underGerman occupation.
1In 1946 and 1947, the French Championships were held after Wimbledon.
2Hart did not play at this event. Her opponent got a walkover.