1. YOU GOTTA KNOW…
TENNIS PLAYERS

2. MEN

3. ROD LAVER (1938–PRESENT) Aussie, mate Weighed 145 lbs
Only player to win Grand Slam twice
Won 5 US Pro Championships
First to earn $1,000,000 in a career

4. PETE SAMPRAS (1971-PRESENT)
Youngest man to win US Open
Won Wimbledon 7 times in 8 years
World #1 for 6 years in a row (‘93-’98)
Married to actress Bridgette Wilson
Retired in 2002

5. BJORN BORG (1956-PRESENT) Total of 11 majors Started at age 9
Dominated from ‘74-’81 when John McEnroe beat him
Retired at 26
Never won US Open

6. BILL TILDEN (1893-1953) Unstoppable from ’20-’25 “Big Bill” stood 6’2”
Trademark “cannonball” serve
Won 10 majors, becoming pro at 42 years, and touring until 50 years
Performed on Broadway (Dracula)

7. ANDRE AGASSI (1970-PRESENT)
1996 Olympic Gold Medal
Known more for image than (great) playing
Fifth man to win career Grand Slam
8 major titles
Married to Steffi Graf (getting to her later…)

8. JOHN McENROE (1959-PRESENT)
Known for fiery temper and referee abuse
Dominant player in 1980s
Had an 83-2 record
Total of 7 majors
Won 77 doubles titles and played David Cup 12 times, captaining US team in 2000

9. ARTHUR ASHE ( )
First black man to win US Championship and Wimbledon
First American player to earn over $100,000 in one year (1970)
Gotten AIDS virus from tainted blood in a 1983 heart surgery
Arthur Ashe Stadium, home of US Open, named after him

10. WOMEN

11. MARTINA NAVRATILOVA (1956-PRESENT)
Prague, but defected to US
Grueling fitness regimen
18 singles Grand Slams, 167 total singles titles, and even more doubles titles with Pam Shriver
20 overall Wimbledons

12. STEFFI GRAF (1969-PRESENT)
“Fraulein Forehand”
Turned pro at 13 years
Only player to win the Grand Slam and Olympic Medal in the same year (1988)
22 major singles crowns
Married to Andre Agassi

13. CHRIS EVERT (1954-PRESENT)
Queen of Clay Courts
Won French open record 7 times
Won a major for 13 straight years
Rivals with Martina N
First female player to win $1 million in career

14. BILLIE JEAN KING (1943-PRESENT)
12 Grand Slam singles wins, 20 overall Wimbledon titles
Advanced women’s athletics
Co-founded Virginia Slims Tour
First female athlete to earn $100,000 in a year
Beat Bobby Riggs in “Battle of the Sexes”

15. MARGARET SMITH COURT (1942-PRESENT)
Most prolific winner, male or female, with 62 Grand Slam titles
“The Arm” because of height and reach
Second woman to win Grand Slam
Rival to King
Became a lay minister

16. THE WILLIAMS SISTERS (1980-PRESENT)
Advanced African Americans in sports
Combined 22 Grand Slams
Initially Venus was stronger, but since 2002 Serena’s been bringing it
Serena is #1 right now
Both fashion designers

17. HELEN MILLS MOODY (1905-1998) “Little Miss Poker Face”
Dominated competition between (didn’t lost a set!)
Won 19 major singles crowns
First player to win 3 Grand Slams in one season
Swept at 1924 Paris Olympics