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'''Margaret Jean Court''' [[Order of Australia|AO]] [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (born 16 July 1942, also known as '''Margaret Smith Court''') is a retired former World No. 1 [[tennis]] player from Australia. In 1970, she became the first woman during the [[open era]] and the second woman ever to win all four [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] singles titles in the same calendar year. Court won 24 Grand Slam singles titles, more than any other player. She won 62 [[Tennis statistics|Grand Slam]] titles overall (24 singles, 19 women's doubles, and 19 mixed doubles), again, more than any other player. Many consider her the greatest female tennis player.{{Fact|date=October 2008}} The [[International Tennis Hall of Fame]] states, "For sheer strength of performance and accomplishment there has never been a tennis player to match (her)."<ref>{{cite web
'''Margaret Jean Court''' [[Order of Australia|AO]] [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (born [[16 July]] [[1942]], also known as '''Margaret Smith Court''') is a retired former World No. 1 [[tennis]] player from Australia. In 1970, she became the first woman during the [[open era]] and the second woman ever to win all four [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] singles titles in the same calendar year. Court won 24 Grand Slam singles titles, more than any other player. She won 62 [[Tennis statistics|Grand Slam]] titles overall (24 singles, 19 women's doubles, and 19 mixed doubles), again, more than any other player. Many consider her the greatest female tennis player.{{Fact|date=October 2008}} The [[International Tennis Hall of Fame]] states, "For sheer strength of performance and accomplishment there has never been a tennis player to match (her)."<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.tennisfame.com/famer.aspx?pgID=867&hof_id=150
|url=http://www.tennisfame.com/famer.aspx?pgID=867&hof_id=150
|publisher=International Tennis Hall of Fame
|publisher=International Tennis Hall of Fame
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Court is one of only three players to have achieved a career "boxed set" of Grand Slam titles, winning every possible Grand Slam title – singles, same-sex doubles and mixed doubles – at all four Grand Slam events. The others are [[Doris Hart]] and [[Martina Navrátilová]]. Court, however, is the only person to have won all 12 Grand Slam events at least twice. She also is unique in having completed a boxed set before the start of the [[open era]] in 1968 and a separate boxed set after the start of the open era.
Court is one of only three players to have achieved a career "boxed set" of Grand Slam titles, winning every possible Grand Slam title – singles, same-sex doubles and mixed doubles – at all four Grand Slam events. The others are [[Doris Hart]] and [[Martina Navrátilová]]. Court, however, is the only person to have won all 12 Grand Slam events at least twice. She also is unique in having completed a boxed set before the start of the [[open era]] in 1968 and a separate boxed set after the start of the open era.


Court is widely remembered for having lost a heavily publicized and U.S.–televised challenge match to a former [[World number one male tennis player rankings|World No. 1]] male tennis player, the 55-year-old [[Bobby Riggs]], on Mother's Day, 13 May 1973, in [[Ramona, California]]. Court was the top-ranked women's player at the time, and it has been written that she did not take the match seriously, assuming that she would win without difficulty. Using a mixture of lobs and drop shots, however, Riggs beat her 6–2, 6–1. Four months later, [[Billie Jean King]] beat Riggs in the even more famous [[The Battle of the Sexes|Battle of the Sexes]] match in the [[Houston Astrodome]].
Court is widely remembered for having lost a heavily publicized and U.S.–televised challenge match to a former [[World number one male tennis player rankings|World No. 1]] male tennis player, the 55-year-old [[Bobby Riggs]], on Mother's Day, [[13 May]] [[1973]], in [[Ramona, California]]. Court was the top-ranked women's player at the time, and it has been written that she did not take the match seriously, assuming that she would win without difficulty. Using a mixture of lobs and drop shots, however, Riggs beat her 6–2, 6–1. Four months later, [[Billie Jean King]] beat Riggs in the even more famous [[The Battle of the Sexes|Battle of the Sexes]] match in the [[Houston Astrodome]].


In 1979, Court was inducted into the [[International Tennis Hall of Fame]].
In 1979, Court was inducted into the [[International Tennis Hall of Fame]].
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In November 1994, when delivering a speech at [[Parliament House, Canberra|Parliament House]] in [[Canberra]], Court exclaimed that "Homosexuality is an abomination to the Lord! Abortion is an abomination to the Lord!"<ref name=baxter>Brian Baxter, "[http://www.skeptics.com.au/journal/2007/3.pdf Margaret Court's Word of Faith]", ''[[Australian Skeptics|The Skeptics]]'', Vol 27 No 3, Spring 2007.</ref>
In November 1994, when delivering a speech at [[Parliament House, Canberra|Parliament House]] in [[Canberra]], Court exclaimed that "Homosexuality is an abomination to the Lord! Abortion is an abomination to the Lord!"<ref name=baxter>Brian Baxter, "[http://www.skeptics.com.au/journal/2007/3.pdf Margaret Court's Word of Faith]", ''[[Australian Skeptics|The Skeptics]]'', Vol 27 No 3, Spring 2007.</ref>


In 2002, Court said that homosexuals commit "sins of the flesh" and can be "changed".<ref>{{Citation | title = Damir may have a point, says our greatest women's player | newspaper = Sydney Morning Herald | date = 2002-12-19 | year = 2002 | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/19/1040174301749.html}}</ref> She stated that when the [[open era]] started, "there was quite a lot of [homosexuality] in there" and added that "a few of the older ones ... were [homosexual]", with younger players being "sort of snared in with it".<ref>{{Citation | title = Damir may have a point, says our greatest women's player | newspaper = Sydney Morning Herald | date = 2002-12-19 | year = 2002 | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/19/1040174301749.html}}</ref> These comments were made in the context of Damir Dokić's claim that he would kill himself if his high-profile professional tennis-playing daughter, [[Jelena Dokić|Jelena]], became a lesbian.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2002/dec/17/tennis.comment|title=Damir may disappear but Jelena suffers still|last=Bierley|first=Stephen|date=2002-12-17|work=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=2008-09-21}}</ref>
In 2002, Court said that homosexuals commit "sins of the flesh" and can be "changed".<ref>{{Citation | title = Damir may have a point, says our greatest women's player | newspaper = Sydney Morning Herald | date = [[2002-12-19]] | year = 2002 | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/19/1040174301749.html}}</ref> She stated that when the [[open era]] started, "there was quite a lot of [homosexuality] in there" and added that "a few of the older ones ... were [homosexual]", with younger players being "sort of snared in with it".<ref>{{Citation | title = Damir may have a point, says our greatest women's player | newspaper = Sydney Morning Herald | date = [[2002-12-19]] | year = 2002 | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/19/1040174301749.html}}</ref> These comments were made in the context of Damir Dokić's claim that he would kill himself if his high-profile professional tennis-playing daughter, [[Jelena Dokić|Jelena]], became a lesbian.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2002/dec/17/tennis.comment|title=Damir may disappear but Jelena suffers still|last=Bierley|first=Stephen|date=2002-12-17|work=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=2008-09-21}}</ref>


Court campaigned against laws proposed and eventually passed by the [[Government of Western Australia]] in 2002 that gave gay people and lesbians equal legal rights as de facto couples.<ref>{{Citation | title = Damir may have a point, says our greatest women's player | newspaper = Sydney Morning Herald | date = 2002-12-19 | year = 2002 | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/19/1040174301749.html}}</ref>
Court campaigned against laws proposed and eventually passed by the [[Government of Western Australia]] in 2002 that gave gay people and lesbians equal legal rights as de facto couples.<ref>{{Citation | title = Damir may have a point, says our greatest women's player | newspaper = Sydney Morning Herald | date = [[2002-12-19]] | year = 2002 | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/19/1040174301749.html}}</ref>


== Career timeline ==
== Career timeline ==
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*[http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/about/history/margaret_court.html Official Wimbledon website profile]
*[http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/about/history/margaret_court.html Official Wimbledon website profile]
*[http://www.fedcup.com/teams/player.asp?player=20003453 Fed Cup record]
*[http://www.fedcup.com/teams/player.asp?player=20003453 Fed Cup record]
* {{Citation | last=Roberts | first=Selena | author-link=Selena Roberts | title=Tennis's Other 'Battle of the Sexes,' Before King-Riggs | newspaper=The New York Times | year=2005 | date=21 August 2005 | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/21/sports/tennis/21riggs.ready.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1}}
* {{Citation | last=Roberts | first=Selena | author-link=Selena Roberts | title=Tennis's Other 'Battle of the Sexes,' Before King-Riggs | newspaper=The New York Times | year=2005 | date=[[21 August]] [[2005]] | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/21/sports/tennis/21riggs.ready.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1}}
{{Pre Open Era Wimbledon Mixed Doubles champions}}
{{Pre Open Era Wimbledon Mixed Doubles champions}}
{{Pre Open Era Wimbledon Ladies' singles champions}}
{{Pre Open Era Wimbledon Ladies' singles champions}}
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|ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = Australian tennis player
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = Australian tennis player
|DATE OF BIRTH = 16 July 1942
|DATE OF BIRTH = [[16 July]] [[1942]]
|PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Perth, Western Australia]], Australia
|PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Perth, Western Australia]], Australia
|DATE OF DEATH =
|DATE OF DEATH =

Revision as of 08:44, 16 November 2008

Margaret Court
Country (sports) Australia
ResidencePerth, Australia
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Turned pro1968
Retired1977
PlaysRight-handed
Prize money-
Singles
Career record-
Career titles92 during open era
Highest ranking1 (1973)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenW (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973)
French OpenW (1962, 1964, 1969, 1970, 1973)
WimbledonW (1963, 1965, 1970)
US OpenW (1962, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1973)
Doubles
Career record-
Career titles48 during open era
Highest ranking-
Last updated on: 27 January 2007.

Margaret Jean Court AO MBE (born 16 July 1942, also known as Margaret Smith Court) is a retired former World No. 1 tennis player from Australia. In 1970, she became the first woman during the open era and the second woman ever to win all four Grand Slam singles titles in the same calendar year. Court won 24 Grand Slam singles titles, more than any other player. She won 62 Grand Slam titles overall (24 singles, 19 women's doubles, and 19 mixed doubles), again, more than any other player. Many consider her the greatest female tennis player.[citation needed] The International Tennis Hall of Fame states, "For sheer strength of performance and accomplishment there has never been a tennis player to match (her)."[1]

Biography

Born Margaret Jean Smith in 1942, in Albury, New South Wales, the youngest of four children of Lawrence Smith and Catherine Smith (née Beaufort). She began playing tennis when she was eight years old and was 17 when she won the first of seven consecutive singles titles at the Australian Championships in 1960.

After Wimbledon in 1966, Court temporarily retired from tennis. She married Barry Court in 1967 and became known as Margaret Smith Court or Margaret Court. She returned to tennis in 1968. She won all four Grand Slam singles titles in 1970. The next year, Court lost the Wimbledon singles final to Evonne Goolagong Cawley while pregnant with her first child, Daniel, who was born in March 1972. Court made a comeback the same year and played in the US Open. Her second child, Marika, was born in 1974. Court started playing again but retired permanently in 1977 when she learned she was expecting the third of her four children.

Court is one of only three players to have achieved a career "boxed set" of Grand Slam titles, winning every possible Grand Slam title – singles, same-sex doubles and mixed doubles – at all four Grand Slam events. The others are Doris Hart and Martina Navrátilová. Court, however, is the only person to have won all 12 Grand Slam events at least twice. She also is unique in having completed a boxed set before the start of the open era in 1968 and a separate boxed set after the start of the open era.

Court is widely remembered for having lost a heavily publicized and U.S.–televised challenge match to a former World No. 1 male tennis player, the 55-year-old Bobby Riggs, on Mother's Day, 13 May 1973, in Ramona, California. Court was the top-ranked women's player at the time, and it has been written that she did not take the match seriously, assuming that she would win without difficulty. Using a mixture of lobs and drop shots, however, Riggs beat her 6–2, 6–1. Four months later, Billie Jean King beat Riggs in the even more famous Battle of the Sexes match in the Houston Astrodome.

In 1979, Court was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

In January 2003, Show Court One at Melbourne Park was renamed Margaret Court Arena. Also in 2003, Australia Post honoured her and fellow Australian tennis Rod Laver by putting their images on postage stamps.

As of October 2008, Court lives in Perth, Western Australia.

Her father-in-law, Sir Charles Court, and brother-in-law, Richard Court, were Liberal premiers of Western Australia.

Religious faith

Court is a Pentacostal Christian, having converted from Catholicism. In 1983, she gained a theological qualification from the Rhema Bible Training Centre and in 1991 was ordained a minister. Court subsequently went on to found a ministry known as the Margaret Court Ministries.[2]

Court currently runs the Victory Life Centre in Perth, Western Australia,[3] a Pentecostal church. Her television show, A Life of Victory, appears on the Australian Christian Channel.[2]

Views on homosexuality

In 1990, Court said that Martina Navrátilová and other lesbian and bisexual players were ruining the sport of tennis and setting a bad example for younger players.[4] [5] [6]

In November 1994, when delivering a speech at Parliament House in Canberra, Court exclaimed that "Homosexuality is an abomination to the Lord! Abortion is an abomination to the Lord!"[2]

In 2002, Court said that homosexuals commit "sins of the flesh" and can be "changed".[7] She stated that when the open era started, "there was quite a lot of [homosexuality] in there" and added that "a few of the older ones ... were [homosexual]", with younger players being "sort of snared in with it".[8] These comments were made in the context of Damir Dokić's claim that he would kill himself if his high-profile professional tennis-playing daughter, Jelena, became a lesbian.[9]

Court campaigned against laws proposed and eventually passed by the Government of Western Australia in 2002 that gave gay people and lesbians equal legal rights as de facto couples.[10]

Career timeline

  • 1960 - Won her first singles title at the Australian Championships but lost the junior girls final there to Lesley Turner Bowrey.
  • 1962 - Won three of the four Grand Slam singles tournaments.
  • 1963 - Became the first Australian woman to win a singles title at Wimbledon. She and Ken Fletcher became the only team to win all four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles during the same calendar year.
  • 1964 - Won three of the four Grand Slam mixed doubles tournaments. Her women's doubles title at Wimbledon completed her career "boxed set" of Grand Slam titles.
  • 1965 - Won three of the four Grand Slam singles tournaments and all four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, with three different partners.
  • 1966 - Temporarily retired.
  • 1969 - Won three of the four Grand Slam singles and mixed doubles tournaments.
  • 1970 - Won all four Grand Slam singles tournaments, defeating Kerry Melville Reid in the Australian Open final, Helga Niessen Masthoff in the French Open final, Billie Jean King in the Wimbledon final, and Rosemary Casals in the US Open final. Maureen Connolly Brinker in 1953 and Steffi Graf in 1988 are the only other women who have won all four Grand Slam singles tournaments during the same calendar year.
  • 1973 - Won three of the four Grand Slam singles and women's doubles tournaments. Lost her match with Bobby Riggs. Her women's doubles title at the US Open completed a "boxed set" of Grand Slam titles won exclusively after the start of the open era in 1968.
  • 1975 - Played the final Grand Slam singles match of her career, losing to Martina Navrátilová in a quarterfinal of the US Open 6–2, 6–4. Partnered with Virginia Wade at the US Open to win her 62nd Grand Slam title and 19th Grand Slam women's doubles title, defeating King and Casals in the final. This was Court's last Grand Slam title.
  • 1977 - Played the final singles match of her career, defeating Greer Stevens in the third round of the Virginia Slims of Detroit 5–7, 7–6, 6–3. Court defaulted the quarterfinal to Françoise Durr upon learning that she was pregnant with her third child.

Grand Slam titles and world rankings

Court won a record 62 Grand Slam titles, including a record 24 singles titles, 19 women's doubles titles, and a record 19 mixed doubles titles. She won 64 Grand Slam titles, including 21 mixed doubles titles, if the shared championships at the Australian Championships/Open in 1965 and 1969 are counted. The finals were not played because of bad weather. Court could have won even more mixed doubles titles had the event been held at the 1970, 1971, 1973, and 1975 Australian Opens.

Court won 62 of the 85 Grand Slam finals (72.9%) in which she appeared, including 24-5 (82.8%) in singles finals, 19-14 (57.6%) in women's doubles finals, and 19-4 (82.6%) in mixed doubles finals.

Court reached the final in 29, the semifinals in 36, and the quarterfinals in 43 of the 47 Grand Slams singles tournaments she played. Her won-lost record in Grand Slam singles tournaments was 210-23 .901 (47-5 at the French Championships/Open, 51-9 at Wimbledon, 51-6 at the U.S. Championships/Open, and 61-3 at the Australian Championships/Open). She won 11 of the 16 Grand Slam singles tournaments she entered beginning with the 1969 Australian Open and ending with the 1973 US Open. She also won 11 of the 17 Grand Slam singles tournaments she entered beginning with the 1962 Australian Championships and ending with the 1966 Australian Championships. Court was 146-2 (98.6%) against unseeded players in Grand Slam singles tournaments.

Court is the only player to have won the calendar year Grand Slam in both singles and mixed doubles. She won the singles Grand Slam in 1970, the mixed doubles Grand Slam in 1963 with fellow Australian Ken Fletcher, and the mixed doubles Grand Slam in 1965 with three different partners (Fletcher, John Newcombe, and Fred Stolle).

Court won more than half of the Grand Slam events held in 1963 (8 of 12), 1964 (7 of 12), 1965 (9 of 12), 1969 (8 of 12), 1970 (7 of 11), and 1973 (6 of 11).

According to the end-of-year rankings compiled by the London Daily Telegraph from 1914 through 1972, Court was ranked World No. 1 six times: 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, and 1970. Court also was ranked No. 1 for 1973, when the official rankings were produced by the Women's Tennis Association.

Career statistics

Court won more than half of the Grand Slam singles tournaments she played (24 of 47) and 192 of the 300 singles tournaments she played overall. Her career singles win-loss record was 1,177-106, for a winning percentage of 91.74 percent. She won at least 100 singles matches in 1965 (113-8), 1968 (107-12), 1970 (113-6), and 1973 (100-5). She won more than 80 percent of her singles matches against top 10 players (297-73) and was the year-end top ranked player seven times.[11]

Grand Slam finals

Singles (29)

Wins (24)
Year Championship Opponent in Final Score in Final
1960 Australian Championships Australia Jan Lehane O'Neill 7–5, 6–2
1961 Australian Championships (2) Australia Jan Lehane O'Neill 6–1, 6–4
1962 Australian Championships (3) Australia Jan Lehane O'Neill 6–0, 6–2
1962 French Championships Australia Lesley Turner Bowrey 6–3, 3–6, 7–5
1962 U.S. Championships United States Darlene Hard 9–7, 6–4
1963 Australian Championships (4) Australia Jan Lehane O'Neill 6–2, 6–2
1963 Wimbledon United States Billie Jean King 6–3, 6–4
1964 Australian Championships (5) Australia Lesley Turner Bowrey 6–3, 6–2
1964 French Championships (2) Brazil Maria Bueno 5–7, 6–1, 6–2
1965 Australian Championships (6) Brazil Maria Bueno 5–7, 6–4, 5–2 retired
1965 Wimbledon (2) Brazil Maria Bueno 6–4, 7–5
1965 U.S. Championships (2) United States Billie Jean King 8–6, 7–5
1966 Australian Championships (7) United States Nancy Richey Gunter walkover
1969 Australian Open (8) United States Billie Jean King 6–4, 6–1
1969 French Open (3) United Kingdom Ann Haydon Jones 6–1, 4–6, 6–3
1969 US Open (3) United States Nancy Richey Gunter 6–2, 6–2
1970 Australian Open (9) Australia Kerry Melville Reid 6–1, 6–3
1970 French Open (4) West Germany Helga Niessen Masthoff 6–2, 6–4
1970 Wimbledon (3) United States Billie Jean King 14–12, 11–9
1970 US Open (4) United States Rosemary Casals 6–2, 2–6, 6–1
1971 Australian Open (10) Australia Evonne Goolagong Cawley 2–6, 7–6, 7–5
1973 Australian Open (11) Australia Evonne Goolagong Cawley 6–4, 7–5
1973 French Open (5) United States Chris Evert 6–7, 7–6, 6–4
1973 US Open (5) Australia Evonne Goolagong Cawley 7–6, 5–7, 6–2
Runner-ups (5)
Year Championship Opponent in Final Score in Final
1963 U.S. Championships Brazil Maria Bueno 7–5, 6–4
1964 Wimbledon Brazil Maria Bueno 6–4, 7–9, 6–3
1965 French Championships Australia Lesley Turner Bowrey 6–3, 6–4
1968 Australian Championships United States Billie Jean King 6–1, 6–2
1971 Wimbledon Australia Evonne Goolagong Cawley 6–4, 6–1

Women's doubles (33)

Wins (19)
Year Championship Partner Opponents in Final Score in Final
1961 Australian Championships Australia Mary Carter Reitano Australia Mary Bevis Hawton
Australia Jan Lehane O'Neill
6–4, 3–6, 7–5
1962 Australian Championships (2) Australia Robyn Ebbern United States Darlene Hard
Australia Mary Carter Reitano
6–4, 6–4
1963 Australian Championships (3) Australia Robyn Ebbern Australia Jan Lehane O'Neill
Australia Lesley Turner Bowrey
6–1, 6–3
1963 U.S. Championships Australia Robyn Ebbern Brazil Maria Bueno
United States Darlene Hard
4–6, 10–8, 6–3
1964 French Championships Australia Lesley Turner Bowrey Argentina Norma Baylon
West Germany Helga Schultze
6–3, 6–1
1964 Wimbledon Australia Lesley Turner Bowrey United States Billie Jean King
United States Karen Hantze Susman
7–5, 6–2
1965 Australian Championships (4) Australia Lesley Turner Bowrey Australia Robyn Ebbern
United States Billie Jean King
1–6, 6–2, 6–3
1965 French Championships (2) Australia Lesley Turner Bowrey France Françoise Durr
France Jeanine Lieffrig
6–3, 6–1
1966 French Championships (3) Australia Judy Tegart Dalton Australia Jill Blackman
Australia Fay Toyne
4–6, 6–1, 6–1
1968 US Open (2) Brazil Maria Bueno United States Billie Jean King
United States Rosemary Casals
4–6, 9–7, 8–6
1969 Australian Open (5) Australia Judy Tegart Dalton United States Rosemary Casals
United States Billie Jean King
6–4, 6–4
1969 Wimbledon (2) Australia Judy Tegart Dalton United States Patricia Hogan
United States Peggy Michel
9–7, 6–2
1970 Australian Open (6) Australia Judy Tegart Dalton Australia Kerry Melville Reid
Australia Kerry Harris
6–3, 6–1
1970 US Open (3) United States Judy Tegart Dalton United States Rosemary Casals
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
6–3, 6–4
1971 Australian Open (7) Australia Evonne Goolagong Cawley Australia Jill Emmerson
Australia Lesley Hunt
6–0, 6–0
1973 Australian Open (8) United Kingdom Virginia Wade Australia Kerry Harris
Australia Kerry Melville Reid
6–4, 6–4
1973 US Open (4) United Kingdom Virginia Wade United States Billie Jean King
United States Rosemary Casals
3–6, 6–3, 7–5
1973 French Open (4) United Kingdom Virginia Wade France Françoise Durr
Netherlands Betty Stöve
6–2, 6–3
1975 US Open (5) United Kingdom Virginia Wade United States Billie Jean King
United States Rosemary Casals
7–5, 2–6, 7–6
Runner-ups (14)
Year Championship Partner Opponents in Final Score in Final
1960 Australian Championships Australia Lorraine Coghlan Robinson Brazil Maria Bueno
United States Christine Truman Janes
6–2, 5–7, 6–2
1961 Wimbledon Australia Jan Lehane O'Neill United States Billie Jean King
United States Karen Hantze Susman
6–3, 6–4
1962 French Championships United States Justina Bricka South Africa Sandra Reynolds Price
South Africa Renee Schuurman Haygarth
6–4, 6–4
1963 French Championships (2) Australia Robyn Ebbern United Kingdom Ann Haydon Jones
South Africa Renee Schuurman Haygarth
7–5, 6–4
1963 Wimbledon (2) Australia Robyn Ebbern Brazil Maria Bueno
United States Darlene Hard
8–6, 9–7
1964 Australian Championships (2) Australia Robyn Ebbern Australia Judy Tegart Dalton
United States Lesley Turner Bowrey
6–4, 6–4
1964 U.S. Championships Australia Lesley Turner Bowrey United States Billie Jean King
United States Karen Hantze Susman
3–6, 6–2, 6–4
1966 Australian Championships (3) Australia Lesley Turner Bowrey United States Carole Caldwell Graebner
United States Nancy Richey Gunter
6–4, 7–5
1966 Wimbledon (3) Australia Judy Tegart Dalton Brazil Maria Bueno
United States Nancy Richey Gunter
6–3, 4–6, 6–4
1969 French Open (3) United States Nancy Richey Gunter United Kingdom Ann Haydon Jones
France Françoise Durr
6–0, 4–6, 7–5
1969 US Open (2) United Kingdom Virginia Wade France Françoise Durr
United States Darlene Hard
0–6, 6–4, 6–4
1971 Wimbledon (4) Australia Evonne Goolagong Cawley United States Billie Jean King
United States Rosemary Casals
6–3, 6–2
1972 US Open (3) United Kingdom Virginia Wade France Françoise Durr
Netherlands Betty Stöve
6–3, 1–6, 6–3
1975 Australian Championships (4) Soviet Union Olga Morozova Australia Evonne Goolagong Cawley
United States Peggy Michel
7–6, 7–6

Mixed doubles (23)

Note: The two shared mixed doubles titles at the Australian Championships/Open in 1965 and 1969 traditionally are not counted in Court's win total because the finals were never played. Otherwise, she would have 64 Grand Slam titles, 21 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, and 25 Grand Slam mixed doubles finals.

Wins (19)
Year Championship Partner Opponents in Final Score in Final
1961 U.S. Championships Australia Robert Mark United States Dennis Ralston
United States Darlene Hard
3–6, 6–2, 6–4
1962 U.S. Championships (2) Australia Fred Stolle United States Frank Froehling III
United States Lesley Turner Bowrey
0–6, 6–4, 6–4
1963 Australian Championships Australia Ken Fletcher Australia Fred Stolle
Australia Lesley Turner Bowrey
6–4, 6–4
1963 French Championships Australia Ken Fletcher Australia Fred Stolle
Australia Lesley Turner Bowrey
6–1, 6–2
1963 Wimbledon Australia Ken Fletcher South Africa Bob Hewitt
United States Darlene Hard
11–9, 6–4
1963 U.S. Championships (3) Australia Ken Fletcher United States Ed Rubinoff
United States Judy Tegart Dalton
0–6, 6–4, 6–4
1964 Australian Championships (2) Australia Ken Fletcher United Kingdom Mike Sangster
Australia Jan Lehane O'Neill
6–4, 6–4
1964 French Championships (2) Australia Ken Fletcher Australia Fred Stolle
Australia Lesley Turner Bowrey
6–3, 4–6, 8–6
1964 U.S. Championships (4) Australia John Newcombe United States Ed Rubinoff
United States Judy Tegart Dalton
0–6, 6–4, 6–4
1965 Australian Championships (3) Australia John Newcombe Australia Owen Davidson
Australia Robyn Ebbern
shared championship, final not played
1965 French Championships (3) Australia Ken Fletcher Australia John Newcombe
Brazil Maria Bueno
6–4, 6–4
1965 Wimbledon (2) Australia Ken Fletcher Australia Tony Roche
Australia Judy Tegart Dalton
12–10, 6–3
1965 U.S. Championships (5) Australia Fred Stolle United States Frank Froehling III
United States Judy Tegart Dalton
0–6, 6–4, 6–4
1966 Wimbledon (3) Australia Ken Fletcher United States Dennis Ralston
United States Billie Jean King
4–6, 6–3, 6–3
1968 Wimbledon (4) Australia Ken Fletcher Soviet Union Alex Metreveli
Soviet Union Olga Morozova
6–1, 14–12
1969 Australian Open (4) United States Marty Riessen Australia Fred Stolle
United Kingdom Ann Haydon Jones
shared championship, final not played
1969 French Championships (4) United States Marty Riessen France Jean Claude Barclay
France Françoise Durr
6–3, 6–2
1969 US Open (6) United States Marty Riessen United States Dennis Ralston
United States Françoise Durr
0–6, 6–4, 6–4
1970 US Open (7) United States Marty Riessen South Africa Frew McMillan
United States Judy Tegart Dalton
0–6, 6–4, 6–4
1972 US Open (8) United States Marty Riessen Romania Ilie Năstase
United States Rosemary Casals
0–6, 6–4, 6–4
1975 Wimbledon (5) United States Marty Riessen Australia Allan Stone
Netherlands Betty Stöve
6–4, 7–5
Runner-ups (4)
Year Championship Partner Opponents in Final Score in Final
1964 Wimbledon Australia Ken Fletcher Australia Fred Stolle
Australia Lesley Turner Bowrey
6–4, 6–4
1968 Australian Championships Australia Allan Stone Australia Dick Crealy
United States Billie Jean King
walkover
1971 Wimbledon United States Marty Riessen Australia Owen Davidson
United States Billie Jean King
3–6, 6–2, 15–13
1973 US Open United States Marty Riessen Australia Owen Davidson
United States Billie Jean King
6–3, 3–6, 7–6

Grand Slam tournament timelines

Singles
Tournament 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 Career SR
Australia 2R W W W W W W W A F W W W A W A QF 11 / 14
France A A QF W QF W F SF A A W W 3R A W A A 5 / 10
Wimbledon A A QF 2R W F W SF A QF SF W F A SF A SF 3 / 12
United States A A SF W F 4R W A A QF W W A SF W A QF 5 / 11
SR 0 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 4 3 / 4 2 / 4 2 / 4 3 / 4 1 / 3 0 / 0 0 / 3 3 / 4 4 / 4 1 / 3 0 / 1 3 / 4 0 / 0 0 / 3 24 / 47

A = did not participate in the tournament.

SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.

Women's doubles
Tournament 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 Career SR
Australia A F W W W F W F A SF W W W A W A F 8 / 13
France A A 3R F F W W W A A F SF SF A W A A 4 / 10
Wimbledon A A F SF F W 3R F A QF W QF F A QF A QF 2 / 12
United States A A 2R QF W F A A A W F W A F W A W 5 / 10
SR 0 / 0 0 / 1 1 / 4 1 / 4 2 / 4 2 / 4 2 / 3 1 / 3 0 / 0 1 / 3 2 / 4 2 / 4 1 / 3 0 / 1 3 / 4 0 / 0 1 / 3 19 / 45

A = did not participate in the tournament.

SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam women's doubles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.

Mixed doubles
Tournament 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 Career SR
Australia A A A A W W W SF A F W NH NH NH NH NH NH 4 / 6
France A A SF A W W W 3R A A W SF 3R A A A A 4 / 8
Wimbledon A A SF A W F W W A W SF 2R A A F A W 5 / 10
United States A A W W W W W A A A W W A W F A SF 8 / 10
SR 0 / 0 0 / 0 1 / 3 1 / 1 4 / 4 3 / 4 4 / 4 1 / 3 0 / 0 1 / 2 3 / 4 1 / 3 0 / 1 1 / 1 0 / 2 0 / 0 1 / 2 21 / 34

NH = event not held.

A = did not participate in the tournament.

SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam mixed doubles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.

Note: The shared mixed doubles titles at the Australian Championships/Open in 1965 and 1969 traditionally are not counted in Court's Grand Slam win total because the finals were never played. Otherwise, she would have 21 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, which is reflected in the above table.

Wimbledon singles record

Court's overall win-loss record at Wimbledon was 51-9 (85%) in 12 years (1961-1966, 1968-1971, 1973, 1975). (Her win total includes one mid-match retirement but does not include any first round byes.) Her only losses were to Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1975 and 1971, Chris Evert in 1973, Ann Haydon Jones in 1969, Judy Tegart Dalton in 1968, Billie Jean King in 1966 and 1962, Maria Bueno in 1964, and Christine Truman Janes in 1961.

Court was 3–2 in finals, 5–4 in semifinals, and 9–2 in quarterfinals. Court failed to reach the quarterfinals only once, in 1962 during her second Wimbledon. After receiving a bye during the first round, Court lost to unseeded Billie Jean King in the second round.

Court was 5–6 in three set matches, 46-3 in two set matches, and 0–2 in deuce third sets, i.e., sets that were tied 5–5 before being resolved.

Court was seeded all 12 years she entered Wimbledon. (The tournament seeded only 8 players through 1976.)

  • Seeded #1 in 1962 (lost second round), 1963 (champion), 1964 (finalist), 1966 (semifinalist), 1969 (semifinalist), 1970 (champion), 1971 (finalist), 1973 (semifinalist).
  • Seeded #2 in 1961 (quarterfinalist), 1965 (champion), 1968 (quarterfinalist).
  • Seeded #5 in 1975 (semifinalist).

Court was 10-8 .556 against seeded players. She was 41-1 against unseeded players, her only loss occurring during the second round of the 1962 tournament against Billie Jean King.

  • Versus #1 seeds, Court was 1–0 (Maria Bueno (1965)).
  • Versus #2 seeds, Court was 2–1 (wins: Martina Navratilova (1975), Billie Jean King (1970); loss: Maria Bueno (1964)).
  • Versus #3 seeds, Court was 1–1 (win: Billie Jean King (1964); loss: Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1971)).
  • Versus #4 seeds, Court was 1–4 (win: Darlene Hard (1963); losses: Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1975), Chris Evert (1973), Ann Haydon Jones (1969), Billie Jean King (1966)).
  • Versus #5 seeds, Court was 1–0 (Rosemary Casals (1970)).
  • Versus #6 seeds, Court was 0–1 (Christine Truman Janes (1961)).
  • Versus #7 seeds, Court was 1–1 (win: Julie Heldman (1969); loss: Judy Tegart Dalton (1968)).
  • Versus #8 seeds, Court was 3–0 (Olga Morozova (1973), Helga Niessen Masthoff (1970), Renee Schuurman Haygarth (1963)).

Against her major rivals at Wimbledon, Court was 3–2 versus Billie Jean King, 2–1 versus Christine Truman Janes, 1–0 versus Martina Navratilova, 1–0 versus Darlene Hard, 1–0 versus Karen Hantze Susman, 1–0 versus Nancy Richey Gunter, 1–0 versus Rosemary Casals, 1–1 versus Maria Bueno, 0–1 versus Ann Haydon Jones, 0–1 versus Chris Evert, and 0–2 versus Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

United States Championships/Open singles record

Court's overall win-loss record at the United States Championships/United States Open was 51-6 (89.5%) in 11 years (1961-1965, 1968-1970, 1972-1973, 1975). (Her win total does not include any first round byes.) Her only losses were to Martina Navratilova in 1975, Billie Jean King in 1972, Maria Bueno in 1968 and 1963, Karen Hantze Susman in 1964, and Darlene Hard in 1961.

Court was 5–1 in finals, 6–2 in semifinals, and 8–2 in quarterfinals. Court failed to reach the quarterfinals only once, in 1964 when she lost to Karen Hantze Susman in the fourth round.

Court was 9–3 in three set matches, 42-3 in two set matches, and 0–0 in deuce third sets, i.e., sets that were tied 5–5 before being resolved.

Court was seeded all 11 years she entered the United States Championships/United States Open.

  • Seeded #1 in 1962 (champion), 1963 (finalist), 1965 (champion), 1970 (champion).
  • Seeded #2 in 1964 (lost fourth round), 1969 (champion), 1973 (champion).
  • Seeded #4 in 1968 (quarterfinalist).
  • Seeded #5 in 1961 (semifinalist), 1972 (semifinalist), 1975 (quarterfinalist).

Court was 13-6 against seeded players and 38-0 against unseeded players.

  • Versus #1 seeds, Court was 0–2 (Billie Jean King (1972), Darlene Hard (1961)).
  • Versus #2 seeds, Court was 1–0 (Rosemary Casals (1970)).
  • Versus #3 seeds, Court was 3–1 (wins: Chris Evert (1973), Nancy Richey Gunter (1970 and 1965); loss: Martina Navratilova (1975)).
  • Versus #4 seeds, Court was 3–1 (wins: Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1973), Rosemary Casals (1972), Christine Truman Janes (1961); loss: Maria Bueno (1963)).
  • Versus #5 seeds, Court was 2–1 (wins: Virginia Wade (1969), Billie Jean King (1965); loss: Maria Bueno (1968)).
  • Versus #6 seeds, Court was 2–0 (Nancy Richey Gunter (1969), Françoise Durr (1965)).
  • Versus #7 seeds, Court was 2–0 (Virginia Wade (1973), Christine Truman Janes (1963)).
  • Versus #11 seeds, Court was 0–1 (Karen Hantze Susman (1964)).

Against her major rivals at the United States Championships/United States Open, Court was 3–0 versus Nancy Richey Gunter, 2–0 versus Virginia Wade, 2–0 versus Rosemary Casals, 2–0 versus Françoise Durr, 2–0 versus Christine Truman Janes, 1–0 versus Chris Evert, 1–0 versus Evonne Goolagong Cawley, 1–1 versus Darlene Hard, 1–1 versus Billie Jean King, 1–2 versus Maria Bueno, 0–1 versus Martina Navratilova, and 0–1 versus Karen Hantze Susman.

French Championships/Open singles record

Court's overall win-loss record at the French Championships/French Open was 47-5 (90.3%) in 10 years (1961-1966, 1969-1971, 1973). (Her win total includes three walkovers but does not include any first round byes.) Her only losses were to Gail Chanfreau in 1971, Nancy Richey Gunter in 1966, Lesley Turner Bowrey in 1965, Věra Pužejová Suková in 1963, and Ann Haydon Jones in 1961.

Court was 5–1 in finals, 6–1 in semifinals, and 7–2 in quarterfinals. Court failed to reach the quarterfinals only once, in 1971 when she lost to unseeded Gail Chanfreau in the third round.

Court was 8–0 in three set matches, 39-5 in two set matches, and 2–0 in deuce third sets, i.e., sets that were tied 5–5 before being resolved.

Court was seeded all 10 years she entered the French Championships/French Open.

  • Seeded #1 in 1963 (quarterfinalist), 1964 (champion), 1965 (finalist), 1966 (semifinalist), 1969 (champion), 1970 (champion), 1971 (lost third round), 1973 (champion).
  • Seeded #2 in 1962 (champion).
  • Seeded #3 in 1961 (quarterfinalist).

Court was 15-4 .789 against seeded players. She was 32-1 against unseeded players, her only loss occurring during the third round of the 1971 tournament against Gail Chanfreau.

  • Versus #2 seeds, Court was 2–0 (Chris Evert (1973), Maria Bueno (1964)).
  • Versus #3 seeds, Court was 1–1 (win: Ann Haydon Jones (1969); loss: Lesley Turner Bowrey (1965)).
  • Versus #4 seeds, Court was 4–0 (Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1973), Julie Heldman (1970), Nancy Richey Gunter (1969 and 1965)).
  • Versus #5 seeds, Court was 0–1 (Nancy Richey Gunter (1966)).
  • Versus #6 seeds, Court was 1–1 (win: Renee Schuurman Haygarth (1962); loss: Ann Haydon Jones (1961)).
  • Versus #7 seeds, Court was 2–0 (Helga Niessen Masthoff (1970), Edda Buding (1962)).
  • Versus #8 seeds, Court was 3–1 (wins: Rosemary Casals (1970), Kerry Melville Reid (1969), Věra Pužejová Suková (1964); loss: Věra Pužejová Pužejová Suková (1963)).
  • Versus #9 seeds, Court was 1–0 (Norma Baylon (1965)).
  • Versus #13 seeds, Court was 1–0 (Lesley Turner Bowrey (1962)).

Against her major rivals at the French Championships/French Open, Court was 2–1 versus Nancy Richey Gunter, 1–0 versus Chris Evert, 1–0 versus Evonne Goolagong Cawley, 1–0 versus Maria Bueno, 1–0 versus Rosemary Casals, 1–1 versus Ann Haydon Jones, 1–1 versus Lesley Turner Bowrey, and 1–1 versus Věra Pužejová Suková.

Australian Championships/Open singles record

Court's overall win-loss record at the Australian Championships/Australian Open was 61-3 (95.3%) in 14 years (1959-1966, 1968-1971, 1973, 1975). (Her win total includes one walkover but does not include any first round byes.) Her only losses were to Martina Navratilova in 1975, Billie Jean King in 1968, and Mary Carter Reitano in 1959.

Court was 11-1 in finals, 12-0 in semifinals, and 12-1 in quarterfinals. Court failed to reach the quarterfinals only once, in 1959 during her first Australian Championships. Court lost to fourth seeded Mary Carter Reitano in the second round.

Court was 6–0 in three set matches, 51-3 in two set matches, and 2–0 in deuce third sets, i.e., sets that were tied 5–5 before being resolved.

Court was seeded 13 of the 14 years she entered the Australian Championships/Australian Open.

  • Seeded #1 overall in 1961 (champion), 1962 (champion), 1963 (champion), 1964 (champion), 1970 (champion), 1971 (champion), 1973 (champion), 1975 (quarterfinalist).
  • Seeded #1 domestic in 1965 (champion), 1966 (champion).
  • Seeded #2 overall in 1969 (champion).
  • Seeded #7 overall in 1960 (champion).
  • Seeded #7 domestic in 1968 (finalist).
  • Unseeded in 1959 (lost second round).

Court was 26-3 .897 against seeded players and 35-0 against unseeded players.

Against her major rivals at the Australian Championships/Australian Open, Court was 5–0 versus Jan Lehane O'Neill, 4–0 versus Evonne Goolagong Cawley, 3–0 versus Kerry Melville Reid, 2–0 versus Maria Bueno, 2–0 versus Rosemary Casals, 2–0 versus Lesley Turner Bowrey, 2–1 versus Billie Jean King, 1–0 versus Judy Tegart Dalton, 1–0 versus Françoise Durr, 1–0 versus Nancy Richey Gunter, and 0–1 versus Martina Navratilova.

Honours

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hall of Famers - Margaret Court Smith "The Arm"". International Tennis Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
  2. ^ a b c Brian Baxter, "Margaret Court's Word of Faith", The Skeptics, Vol 27 No 3, Spring 2007.
  3. ^ Victory Life Centre, Perth Western Australia
  4. ^ Gay Bias Moves Off The Sidelines
  5. ^ A Woman of Character
  6. ^ Martina Navratilova: My Final Farewell
  7. ^ "Damir may have a point, says our greatest women's player", Sydney Morning Herald, 2002-12-19 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  8. ^ "Damir may have a point, says our greatest women's player", Sydney Morning Herald, 2002-12-19 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  9. ^ Bierley, Stephen (2002-12-17). "Damir may disappear but Jelena suffers still". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
  10. ^ "Damir may have a point, says our greatest women's player", Sydney Morning Herald, 2002-12-19 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  11. ^ Margaret Smith Court thread at TennisForum
  12. ^ It's an Honour - Member of the Order of the British Empire
  13. ^ It's an Honour - Australian Sports Medal
  14. ^ It's an Honour - Centenary Medal
  15. ^ It's an Honour - Officer of the Order of Australia

External links

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1970
Succeeded by


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