TENNIS PLAYERSYOU GOTTA KNOW…

MEN

ROD LAVER (1938–PRESENT)

• Aussie, mate

• Weighed 145 lbs

• Only player to win Grand Slam twice

• Won 5 US Pro Championships

• First to earn $1,000,000 in a career

PETE SAMPRAS (1971-PRESENT)

• Youngest man to win US Open

• Won Wimbledon 7 times in 8 years

• World #1 for 6 years in a row (‘93-’98)

• Married to actress Bridgette Wilson

• Retired in 2002

BJORN BORG (1956-PRESENT)

• Total of 11 majors

• Started at age 9

• Dominated from ‘74-’81 when John McEnroe beat him

• Retired at 26

• Never won US Open

BILL TILDEN (1893-1953)

• Unstoppable from ’20-’25

• “Big Bill” stood 6’2”

• Trademark “cannonball” serve

• Won 10 majors, becoming pro at 42 years, and touring until 50 years

• Performed on Broadway (Dracula)

ANDRE AGASSI (1970-PRESENT)

• 1996 Olympic Gold Medal

• Known more for image than (great) playing

• Fifth man to win career Grand Slam

• 8 major titles

• Married to Steffi Graf (getting to her later…)

JOHN McENROE (1959-PRESENT)

• Known for fiery temper and referee abuse

• Dominant player in 1980s

• Had an 83-2 record

• Total of 7 majors

• Won 77 doubles titles and played David Cup 12 times, captaining US team in 2000

ARTHUR ASHE (1943-1993)• First black man to win US

Championship and Wimbledon

• First American player to earn over $100,000 in one year (1970)

• Gotten AIDS virus from tainted blood in a 1983 heart surgery

• Arthur Ashe Stadium, home of US Open, named after him

WOMEN

MARTINA NAVRATILOVA (1956-PRESENT)

• Prague, but defected to US

• Grueling fitness regimen

• 18 singles Grand Slams, 167 total singles titles, and even more doubles titles with Pam Shriver

• 20 overall Wimbledons

STEFFI GRAF (1969-PRESENT)• “Fraulein Forehand”

• Turned pro at 13 years

• Only player to win the Grand Slam and Olympic Medal in the same year (1988)

• 22 major singles crowns • Married to Andre Agassi

CHRIS EVERT (1954-PRESENT)• Queen of Clay Courts

• Won French open record 7 times

• Won a major for 13 straight years

• Rivals with Martina N

• First female player to win $1 million in career

BILLIE JEAN KING (1943-PRESENT)

• 12 Grand Slam singles wins, 20 overall Wimbledon titles

• Advanced women’s athletics

• Co-founded Virginia Slims Tour

• First female athlete to earn $100,000 in a year

• Beat Bobby Riggs in “Battle of the Sexes”

MARGARET SMITH COURT (1942-PRESENT)

• Most prolific winner, male or female, with 62 Grand Slam titles

• “The Arm” because of height and reach

• Second woman to win Grand Slam

• Rival to King

• Became a lay minister

THE WILLIAMS SISTERS (1980-PRESENT)

• Advanced African Americans in sports

• Combined 22 Grand Slams

• Initially Venus was stronger, but since 2002 Serena’s been bringing it

• Serena is #1 right now

• Both fashion designers

HELEN MILLS MOODY (1905-1998)

• “Little Miss Poker Face”

• Dominated competition between 1927-1932 (didn’t lost a set!)

• Won 19 major singles crowns

• First player to win 3 Grand Slams in one season

• Swept at 1924 Paris Olympics