Ilana Kloss

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Ilana Kloss
Country South Africa and USA
Residence New York City and Chicago
Born 22 March 1956 (1956-03-22) (age 55)
Johannesburg, South Africa
Turned pro 1973
Plays Left-handed
Singles
Highest ranking 19
Grand Slam results
Australian Open
French Open 2r (1976, 1979)
Wimbledon 3r (1975, 1976, 1978)
US Open 3r (1973, 1978)
Doubles
Career titles 19
Highest ranking 1
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open QF 1983
French Open SF 1976, 1979
Wimbledon SF 1976
US Open W 1976
Career titles 1
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
French Open W 1976
Last updated on: 3 December 2008.

Ilana Sheryl Kloss (born 22 March 1956) is a former professional tennis player and the commissioner of World Team Tennis.

Contents

[edit] Tennis career

Kloss was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. Before turning professional, in 1972 she won the Wimbledon juniors singles title. In 1974 she won U.S. Open juniors singles title,[1] and was the youngest player ever to be ranked # 1 in South Africa.

Kloss was ranked # 1 in the world in doubles in 1976. That year, she won doubles titles at the U.S. Open, the Italian Open, the U.S. Clay Courts, the German Open, the British Hard Courts Championship, and Hilton Head, as well as the mixed doubles title at the French Open.

She was ranked as high as # 19 in the world in singles play in 1976.

In 1977 she won both the German and Canadian championships, and the British clay court championship. In 1973, she won the title in Cincinnati with Pat Walkden, defeating Evonne Goolagong and Janet Young in the final.

Most of her women's doubles titles were achieved with partner Linky Boshoff.

After retiring, Kloss took part in the 35-and-over tour, winning the U.S. Open doubles and mixed doubles championship in 1999.

[edit] Federation Cup

In the 1970s she was 12–5 in Federation Cup matches.

[edit] Hall of Fame

Kloss, who is Jewish, was inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. She also played in the Maccabiah Games in Israel.[2]

[edit] World Team Tennis

Since 2001 she has been the Chief Executive Officer & Commissioner of World Team Tennis, a coed professional tennis league.

[edit] Personal life

Kloss was born to Ruth and Shlaim Kloss. She has a sister, Yvette Merle Blackman (née Kloss), now married to Richard Blackman with two children, Lara and Joshua Blackman.

Kloss is the life partner of Billie Jean King, the US tennis player.[3] She currently resides near the Museum of Natural History in New York City.

[edit] Grand Slam doubles titles (1)

Year Championship Partnering Opponents in Final Score in Final
1976 U.S. Open South Africa Linky Boshoff Soviet Union Olga Morozova
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
6–1, 6–4

[edit] Mixed Doubles titles (1)

Year Championship Partnering Opponents in Final Score in Final
1976 French Open Australia Kim Warwick Rhodesia Colin Dowdeswell
South Africa Linky Boshoff
5–7, 7–6, 6–2

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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