Gracyn Wheeler Kelleher
Encyclopedia
Gracyn Wheeler Kelleher (July 2, 1914 – October 1980) of California
was an amateur tennis player in the 1920s through the 1940s.
Wheeler played for the U.S. Wightman Cup team and was ranked as high as No. 4 in the United States during her career.
At the event in Cincinnati
, Wheeler won the singles title in 1934 and was a singles finalist in 1940. At the Canadian National
tournament, she won the singles title in 1933.
She also paired with Helen Bernard to reach the finals of the 1940 National Clay Court Doubles Championship, before losing to Alice Marble
and Mary Arnold, at a final played in Cincinnati.
She won the Oregon state singles and doubles titles in 1932 and the singles title in 1933. She also was a quarterfinalist at the 1936 U.S. Nationals, and won the U.S. Girls 18s doubles title in 1932.
In 1929 at the Carlton Winter championships in Cannes, France, Wheeler was seeded No. 1, ahead of a French player, future International Tennis Hall of Fame
enshrinee Simone Mathieu
. According to the February 9, 1939, edition of the Oakland Tribune, Mathieu protested, telling officials "Am I not the greatest player in all of France? If I am not seeded No. 1, I will quit the tournament." Wheeler quickly gave up the No. 1 seed in deference to Mathieu, and took her place as the No. 2 seed.
She has been inducted into the Southern California Tennis Association Hall of Fame. She married Robert J. Kelleher
, an American district court judge in Los Angeles, former U.S. Davis Cup captain, president of the United States Tennis Association, and member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
was an amateur tennis player in the 1920s through the 1940s.
Wheeler played for the U.S. Wightman Cup team and was ranked as high as No. 4 in the United States during her career.
At the event in Cincinnati
Cincinnati Masters
The Cincinnati Open is an annual outdoor hardcourts tennis event held in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason, Ohio, USA. The event started on September 18, 1899 and is the oldest tennis tournament in the United States played in its original city., Between...
, Wheeler won the singles title in 1934 and was a singles finalist in 1940. At the Canadian National
Canada Masters
The Canada Masters , currently sponsored as the Rogers Cup, is an annual tennis tournament held in Canada. The men's competition is a Masters 1000 event on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour. The women's competition is a Premier 5 tournament on the Women's Tennis Association tour...
tournament, she won the singles title in 1933.
She also paired with Helen Bernard to reach the finals of the 1940 National Clay Court Doubles Championship, before losing to Alice Marble
Alice Marble
Alice Marble was a World No. 1 American tennis player who won 18 Grand Slam championships : 5 in Singles, 6 in Women's Doubles, and 7 in Mixed Doubles.-Early life:Born in the small town of Beckwourth, Plumas County, California, Marble moved with her family at the age of...
and Mary Arnold, at a final played in Cincinnati.
She won the Oregon state singles and doubles titles in 1932 and the singles title in 1933. She also was a quarterfinalist at the 1936 U.S. Nationals, and won the U.S. Girls 18s doubles title in 1932.
In 1929 at the Carlton Winter championships in Cannes, France, Wheeler was seeded No. 1, ahead of a French player, future International Tennis Hall of Fame
International Tennis Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The hall of fame and honors players and contributors to the sport of tennis and includes a museum, grass tennis courts, an indoor tennis facility, and a court tennis facility.-History:The hall of fame and...
enshrinee Simone Mathieu
Simone Mathieu
Simone Mathieu was a female tennis player from France, born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine.-Career:...
. According to the February 9, 1939, edition of the Oakland Tribune, Mathieu protested, telling officials "Am I not the greatest player in all of France? If I am not seeded No. 1, I will quit the tournament." Wheeler quickly gave up the No. 1 seed in deference to Mathieu, and took her place as the No. 2 seed.
She has been inducted into the Southern California Tennis Association Hall of Fame. She married Robert J. Kelleher
Robert J. Kelleher
Robert J. Kelleher is a former American tennis player and official, inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000, and a United States federal judge...
, an American district court judge in Los Angeles, former U.S. Davis Cup captain, president of the United States Tennis Association, and member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.