Wendy Turnbull

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Wendy Turnbull

Wendy Turnbull
Country  Australia
Residence Boca Raton, Florida, USA and
Sandgate, Australia
Born 26 November 1952 (1952-11-26) (age 58)
Brisbane, Australia
Height 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
Turned pro 1975
Retired 1989
Plays Right-handed
Career prize money US $2,769,024
Singles
Career record 478–250
Career titles 13
Highest ranking No. 3 (7 January 1985)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open F (1980)
French Open F (1979)
Wimbledon QF (1979, 1980, 1981)
US Open F (1977)
Doubles
Career record 653–225
Career titles 55
Highest ranking No. 5 (19 January 1987)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open F (1983, 1988)
French Open W (1979)
Wimbledon W (1978)
US Open W (1979, 1982)
Other Doubles tournaments
WTA Championships W (1986)
Last updated on: 12 July 2008.
Olympic medal record
Competitor for  Australia
Women's tennis
Bronze 1988 Seoul Women's doubles

Wendy Turnbull, MBE, (born 26 November 1952 in Brisbane, Australia) is a retired Australian professional tennis player. During her career, she won 9 Grand Slam titles, 4 of them in women's doubles and 5 of them in mixed doubles. She also was a 3-time Grand Slam singles runner-up and won 13 singles titles and 55 doubles titles.

Contents

Career

Turnbull turned professional in 1975. Her career high rankings were third in singles and fifth in doubles. She was ranked in the year-end world top 20 for ten consecutive years (1977 through 1986) and in the year-end world top 10 for eight consecutive years from 1977 to 1984. She was nicknamed "Rabbit" by her peers because of her foot speed around the court.

Turnbull was a singles runner-up at the 1977 US Open, the 1979 French Open, and the 1980 Australian Open. She won four women's doubles titles and five mixed doubles titles at Grand Slam events.

She was a 12-time runner-up in Grand Slam doubles events: eleven times in women's doubles and one time in mixed doubles. Nine of her eleven women's doubles losses were to teams that included Martina Navratilova.

Turnbull teamed with Elizabeth Smylie to win the bronze medal in women's doubles at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. She is one of very few players to have a winning record against Steffi Graf and leads 2–1 in head-to-head matches.

Turnbull was a member of Australia's Fed Cup team from 1977 through 1988, compiling a 46–16 overall win–loss record (17–8 in singles and 29–8 in doubles). She was the captain or coach of the team from 1985 through 1993.

Turnbull was appointed to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Olympic Committee in 1991, the only player appointed to the committee. She also serves on the ITF's Fed Cup Committee.

In December 1993, Turnbull was honored by the city of Brisbane with the dedication of a public park in her honor. She was made a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1984. She was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 2009.

Major finals

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 3 finals (0 titles, 3 runner-ups)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up 1977 US Open Clay United States Chris Evert 7–6(3), 6–2
Runner-up 1979 French Open Clay United States Chris Evert 6–2, 6–0
Runner-up 1980 Australian Open Grass Czechoslovakia Hana Mandlíková 6–0, 7–5

Women's doubles: 15 finals (4 titles, 11 runner-ups)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents in the final Score in the final
Winner 1978 Wimbledon Grass Australia Kerry Melville Reid Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mima Jaušovec
Romania Virginia Ruzici		 4–6, 9–8(12–10), 6–3
Runner-up 1978 US Open Hard Australia Kerry Melville Reid United States Billie Jean King
United States Martina Navrátilová		 7–6, 6–4
Winner 1979 French Open Clay Netherlands Betty Stöve France Françoise Durr
United Kingdom Virginia Wade		 3–6, 7–5, 6–4
Runner-up 1979 Wimbledon Grass Netherlands Betty Stöve United States Billie Jean King
United States Martina Navrátilová		 5–7, 6–3, 6–2
Winner 1979 US Open Hard Netherlands Betty Stöve United States Billie Jean King
United States Martina Navrátilová		 7–5, 6–3
Runner-up 1980 Wimbledon Grass United States Rosie Casals United States Kathy Jordan
United States Anne Smith		 4–6, 7–5, 6–1
Runner-up 1981 US Open Hard United States Rosie Casals United States Kathy Jordan
United States Anne Smith		 6–3, 6–3
Runner-up 1982 French Open Clay United States Rosie Casals United States Martina Navratilova
United States Anne Smith		 6–3, 6–4
Winner 1982 US Open (2) Hard United States Rosie Casals United States Barbara Potter
United States Sharon Walsh		 6–4, 6–4
Runner-up 1983 Wimbledon Grass United States Rosie Casals United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver		 6–2, 6–2
Runner-up 1983 Australian Open Grass United Kingdom Anne Hobbs United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver		 6–4, 6–7, 6–2
Runner-up 1984 US Open Hard United Kingdom Anne Hobbs United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver		 6–2, 6–4
Runner-up 1986 Wimbledon Grass Czechoslovakia Hana Mandlíková United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver		 6–1, 6–3
Runner-up 1986 US Open Hard Czechoslovakia Hana Mandlíková United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver		 6–4, 3–6, 6–3
Runner-up 1988 Australian Open Hard United States Chris Evert United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver		 6–0, 7–5

Mixed doubles: 6 finals (5 titles, 1 runner-up)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents in the final Score in the final
Winner 1979 French Open Clay Australia Bob Hewitt Romania Virginia Ruzici
Romania Ion Ţiriac		 6–3, 2–6, 6–3
Winner 1980 US Open Hard United States Marty Riessen Netherlands Betty Stöve
South Africa Frew McMillan		 7–5, 6–2
Winner 1982 French Open (2) Clay United Kingdom John Lloyd Brazil Claudia Monteiro
Brazil Cassio Motta		 6–2, 7–6
Runner-up 1982 Wimbledon Grass United Kingdom John Lloyd United States Anne Smith
South Africa Kevin Curren		 2–6, 6–3, 7–5
Winner 1983 Wimbledon Grass United Kingdom John Lloyd United States Billie Jean King
United States Steve Denton		 6–7(5), 7–6(5), 7–5
Winner 1984 Wimbledon (2) Grass United Kingdom John Lloyd United States Kathy Jordan
United States Steve Denton		 6–3, 6–3

Year-End Championships finals

Doubles: 2 finals (1 title, 1 runner-up)

Outcome Year Location Surface Partner Opponents in the final Score in the final
Runner-up 1980 New York City Carpet (i) United States Rosemary Casals United States Billie Jean King
Czechoslovakia Martina Navrátilová		 6–3, 4–6, 6–3
Winner 1986 New York City Carpet (i) Czechoslovakia Hana Mandlíková West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková		 6–4, 6–7(4), 6–3

Titles (68)

Singles (13)

Titles by Surface
Hard (3)
Clay (1)
Grass (4)
Carpet (5)
No. Date Location Surface Opponent in the final Score in the final
1. 29 April 1972 Norwich, UK Hard United Kingdom Lesley Charles 9–7, 6–4
2. 3 June 1973 Surbiton, UK Grass United States Ann Kiyomura 6–2, 6–0
3. 18 July 1976 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Romania Virginia Ruzici 6–4, 5–7, 6–3
4. 7 November 1976 Tokyo, Japan Carpet (I) Belgium Michele Gurdal 6–1, 6–1
5. 19 December 1976 Perth, Australia Grass Czechoslovakia Renáta Tomanová 6–3, 6–4
6. 25 February 1979 Detroit, USA Carpet (I) Romania Virginia Ruzici 7–5, 1–6, 7-6(4)
7. 11 March 1979 Philadelphia, USA Hard (I) United Kingdom Virginia Wade 5–7, 6–3, 6–2
8. 9 November 1980 Hong Kong Carpet (I) United States Peanut Louie Harper 6–0, 6–2
9. 7 December 1980 Sydney, Australia Grass United States Pam Shriver 3–6, 6–4, 7–6(8)
10. 8 November 1981 Hong Kong Hard Italy Sabina Simmonds 6–3, 6–4
11. 21 November 1982 Brisbane, Australia Grass United States Pam Shriver 6–3, 6–1
12. 12 December 1982 Richmond, USA Carpet (I) United States Tracy Austin 6–7(3), 6–4, 6–2
13. 20 March 1983 Boston, USA Carpet (I) West Germany Sylvia Hanika 6–4, 3–6, 6–4

Doubles (55)

Grand slam events in boldface.

  • 1973: Bournemouth (with Patricia Coleman Gregg)
  • 1975: Aukland (with Evonne Goolagon Cawley)
  • 1976: Gstaad (with Betsy Nagelsen)
  • 1977: Pensacola (with Ann Kiyomura)
  • 1977: São Paulo (with Kerry Melville Reid)
  • 1978: Hollywood (with Rosie Casals)
  • 1978: Seattle (with Kerry Melville Reid)
  • 1978: Philadelphia (with Kerry Melville Reid)
  • 1978: Wimbledon (with Kerry Melville Reid)
  • 1978: Minneapolis (with Kerry Melville Reid)
  • 1978: Sydney (with Kerry Melville Reid)
  • 1979: Detroit (with Betty Stöve)
  • 1979: Boston (with Kerry Melville Reid)
  • 1979: Rome (with Betty Stöve)
  • 1979: Berlin (with Rosie Casals)
  • 1979: French Open (with Betty Stöve)
  • 1979: Chichester (with Greer Stevens)
  • 1979: Eastbourne (with Betty Stöve)
  • 1979: Richmond (with Betty Stöve)
  • 1979: US Open (with Betty Stöve)
  • 1979: Atlanta (with Betty Stöve)
  • 1979: Phoenix (with Betty Stöve)
  • 1979: Stockholm (with Betty Stöve)
  • 1979: Melbourne (with Billie Jean King)
  • 1979: Sydney (with Billie Jean King)
  • 1980: Seattle (with Rosie Casals)
  • 1980: Boston (with Rosie Casals)
  • 1980: Hong Kong (with Sharon Walsh)
  • 1981: Washington (with Rosie Casals)
  • 1981: Detroit (with Rosie Casals)
  • 1981: Oakland (with Rosie Casals)
  • 1981: Seattle (with Rosie Casals)
  • 1981: Hilton Head (with Rosie Casals)
  • 1981: Mahwah (with Rosie Casals)
  • 1981: Tampa (with Rosie Casals)
  • 1982: Seattle (with Rosie Casals)
  • 1982: Palm Beach Gardens (with Rosie Casals)
  • 1982: Orlando (with Rosie Casals)
  • 1982: US Open (with Rosie Casals)
  • 1982: Philadelphia (with Rosie Casals)
  • 1983: Brisbane (with Anne Hobbs)
  • 1983: Sydney (with Anne Hobbs)
  • 1984: Los Angeles (with Chris Evert)
  • 1985: Oakland (with Hana Mandlíková)
  • 1985: San Diego (with Candy Reynolds)
  • 1985: Newport (with Chris Evert)
  • 1985: New Orleans (with Chris Evert)
  • 1985: Sydney (with Hana Mandlíková)
  • 1986: Oakland (with Hana Mandlíková)
  • 1986: Virginia Slims Championships (with Hana Mandlíková)
  • 1986: Houston (with Chris Evert)
  • 1987: Brisbane (with Hana Mandlíková)
  • 1987: San Francisco (with Hana Mandlíková)
  • 1987: Tampa (with Chris Evert)
  • 1989: Manhattan Beach (with Martina Navratilova)

Singles runner-ups (21)

Grand slam events in boldface.

  • 1980: Atlanta (lost to Hana Mandlíková)
  • 1980: Phoenix (lost to Regina Maršíková)
  • 1980: Australian Open (lost to Hana Mandlíková)
  • 1982: Chicago (lost to Martina Navratilova)
  • 1982: Boston (lost to Kathy Jordan)
  • 1982: Orlando (lost to Martina Navratlova)
  • 1983: Eastbourne (lost to Martina Navratilova)
  • 1983: Brisbane (lost to Pam Shriver)
  • 1984: Los Angeles (lost to Chris Evert)
  • 1985: San Diego (lost to Annabel Croft)

Grand Slam singles tournament timeline

Tournament 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 Career SR
Australian Open 2R A 2R 3R 2R 3R 2R A / A A A F SF QF QF SF 3R NH 4R A 1R 0 / 14
French Open A A A 1R A A 3R A A F QF A A A A A A A A A 0 / 4
Wimbledon A A 1R 3R 2R 1R 3R 2R 4R QF QF QF 4R 4R 4R 3R 1R 2R 1R 2R 0 / 18
U.S. Open A A A A A A 1R F SF 3R 3R 3R 4R 3R SF 4R QF 2R 1R A 0 / 13
SR 0 / 1 0 / 0 0 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 49

NH = tournament not held.

A = did not participate in the tournament.

SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.

Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.

See also

Tennis ball.svg Tennis portal
  • Performance timelines for all female tennis players who reached at least one Grand Slam final

Sources

  1. ^ Australian Tennis Hall of Fame Inducts Turnbull WTATour.com, 26 January 2009
WTA Year-end championships winners doubles

(1971) Rosemary Casals / Billie Jean King • (1973) Rosemary Casals / Margaret Court • (1974) Rosemary Casals / Billie Jean King • (1979) Françoise Durr / Betty Stöve • (1980) Billie Jean King / Martina Navrátilová • (1981) Martina Navrátilová / Pam Shriver • (1982) Martina Navrátilová / Pam Shriver • (1983) Martina Navrátilová / Pam Shriver • (1984) Martina Navrátilová / Pam Shriver • (1985) Martina Navrátilová / Pam Shriver • (1986 (1)) Hana Mandlíková / Wendy Turnbull • (1986 (2)) Martina Navrátilová / Pam Shriver • (1987) Martina Navrátilová / Pam Shriver • (1988) Martina Navrátilová / Pam Shriver • (1989) Martina Navrátilová / Pam Shriver • (1990) Kathy Jordan / Elizabeth Smylie • (1991) Martina Navrátilová / Pam Shriver • (1992) Arantxa Sánchez Vicario / Helena Suková • (1993) Gigi Fernández / Natalia Zvereva • (1994) Gigi Fernández / Natasha Zvereva • (1995) Jana Novotná / Arantxa Sánchez Vicario • (1996) Lindsay Davenport / Mary Joe Fernández • (1997) Lindsay Davenport / Jana Novotná • (1998) Lindsay Davenport / Natasha Zvereva • (1999) Martina Hingis / Anna Kournikova • (2000) Martina Hingis / Anna Kournikova • (2001) Lisa Raymond / Rennae Stubbs • (2002) Elena Dementieva / Janette Husárová • (2003) Virginia Ruano Pascual / Paola Suárez • (2004) Nadia Petrova / Meghann Shaughnessy • (2005) Lisa Raymond / Samantha Stosur • (2006) Lisa Raymond / Samantha Stosur • (2007) Cara Black / Liezel Huber • (2008) Cara Black / Liezel Huber • (2009) Nuria Llagostera Vives / María José Martínez Sánchez • (2010) Gisela Dulko / Flavia Pennetta
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