Tennis performance timeline comparison (women) (1884–1977)

This article presents a timeline comparison of significant achievements and developments in women's tennis from 1884 to 1977. This period marks a crucial evolution in the sport, from its amateur beginnings and slow acceptance into the Olympic Games to the dawn of the Open Era and the rise of professional women's tennis. The timeline focuses on major championship results (Wimbledon, US Open, French Open, Australian Open), key rule changes, the establishment of important organizations, and the rise of influential players.

1884:

• The first Wimbledon Ladies' Singles Championship is held. Maud Watson wins the inaugural title.

1887:

• The first US Women's National Singles Championship (now the US Open) is held. Ellen Hansell is the first champion.

1896:

• Tennis is included in the first modern Olympic Games (Athens), but women do not participate.

1900:

• Women's tennis is included in the Olympic Games for the first time (Paris). Charlotte Cooper wins the singles gold medal.

1902:

• May Sutton becomes the first American woman to win the Wimbledon title.

1905:

• The Australasian Championships (later the Australian Open) are first held. Women's singles are not contested until 1922.

1907:

• The French Championships are open to international players for the first time. The women's singles event begins.

1919:

• Suzanne Lenglen wins Wimbledon for the first time, marking the beginning of her dominance and popularizing the sport among women.

1922:

• Women's singles is officially added to the Australian Championships. Margaret Molesworth becomes the first champion.

1924:

• Tennis is withdrawn from the Olympic Games due to disputes over amateur status.

1925:

• The French Championships are opened to all amateurs, becoming a major championship event (Grand Slam).

1927:

• Helen Wills Moody begins her period of dominance, winning multiple Grand Slam titles and setting new standards for athleticism in women's tennis.

1933:

• Helen Jacobs defeats Helen Wills Moody in the Wimbledon final, ending Moody's winning streak at the tournament.

1938:

• Don Budge wins the Grand Slam in men's singles. No woman had yet achieved this feat.

1939:

• Alice Marble wins the US Open without losing a single game in the final.

1949:

• Margaret Osborne duPont wins the US Open, continuing the American dominance in women's tennis post-World War II.

1953:

• Maureen Connolly Brinker becomes the first woman to win the Grand Slam in a calendar year.

1954:

• Maureen Connolly's career is tragically cut short due to a horse-riding accident.

1960:

• Darlene Hard wins the French Open, becoming a leading figure in the transition towards the Open Era.

1963:

• Margaret Smith Court wins her first Wimbledon title, beginning her period of dominance.

1964:

• Maria Bueno wins Wimbledon, showcasing a graceful, attacking style of play.

1968:

• The Open Era begins, allowing professional players to compete in Grand Slam tournaments alongside amateurs.

1970:

• Billie Jean King forms the Virginia Slims Circuit with other female players, fighting for equal prize money and recognition.

1971:

• Evonne Goolagong Cawley wins the French Open and Wimbledon, showcasing her versatile game.

1972:

• The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) is founded by Billie Jean King, marking a crucial step in the professionalization of women's tennis.

1973:

• Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes," a highly publicized exhibition match that significantly raises the profile of women's tennis.
• Margaret Court wins the US Open.

1974:

• Chris Evert wins the French Open and Wimbledon, establishing herself as a leading player.

1975:

• Martina Navratilova defects from Czechoslovakia to the United States, impacting the future of women's tennis.

1976:

• Chris Evert wins Wimbledon, continuing her rivalry with Martina Navratilova.

1977:

• Virginia Wade wins Wimbledon in the tournament's centenary year, becoming the last British woman to win the title until 2013.

This timeline represents a selection of significant events and achievements and is not exhaustive. The period covered represents a substantial shift in women's tennis, laying the groundwork for the modern professional game.