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Elizabeth Ryan
US tennis player

Elizabeth Ryan

The basics

Quick Facts

Intro
US tennis player
A.K.A.
Elizabeth Montague Ryan
Work field
Gender
Female
Place of birth
Anaheim, USA
Place of death
Wimbledon, United Kingdom
Age
87 years
The details (from wikipedia)

Biography

Elizabeth Montague Ryan (February 5, 1892 – July 6, 1979) was an American tennis player who was born in Anaheim, California but lived most of her life in the United Kingdom. Ryan won 26 Grand Slam titles, 19 in women's doubles and mixed doubles at Wimbledon, an all-time record for those two events. Twelve of her Wimbledon titles were in women's doubles and seven were in mixed doubles. Ryan also won four women's doubles titles at the French Championships, as well as one women's doubles title and two mixed-doubles titles at the U.S. Championships.

Career

Although she reached the Wimbledon singles finals twice, Ryan never won the title. Eight of her losses at Wimbledon were to players generally considered to be among the best ever. Ryan had to play Dorothea Lambert Chambers in the all-comers final of 1920; Suzanne Lenglen in the 1919 semifinals (losing 6–4, 7–5), 1921 final, 1922 quarterfinals, 1924 quarterfinals (losing 6–2, 6–8, 6–4), and 1925 second round; and Helen Wills Moody in the 1928 semifinals and 1930 final.

In the 1926 singles final at the U.S. Championships, the 34-year-old Ryan led 42-year-old Molla Bjurstedt Mallory 4–6, 6–4, 4–0 and had a match point at 7–6 in the third set before losing the final three games of the match.

Ryan and her longtime partner Lenglen never lost a women's doubles match at Wimbledon, going 31–0. Only Billie Jean King (224 match wins) and Martina Navratilova won more matches at Wimbledon than Ryan (190 match wins): 47–15 in singles, 73–4 in women's doubles, and 70–9 in mixed doubles.

The longtime tennis writer Ted Tinling has credited Ryan with inventing the volleying style later perfected by players such as Sarah Palfrey Cooke, Alice Marble, Louise Brough Clapp, Margaret Osborne duPont, Doris Hart, Darlene Hard, Margaret Court, Navratilova, and King. "Before World War I, women's tennis consisted primary of slogging duels from the baseline. There were a few volleying pioneers, notably ... Hazel [Hotchkiss] Wightman and Ethel [Thomson] Larcombe, but volleying as a fundamental, aggressive technique was first injected into the women's game by ... Ryan." Tinling, however, also said about Ryan, "Elizabeth wasn't fast enough for singles. Too heavy."

According to Wallis Myers of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail, Ryan was ranked in the world top ten from 1921 (when the rankings began) through 1928 and again in 1930, reaching a career high of world No. 3 in those rankings in 1927. Ryan was ranked second behind Mallory in the year-end rankings issued by the United States Lawn Tennis Association for 1925 and 1926.

Ryan died on July 6, 1979, at age 87, on the grounds of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon, following the ladies singes final and the day before Billie Jean King broke her record number of Wimbledon wins by winning her 20th title. When tennis writer and television commentator Bud Collins tried to arrange for Ryan and King to film an interview together at Wimbledon in 1979, Ryan refused. King said, "I always liked seeing Miss Ryan at Wimbledon, and I'd try to be friendly, but she didn't seem to want it. For me, it wasn't personal. Sure, I wanted the record, but I wasn't trying to steal a possession of hers." King also said, "[T]here is no doubt in my mind that she just didn't want to be alive to see her record broken. She was [87], she had held it for a long, long time and she wanted it for herself. But records are there to be broken."

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 3 (3 runner-ups)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss1921WimbledonGrass Suzanne Lenglen2–6, 0–6
Loss1926U.S. ChampionshipsGrass Molla Mallory6–4, 4–6, 7–9
Loss1930WimbledonGrass Helen Wills2–6, 2–6

Women's doubles: 21 (17 titles, 4 runner-ups)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1914WimbledonGrass Agnes Morton Edith Hannam
Ethel Thomson Larcombe
6–1, 6–3
Win1919WimbledonGrass Suzanne Lenglen Dorothea Lambert Chambers
Ethel Thomson Larcombe
4–6, 7–5, 6–3
Win1920WimbledonGrass Suzanne Lenglen Dorothea Lambert Chambers
Ethel Thomson Larcombe
6–4, 6–0
Win1921WimbledonGrass Suzanne Lenglen Geraldine Beamish
Irene Bowder Peacock
6–1, 6–2
Win1922WimbledonGrass Suzanne Lenglen Kathleen McKane Godfree
Margaret McKane Stocks
6–0, 6–4
Win1923WimbledonGrass Suzanne Lenglen Joan Austin
Evelyn Colyer
6–3, 6–1
Win1925WimbledonGrass Suzanne Lenglen Kathleen Lidderdale
Mary McIlquham
6–2, 6–2
Loss1925U.S. ChampionshipsGrass May Sutton Mary Browne
Helen Wills
4–6, 3–6
Win1926WimbledonGrass Mary Browne Evelyn Colyer
Kathleen McKane Godfree
6–1, 6–1
Win1926U.S. ChampionshipsGrass Eleanor Goss Mary Browne
Charlotte Chapin
3–6, 6–4, 12–10
Win1927WimbledonGrass Helen Wills Bobbie Heine
Irene Bowder Peacock
6–3, 6–2
Win1930French ChampionshipsClay Helen Wills Simone Barbier
Simonne Mathieu
6–3, 6–1
Win1930WimbledonGrass Helen Wills Edith Cross
Sarah Palfrey
6–2, 9–7
Loss1931French ChampionshipsClay Cilly Aussem Eileen Bennett Whittingstall
Betty Nuthall
7–9, 2–6
Win1932French ChampionshipsClay Helen Wills Eileen Bennett Whittingstall
Betty Nuthall
6–1, 6–3
Loss1932WimbledonGrass Helen Jacobs Doris Metaxa
Josane Sigart
4–6, 3–6
Win1933French ChampionshipsClay Simonne Mathieu Sylvie Jung Henrotin
Colette Rosambert
6–1, 6–3
Win1933WimbledonGrass Simonne Mathieu Freda James
Billie Yorke
6–2, 9–11, 6–4
Loss1933U.S. ChampionshipsGrass Helen Wills Freda James
Betty Nuthall
default
Win1934French ChampionshipsClay Simonne Mathieu Helen Jacobs
Sarah Palfrey
3–6, 6–4, 6–2
Win1934WimbledonGrass Simonne Mathieu Dorothy Andrus
Sylvie Jung Henrotin
6–3, 6–3

Mixed doubles: 14 (9 titles, 5 runner-ups)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1919WimbledonGrass Randolph Lycett Dorothea Chambers
Albertem Prebble
6–0, 6–0
Loss1920WimbledonGrass Randolph Lycett Suzanne Lenglen
Gerald Patterson
5–7, 3–6
Win1921WimbledonGrass Randolph Lycett Phyllis Howkins
Max Woosnam
6–3, 6–1
Loss1922WimbledonGrass Randolph Lycett Suzanne Lenglen
Pat O'Hara Wood
4–6, 3–6
Win1923WimbledonGrass Randolph Lycett Dorothy Shepherd-Barron
Lewis Deane
6–4, 7–5
Loss1925WimbledonGrass Umberto de Morpurgo Suzanne Lenglen
Jean Borotra
3–6, 3–6
Win1926U.S. ChampionshipsGrass Jean Borotra Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman
René Lacoste
6–4, 7–5
Win1927WimbledonGrass Frank Hunter Kathleen McKane Godfree
Leslie Godfree
8–6, 6–0
Win1928WimbledonGrass Patrick Spence Daphne Akhurst
Jack Crawford
7–5, 6–4
Win1930WimbledonGrass Jack Crawford Hilde Krahwinkel
Daniel Prenn
6–1, 6–3
Win1932WimbledonGrass Enrique Maier Josane Sigart
Harry Hopman
7–5, 6–2
Win1933U.S. ChampionshipsGrass Ellsworth Vines Sarah Palfrey
George Lott
11–9, 6–1
Loss1934French ChampionshipsClay Adrian Quist Colette Rosambert
Jean Borotra
2–6, 4–6
Loss1934U.S. ChampionshipsGrass Lester Stoefen Helen Jacobs
George Lott
6–4, 11–13, 2–6

Grand Slam tournament timelines

Key
W F SFQF#RRRQ#ANH
(W) Won; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent;(NH) not held. SR=strike rate (events won/competed)

Singles

Tournament19121913191419151916191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934Career SR
Australian OpenNHNHNHNHNHNHNHNHNHNHAAAAAAAAAAAAA0 / 0
French ChampionshipsAAANHNHNHNHNHAAAANHAQFAAAQFQF1R1R1R0 / 7
WimbledonQF1RACFNHNHNHNHSFACFFQFSFQF2R3RSFSF3RFA1RAA0 / 16
U.S. ChampionshipsAAAAAAAAAAAAAQFFAAAAAAAQF0 / 3
SR0 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 20 / 10 / 10 / 20 / 30 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 20 / 10 / 20 / 10 / 20 / 26

ACF = All comers final, with the winner to play the defending champion.

Ryan did not play. Her opponent got a walkover.

Women's doubles

Tournament19121913191419151916191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934Career SR
Australian OpenNHNHNHNHNHNHNHNHNHNHAAAAAAAAAAAAA0 / 0
French ChampionshipsANHNHNHNHNHNHNHAANHANHASFAAAWFWWW4 / 6
WimbledonNH2RWNHNHNHNHWWWWWQFWWWSFSFWAFWW12 / 16
U.S. ChampionshipsAAAAAAAAAAAAAFWAAAAAAFSF1 / 4
SR0 / 00 / 01 / 10 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 01 / 11 / 11 / 11 / 11 / 10 / 11 / 22 / 31 / 10 / 10 / 12 / 20 / 11 / 22 / 32 / 317 / 26

Mixed doubles

Tournament19121913191419151916191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934Career SR
Australian OpenNHNHNHNHNHNHNHNHNHNHAAAAAAAAAAAAA0 / 0
French ChampionshipsAAANHNHNHNHNH????NH?????????F0 / 1
WimbledonNH??NHNHNHNHWFWFW2RFSFWWSFWAWQFQF7 / 15
U.S. Championships?AA???????????W??????WF2 / 3
SR0 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 01 / 10 / 11 / 10 / 11 / 10 / 10 / 11 / 21 / 11 / 10 / 11 / 10 / 01 / 11 / 20 / 39 / 19
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Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Who is Elizabeth Ryan?
Elizabeth Ryan was an American tennis player who was one of the world's top players in the 1920s and 1930s.
When was Elizabeth Ryan born?
Elizabeth Ryan was born on February 5, 1892.
Where was Elizabeth Ryan born?
Elizabeth Ryan was born in Anaheim, California, United States.
What were Elizabeth Ryan's notable achievements in tennis?
Elizabeth Ryan won a total of 26 Grand Slam titles in her career, including 19 in women's doubles and 7 in mixed doubles.
Who were some of Elizabeth Ryan's notable doubles and mixed doubles partners?
Elizabeth Ryan had successful partnerships with renowned players such as Suzanne Lenglen, Helen Wills Moody, and Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman.
What was Elizabeth Ryan's playing style?
Elizabeth Ryan was known for her strong volleying skills and exceptional court coverage. She was also a skilled doubles strategist.
Did Elizabeth Ryan achieve success in singles as well?
While Elizabeth Ryan was primarily known for her doubles success, she also had some notable achievements in singles, reaching the semifinals of the US Championships in 1916 and the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 1920.
Did Elizabeth Ryan compete in the Olympics?
Yes, Elizabeth Ryan competed in the tennis events of the 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal in women's doubles in 1920.
What was Elizabeth Ryan's career record in Grand Slam tournaments?
Elizabeth Ryan reached the finals of a total of 34 Grand Slam events, winning 26 of them.
When did Elizabeth Ryan retire from professional tennis?
Elizabeth Ryan retired from professional tennis in 1934 at the age of 42.
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Elizabeth Ryan
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