 Doris
Hart
Doris Hart on
left
Doris Hart (b.1925), a prolific champion
with 325 major titles, was the second woman after Maureen Connolly
to win all four Grand Slam singles events. Remarkably, Hart achieved
her record despite an impaired leg resulting from a childhood
iillness.
Stricken with osteomyelitis at 15months,
Hart recovered with the support of her parents and her brother,
who taught her tennis. By age 16 Hart was ranked in the Top 10
where she stayed through 1955. In 1947 while a University of
Miami undergraduate, she won her first Grand Slam title, the
women's doubles at Wimbledon.
With her superb racket control Hart
developed a greater variety of shots than any other player of
her day. A legendary doubles player, Hart teamed with Shirley Fry
to win 11 major championships. She was among the first women
to take the Wimbledon triple crown in 1951 and the French in
1952. In 1954 she earned the No.1 ranking with a triple crown
at the U.S. nationals, retaining her ranking in 1955. She won
the USTA Service Bowl Award that same year.
Hart retired from play after 1955 and
became a teaching professional. A member of the U.S Wightman
Cup Team from 1946 to 1955, Hart served as Captain of the winning
1970 U.S. Team.
Career Highlights
35 Grand Slam titles (6 Singles, 14 Doubles,
15 Mixed Doubles)
Ranked in USTA Top 10 from 1942
to 1955; No.1 in 1954 and 1955
Three Grand Slam Triple Crowns
(Wimbledon 1951, France 1952, U.S. 1954)
Winner of USTA Girls' Sportsmanship
Award 1943
U.S. Girls' 18 Champion in Singles
(1942, 1943) and Doubles (1940, 1943)
U.S. Singles Champion 1954, 1955
U.S. Doubles Champion 1951- 1954
U.S. Mixed Doubles Champion 1951-1955
Wimbledon Singles Champion 1951
Wimbledon Doubles Champion 1947,
1951-1953
Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Champion
1951-1955
French Singles Champion 1950,
1952
French Doubles Champion 1948,
1950-1953
French Mixed Doubles Champion
1951-1953
Australian Singles Champion 1949
Australian Doubles Champion 1950
Australian Mixed Doubles Champion
1949, 1950
U.S. Clay Court Champion in Singles
(1950) and Doubles (1944, 1945, 1950, 1954)
U.S. Indoor Champion in Doubles
and Mixed Doubles 1947, 1948
U.S. Hard Court Champion in Singles
and Mixed Doubles 1949
U.S. Wightman Cup Team Member
1946-1955 (21-1 record); Team Captain 1970
Winner of USTA Service Bowl 1955
Author, Tennis with Hart
Inducted into the International
Tennis Hall of Fame 1969
U.S. Grass Court and Indoor Women's
55 Doubles Champion 1981
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