Mary Kendall Browne (June 3, 1891 – August 19, 1971) was an American professional tennis player and an amateur golfer. She was born in Ventura County, California.
 | |
| Full name | Mary Kendall Browne |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United States |
| Born | June 3, 1891 Ventura County, California, U.S. |
| Died | August 19, 1971 (aged 80) Laguna Hills, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1957 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (U.S. Singles Ranking) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| French Open | F (1926) |
| US Open | W (1912, 1913, 1914) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | W (1926) |
| US Open | W (1912, 1913, 1914, 1921, 1925) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | F (1926) |
| US Open | W (1912, 1913, 1914, 1921) |
Biography
editAccording to A. Wallis Myers of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail, Browne was ranked in the world top 10 in 1921 (when the rankings began), 1924, and 1926, reaching a career high of world no. 3 in those rankings in 1921.[1] Browne was included in the year-end top 10 rankings issued by the United States Lawn Tennis Association in 1913 (when the rankings began), 1914, 1921, 1924, and 1925. She was the top-ranked U.S. player in 1914.[2] She also played golf and was runner-up at the 1924 U.S. Women's Amateur to champion Dorothy Campbell Hurd.[3] She took part in the 1925 and 1926 editions of the Wightman Cup, an annual women's team tennis competition between the United States and Great Britain.[4]
She later became a coach at the University of Chicago, where she is credited with inventing the backboard for use in practice. She later transferred to the University of Washington and then Lake Erie College.[5]
Browne was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1957.[3]
Grand Slam finals
editSingles (3 titles, 2 runners-up)
edit| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1912 | U.S. National Championships | Grass |  Eleonora Sears |
6–4, 6–2 |
| Win | 1913 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | Dorothy Green |
6–2, 7–5 |
| Win | 1914 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | Marie Wagner |
6–2, 1–6, 6–1 |
| Loss | 1921 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | Molla Mallory |
6–4, 4–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 1926 | French Championships | Clay |  Suzanne Lenglen |
1–6, 0–6 |
Doubles (6 titles, 1 runner-up)
edit| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1912 | U.S. National Championships | Grass |  Dorothy Green |
Maud Barger-Wallach Mrs. Frederick Schmitz |
6–2, 5–7, 6–0 |
| Win | 1913 | U.S. National Championships | Grass |  Louise Riddell Williams |
Dorothy Green Edna Wildey |
12–10, 2–6, 6–3 |
| Win | 1914 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | Louise Riddell Williams |
Louise Raymond Edna Wildey |
10–8, 6–2 |
| Win | 1921 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | Louise Riddell Williams |
Helen Gilleaudeau Mrs. L.G. Morris |
6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 1925 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | Helen Wills |
May Sutton Bundy Elizabeth Ryan |
6–4, 6–3 |
| Win | 1926 | Wimbledon | Grass | Elizabeth Ryan |
 Evelyn Colyer Kitty McKane Godfree |
6–1, 6–1 |
| Loss | 1926 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | Charlotte Hosmer Chapin |
Eleanor Goss Elizabeth Ryan |
6–3, 4–6, 10–12 |
Mixed Doubles (4 titles, 1 runner-up)
edit| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1912 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | R. Norris Williams |
Eleonora Sears Bill Clothier |
6–4, 2–6, 11–9 |
| Win | 1913 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | Bill Tilden |
Dorothy Green C.S. Rogers |
7–5, 7–5 |
| Win | 1914 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | Bill Tilden |
Margaretta Myers J. R. Rowland |
6–1, 6–4 |
| Win | 1921 | U.S. National Championships | Grass | Bill Johnston |
Molla Bjurstedt Mallory Bill Tilden |
3–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Loss | 1926 | Wimbledon | Grass | Howard Kinsey |
Kathleen McKane Leslie Godfree |
3–6, 4–6 |
Grand Slam singles tournament timeline
edit| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
| Tournament | 1912 | 1913 | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919 | 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | Career SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Championships | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 |
| French Championships1 | A | A | A | NH | NH | NH | NH | NH | A | A | A | A | NH | A | F | 0 / 1 |
| Wimbledon | A | A | A | NH | NH | NH | NH | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | 0 / 1 |
| U.S. Championships | W | W | W | A | A | A | A | A | A | F | A | A | SF | 3R | SF | 3 / 7 |
| SR | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 3 / 9 |
1Through 1923, the French Championships were open only to French nationals. The World Hard Court Championships (WHCC), actually played on clay in Paris or Brussels, began in 1912 and were open to all nationalities. The results from that tournament are shown here from 1912 through 1914 and from 1920 through 1923. The Olympics replaced the WHCC in 1924, as the Olympics were held in Paris. Beginning in 1925, the French Championships were open to all nationalities, with the results shown here beginning with that year.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Collins, Bud (2008). The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book. New York, N.Y: New Chapter Press. pp. 695, 701. ISBN 978-0-942257-41-0.
- ^ United States Tennis Association (1988). 1988 Official USTA Tennis Yearbook. Lynn, Massachusetts: H.O. Zimman, Inc. p. 260.
- ^ a b "Mary K. Browne". International Tennis Hall of Fame. February 2, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
- ^ "100 years of Wimbledon" page 209
- ^ Wilson, Paul C. (March 1952). Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: 9.
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