Karen Hantze Susman
Encyclopedia
Karen Hantze Susman is a retired female tennis
player from the United States. Susman won the 1962 women's singles title at Wimbledon
, defeating Věra Pužejová Suková
in the final 6–4, 6–4, but did not defend her title in 1963. She also won three Grand Slam
women's doubles titles, all with Billie Jean King
. She also won the 1960 Wimbledon junior girls' singles title.
Susman and King, as an unseeded team, won the 1961 women's doubles title at Wimbledon, defeating the third seeded team of Jan Lehane O'Neill
and Margaret Court in the final 6–3, 6–4. Susman and King successfully defended their title in 1962, defeating the South African team of Renee Schuurman Haygarth and Sandra Reynolds Price in the final 5–7, 6–3, 7–5. Susman and King reached the 1964 women's doubles final at Wimbledon, losing to the top seeded team of Court and Lesley Turner Bowrey
7–5, 6–2. For Wimbledon's centenary celebration in 1977, Susman and King teamed for the last time. As the eighth seeded team, they were upset in a second round match on Centre Court
by the team of Mary Carillo
and Patricia Bostrom 7–9, 6–4, 6–3.
Susman and King won the 1964 women's doubles title at the U.S. Championships, defeating Court and Bowrey in the final 3–6, 6–2, 6–4. Susman and King reached the 1962 women's doubles final at the U.S. Championships, losing to the team of Maria Bueno
and Darlene Hard
4–6, 6–3, 6–2. They also reached the 1965 women's doubles final at the U.S. Championships, losing to the team of Nancy Richey Gunter
and Carole Caldwell Graebner
6–4, 6–4. Susman played little in 1963, deciding not to defend her Wimbledon Singles & Doubles titles, but returned to play in 1964; competing at Wimbledon again, losing in a fourth round match. She entered the US Championships the same year, but withdrew before the tournament began. Susman played little in the 1960s and 1970s but her last Grand Slam singles tournament was at the 1980 US Open. She defeated Tanya Harford in the first round 3–6, 6–2, 6–4 and Janet Newberry Wright
in the second round 7–5, 6–1 before losing to 14th seeded Ivanna Madruga Osses 6–3, 6–1.
According to Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail
, Susman was ranked in the world top ten in 1961, 1962, and 1964, reaching a career high of World No. 4 in those rankings in 1962. Susman was included in the year-end top ten rankings issued by the United States Lawn Tennis Association
from 1959 through 1962 and in 1964. She was the second-ranked U.S. player behind Hard from 1960 through 1962.
A = did not participate in the tournament.
SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.
Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player from the United States. Susman won the 1962 women's singles title at Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
, defeating Věra Pužejová Suková
Vera Suková
Věra Pužejová Suková was a tennis player from Czechoslovakia. She was the women's singles runner-up at Wimbledon in 1962, losing to Karen Hantze Susman 6–4, 6–4....
in the final 6–4, 6–4, but did not defend her title in 1963. She also won three Grand Slam
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
women's doubles titles, all with Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
. She also won the 1960 Wimbledon junior girls' singles title.
Susman and King, as an unseeded team, won the 1961 women's doubles title at Wimbledon, defeating the third seeded team of Jan Lehane O'Neill
Jan Lehane
Jan Lehane O'Neill is a former Australian female tennis player.At the Australian Championships, O'Neill reached the singles final four consecutive years but lost to Margaret Court each time...
and Margaret Court in the final 6–3, 6–4. Susman and King successfully defended their title in 1962, defeating the South African team of Renee Schuurman Haygarth and Sandra Reynolds Price in the final 5–7, 6–3, 7–5. Susman and King reached the 1964 women's doubles final at Wimbledon, losing to the top seeded team of Court and Lesley Turner Bowrey
Lesley Turner Bowrey
Lesley Rosemary Turner Bowrey AM is an Australian female tennis player.Bowrey won 13 Grand Slam titles during her career: two in singles, seven in women's doubles, and four in mixed doubles. She lost in the final of 14 other Grand Slam events.Bowrey twice won the singles title at the French...
7–5, 6–2. For Wimbledon's centenary celebration in 1977, Susman and King teamed for the last time. As the eighth seeded team, they were upset in a second round match on Centre Court
Centre Court
Centre Court is the main court at the Wimbledon Championship, the 3rd annual Grand Slam event of the tennis calendar. It is situated adjacent to Aorangi Terrace and is home to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Its only regular use is for the two weeks a year that the Championships take...
by the team of Mary Carillo
Mary Carillo
Mary Carillo is an American sportscaster and former professional tennis player.-Tennis career:Carillo played on the women's professional tennis circuit from 1977 to 1980. She was ranked as high as number 33, in the WTA Rankings, from January through March 1980, then retired due to knee injuries...
and Patricia Bostrom 7–9, 6–4, 6–3.
Susman and King won the 1964 women's doubles title at the U.S. Championships, defeating Court and Bowrey in the final 3–6, 6–2, 6–4. Susman and King reached the 1962 women's doubles final at the U.S. Championships, losing to the team of Maria Bueno
Maria Bueno
Maria Esther Andion Bueno is a former professional tennis player from Brazil. During her 11-year career , she won 19 Major titles ....
and Darlene Hard
Darlene Hard
Darlene Hard is an American former amateur tennis player. Known for her volleying ability and strong serves, she captured singles titles at the French Championships in 1960 and the U.S...
4–6, 6–3, 6–2. They also reached the 1965 women's doubles final at the U.S. Championships, losing to the team of Nancy Richey Gunter
Nancy Richey
Nancy Richey is a former tennis player from the United States.Richey won two Grand Slam singles titles and four Grand Slam women's doubles titles . She was ranked World No...
and Carole Caldwell Graebner
Carole Caldwell Graebner
Carole Caldwell Graebner was an American tennis player. According to Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail, Graebner was ranked in the world top ten in 1964 and 1965, reaching a career high of World No. 4 in those rankings in 1964...
6–4, 6–4. Susman played little in 1963, deciding not to defend her Wimbledon Singles & Doubles titles, but returned to play in 1964; competing at Wimbledon again, losing in a fourth round match. She entered the US Championships the same year, but withdrew before the tournament began. Susman played little in the 1960s and 1970s but her last Grand Slam singles tournament was at the 1980 US Open. She defeated Tanya Harford in the first round 3–6, 6–2, 6–4 and Janet Newberry Wright
Janet Newberry
Janet Newberry is an American former professional tennis player who was active in the 1970s. She is also known by her former married name Janet Newberry-Wright and Janet Wright...
in the second round 7–5, 6–1 before losing to 14th seeded Ivanna Madruga Osses 6–3, 6–1.
According to Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
, Susman was ranked in the world top ten in 1961, 1962, and 1964, reaching a career high of World No. 4 in those rankings in 1962. Susman was included in the year-end top ten rankings issued by the United States Lawn Tennis Association
United States Tennis Association
The United States Tennis Association is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States. A not-for-profit organization with more than 700,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds to promote and develop the growth of tennis, from the grass-roots to the professional levels...
from 1959 through 1962 and in 1964. She was the second-ranked U.S. player behind Hard from 1960 through 1962.
Grand Slam singles tournament timeline
| Tournament | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 - 1968 | 1969 | 1970 - 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | Career SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Australian Open The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court... |
A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A / A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 |
| France | A | A | A | A | A | A | QF | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 1 |
| Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
A | A | QF | QF | W | A | 3R | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | A | 1 / 5 |
| United States | 3R | QF | 3R | 3R | 3R | A | QF | A | 1R | A | 1R | A | A | 2R | 3R | 0 / 10 |
| SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 1 / 2 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 1 / 16 |
A = did not participate in the tournament.
SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.
Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
See also
- Performance timelines for all female tennis players who reached at least one Grand Slam finalTennis performance timeline comparison (women)This article presents in a tabular form the career tennis Grand Slam, World Hard Court Championships and Olympic singles results of every woman who has reached the singles final of at least one Grand Slam, World Hard Court Championships or Olympic tournament during her career...