ITA - 2002 Inductee Laura DuPont

ITA Women's Hall of Fame
McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center

Laura DuPont

May 1949 - February 2002

The U.S. collegiate singles champion in 1970, Laura DuPont (b. 1949) became the first woman to win a national title in any sport for the University of North Carolina. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, where she learned tennis on public courts, DuPont moved to North Carolina as a teenager and quickly dominated the state's junior championships. Named North Carolina AAU Athlete of the Year in 1970, DuPont lettered in both tennis and basketball at UNC and was a three-time Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Singles Champion.

DuPont joined the inter-national circuit immediately after her graduation in 1972, taking the German, Canadian and Argentine Open singles titles and rising to a No. 10 world ranking in 1977. A board member for the Women's Tennis Association in its founding years, she served as WTA treasurer and vice president between 1975 and 1981. A longtime teaching pro in Baltimore, DuPont returned to North Carolina in 1997, where she fought "the greatest match of my life" against breast cancer. She passed away in February 2002.

"She was unflappable on the court," recalled Grand Slam doubles champion Pam Shriver, DuPont's frequent practice partner. "Her backhand was her best shot, and she was tactically very smart. She knew how to win."

DuPont winning the U.S. Clay Court singles title in 1977

DuPont (right) with fellow WTA board member Peachy Kellmeyer, meeting with President Gerald Ford in 1977.

DuPont's proudest achievement was her 1970 collegiate singles title, making her the first female athlete to win a national title for her beloved UNC Tar Heels. "In 100 years or 200 years, no one will know I won the Canadian Open, but I'll still be the first at UNC."

DuPont with Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken and his brother Billy during her years as a teaching pro. "It's a totally different kind of satisfaction," DuPont said.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

U.S. Collegiate Singles Champion 1970

Ranked in USTA Top 10 1977

Ranked in World Tennis Top 10 1977

North Carolina Junior Singles Champion 16 and under 196566; 18 and under 196668

Member of the Southeastern Junior Wightman Cup Team 1967; Junior Wightman Cup Player of the Year 1970

North Carolina Singles Champion 1967, 1969

U.S. Indoor Doubles Finalist 1969

North Carolina AAU Athlete of the Year 1970

Member, UNC varsity tennis team; undefeated in team matches

Member, UNC varsity basketball team; averaged 30 points a game

Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Singles Champion 1968, 197071, Finalist 1969; Doubles Champion 1970

B.A., University of North Carolina 1972

Team Member Cleveland Nets 197475, Chicago Aces 1982, World Team Tennis

New Zealand Open Singles and Doubles Champion 1975

Argentine Open Singles Champion 1976; Doubles Finalist 1976, 1978

South African Open Doubles Champion 1976; Singles and Doubles Finalist 1975

U.S. Clay Court Singles Champion 1977; Doubles Finalist 1976

German Open Singles Champion 1977; Doubles Finalist 1976

Canadian Open Singles Champion 1979; Singles Finalist 1975

Beckenham Grass Court Doubles Champion, Singles Finalist 1978

U.S. Open 35 and over Singles Champion 1984; Doubles Champion 1985

Member, WTA Board of Directors 19741983; Treasurer 197579, Vice-President 197981; Executive Committee 198183

Manager of the Orchard Indoor Tennis Club, Baltimore 198396

Named "Tar Heel of the Week" by Raleigh News & Observer 1998

Inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame 1977

Inducted into Charlotte, NC, Catholic High School Athletic Hall of Fame 2000

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