Kerry Harris

Kerry Harris

Harris in 1969
Country (sports)	Australia
Residence	Perth, Western Australia
Born	(1949-09-19) 19 September 1949 Melbourne, Australia
Height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Plays	Right-handed
Singles
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	SF (1972)
French Open	3R (1968)
Wimbledon	4R (1969, 1972)
US Open	3R (1971)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	W (1972)
French Open	F (1971)

Kerry Harris (born 19 September 1949) is an Australian former professional tennis player, active from 1967 to 1975, who reached the semi-final of the 1972 Australian Open, and reached four Grand Slam doubles finals, of which she won one, in the 1972 Australian Open.

Career

Harris’ early years were spent under the guidance of J Hildebrands (Snr), before being coached by Harry Hopman and trained by Stan Nicholes. Both Hopman and Nicholes were involved in the Australian Davis Cup team at the time. In 1968 Harris started on the International tour, the first year in the open era, and she was chosen to be a part of Lawn Tennis Association of Australia's Touring Team with Harry Hopman as manager. She later was coached by Merv Rose.

Harris first reached a Grand Slam final in the 1971 French Open Women's Doubles, partnering Helen Gourlay which they lost in two sets to defending champions Françoise Dürr and Gail Chanfreau.

Harris won the final of the 1972 Australian Open Women's Doubles tournament partnered by Helen Gourlay, beating Patricia Coleman-Clegg and Karen Krantzcke. In the women's singles, seeded number 6, she reached the semi-final, beating third seed Gail Chanfreau in the quarterfinal in straight sets, before losing to second seed and eventual champion Virginia Wade in three sets.

She reached the women's doubles final of the 1973 Australian Open and 1974 Australian Open partnering Kerry Melville on both occasions. In 1973, Margaret Court and Virginia Wade won the final and in 1974, Evonne Goolagong and Peggy Michel won.

Harris had wins in her career over Margaret Court, Nancy Gunter, Kerry Melville, Judy Dalton, Wendy Turnbull, Betty Stöve, and Francoise Durr. She was described as an athletic player, with a very powerful serve-and-volley game. She was praised for her good temperament on and off the court.

After her tennis career ended, she became a tennis coach.

Grand Slam finals

Doubles (1 title, 3 runner-ups)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	1971	French Open	Clay	Helen Gourlay	Françoise Dürr Gail Chanfreau	4–6, 1–6
Win	1972	Australian Open	Grass	Helen Gourlay	Patricia Coleman Karen Krantzcke	6–0, 6–4
Loss	1973	Australian Open	Grass	Kerry Melville	Margaret Court Virginia Wade	4–6, 4–6
Loss	1974	Australian Open	Grass	Kerry Melville	Evonne Goolagong Peggy Michel	5–7, 3–6

Other tournaments

Doubles (6 titles)

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Win	1971	Newport (Wales)	Grass	Helen Gourlay	Gail Chanfreau Winnie Shaw	6–3, 8–6
Win	1971	Cincinnati (USA)	Clay	Helen Gourlay	Gail Chanfreau Winnie Shaw	6–4, 6–4
Win	1972	Tucson (USA)	Hard	Karen Krantzcke	Judy Tegart Dalton Françoise Dürr	6–3, 6–7, 6–3
Win	1973	Phoenix (USA)	Hard	Kerry Melville	Rosemary Casals Billie Jean King	6–4, 6–4
Win	1973	Honolulu (USA)	Hard	Kerry Melville	Helen Gourlay Karen Krantzcke	6–3, 3–6, 6–3
Win	1974	Mission Viejo (USA)	Hard	Lesley Hunt	Chris Evert Billie Jean King	7–5, 6–4

Singles (1 title, 4 runner-ups)

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1969	Victoria (Australia)	Grass	Margaret Court	6–1, 6–4
Loss	1972	Adelaide (Australia)	Grass	Evonne Goolagong	6–1, 6–2
Loss	1973	Philadelphia (USA)	Hard	Margaret Court	6–1, 6–0
Loss	1974	Perth (Australia)	Grass	Evonne Goolagong	7–5, 6–1
Win	1971	Essex Championships (UK)	Grass	Helen Gourlay	6–2, 6–4.

External links

• Kerry Harris at the Women's Tennis Association
• Kerry Harris at the International Tennis Federation