Women's tennis in the United States

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Tennis has been played in the United States for a long time. There are several important and famous female players from the country.

History

By 1888, American women tennis players were agitating for their own championship competition. USLTA claimed that they lacked the authority to organise such a competition.^[1] In 1923, the Wightman Cup was created as a national women's tennis competition between the United States and Great Britain. The trophy for the event was paid for by Hazel Wightman, an American tennis champion. The location of the cup was alternated between countries on a yearly basis. Great Britain won in 1924, 1925, 1928 and 1930. In all other years that the cup was contested, the Americans claimed victory.^[2]

Important players

American tennis player Serena Williams at Wimbledon

Helen Wills Moody was an important American tennis player. She helped to popularize the overhand serve for women during the 1940s.^[3] Alice Marble is another important influential American tennis player. In 1939, she was a triple champion at Wimbledon. Her style of play was characterized as masculine because of her aggressive pursuit of the ball during serves and volleys. Like Helen Wills Moody, others would go on to copy her style of play.^[3] Maureen Connolly is an American tennis player who won the Grand Slam of tennis in 1953.^[4]

References

1. Robertson 1974, p. 28
2. Robertson 1974, p. 34
3. Robertson 1974, p. 36
4. Robertson 1974, p. 40

Bibliography

• Robertson, Max (1974). The Encyclopedia of Tennis, 100 Years of Great Players and Events. New York: Viking Press. ISBN 067029408X. LCCN 73010776.

See also

• Women's tennis in Australia