Doris Hart
Encyclopedia
Doris Hart is a former World No. 1 American female tennis
player.
As a child, she 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.
Hart's first Grand Slam title was in women's doubles at Wimbledon in 1947, when she was still a student at the University of Miami (Florida)
.
Hart's first Grand Slam singles title came at the 1949 Australian Championships
. She also won singles titles at the French Championships in 1950 and 1952, Wimbledon in 1951, and the U.S. Championships in 1954 and 1955. In 1951, she beat her long-time doubles partner, Shirley Fry Irvin, in the Wimbledon final. In 1954, she saved a match point while defeating Louise Brough Clapp in the final of the U.S. Championships.
Hart reached at least the quarterfinals in 32 of the 34 Grand Slam singles tournaments she played, failing to reach that round only in her first two tournaments (when she was 15 and 16 years old). She won 6 of the 18 Grand Slam singles finals she contested. She was the champion of the last Grand Slam singles tournament she played, the 1955 U.S. Championships. Her last Grand Slam doubles tournament was the 1969 US Open, where she and partner Carole Graebner lost in the first round.
In 1951, Hart won the singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles championships at Wimbledon, playing the finals of all three events on the same day. She also won the "triple crown" at the French Championships in 1952 and the U.S. Championships in 1954.
During her Wightman Cup
career from 1946 through 1955, Hart was a perfect 14-0 in singles matches and 8–1 in doubles matches.
Hart is one of only two women to have defeated Maureen Connolly
in a Grand Slam singles tournament. Hart won their second round match at the 1950 U.S. Championships 6–2, 7–5. (The other woman was Barbara Scofield Davidson
, who defeated Connolly in the second round of the 1949 U.S. Championships, 6–4, 6–3.) Connolly won a total of nine Grand Slam singles tournaments during her career, defeating Hart in the final of four of them.
Hart won 35 Grand Slam titles during her career, tying with Brough Clapp for fifth on the all-time list. Six of her titles were in women's singles, 14 in women's doubles, and 15 in mixed doubles. Hart is one of three players, all women, to have a "boxed set" of Grand Slam titles—every possible title (singles, same-sex doubles, and mixed doubles) from all four Grand Slam events. The others are Margaret Court and Martina Navratilova. Hart won nine consecutive Grand Slam women's doubles titles from 1951 through 1953, with her streak of 43 consecutive match wins in Grand Slam women's doubles tournaments finally ending in the 1954 Wimbledon final.
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. 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.
Hart retired from the tour in 1955 to become a tennis teaching professional. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
in 1969.
NH = tournament not held.
R = tournament restricted to French nationals and held under German occupation.
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.
1In 1946 and 1947, the French Championships were held after Wimbledon.
NH = tournament not held.
R = tournament restricted to French nationals and held under German occupation.
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.
1In 1946 and 1947, the French Championships were held after Wimbledon.
NH = tournament not held.
R = tournament restricted to French nationals and held under German occupation.
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.
1In 1946 and 1947, the French Championships were held after Wimbledon.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player.
As a child, she suffered from osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis simply means an infection of the bone or bone marrow...
, which resulted in a permanently impaired right leg. She started playing tennis when she was 10 years old, greatly encouraged by her brother Bud.
Hart's first Grand Slam title was in women's doubles at Wimbledon in 1947, when she was still a student at the University of Miami (Florida)
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
.
Hart's first Grand Slam singles title came at the 1949 Australian Championships
Australian Open
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
. She also won singles titles at the French Championships in 1950 and 1952, Wimbledon in 1951, and the U.S. Championships in 1954 and 1955. In 1951, she beat her long-time doubles partner, Shirley Fry Irvin, in the Wimbledon final. In 1954, she saved a match point while defeating Louise Brough Clapp in the final of the U.S. Championships.
Hart reached at least the quarterfinals in 32 of the 34 Grand Slam singles tournaments she played, failing to reach that round only in her first two tournaments (when she was 15 and 16 years old). She won 6 of the 18 Grand Slam singles finals she contested. She was the champion of the last Grand Slam singles tournament she played, the 1955 U.S. Championships. Her last Grand Slam doubles tournament was the 1969 US Open, where she and partner Carole Graebner lost in the first round.
In 1951, Hart won the singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles championships at Wimbledon, playing the finals of all three events on the same day. She also won the "triple crown" at the French Championships in 1952 and the U.S. Championships in 1954.
During her Wightman Cup
Wightman Cup
The Wightman Cup was a team tennis competition for women contested from 1923 through 1989 between teams from the United States and Great Britain. U.S. player Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman wanted to generate international interest in women's tennis the way Davis Cup did for men's...
career from 1946 through 1955, Hart was a perfect 14-0 in singles matches and 8–1 in doubles matches.
Hart is one of only two women to have defeated Maureen Connolly
Maureen Connolly
Maureen Catherine Connolly Brinker was an American tennis player who was the first woman to win all four Grand Slam tournaments during the same calendar year.-Biography:...
in a Grand Slam singles tournament. Hart won their second round match at the 1950 U.S. Championships 6–2, 7–5. (The other woman was Barbara Scofield Davidson
Barbara Scofield
Barbara Scofield was a post-war American tennis player. She was also known by her married name, Barbara Scofield-Davidson....
, who defeated Connolly in the second round of the 1949 U.S. Championships, 6–4, 6–3.) Connolly won a total of nine Grand Slam singles tournaments during her career, defeating Hart in the final of four of them.
Hart won 35 Grand Slam titles during her career, tying with Brough Clapp for fifth on the all-time list. Six of her titles were in women's singles, 14 in women's doubles, and 15 in mixed doubles. Hart is one of three players, all women, to have a "boxed set" of Grand Slam titles—every possible title (singles, same-sex doubles, and mixed doubles) from all four Grand Slam events. The others are Margaret Court and Martina Navratilova. Hart won nine consecutive Grand Slam women's doubles titles from 1951 through 1953, with her streak of 43 consecutive match wins in Grand Slam women's doubles tournaments finally ending in the 1954 Wimbledon final.
According to John Olliff and Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
, 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. Hart was included in the year-end top ten rankings issued by the United States Lawn Tennis Association
United States Tennis Association
The United States Tennis Association is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States. A not-for-profit organization with more than 700,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds to promote and develop the growth of tennis, from the grass-roots to the professional levels...
from 1942 through 1955. She was the top ranked U.S. player in 1954 and 1955.
Hart retired from the tour in 1955 to become a tennis teaching professional. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
International Tennis Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The hall of fame and honors players and contributors to the sport of tennis and includes a museum, grass tennis courts, an indoor tennis facility, and a court tennis facility.-History:The hall of fame and...
in 1969.
Grand Slam record
- Australian ChampionshipsAustralian OpenThe Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
(4)- Singles champion: 1949
- Singles runner-up: 1950
- Women's Doubles champion: 1950
- Women's Doubles runner-up: 1949
- Mixed Doubles champion (2): 1949, 1950
- French Championships (10)
- Singles champion (2): 1950, 1952
- Singles runner-up (3): 1947, 1951, 1953
- Women's Doubles champion (5): 1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953
- Women's Doubles runner-up (2): 1946, 1947
- Mixed Doubles champion (3): 1951, 1952, 1953
- Mixed Doubles runner-up: 1948
- WimbledonThe Championships, WimbledonThe Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
(10)- Singles champion: 1951
- Singles runner-up (3): 1947, 1948, 1953
- Women's Doubles champion (4): 1947, 1951, 1952, 1953
- Women's Doubles runner-up (4): 1946, 1948, 1950, 1954
- Mixed Doubles champion (5): 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955
- Mixed Doubles runner-up: 1948
- U.S. Championships (11)
- Singles champion (2): 1954, 1955
- Singles runner-up (5): 1946, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953
- Women's Doubles champion (4): 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954
- Women's Doubles runner-up (9): 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1955
- Mixed Doubles champion (5): 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955
- Mixed Doubles runner-up (2): 1945, 1950
Wins (6)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1949 | Australian Championships Australian Open The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court... |
 Nancye Wynne BoltonNancye Wynne Bolton Nancye Wynne Bolton was a female tennis player from Australia. She won the women's singles title six times at the Australian Championships, second only to Margaret Court who won 11 titles... |
6–3, 6–4 |
| 1950 | French Championships |  Pat Canning ToddPat Canning Todd ----Mary Patricia Canning Todd , was an American tennis player who had her best results just after World War II... |
6–4, 4–6, 6–2 |
| 1951 | Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
Shirley Fry Irvin |
6–1, 6–0 |
| 1952 | French Championships (2) | Shirley Fry Irvin |
6–4, 6–4 |
| 1954 | U.S. Championships | Louise Brough Clapp |
6–8, 6–1, 8–6 |
| 1955 | U.S. Championships (2) |  Patricia Ward |
6–4, 6–2 |
Runner-ups (12)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1946 | U.S. Championships | Pauline Betz Addie |
11–9, 6–3 |
| 1947 | French Championships | Pat Canning Todd Pat Canning Todd ----Mary Patricia Canning Todd , was an American tennis player who had her best results just after World War II... |
6–3, 3–6, 6–4 |
| 1947 | Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
Margaret Osborne duPont Margaret Osborne duPont Margaret Evelyn Osborne duPont is a former World No. 1 American female tennis player.DuPont won a total of 37 singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles Grand Slam titles, which places her fourth on the all-time list despite never entering the Australian Championships. She won 25 of her Grand... |
6–2, 6–4 |
| 1948 | Wimbledon | Louise Brough Clapp |
6–3, 8–6 |
| 1949 | U.S. Championships | Margaret Osborne duPont |
6–3, 6–1 |
| 1950 | Australian Championships Australian Open The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court... |
Louise Brough Clapp |
6–4, 3–6, 6–4 |
| 1950 | U.S. Championships | Margaret Osborne duPont |
6–4, 6–3 |
| 1951 | French Championships | Shirley Fry Irvin |
6–3, 3–6, 6–3 |
| 1952 | U.S. Championships | Maureen Connolly Brinker |
6–3, 7–5 |
| 1953 | French Championships | Maureen Connolly Brinker |
6–2, 6–4 |
| 1953 | Wimbledon | Maureen Connolly Brinker |
8–6, 7–5 |
| 1953 | U.S. Championships | Maureen Connolly Brinker |
6–2, 6–4 |
Singles
| Tournament | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 19461 | 19471 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | Career SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Championships Australian Open The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court... |
A | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | A | A | A | W | F | A | A | A | A | A | 1 / 2 |
| French Championships | NH | R | R | R | R | A | QF | F | SF | A | W | F | W | F | A | A | 2 / 7 |
| Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | QF | F | F | A | SF | W | QF | F | SF | SF | 1 / 9 |
| U.S. Championships | 2R | 1R | QF | SF | QF | SF | F | SF | QF | F | F | SF | F | F | W | W | 2 / 16 |
| 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 |
NH = tournament not held.
R = tournament restricted to French nationals and held under German occupation.
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.
1In 1946 and 1947, the French Championships were held after Wimbledon.
Women's doubles
| Tournament | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 19461 | 19471 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956-1968 | 1969 | Career SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Championships Australian Open The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court... |
A | A | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | A | A | F | W | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1 / 2 |
| French Championships | NH | R | R | R | R | A | F | F | W | A | W | W | W | W | A | A | A | A | 5 / 7 |
| Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | F | W | F | A | F | W | W | W | F | SF | A | A | 4 / 9 |
| U.S. Championships | A | A | F | F | F | F | SF | F | F | F | F | W | W | W | W | F | A | 1R | 4 / 15 |
| SR | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 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 | 14 / 33 |
NH = tournament not held.
R = tournament restricted to French nationals and held under German occupation.
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.
1In 1946 and 1947, the French Championships were held after Wimbledon.
Mixed doubles
| Tournament | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 19461 | 19471 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956-1968 | 1969 | Career SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Championships Australian Open The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court... |
A | A | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | A | A | W | W | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2 / 2 |
| French Championships | NH | R | R | R | R | A | ? | ? | F | A | ? | W | W | W | A | A | A | A | 3 / ? |
| Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | 4R | SF | F | A | SF | W | W | W | W | W | A | A | 5 / 9 |
| U.S. Championships | ? | ? | ? | 1R | QF | F | QF | 1R | SF | QF | F | W | W | W | W | W | A | QF | 5 / ? |
| SR | 0 / ? | 0 / ? | 0 / ? | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / ? | 1 / ? | 0 / ? | 1 / 2 | 1 / ? | 3 / 3 | 3 / 3 | 3 / 3 | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 15 / ? |
NH = tournament not held.
R = tournament restricted to French nationals and held under German occupation.
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.
1In 1946 and 1947, the French Championships were held after Wimbledon.
See also
- Performance timelines for all female tennis players who reached at least one Grand Slam finalTennis performance timeline comparison (women)This article presents in a tabular form the career tennis Grand Slam, World Hard Court Championships and Olympic singles results of every woman who has reached the singles final of at least one Grand Slam, World Hard Court Championships or Olympic tournament during her career...