Doris Hart

Doris Hart (June 20, 1925 – May 29, 2015) was a tennis player from the United States who was active in the 1940s and first half of the 1950s. She was ranked world No. 1 in 1951. She was the fourth player, and second woman, to win a Career Grand Slam in singles. She was the first of only three players (all women) to complete the career "Boxed Set" of Grand Slam titles, which is winning at least one title in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles at all four Grand Slam events. Only Margaret Smith Court and she achieved this during the amateur era of the sport.

Doris Hart
Hart in 1953
Country (sports) United States
Born(1925-06-20)June 20, 1925
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
DiedMay 29, 2015(2015-05-29) (aged 89)
Coral Gables, Florida, U.S.
Retired1955 (but played at the 1968 Wimbledon Championships and the 1969 US Open)
Int. Tennis HoF1969 (member page)
Singles
Career record0–0
Highest rankingNo. 1 (1951)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian OpenW (1949)
French OpenW (1950, 1952)
WimbledonW (1951)
US OpenW (1954, 1955)
Doubles
Career record0–0
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian OpenW (1950)
French OpenW (1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953)
WimbledonW (1947, 1951, 1952, 1953)
US OpenW (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954)
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
Australian OpenW (1949, 1950)
French OpenW (1951, 1952, 1953)
WimbledonW (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955)
US OpenW (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955)

Tennis career

Hart reached 67 Grand Slam finals and won 35 titles, tying with Louise Brough for sixth on the all-time list (behind Margaret Smith Court (64), Martina Navratilova (59), Billie Jean King (39), Serena Williams (39), and Margaret Osborne duPont (37)). Six of her titles were in women's singles, 14 in women's doubles, and 15 in mixed doubles.[1] Hart is one of only three players, all women, to have a "boxed set" of Grand Slam titles — every possible title (singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles) from all four Grand Slam tournaments. The others are Margaret Smith Court and Martina Navratilova.[1] Hart was the first person to accomplish this feat.[2]

As a child, Hart suffered from osteomyelitis, which resulted in a permanently impaired right leg. She started playing tennis when she was 10 years old, greatly encouraged by her brother Bud.[1]

After losing seven Grand Slam finals from 1942 through 1946, Hart won her first Grand Slam title at the 1947 Wimbledon Championships in women's doubles. At that point, she was still a student at the University of Miami.[3][4]

Her first Grand Slam singles title came at the 1949 Australian National Championships, where she was the only non-Australian player in the draw. She also won singles titles at the 1950 and 1952 French International Championships, the 1951 Wimbledon Championships (routing doubles partner Shirley Fry in the final)[3], and the 1954 and 1955 U. S. National Championships.[3][5] The 1955 U. S. singles final was the last Grand Slam singles match of her career.[5]

Hart won the singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles titles at the 1951 Wimbledon Championships, playing the finals of all three events on the same day (July 7, 1951).[3] She also won the "triple crown" at the 1952 French International Championships and the 1954 U. S. National Championships.[6]

During her Wightman Cup career from 1946 through 1955, Hart was a perfect 14–0 in singles matches and 8–1 in doubles matches.[1]

Hart did not lose a Grand Slam women's doubles match from the 1951 French International Championships through the semifinals of the 1954 Wimbledon Championships, 43 matches in total, although she skipped 4 Grand Slam tournaments during this period. She also did not lose a mixed doubles match at the 13 Grand Slam tournaments she played from the 1951 French International Championships through the 1955 U. S. National Championships. She (and partner Stan Smith) finally lost in the third round of the 1968 Wimbledon Championships to Frew McMillan and Annette Van Zyl Du Plooy 6-3, 12-10.

According to John Olliff and Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail, Hart was ranked in the world top ten from 1946 through 1955 (no rankings issued from 1940 through 1945), reaching a career high of World No. 1 in those rankings in 1951.[7] Hart was included in the year-end top ten rankings issued by the United States Lawn Tennis Association from 1942 through 1955. She was the top ranked U. S. player in 1954 and 1955.[8]

Hart retired from the tour in late 1955 to become a tennis teaching professional. Her autobiography, Tennis with Hart, was published that year.[6]

She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1969.

She died on May 29, 2015, at her home in Coral Gables, Florida, aged 89.[9]

Grand Slam finals

Singles (6 titles, 12 runner-ups)
Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Loss1946U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Pauline Betz9–11, 3–6
Loss1947Wimbledon ChampionshipsGrass Margaret Osborne duPont2–6, 4–6
Loss1947French ChampionshipsClay Patricia Canning Todd3–6, 6–3, 4–6
Loss1948Wimbledon ChampionshipsGrass Louise Brough3–6, 6–8
Win1949Australian ChampionshipsGrass Nancye Wynne Bolton6–3, 6–4
Loss1949U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Margaret Osborne duPont3–6, 1–6
Loss1950Australian ChampionshipsGrass Louise Brough4–6, 6–3, 4–6
Win1950French ChampionshipsClay Patricia Canning Todd6–4, 4–6, 6–2
Loss1950U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Margaret Osborne duPont4–6, 3–6
Loss1951French ChampionshipsClay Shirley Fry3–6, 6–3, 3–6
Win1951Wimbledon ChampionshipsGrass Shirley Fry6–1, 6–0
Win1952French ChampionshipsClay Shirley Fry6–4, 6–4
Loss1952U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Maureen Connolly3–6, 5–7
Loss1953French ChampionshipsClay Maureen Connolly2–6, 4–6
Loss1953Wimbledon ChampionshipsGrass Maureen Connolly6–8, 5–7
Loss1953U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Maureen Connolly2–6, 4–6
Win1954U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Louise Brough6–8, 6–1, 8–6
Win1955U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Patricia Ward6–4, 6–2

Doubles (14 titles, 16 runner-ups)
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss1942U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Pauline Betz Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		6–2, 5–7, 0–6
Loss1943U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Pauline Betz Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		4–6, 3–6
Loss1944U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Pauline Betz Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		6–4, 4–6, 3–6
Loss1945U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Pauline Betz Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		3–6, 3–6
Loss1946Wimbledon ChampionshipsGrass Pauline Betz Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		3–6, 6–2, 3–6
Loss1946French ChampionshipsClay Pauline Betz Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		4–6, 6–0, 1–6
Win1947Wimbledon ChampionshipsGrass Patricia Canning Todd Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		3–6, 6–4, 7–5
Loss1947French ChampionshipsClay Patricia Canning Todd Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		5–7, 2–6
Loss1947U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Patricia Canning Todd Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		7–5, 3–6, 5–7
Win1948French ChampionshipsClay Patricia Canning Todd Mary Arnold Prentiss
Shirley Fry		6–4, 6–2
Loss1948Wimbledon ChampionshipsGrass Patricia Canning Todd Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		1–6, 1–6
Loss1948U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Patricia Canning Todd Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		4–6, 10–8, 1–6
Loss1949Australian ChampionshipsGrass Marie Toomey Nancye Wynne Bolton
Thelma Coyne Long		0–6, 1–6
Loss1949U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Shirley Fry Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		4–6, 8–10
Win1950Australian ChampionshipsGrass Louise Brough Nancye Wynne Bolton
Thelma Coyne Long		6–3, 2–6, 6–3
Win1950French ChampionshipsClay Shirley Fry Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		1–6, 7–5, 6–2
Loss1950Wimbledon ChampionshipsGrass Shirley Fry Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		4–6, 7–5, 1–6
Loss1950U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Shirley Fry Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		2–6, 3–6
Win1951French ChampionshipsClay Shirley Fry Beryl Bartlett
Barbara Scofield		10–8, 6–3
Win1951Wimbledon ChampionshipsGrass Shirley Fry Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		6–2, 13–11
Win1951U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Shirley Fry Nancy Chaffee
Patricia Canning Todd		6–4, 6–2
Win1952French ChampionshipsClay Shirley Fry Hazel Redick-Smith
Julia Wipplinger		7–5, 6–1
Win1952Wimbledon ChampionshipsGrass Shirley Fry Louise Brough
Maureen Connolly		8–6, 6–3
Win1952U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Shirley Fry Louise Brough
Maureen Connolly		10–8, 6–4
Win1953French ChampionshipsClay Shirley Fry Maureen Connolly
Julia Sampson		6–4, 6–3
Win1953Wimbledon ChampionshipsGrass Shirley Fry Maureen Connolly
Julia Sampson		6–0, 6–0
Win1953U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Shirley Fry Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		6–2, 7–9, 9–7
Loss1954Wimbledon ChampionshipsGrass Shirley Fry Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		6–4, 7–9, 1–6
Win1954U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Shirley Fry Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		6–4, 6–4
Loss1955U. S. National ChampionshipsGrass Shirley Fry Louise Brough
Margaret Osborne duPont		3–6, 6–1, 3–6

Mixed doubles: 19 (15 titles, 4 runner-ups)
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss1945U.S. ChampionshipsGrass Bob Falkenburg Margaret Osborne duPont
Bill Talbert		4–6, 4–6
Loss1948French ChampionshipsClay Frank Sedgman Pat Canning Todd
Jaroslav Drobný		3–6, 6–3, 3–6
Loss1948WimbledonGrass Frank Sedgman Louise Brough
John Bromwich 		2–6, 6–3, 3–6
Win1949Australian ChampionshipsGrass Frank Sedgman Joyce Fitch
John Bromwich		6–1, 5–7, 12–10
Win1950Australian ChampionshipsGrass Frank Sedgman Joyce Fitch
Eric Sturgess		8–6, 6–4
Loss1950U.S. ChampionshipsGrass Frank Sedgman Margaret Osborne duPont
Ken McGregor		4–6, 6–3, 3–6
Win1951French ChampionshipsClay Frank Sedgman Thelma Coyne Long
Mervyn Rose		7–5, 6–2
Win1951WimbledonGrass Frank Sedgman Nancye Wynne Bolton
Mervyn Rose		7–5, 6–2
Win1951U.S. ChampionshipsGrass Frank Sedgman Shirley Fry
Mervyn Rose		6–3, 6–2
Win1952WimbledonGrass Frank Sedgman Thelma Coyne Long
Enrique Morea		4–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win1952French ChampionshipsClay Frank Sedgman Shirley Fry
Eric Sturgess		6–8, 6–3, 6–3
Win1952U.S. ChampionshipsGrass Frank Sedgman Thelma Long
Lew Hoad		6–3, 7–5
Win1953French ChampionshipsClay Vic Seixas Maureen Connolly
Mervyn Rose		4–6, 6–4, 6–0
Win1953WimbledonGrass Vic Seixas Shirley Fry
Enrique Morea		9–7, 7–5
Win1953U.S. ChampionshipsGrass Vic Seixas Julia Sampson
Rex Hartwig		6–2, 4–6, 6–4
Win1954WimbledonGrass Vic Seixas Margaret duPont
Ken Rosewall		5–7, 6–4, 6–3
Win1955WimbledonGrass Vic Seixas Louise Brough
Enrique Morea		8–6, 2–6, 6–3
Win1954U.S. ChampionshipsGrass Vic Seixas Margaret duPont
Ken Rosewall		4–6, 6–1, 6–1
Win1955U.S. ChampionshipsGrass Vic Seixas Shirley Fry
Gardnar Mulloy		7–5, 5–7, 6–2

Grand Slam performance timelines
Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# A NH
(W) Won; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent; (NH) not held. SR=strike rate (events won/competed)

Singles
Tournament194019411942194319441945194611947119481949195019511952195319541955Career SRWin-Loss
Australian Championships A NH NH NH NH NH A A A W F A A A A A 1 / 2 8-1
French Championships NH R R R R A QF F SF A W F W F A A 2 / 7 28-5
Wimbledon Championships NH NH NH NH NH NH QF F F A SF W QF F SF SF 1 / 9 43-8
U. S. National Championships 2R2 1R QF SF QF SF F SF QF F F SF F F W W 2 / 16 57-13
SR 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 3 1 / 2 1 / 4 1 / 3 1 / 3 0 / 3 1 / 2 1 / 2 6 / 34
Win-Loss 0-0 0-1 3-1 3-1 2-1 3-1 10-3 14-3 11-3 9-1 20-3 15-2 13-2 14-3 10-1 9-1 136-27

Doubles
Tournament19421943194419451946119471194819491950195119521953195419551956– 196719681969Career SR
Australian Championships NH NH NH NH A A A F W A A A A A A A A 1 / 2
French Championships R R R A F F W A W W W W A A A A A 5 / 7
Wimbledon Championships NH NH NH NH F W F A F W W W F 2R A 2R A 4 / 10
U. S. National Championships F F F F SF F F F F W W W W F A A 1R 4 / 15
SR 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 3 1 / 3 1 / 3 0 / 2 2 / 4 3 / 3 3 / 3 3 / 3 1 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 0 0 / 1 0 / 1 14 / 34

Mixed doubles
Tournament19421943194419451946119471194819491950195119521953195419551956–196719681969Career SR
Australian Championships NH NH NH NH A A A W W A A A A A A A A 2 / 2
French Championships R R R A 2R A F A 3R W W W A A A A A 3 / 6
Wimbledon Championships NH NH NH NH 4R SF F A SF W W W W W A 3R A 5 / 10
U. S. National Championships 2R 1R QF F QF 1R SF QF F W W W W W A A QF 5 / 15
SR 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 3 1 / 2 1 / 4 3 / 3 3 / 3 3 / 3 2 / 2 2 / 2 0 / 0 0 / 1 0 / 1 15 / 33

R = tournament restricted to French nationals and held under German occupation.
1In 1946 and 1947, the French Championships were held after Wimbledon.
2Hart did not play at this event. Her opponent got a walkover.

See also

References
  1. Frank Litsky (May 31, 2015). "Doris Hart, Tennis Standout Despite Physical Limitations, Dies at 89". The New York Times. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  2. Reuters (May 30, 2015). "Grand Slam tennis champ Doris Hart of U.S. dies at 89". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on May 31, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  3. Richard Evans (May 31, 2015). "Doris Hart obituary". The Guardian. London. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  4. Howard Kleinberg (2013). Legendary Locals of Greater Miami. Arcadia Publishing. p. 56.
  5. Associated Press (May 30, 2015). "Tennis Career Grand Slam Winner Doris Hart Dies at 89". ABC News. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  6. "Doris Hart, tennis champion – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. June 1, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  7. Collins, Bud (2008). The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book. New York City: New Chapter Press. pp. 695, 702–3. ISBN 0-942257-41-3.
  8. United States Tennis Association (1988). 1988 Official USTA Tennis Yearbook. Lynn, Massachusetts: H. O. Zimman, Inc. pp. 260–1.
  9. "Tennis career Grand Slam winner Doris Hart dies at 89". Sports Illustrated. May 30, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
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