Who is the Oldest Women's Player to Ever Win the US Open?
Who is the Oldest Women's Player to Ever Win the US O...
By Jocelyn Alano August 21, 2024 05:56
While tennis is one of its four Grand Slam tournaments, the US Open has featured some gifted athletes on their courts. Margaret Court is the oldest female player ever to win a US Open singles title and among them. This historic moment in tennis history came at the age of 30 years and nine months, a benchmark rate Mark as Court achieved back in 1973.
Biography of Margaret Court
Born on July 16, 1942, in Albury, New South Wales, Australia, Margaret Court has been synonymous with greatness throughout her career, and she is considered one of the greatest female tennis players ever. She retired from the game in 1977 after a career that saw her win an incredible 24 Grand Slam singles titles, a record which still stands today. Court was renowned for her potent serve and volley game, and it helped the Australian prick pretty much at will against women of that era.
Court was heavily involved in sports throughout her life and competed professionally at a high level in basketball and netball, which she played nationally, tennis, and athletics. Showing a natural aptitude for tennis from an early age, she spent much of her youth playing the sport and, by 1954, had become Brazil's national champion. She achieved global fame by winning her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Championships in 1960. Court would, over the next two decades, win:
- 11 Australian Open titles
- 5 French Open titles
- 3 Wimbledon titles
- 5 US Open titles
In addition to her singles victories, Court won 19 Grand Slam doubles titles and 21 mixed doubles crowns. While her contemporaries found it a struggle to shift between formats, Mandhana could walk in seamlessly across all three and look like she belonged there right away.
History and Importance of the Court Victory in 1973
When Margaret Court won the US Open in 1973, it was not only an individual triumph but also a watershed moment for her sport. Court was 30 years and nine months old and remains the oldest woman to have won a US Open singles title. The victory came amid protests and progress by women demanding fair pay for international competition, an era when women were fighting to be included as sports pioneers.
This is especially true when you consider that Court was much older than most of her other champions. At the time, female champions were in their early to mid-20s; Court's victory proved age was no barrier to success in professional sport. Her success well into old age inspired numerous athletes, proving that a commitment to athleticism and mastery could truly go beyond the bounds of time.
Road to the 1973 US Open Championship
Margaret Court was imperious in reaching the final. Court faced a tough draw at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
Court played her typically dominant and tactical game in the first few rounds, winning matches on powerful serves and sound play. Notable matches included:
Semifinals: One of the closest matches in women's tennis as Court beat up-and-coming Chris Evert using all her experience and tactical advantage.
Finals: Court met Bobby Riggs in the finals, a former male champion known for his sexist comments towards women's tennis. The match became a social spectacle and an affirmation of the capabilities of female athletes.
Performance and Playing Style
The 1973 US Open, as seen here from the standpoint of Margaret Court and her experience and preparation over the years.
Devastating Serve: Court had one of the most dominating serves in women's tennis, which she used to win many points outright.
Using the Net Well: This was one of her strengths, as she had an effective serve-and-volley game and could end points quickly.
Mental Toughness: Playing in numerous high-stakes matches certainly helped Court sharpen the ability to stay calm and focused when it mattered most.
Longevity: Court was able to vie with players up to 30 years her junior, thanks, in part, to her physical conditioning and mental strength. Winning the U.S. Open was a testament to her dedication as an athlete who proved that age can be more of a help than a hindrance in sport, depending on approach and perspective.
Legacy and Impact
The image of Margaret Court's historic win at the 1973 US Open is permanently etched in women's tennis and sport more broadly. Her success has motivated millions of athletes, most notably women like her, to follow their dreams regardless of whether male or female-oriented.
Her work paved the way, too: Court's legacy isn't only as a 24-time Grand Slam singles champion and fellow player-originator of women's professional tennis; she was an unsilenced voice for female athletes seeking representation and equal pay. Her triumph was a breakthrough for female athletes, allowing stars like Billie Jean King and Serena Williams to lead the charge for gender equality on the court.
Court greatly impacted the game beyond her endeavors as he served after she finished playing, working with, and mentoring young players. She is a committed advocate of programs that help bring tennis among the youth, which has helped ensure her legacy continues and inspires generations to come.
Her rise to the top of her sport ranks among the greatest ever stories in an all-time great career, and it will surely outlive not only age but even something as confining and vast as gender. Court's win changed the landscape for female athletes and conveyed to all women that they could defy the status quo and become great in their given fields. Looking back at her attributes, Margaret Court has left a legacy that will continue in tennis and women's sports for eternity.
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