Kerry Reid
Encyclopedia
Kerry Melville Reid, MBE, (born 7 August 1947, in Mosman, New South Wales
) is a former professional tennis
player from Australia. During her 17-year career, Reid won one Grand Slam
singles title and 26 other singles titles and was the runner-up in 40 singles tournaments. Reid was included in the year-end world top ten rankings for 12 consecutive years (1968–1979). She won at least one tournament annually from 1966 through 1979, except for 1975. Her career-high ranking was World No. 5 from 1971 through 1974, behind Margaret Court, Billie Jean King
, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, and Chris Evert
.
tennis career in 1963 when she reached the third round of the Australian Championships
. In 1966, she reached the semifinals of both the Australian and U.S. Championships
(defeating Billie Jean King
, the defending champion, in the second round of the latter tournament). In 1967, Reid again reached the semifinals of the Australian Championships and reached the semifinals of the French Championships for the only time.
Reid was the women's singles runner-up at the 1970 Australian Open, losing to Margaret Court. Reid also was the women's singles runner-up at the U.S. Open in 1972, losing to King after defeating Chris Evert
in a semifinal 6–4, 6–2.
In 1972, Reid reached the final of the inaugural WTA Tour Championships
, where she lost to Evert 7–5, 6–4.
In January 1977, Reid won her only Grand Slam singles title when she defeated fellow Australian Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat 7–5, 6–2 in the final of the Australian Open. Reid and Balestrat were the only top 10 players who played the tournament. The previous week, Reid also defeated Balestrat in the final of the New South Wales Open, where Reid and Balestrat again were the only top 10 players who entered. On both the Virginia Slims and the Colgate Grand Prix tours in 1977, Reid qualified for the season-ending tournaments (each limited to the top eight players on the respective tour). And in World Team Tennis, Reid was undefeated in singles against both Martina Navratilova and Virginia Wade
, defeating each three times.
Reid capped her last year on the professional tour in 1979 by beating Navratilova for the first time in tournament play. Reid defeated Navratilova in a Family Circle Cup
semifinal 6–3, 7–6 before losing to Tracy Austin
in the final 7–6, 7–6. Reid also competed in the year-ending WTA Tour Championships (limited to the year's top 8 players).
Reid won the Australian Open women's doubles title twice, outright in 1968 and shared in December 1977. With Wendy Turnbull
in 1978, Reid won the women's doubles title at Wimbledon, was the doubles runner-up at the U.S. Open, and won the doubles titles at the Virginia Slims of Seattle, the Virginia Slims of Philadelphia, the U.S. Women's Indoor Championships, and the New South Wales Open.
Reid was a member of the Australian team that won the Federation Cup
in 1968. She also helped Australia reach four consecutive Federation Cup finals from 1976 through 1979 on a variety of court surfaces. During that run, she beat several top players, including Rosemary Casals
(1976 final on carpet 1–6, 6–3, 7–5), Wade (1977 semifinal on grass 6–4, 6–4 in Eastbourne
just weeks before Wade's Wimbledon victory), Austin (1978 final in Melbourne
on grass 6–3, 6–3) and Hana Mandlíková
(1979 semifinal on clay 6–4, 6–3).
Reid defeated Austin the first three times they played, although Austin won their remaining five career matches. Reid also defeated Mandlikova in both of their career matches.
Reid was a member of the "Houston 9", the breakaway group led by Gladys Heldman
in 1971 that formed the nucleus of the women's professional tennis tour.
Reid anchored a World Team Tennis team for each season of its inaugural incarnation (Boston Lobsters 1974-1976 and San Diego Friars 1977-1978).
and raised two daughters.
Reid was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1979.
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.
Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
Mosman, New South Wales
Mosman is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mosman is located 8 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Mosman.-Localities:In February...
) is a former professional tennis
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 from Australia. During her 17-year career, Reid won one Grand Slam
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
singles title and 26 other singles titles and was the runner-up in 40 singles tournaments. Reid was included in the year-end world top ten rankings for 12 consecutive years (1968–1979). She won at least one tournament annually from 1966 through 1979, except for 1975. Her career-high ranking was World No. 5 from 1971 through 1974, behind Margaret Court, Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, and Chris Evert
Chris Evert
Christine Marie "Chris" Evert is a former world number 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open. She was the year-ending World No...
.
Career
Reid began her Grand SlamGrand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
tennis career in 1963 when she reached the third round of the 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...
. In 1966, she reached the semifinals of both the Australian and U.S. Championships
U.S. Open (tennis)
The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881...
(defeating Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
, the defending champion, in the second round of the latter tournament). In 1967, Reid again reached the semifinals of the Australian Championships and reached the semifinals of the French Championships for the only time.
Reid was the women's singles runner-up at the 1970 Australian Open, losing to Margaret Court. Reid also was the women's singles runner-up at the U.S. Open in 1972, losing to King after defeating Chris Evert
Chris Evert
Christine Marie "Chris" Evert is a former world number 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open. She was the year-ending World No...
in a semifinal 6–4, 6–2.
In 1972, Reid reached the final of the inaugural WTA Tour Championships
WTA Tour Championships
The WTA Tour Championships is a tennis tournament played annually at the end of the season for the top-ranked players on the Women's Tennis Association tour. The month, city and number of players has changed since the first edition in 1972...
, where she lost to Evert 7–5, 6–4.
In January 1977, Reid won her only Grand Slam singles title when she defeated fellow Australian Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat 7–5, 6–2 in the final of the Australian Open. Reid and Balestrat were the only top 10 players who played the tournament. The previous week, Reid also defeated Balestrat in the final of the New South Wales Open, where Reid and Balestrat again were the only top 10 players who entered. On both the Virginia Slims and the Colgate Grand Prix tours in 1977, Reid qualified for the season-ending tournaments (each limited to the top eight players on the respective tour). And in World Team Tennis, Reid was undefeated in singles against both Martina Navratilova and Virginia Wade
Virginia Wade
Sarah Virginia Wade, OBE is a former English tennis player. She won three Grand Slam singles championships and four Grand Slam doubles championships. She won the women's singles championship at Wimbledon on 1 July 1977, in that tournament's centenary year, the last time any Briton has won a...
, defeating each three times.
Reid capped her last year on the professional tour in 1979 by beating Navratilova for the first time in tournament play. Reid defeated Navratilova in a Family Circle Cup
Family Circle Cup
The Family Circle Cup is a WTA Tour affiliated professional tennis tournament for women, held every year since 1973. The tournament is currently played on the green clay courts at the Daniel Island Tennis Center in Charleston, South Carolina, USA...
semifinal 6–3, 7–6 before losing to Tracy Austin
Tracy Austin
Tracy Ann Austin Holt is a former World No. 1 female professional tennis player from the United States who won the women's singles title at the US Open in 1979 and 1981 and the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon in 1980, before a series of injuries cut her career short.-To 1980:Austin defeated...
in the final 7–6, 7–6. Reid also competed in the year-ending WTA Tour Championships (limited to the year's top 8 players).
Reid won the Australian Open women's doubles title twice, outright in 1968 and shared in December 1977. With Wendy Turnbull
Wendy Turnbull
Wendy Turnbull, MBE, is a retired Australian professional tennis player. During her career, she won 9 Grand Slam titles, 4 of them in women's doubles and 5 of them in mixed doubles. She also was a 3-time Grand Slam singles runner-up and won 13 singles titles and 55 doubles titles.-Career:Turnbull...
in 1978, Reid won the women's doubles title at Wimbledon, was the doubles runner-up at the U.S. Open, and won the doubles titles at the Virginia Slims of Seattle, the Virginia Slims of Philadelphia, the U.S. Women's Indoor Championships, and the New South Wales Open.
Reid was a member of the Australian team that won the Federation Cup
Fed Cup
Fed Cup is the premier team competition in women's tennis, launched in 1963 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the International Tennis Federation...
in 1968. She also helped Australia reach four consecutive Federation Cup finals from 1976 through 1979 on a variety of court surfaces. During that run, she beat several top players, including Rosemary Casals
Rosemary Casals
Rosemary "Rosie" Casals is a former American professional tennis player.Rosemary Casals earned her reputation as a rebel in the staid tennis world when she began competing in the early 1960s. During a tennis career that spanned more than two decades, she won more than 90 tournaments and worked for...
(1976 final on carpet 1–6, 6–3, 7–5), Wade (1977 semifinal on grass 6–4, 6–4 in Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
just weeks before Wade's Wimbledon victory), Austin (1978 final in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on grass 6–3, 6–3) and Hana Mandlíková
Hana Mandlíková
Hana Mandlíková is a former Czech professional tennis player from Czechoslovakia and later Australia. During her career, she won four Grand Slam singles titles – two at the Australian Open, one at the French Open, and one at the US Open...
(1979 semifinal on clay 6–4, 6–3).
Reid defeated Austin the first three times they played, although Austin won their remaining five career matches. Reid also defeated Mandlikova in both of their career matches.
Reid was a member of the "Houston 9", the breakaway group led by Gladys Heldman
Gladys Heldman
Gladys Medalie Heldman was the founder of World Tennis magazine; she supported Billie Jean King and other female tennis players who formed the Virginia Slims Tour in the early 1970s...
in 1971 that formed the nucleus of the women's professional tennis tour.
Reid anchored a World Team Tennis team for each season of its inaugural incarnation (Boston Lobsters 1974-1976 and San Diego Friars 1977-1978).
Personal life
Reid married Grover "Raz" Reid, a Boston Lobsters teammate, in 1975. Raz retired as a player in 1977 and coached Kerry during the remaining three years of her playing career. The Reids then retired to Raz's home state of South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and raised two daughters.
Reid was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1979.
Grand Slam singles finals: 3 finals (1 title, 2 runner-ups)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Runner-up (1/1) | 1970 1970 Australian Open - Women's Singles Margaret Court was the defending champion, and she successfully defended her title, defeating compratriot Kerry Melville in the final. This was her first step towards completing the second Calendar Grand Slam.-Seeds:All seeds receive a bye into the second round.... |
Australian Open 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... |
Grass |  Margaret Court |
6–3, 6–1 |
| Runner-up (2/2) | 1972 1972 U.S. Open - Women's Singles Billie Jean King defeated Kerry Melville 6–3 7–5 in the final to win the Women's Singles title at the 1972 US Open.See also:-Seeds:The seeded players are listed below... |
US Open U.S. Open (tennis) The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881... |
Grass |  Billie Jean KingBillie Jean King Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society... |
6–3, 7–5 |
| Winner (3/1) | 1977 1977 Australian Open (January) - Women's Singles The first of the two Australian Opens held in 1977 started on 3rd January and ended on 9th January. For the second Australian Open held in December 1977, see: 1977 Australian Open .... |
Australian Open (January) | Grass | Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat |
7–5, 6–2 |
Wins (3)
| Year | Championship | Partner | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
| 1968 | 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... |
Karen Krantzcke Karen Krantzcke Karen Krantzcke was an Australian tennis player who achieved a World Top Ten singles ranking in 1970. In her short career, she made the quarterfinals or better at each of the four Grand Slam championships... |
Judy Tegart Dalton Lesley Turner Bowrey Lesley Turner Bowrey Lesley Rosemary Turner Bowrey AM is an Australian female tennis player.Bowrey won 13 Grand Slam titles during her career: two in singles, seven in women's doubles, and four in mixed doubles. She lost in the final of 14 other Grand Slam events.Bowrey twice won the singles title at the French... |
6–4, 3–6, 6–2 |
| 1977 (Dec.) | Australian Open | Mona Guerrant Mona Guerrant Mona Guerrant, also known as Mona Guerrant-Schallau or Mona Schallau was an American professional tennis player.She was born in Marengo, Iowa.-Doubles 4 :-References:*... |
Evonne Goolagong Cawley Helen Gourlay Cawley |
title shared, final rained out |
| 1978 | 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... |
Wendy Turnbull Wendy Turnbull Wendy Turnbull, MBE, is a retired Australian professional tennis player. During her career, she won 9 Grand Slam titles, 4 of them in women's doubles and 5 of them in mixed doubles. She also was a 3-time Grand Slam singles runner-up and won 13 singles titles and 55 doubles titles.-Career:Turnbull... |
 Mima JaušovecMima Jaušovec Mima Jaušovec is a Slovenian female former tennis player. She was born on July 20, 1956, in Maribor, PR Slovenia, FPR Yugoslavia). In singles she reached a career high of No. 6 in 1982, in doubles she reached a career high of No. 211 in 1986....  Virginia RuziciVirginia Ruzici Virginia Ruzici is a former professional tennis player from Romania. She was born in Câmpia Turzii, Romania and turned professional in 1975. One of her main assets on court was her powerful forehand.... |
4–6, 9–8(10), 6–3 |
Runner-ups (5)
| Year | Championship | Partner | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
| 1970 | Australian Open 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... |
Karen Krantzcke Karen Krantzcke Karen Krantzcke was an Australian tennis player who achieved a World Top Ten singles ranking in 1970. In her short career, she made the quarterfinals or better at each of the four Grand Slam championships... |
Margaret Court Judy Tegart Dalton |
6–3, 6–1 |
| 1973 | Australian Open | Kerry Harris Kerry Harris Kerri Harris 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 first reached a Grand Slam final in the... |
Margaret Court Virginia WadeVirginia Wade Sarah Virginia Wade, OBE is a former English tennis player. She won three Grand Slam singles championships and four Grand Slam doubles championships. She won the women's singles championship at Wimbledon on 1 July 1977, in that tournament's centenary year, the last time any Briton has won a... |
6–4, 6–4 |
| 1974 | Australian Open | Kerry Harris |
Evonne Goolagong Cawley Peggy Michel Peggy Michel Peggy Michel was an American professional tennis player. She was a doubles specialist who won three Grand Slam titles, all with Evonne Goolagong.She was born in Santa Monica, California.-Doubles 4 :-References:*... |
7–5, 6–3 |
| 1977 (Jan.) | Australian Open | Betsy Nagelsen Betsy Nagelsen Betsy Nagelsen McCormack is a retired professional tennis player from the United States. Nagelsen won the doubles championship at the 1978 and 1980 Australian Opens . She reached the singles final of the 1978 Australian Open, losing to Christine O'Neil... |
Helen Gourlay Cawley Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat |
5–7, 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1978 | U.S. Open U.S. Open (tennis) The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881... |
Wendy Turnbull Wendy Turnbull Wendy Turnbull, MBE, is a retired Australian professional tennis player. During her career, she won 9 Grand Slam titles, 4 of them in women's doubles and 5 of them in mixed doubles. She also was a 3-time Grand Slam singles runner-up and won 13 singles titles and 55 doubles titles.-Career:Turnbull... |
Billie Jean King Billie Jean King Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society... Martina Navratilova |
7–6, 6–4 |
Grand Slam singles tournament timeline
| Tournament | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | Career SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia 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... |
3R | 2R | 3R | SF | SF | 3R | SF | F | A | A | SF | SF | 2R | 1R | W | SF | A | A | 1 / 14 |
| France | A | A | A | 1R | SF | 4R | A | 1R | 2R | 4R | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 6 | |
| 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... |
A | A | A | 3R | 3R | 3R | 2R | 4R | QF | 3R | QF | SF | 2R | QF | QF | 4R | 4R | 0 / 14 | |
| United States U.S. Open (tennis) The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881... |
A | A | A | SF | 4R | A | 1R | QF | SF | F | QF | QF | QF | 2R | 4R | 4R | QF | 0 / 13 | |
| SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 1 / 4 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 1 / 47 | |
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.
Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
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...