Darlene Hard

Darlene Hard
Hard (left) congratulates Althea Gibson at the 1957 Wimbledon Singles Championships.
Full nameDarlene Ruth Hard
Country (sports) United States
Born(1936-01-06)January 6, 1936
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedDecember 2, 2021(2021-12-02) (aged 85)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Turned pro1965
PlaysRight-handed
Int. Tennis HoF1973 (member page)
Singles
Career record498-156 (76.1%)
Career titles43
Highest rankingNo. 2 (1957)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenQF (1962)
French OpenW (1960)
WimbledonF (1957, 1959)
US OpenW (1960, 1961)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenF (1962)
French OpenW (1955, 1957, 1960)
WimbledonW (1957, 1959, 1960, 1963)
US OpenW (1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1969)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian OpenF (1962)
French OpenW (1955, 1961)
WimbledonW (1957, 1959, 1960)
US OpenF (1956, 1957, 1961)
Team competitions
Wightman CupW (1957, 1959, 1962, 1963)
Medal record
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1963 São Paulo Doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1963 São Paulo Singles

Darlene Ruth Hard (January 6, 1936 – December 2, 2021) was an American professional tennis player, known for her aggressive volleying ability and strong serves. She captured singles titles at the French Championships in 1960 and the U.S. Championships in 1960 and 1961.

With eight different partners, she won a total of 13 women's doubles titles in Grand Slam tournaments, and was the finest doubles player of her generation.[1] Her last doubles title, at the age of 33 at the 1969 US Open, came six years after she had retired from serious competition to become a tennis instructor. She also played the US Open singles tournament in 1969, losing in the second round to Françoise Dürr.

  1. ^ Smith, Harrison (December 8, 2021). "Darlene Hard, Tennis Hall of Famer and 'best doubles player of her generation,' dies at 85". The Washington Post.