Louise Brough
Encyclopedia
Althea Louise Brough Clapp (born March 11, 1923) was a World No. 1 American female tennis player.
but moved to Beverly Hills, California
when she was four years old. She was taught by Dick Skeen
and had a classic forehand and backhand and a paralyzing American twist serve. She was one of the great volleyers in history. She won thirteen titles at Wimbledon
, seventeen titles at the U.S. Championships, three titles at the French Championships, and two titles at the Australian Championships
. Her 35 Grand Slam
titles ties her with Doris Hart
for fifth on the all-time list, behind only Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King
, and Margaret Osborne duPont
.
Brough Clapp appeared in 21 of the 30 finals contested at Wimbledon from 1946 through 1955 in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles.
From 1942 through 1950, Brough Clapp and duPont won nine consecutive women's doubles titles at the U.S. Championships, which is the longest championship run in history in any event at any Grand Slam tournament. Brough Clapp and duPont did not play as a team at the U.S. Championships in 1951 or 1952 but in 1953, they returned to extend their record match winning streak to 41 before losing to Hart and Shirley Fry Irvin in the final 6–2, 7–9, 9–7. Their career record as a team at the U.S. Championships was 58–2, winning 12 of the 14 times they entered the tournament and losing only five sets in those 14 years.
Brough Clapp appeared in six singles finals at the U.S. Championships but won only in 1947. She had a match point at 6–5 in the third set of the 1948 final against duPont. She also had three match points in the 1954 final against Hart, the first at 5–4 in the third set and two more at 6–5 in that set.
According to John Olliff and Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail
, Brough Clapp was ranked in the world top ten from 1946 through 1957 (no rankings issued from 1940 through 1945), reaching a career high of World No. 1 in those rankings in 1955. She was included in the year-end top ten rankings issued by the United States Lawn Tennis Association
(USLTA) from 1941 through 1950 and from 1952 through 1957. She was the top ranked U.S. player in 1947. Her 16 years in the USLTA top ten trails only King (18 years) and Chris Evert
(19 years).
She was inducted in the International Tennis Hall of Fame
in 1967.
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.
Biography
She was born in Oklahoma City, OklahomaOklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
but moved to Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
when she was four years old. She was taught by Dick Skeen
Dick Skeen
Dick Skeen was a U.S. professional tennis player. He was runner up to Fred Perry in the Men's Singles in the 1941 Professional Tennis Championships, and was ranked No. 2, behind Perry....
and had a classic forehand and backhand and a paralyzing American twist serve. She was one of the great volleyers in history. She won thirteen titles at 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...
, seventeen titles at the U.S. Championships, three titles at the French Championships, and two titles at 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...
. Her 35 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...
titles ties her with Doris Hart
Doris Hart
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...
for fifth on the all-time list, behind only Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova, 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...
, and 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...
.
Brough Clapp appeared in 21 of the 30 finals contested at Wimbledon from 1946 through 1955 in singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles.
From 1942 through 1950, Brough Clapp and duPont won nine consecutive women's doubles titles at the U.S. Championships, which is the longest championship run in history in any event at any Grand Slam tournament. Brough Clapp and duPont did not play as a team at the U.S. Championships in 1951 or 1952 but in 1953, they returned to extend their record match winning streak to 41 before losing to Hart and Shirley Fry Irvin in the final 6–2, 7–9, 9–7. Their career record as a team at the U.S. Championships was 58–2, winning 12 of the 14 times they entered the tournament and losing only five sets in those 14 years.
Brough Clapp appeared in six singles finals at the U.S. Championships but won only in 1947. She had a match point at 6–5 in the third set of the 1948 final against duPont. She also had three match points in the 1954 final against Hart, the first at 5–4 in the third set and two more at 6–5 in that set.
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...
, Brough Clapp was ranked in the world top ten from 1946 through 1957 (no rankings issued from 1940 through 1945), reaching a career high of World No. 1 in those rankings in 1955. She 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...
(USLTA) from 1941 through 1950 and from 1952 through 1957. She was the top ranked U.S. player in 1947. Her 16 years in the USLTA top ten trails only King (18 years) 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...
(19 years).
She was inducted in 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 1967.
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...
- Singles champion: 1950
- Women's Doubles champion: 1950
- French Championships
- Women's Doubles champion: 1946, 1947, 1949
- Women's Doubles runner-up: 1950
- Wimbledon
- Singles champion: 1948, 1949, 1950, 1955
- Singles runner-up: 1946, 1952, 1954
- Women's Doubles champion: 1946, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1954
- Women's Doubles runner-up: 1947, 1951, 1952
- Mixed Doubles champion: 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950
- Mixed Doubles runner-up: 1949, 1955
- U.S. Championships
- Singles champion: 1947
- Singles runner-up: 1942, 1943, 1948, 1954, 1957
- Women's Doubles champion: 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1957
- Women's Doubles runner-up: 1952, 1953, 1954
- Mixed Doubles champion: 1942, 1947, 1948, 1949
- Mixed Doubles runner-up: 1946
Wins (6)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1947 | U.S. Championships |  Margaret Osborne duPontMargaret 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... |
8–6, 4–6, 6–1 |
| 1948 | 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... |
Doris Hart Doris Hart 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... |
6–3, 8–6 |
| 1949 | Wimbledon (2) | Margaret Osborne duPont |
10–8, 1–6, 10–8 |
| 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... |
Doris Hart |
6–4, 3–6, 6–4 |
| 1950 | Wimbledon (3) | Margaret Osborne duPont |
6–1, 3–6, 6–1 |
| 1955 | Wimbledon (4) | Beverly Baker Fleitz Beverly Baker Fleitz Beverly Baker Fleitz from Bakersfield, California, was a women's tennis player from the United States. According to John Olliff and Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail, Fleitz was ranked in the world top ten in 1951, 1954, 1955, 1958, and 1959, reaching a career high of World No... |
7–5, 8–6 |
Runner-ups (8)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1942 | U.S. Championships | Pauline Betz Addie |
4–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1943 | U.S. Championships | Pauline Betz Addie |
6–3, 5–7, 6–3 |
| 1946 | 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... |
Pauline Betz Addie |
6–2, 6–4 |
| 1948 | U.S. Championships | 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... |
4–6, 6–4, 15–13 |
| 1952 | Wimbledon | Maureen Connolly Brinker |
6–4, 6–3 |
| 1954 | Wimbledon | Maureen Connolly Brinker |
6–2, 7–5 |
| 1954 | U.S. Championships | Doris Hart Doris Hart 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... |
6–8, 6–1, 8–6 |
| 1957 | U.S. Championships | Althea Gibson Althea Gibson Althea Gibson was a World No. 1 American sportswoman who became the first African-American woman to be a competitor on the world tennis tour and the first to win a Grand Slam title in 1956. She is sometimes referred to as "the Jackie Robinson of tennis" for breaking the color barrier... |
6–3, 6–2 |
Singles
| Tournament | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 19461 | 19471 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | Career SR | Career Win-Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Championships | A | A | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | A | A | A | A | W | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1 / 1 | 5–0 |
| French Championships | A | NH | R | R | R | R | A | SF | SF | A | 3R | SF | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 4 | 10–4 |
| 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 | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | F | SF | W | W | W | SF | F | A | F | W | SF | QF | A | A | 4 / 11 | 56–7 |
| U.S. Championships | 1R | 1R | 2R | F | F | SF | SF | QF | W | F | SF | 3R | A | SF | SF | F | 3R | QF | F | QF | QF | 1 / 20 | 60–19 |
| SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 1 / 3 | 1 / 2 | 1 / 3 | 2 / 4 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 2 | 1 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 6 / 36 | 131–30 |
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 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 19461 | 19471 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 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 | A | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | A | A | A | W | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1 / 1 |
| French Championships | A | NH | R | R | R | R | A | W | W | A | W | F | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 3 / 4 |
| 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 | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | W | F | W | W | W | F | F | A | W | A | SF | A | A | A | 5 / 9 |
| U.S. Championships | A | 2R | QF | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | A | F | F | F | W | W | W | A | QF | 12 / 18 |
| SR | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 3 / 3 | 2 / 3 | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3 | 3 / 4 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 1 | 1 / 2 | 1 / 1 | 1 / 2 | 1 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 21 / 32 |
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...