 Hard (left) congratulates Althea Gibson at the 1957 Wimbledon Singles Championships. | ||||||||||||
| Full name | Darlene Ruth Hard | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United States | |||||||||||
| Born | January 6, 1936 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |||||||||||
| Died | December 2, 2021 (aged 85) Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |||||||||||
| Turned pro | 1965 | |||||||||||
| Plays | Right-handed | |||||||||||
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1973 (member page) | |||||||||||
| Singles | ||||||||||||
| Career record | 498-156 (76.1%) | |||||||||||
| Career titles | 43 | |||||||||||
| Highest ranking | No. 2 (1957) | |||||||||||
| Grand Slam singles results | ||||||||||||
| Australian Open | QF (1962) | |||||||||||
| French Open | W (1960) | |||||||||||
| Wimbledon | F (1957, 1959) | |||||||||||
| US Open | W (1960, 1961) | |||||||||||
| Doubles | ||||||||||||
| Grand Slam doubles results | ||||||||||||
| Australian Open | F (1962) | |||||||||||
| French Open | W (1955, 1957, 1960) | |||||||||||
| Wimbledon | W (1957, 1959, 1960, 1963) | |||||||||||
| US Open | W (1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1969) | |||||||||||
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | ||||||||||||
| Australian Open | F (1962) | |||||||||||
| French Open | W (1955, 1961) | |||||||||||
| Wimbledon | W (1957, 1959, 1960) | |||||||||||
| US Open | F (1956, 1957, 1961) | |||||||||||
| Team competitions | ||||||||||||
| Wightman Cup | W (1957, 1959, 1962, 1963) | |||||||||||
Medal record
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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.
- ^ Smith, Harrison (2021-12-08). "Darlene Hard, Tennis Hall of Famer and 'best doubles player of her generation,' dies at 85". The Washington Post.