Margaret Smith Court
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Margaret Smith Court (born 16 July 1942, in Albury, New South Wales, Australia) is a retired tennis player from Australia. She is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the game. Between 1960 and 1975, she won a record 62 Grand Slam titles – 24 singles, 19 women's doubles and 19 mixed doubles. In 1970, she became only the second woman player to win all four Grand Slam singles titles in a year.
Biography
She was born Margaret Smith in 1942, the youngest of four children of Lawrence Smith and Catherine Smith (neé Beaufort). She began playing tennis when she was eight years old and was 17 when she won her first of seven straight singles titles at the Australian Championships.After Wimbledon in 1966, Court decided to retire from tennis. In 1967, she married Barry Court (and became known as Margaret Smith Court, or Margaret Court). She returned to tennis in 1968. In 1970, she won all four of the Grand Slam singles titles. In 1971, Court lost the singles final at Wimbledon to Evonne Goolagong while pregnant with her first child. Daniel arrived in March 1972. Court made a comeback the same year and played in the US Open. In 1974, her second child, Marika, was born. 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, i.e. winning every possible Grand Slam title – singles, same-sex doubles and mixed doubles – at all four of the Grand Slam events. The others are Doris Hart and Martina Navrátilová. However, she is the only athlete in history to have won all 12 Grand Slam events atleast twice.
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, the Government of Australia honoured her and fellow Australian tennis superstar Rod Laver by putting their images on postage stamps.
Court now lives in Perth, Western Australia, and runs Victory Life Centre (see ), a Christian ministry.
Court's father-in-law, Sir Charles Court, and brother-in-law, Richard Court, were Liberal premiers of Western Australia.
Career timeline
- 1960 - Won her first singles title at the Australian Championships, but lost the junior girls final to Lesley Turner.
- 1962 - Won three of the Grand Slam singles tournaments.
- 1963 - Became the first Australian woman to win Wimbledon. She and Ken Fletcher became the first, and only, pair to win a Grand Slam in mixed doubles.
- 1965 - Won three of the Grand Slam singles tournaments and won another Grand Slam in mixed doubles, with three different partners.
- 1966 - Temporarily retired.
- 1969 - Won three of the Grand Slam singles tournaments.
- 1970 - Won all four of the Grand Slam singles tournaments, defeating Kerry Melville in the Australian Open final, Helga Niessen in the French Open final, Billie Jean King in the Wimbledon final, and Rosie Casals in the US Open final. Maureen Connolly 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 Grand Slam singles tournaments. On Mother's Day (May 13), lost a televised match to Bobby Riggs 6–2, 6–1, despite being the top-ranked women's player at the time. Billie Jean King beat Riggs to even the score four months later.
- 1975 - Played the final Grand Slam singles match of her career, losing to Martina Navratilova 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the US Open.
- 1977 - Played the final singles match of her career, defeating Greer Stevens 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 in the third round of the Virginia Slims of Detroit. Court defaulted the quarterfinal to Francoise Durr upon learning that she was pregnant.
Grand Slam Titles and World Rankings
Court won a record 62 Grand Slam titles (24 singles, 19 women's doubles, 19 mixed doubles).Court reached the finals in 29, the semifinals in 36, and the quarterfinals in 43 of the 47 Grand Slams singles tournaments she entered during her career. 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 US 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 United States 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. During her career, Court was an astounding 146-2 .986 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 slam in 1970, the mixed doubles slam in 1963 with fellow Australian Ken Fletcher, and the mixed doubles slam in 1965 with three different partners.
According to the end-of-year rankings compiled by the London Daily Telegraph from 1914 through 1972, Court was ranked No. 1 in the world 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.
Her singles championships at the four Grand Slam tournaments:
- Australian Open: 1960–66, 1969–71, 1973 (11 times)
- French Open: 1962, 1964, 1969, 1970, 1973 (5 times)
- Wimbledon: 1963, 1965, 1970 (3 times)
- US Open: 1962, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1973 (5 times)
Grand Slam singles finals
Wins (24)
| '''Year | '''Championship | '''Opponent in Final | '''Score in Final |
| 1960 | Australian Championships |
Jan Lehane | 7–5, 6–2 |
| 1961 | Australian Championships |
Jan Lehane | 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1962 | Australian Championships |
Jan Lehane | 6–0, 6–2 |
| 1962 | French Championships |
Lesley Turner | 6–3, 3–6, 7–5 |
| 1962 | U.S. Championships |
Darlene Hard | 9–7, 6–4 |
| 1963 | Australian Championships |
Jan Lehane | 6–2, 6–2 |
| 1963 | Wimbledon |
Billie Jean King | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1964 | Australian Championships |
Lesley Turner | 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1964 | French Championships |
Maria Bueno | 5–7, 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1965 | Australian Championships |
Maria Bueno | 5–7, 6–4, 5–2 (retired) |
| 1965 | Wimbledon |
Maria Bueno | 6–4, 7–5 |
| 1965 | U.S. Championships |
Billie Jean King | 8–6, 7–5 |
| 1966 | Australian Championships |
Nancy Richey | walkover |
| Open Era: | |||
| 1969 | Australian Open |
Billie Jean King | 6–4, 6–1 |
| 1969 | French Open |
Ann Haydon-Jones | 6–1, 4–6, 6–3 |
| 1969 | U.S. Open |
Nancy Richey | 6–2, 6–2 |
| 1970 | Australian Open |
Kerry Reid | 6–1, 6–3 |
| 1970 | French Open | Helga Niessen | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1970 | Wimbledon |
Billie Jean King | 14–12, 11–9 |
| 1970 | U.S. Open |
Rosie Casals | 6–2, 2–6, 6–1 |
| 1971 | Australian Open |
Evonne Goolagong | 2–6, 7–6, 7–5 |
| 1973 | Australian Open |
Evonne Goolagong | 6–4, 7–5 |
| 1973 | French Open |
Chris Evert | 6–7, 7–6, 6–4 |
| 1973 | U.S. Open |
Evonne Goolagong | 7–6, 5–7, 6–2 |
Performance timeline
| Tournament | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | - | F | W | W | W | - | W | - | QF | 11 |
| French Open | - | - | W | - | W | F | - | - | - | W | W | - | - | W | - | - | 5 |
| Wimbledon | - | - | - | W | F | W | - | - | QF | SF | W | F | - | SF | - | SF | 3 |
| U.S. Open | - | - | W | F | - | W | - | - | - | W | W | - | SF | W | - | QF | 5 |
| Grand Slam Win-Loss | 1-0 | 1-0 | 3-0 | 2-1 | 2-1 | 3-1 | 1-0 | align="center" | |||||||||
| 0-2 | 4-1 | 6-0 | 5-1 | 4-1 | 11-1 | align="center" | |||||||||||
| 9-3 | 52-12 |
Wimbledon singles record
Court's overall win-loss record at Wimbledon was 51-9 .850 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 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).
- 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 (1971)).
- Versus #4 seeds, Court was 1-4 (win: Darlene Hard (1963); losses: Evonne Goolagong (1975), Chris Evert (1973), Ann Haydon Jones (1969), Billie Jean King (1966)).
- Versus #5 seeds, Court was 1-0 (Rosie 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 (1970), Rene Schuurman (1963)).
United States Championships/Open singles record
Court's overall win-loss record at the United States Championships/United States Open was 51-6 .895 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).
- Versus #1 seeds, Court was 0-2 (Billie Jean King (1972), Darlene Hard (1961)).
- Versus #2 seeds, Court was 1-0 (Rosie 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 (1973), Rosie 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), Francoise 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)).
French Championships/Open singles record
Court's overall win-loss record at the French Championships/French Open was 47-5 .850 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 in 1965, Věra 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).
- 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 (1965)).
- Versus #4 seeds, Court was 4-0 (Evonne Goolagong (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: Renne Schuurman (1962); loss: Ann Haydon Jones (1961)).
- Versus #7 seeds, Court was 2-0 (Helga Niessen (1970), Edda Buding (1962)).
- Versus #8 seeds, Court was 3-1 (wins: Rosie Casals (1970), Kerry Reid (1969), Věra Suková (1964); loss: Věra Suková (1963)).
- Versus #9 seeds, Court was 1-0 (Norma Baylon (1965)).
- Versus #13 seeds, Court was 1-0 (Lesley Turner (1962)).
Australian Championships/Open singles record
Court's overall win-loss record at the Australian Championships/Australian Open was 61-3 (0.953) 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 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 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).
- Versus #1 seeds (overall, domestic, or foreign), Court was 5-1 (wins: Billie Jean King (1969), Lesley Turner (1968), Nancy Richey Gunter (1966), Maria Bueno (1965 and 1960); loss: Billie Jean King (1968)).
- Versus #2 seeds (overall, domestic, or foreign), Court was 6-0 (Evonne Goolagong (1973 and 1971), Kerry Melville (1970), Carol Graebner (1966), Billie Jean King (1965), Jan Lehane (1961)).
- Versus #3 seeds (overall, domestic, or foreign), Court was 3-0 (Rosie Casals (1968), Jan Lehane (1963 and 1960)).
- Versus #4 seeds (overall, domestic, or foreign), Court was 5-1 (wins: Karen Krantzcke (1970), Kerry Melville (1973 and 1969), Yola Rameriez (1962), Mary Reitano (1960); loss: Mary Reitano (1959)).
- Versus #5 seeds (overall, domestic, or foreign), Court was 4-0 (Rosie Casals (1969), Norma Baylon (1965), Robyn Ebbern (1965), Jan Lehane (1962)).
- Versus #7 seeds (overall, domestic, or foreign), Court was 1-0 (Madonna Schacht (1966)).
- Versus #8 seeds (overall, domestic, or foreign), Court was 2-1 (wins: Karen Krantzcke (1973), Helen Gourlay (1971)); loss: Martina Navratilova (1975)).
External links
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