Kerry Harris

Kerry Harris
Country (sports)	Australia
Residence	Perth, Western Australia
Born	19 September 1949 (age 74); Melbourne, Australia
Height	5 ft 8 in (172.7 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 the great 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, she was also chosen to be a part of Lawn Tennis Association of Australia’s Touring Team with Harry Hopman as Manager. She would go on to be coached by Merv Rose.

Harris enjoyed participating in the early years of the women’s tour, competing with and against the best players in the world. 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 Francoise Durr 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 the likes of Margaret Court, Nancy Gunter, Kerry Melville, Helen Gourlay, Judy Dalton, Karen Krantzcke, Lesley Hunt, Wendy Turnball, Betty Stove, Francoise Durr, Winnie Shaw, Gail Chanfreau, Wendy Overton and Val Ziegenfuss. She was described as an athletic player, with a very powerful serve/ volley game. She was praised for her good temperament on and off the court.

After her tennis career came to an end, she went on to become a tennis coach, passing on her knowledge of the game, learnt from her coaches.

Grand Slam finals

Doubles (1 title, 3 runner-ups)

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

Other tournaments

Doubles (6 titles)

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

Singles (1 title, 4 runner-ups)

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