| Full name | Janice Patricia Lehane-O'Neill |
|---|---|
| ITF name | Jan O'Neill |
| Country (sports) |  Australia |
| Born | (1941-07-09)9 July 1941 (age 83) Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia |
| Plays | Right-handed (double-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Highest ranking | No. 7 (1963) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963) |
| French Open | QF (1960, 1962, 1963, 1964) |
| Wimbledon | QF (1963) |
| US Open | QF (1960, 1961) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1961, 1963) |
| French Open | SF (1960, 1961, 1962) |
| Wimbledon | F (1961) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1960, 1961) |
| French Open | SF (1961) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (1960,1962) |
| Team competitions | |
| Fed Cup | F (1963) |
Janice Patricia "Jan" Lehane O'Neill OAM (néeLehane; born 9 July 1941) is a former Australian female tennis player. She was the first leading female player with a double-handed backhand.[1]
She won the singles title at theNew South Wales Championships in 1959 after a three-sets victory in the final againstMary Carter Reitano. In 1960, she successfully defended her title by winning the semifinal against world No. 1 rankedMaria Bueno and the final in straight sets againstMargaret Smith.[2]
At theAustralian Championships, Lehane reached the singles final four consecutive years (1960–1963) but lost toMargaret Smith each time. She had a similar experience in women's doubles, reaching the final twice (in 1961 withMary Bevis Hawton and 1963 withLesley Turner Bowrey) but losing each time to a team that included Smith (withMary Carter Reitano in 1961 andRobyn Ebbern in 1963).[3] Lehane had more success in the mixed doubles, twice winning the title (in 1960 withTrevor Fancutt and 1961 withBob Hewitt). However,Mike Sangster and Lehane lost the 1964 mixed doubles final to Smith andKen Fletcher.
She had an operation on her right knee in January 1965 and did not play any of the Grand Slams that year.[4][5]
She was part of theAustralian Fed Cup team that reached the final in1963 and won all three of her singles rubbers.
According to Lance Tingay ofThe Daily Telegraph and theDaily Mail, O'Neill was ranked in the world top 10 in 1960, 1963, and 1964, reaching a career high of World No. 7 in 1963.[6]
Lehane married James John O'Neill on 19 February 1966.
In 2018, she was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame.[7]
On Australia Day 2019, Jan was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to tennis.
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1960 | Australian Championships | Grass | Margaret Smith | 5–7, 2–6 |
| Loss | 1961 | Australian Championships | Grass | Margaret Smith | 1–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 1962 | Australian Championships | Grass | Margaret Smith | 0–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 1963 | Australian Championships | Grass | Margaret Smith | 2–6, 2–6 |
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1961 | Australian Championships | Grass | Mary Hawton | Mary Carter ReitanoMargaret Smith | 4–6, 6–3, 5–7 |
| Loss | 1961 | Wimbledon | Grass | Margaret Smith |  Karen Hantze SusmanBillie Jean Moffitt | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 1963 | Australian Championships | Grass | Lesley Turner | Robyn EbbernMargaret Smith | 1–6, 3–6 |
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1960 | Australian Championships | Grass |  Trevor Fancutt |  Christine TrumanMartin Mulligan | 6–2, 7–5 |
| Win | 1961 | Australian Championships | Grass | Bob Hewitt | Mary Carter ReitanoJohn Pearce | 9–7, 6–2 |
| Loss | 1964 | Australian Championships | Grass | Mike Sangster | Margaret SmithKen Fletcher | 2–6, 3–6 |
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
| Tournament | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | Career SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1R | SF | F | F | F | F | SF | A | 2R | 3R | A | A | 3R | QF | A | A | 2R | A | A | 2R / A | 0 / 13 |
| France | A | A | QF | 4R | QF | QF | QF | A | A | 3R | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 6 |
| Wimbledon | A | A | 1R | 4R | 3R | QF | 3R | A | A | 4R | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 5 |
| United States | A | A | QF | QF | 3R | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 3 |
| SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 27 |
Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December. O'Neill participated only in the January edition.
