anointedone
Banned
That is about mine too. I guess there is indoors. I would rate her 2nd indoors behind Martina N. probably.
Greatest womens hard court player ever
- Thread starter thalivest
- Start date
That is about mine too. I guess there is indoors. I would rate her 2nd indoors behind Martina N. probably.
This is all rather unfair to those who's career's did not have the virtue of two majors on hard courts. Evert, Navratilova, and Austin in particular would have done much better with more access to prove their skill early on in their career. I also think that the moderate speed and sure bounce would have been perfect for Court's altheltic power game and taller frame as long as her joints held up to the friction. Serena and Graf deserve their titles, but they surely benefit from playing so much more than anyone else.
by the way, wasn't Connolly's early experience on cement as well?
by the way, wasn't Connolly's early experience on cement as well?
Vanhool
Hall of Fame
It goes both ways though. Serena and Steffi didn't have the chance to prove themselves grass goats, and both are quite good. Look at what Serena did at 2012 Olympics when she had a chance to play a second big tournament on grass
Usually at Wimbledon, she is just finding her form the first week and then grass season is over.It goes both ways though. Serena and Steffi didn't have the chance to prove themselves grass goats, and both are quite good. Look at what Serena did at 2012 Olympics when she had a chance to play a second big tournament on grass
You are of course right. Evert managed to win 10 majors on clay, and add to that finals record, in part because the Open did not turn hard three years earlier. This does cut both ways.
kramer woodie
Professional
I am going out onto a skinny limb here. A choice not given, but a choice that should be considered. MAUREEN CONNOLLY!!! Played
hard court won 9 Grand Slam Single Titles. We will never know if she could have won more because a cement truck ran her over while
riding her horse and shattered her leg which never healed to be strong enough to continue a stellar career.
Aloha
hard court won 9 Grand Slam Single Titles. We will never know if she could have won more because a cement truck ran her over while
riding her horse and shattered her leg which never healed to be strong enough to continue a stellar career.
Aloha
A hard court record refresher for Chrissie:
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-record-aint-too-shabby.576392/#post-10945033
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...-record-aint-too-shabby.576392/#post-10945033
Mr.Lob
G.O.A.T.
You pulling our leg? How'd Connolly manage to get run over by a dump truck while riding her horse?
Gary Duane
G.O.A.T.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maureen_Connolly
Horseriding accident
Two weeks after she won her third-straight Wimbledon title, she was horseback riding in San Diego on July 20. A passing concrete mixer truck frightened her horse, Colonel Merryboy, which pinned Connolly between the horse and truck. She was thrown off and suffered a compound fracture to her right fibula, which ultimately ended her tennis career at age 19.[12] She had intended to become professional after the 1954 U.S. National Championships.[13] She officially retired from tennis in February 1955 when she announced her impending marriage to Norman Brinker.[2][5]
7
70sHollywood
Guest
Navratilova > Graf at US Open
Graf > Navratilova at Wimbledon
Contrarian for contrarians sake, or legit viewpoint?
Graf > Navratilova at Wimbledon
Contrarian for contrarians sake, or legit viewpoint?
kramer woodie
Professional
Dear Mr.Lob
Reading comprehension? How did you every come up with a dump truck? My post used the word Cement Truck?
Aloha
kramer woodie
Professional
Maureen Connolly was really something, a terror on the tennis court. At the age of 14 won 56 consecutive matches. In 1951 at age of 16,
won the U.S. Open (the youngest to do so). In 1952 won Wimbledon and defended her U.S. title. In 1953 became the first woman to win
a Grand Slam: Australian, French, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Championship. Lost only 1 set in those 4 tournaments. Won the last 9 Grand Slam single tournaments she played, which included 50 consecutive single matches.
They called her Little Mo because of her stature 5 foot 5 inches. Named her Little Mo after the Battleship Missouri (known as Big Mo).
Why? Simple, she was so powerful, like the battleship in a little package.
Little Mo was named Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in 1951, and 1952, and also 1953.
Aloha
P.S. And Wilbur Folsom her early coach was one of the kindest, giving to the tennis community individuals anyone could ever meet.
won the U.S. Open (the youngest to do so). In 1952 won Wimbledon and defended her U.S. title. In 1953 became the first woman to win
a Grand Slam: Australian, French, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Championship. Lost only 1 set in those 4 tournaments. Won the last 9 Grand Slam single tournaments she played, which included 50 consecutive single matches.
They called her Little Mo because of her stature 5 foot 5 inches. Named her Little Mo after the Battleship Missouri (known as Big Mo).
Why? Simple, she was so powerful, like the battleship in a little package.
Little Mo was named Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in 1951, and 1952, and also 1953.
Aloha
P.S. And Wilbur Folsom her early coach was one of the kindest, giving to the tennis community individuals anyone could ever meet.
treblings
Hall of Fame
the way you write about Wilbur Folsom sounds like you knew him personally?
kramer woodie
Professional
treblings
Could very well possibly be that I had the pleasure of knowing his kindness. How's that for a noncommittal answer.
Aloha
treblings
Hall of Fame
kramer woodie
Professional
not too bad
treblings
I have posted in other threads here at TT, that the only lesson I took as a kid was with Wilbur Folsom. He came out on the court with
a shopping cart full of old used up wood racquets and had me throw them over the net like I was serving, but no ball to hit. I must have
thrown 200 racquets. If you know how to throw, which I did. I pitched Little League and Pony. So pronation was a piece of cake. It was
learn how to control it and put the ball where you want it to go. Pronated slice, topspin, or what we called American Twist (if right handed
the ball curve left and hit the court and jumped right). I can still hit American Twist, but at my age not as much action on the ball, slower
racquet head speed. However, I did pick up 5 Aces down the T against a 4.0-4.5 the other night in a doubles match. He was left handed
and playing the deuce side, so I got those 5 Aces past his forehand. Surprised even myself, but everything was loosen up and flowing that
night. Hope to repeat again soon.
Aloha
pc1
G.O.A.T.
Just wrote something on Connolly yesterday. Check this post 182.
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...the-1950s-for-the-women-players.600862/page-4
treblings
Hall of Fame
i must have missed those posts on Folsom.
being from Europe, the name Folsom didn´t ring a bell.
if asked who Connollys coach was, i would have said Eleanor Tennant
i acutally do that sometimes with my players, to let them throw old racquets. No Kramer woodies though
i remember a discussion from way back in the TT/I forum about the difference between Topspin and American Twist serve.
i´m afraid i never quite understood the difference
kramer woodie
Professional
i must have missed those posts on Folsom.
being from Europe, the name Folsom didn´t ring a bell.
if asked who Connollys coach was, i would have said Eleanor Tennant
i acutally do that sometimes with my players, to let them throw old racquets. No Kramer woodies though
i remember a discussion from way back in the TT/I forum about the difference between Topspin and American Twist serve.
i´m afraid i never quite understood the difference
treblings
I think there is really no difference, it's just a different word association, now called kick serve. Many people have only been exposed
to kick serve. They simply weren't around in the 1950s and 1960s when we called it American Twist. If you are receiving the serve from a
right hand server, say in the ad court the ball will curve towards your right while in the air, but upon bouncing will kick up and sharply to your left. Intent is to put you off the court and if your good enough at it put your opponent in the side fence. Much fun!
Aloha
Limpinhitter
G.O.A.T.
If your criteria is peak level of play, then, in my view, Monica Seles was the greatest hard court player on the ladies' side.
Limpinhitter
G.O.A.T.
pc1
G.O.A.T.
Limpinhitter
G.O.A.T.
what actual open field tournaments were played on these true cement courts? Its impossible to see who did well on them back in the day without seeing years, draws and scores. This topic is begging for real research and numbers. we can't begin to assess how truly national or international those draws were unless we know who showed up and when.
Here's one with 'ancient lineage' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Coast_Championships
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Here's another that was for a period combined with the above but data is woefully absent. half the time no runner up is listed on wiki at least. It was actually called the women's hardcourt championships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_Open_(tennis)
Maybe some of our fine research types here can help us - if they can dig past their Tilden, Rosewall, Budge, Kramer, Laver and Gonzales scores sitting on the top of their desks.
Maybe some of our fine research types here can help us - if they can dig past their Tilden, Rosewall, Budge, Kramer, Laver and Gonzales scores sitting on the top of their desks.
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Mr.Lob
G.O.A.T.
Thanks for the info on Little Mo, Gary and pc1. I remember just a bit about her. Tragic that such a promising career had to end with such a freak accident, then to die of cancer at 34.
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