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Margaret Smith Court No. 1 ranking: 1962-65, 1969-70 and 1973 Perhaps there has never been a more complete player than Margaret Smith Court, who, through sheer strength, performance and accomplishment is the most prolific winner of major championships with an outstanding 62 in total. Between 1960 and 1975, Court conquered all in singles and doubles, collecting a mixed doubles Grand Slam in 1963 with Ken Fletcher, and in 1970 becoming the second female player to win the singles Grand Slam. The world watched as Court won her first singles major as an 18-year-old at the 1960 Australian, one of 11 in her native land. She would also win three Wimbledon's, five French and seven U.S. singles Championships.
Court was a born left-hander but played right-handed, basing her game on heavy serve-volley tactics, endurance and athleticism. At 6-foot, she was gangly but worked tremendously hard on her fitness. She suffered heavily from nerves and was shy and softly spoken. During her Grand Slam year of 1970 she won 21 of 27 tournaments, collecting $14,800 for four tournament wins. Compared to Steffi Graf's 1988 'Golden Slam' where, for four tournament wins she pocketed $877,724. Her best two seasons were in 1969-70, when she won seven Slams and only lost out at Wimbledon in the 1969 semi-finals, in attempting another possible calendar Grand Slam. She scored triples (singles, doubles and mixed) at the Australian in 1963, and Wimbledon and the U.S. in 1970. Between 1961 and 1975, Court was ranked in the Top Ten 13 times, being number one seven times in 1962-65, 1969-70 and 1973. She won 79 professional singles titles. Represented Australia six times in the Federation Cup, winning in 1964-65, 1968 and 1971, remaining undefeated throughout.
Grand Slam Record Australian Singles winner 1960-66, 1969-71, 1973; Singles finalist 1968; Doubles winner 1961-63, 1965, 1969-71, 1973; Doubles finalist 1960, 1964, 1966, 1975; Mixed winner 1963-65, 1969; Mixed finalist 1968 French Singles winner 1962, 1964, 1969-70, 1973; Singles finalist 1965; Doubles winner 1964-66, 1973; Doubles finalist 1962-63, 1969; Mixed winner 1963-65, 1969 Wimbledon Singles winner 1963, 1965, 1970; Singles finalist 1964, 1971; Doubles winner 1964, 1969; Doubles finalist 1961, 1963, 1966, 1971; Mixed winner 1963, 1965-66, 1968, 1975; Mixed finalist 1964, 1971 U.S. Championships Singles winner 1962, 1965, 1968, 69 (amateur), 69 (professional), 1970, 1973; Doubles winner 1963, 1968 (amateur), 1968 (professional), 1969 (amateur), 1970, 1973, 1975; Doubles finalist 1964, 1969 (professional), 1972; Mixed winner 1961-65, 1969-70, 1972; Mixed finalist 1973 Tournament Record (inc. Federation Cup) Italian Championships Singles winner 1962-64, Singles finalist 1968; Doubles winner 1963-64, 1968; Doubles finalist 1961; Mixed winner 1961, 1964, 1968 Australian Federation Cup team member
1963-65, 1968-69, 1971; winning side 1964-64, 1968, 1971; losing side
1963, 1969
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