Renee Blount
Encyclopedia
Renee Blount is a retired American
professional tennis
player.
, was a number one singles and doubles All-American player for UCLA
. She joined the WTA Tour in 1978 and went on to reach a career high ranking of 63 in singles and 8 in doubles in the world.
In 1979, Blount made history when she became the first African American woman to win a professional tennis tournament since Althea Gibson
when she won the Futures of Columbus.
In 1984, Blount achieved her best Grand Slam women's doubles result, reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon
partnering Janet Newberry
, losing to Kathy Jordan
and Anne Smith
6–0, 6–1.
Blount was, also, a mixed doubles semi-finalist at the French Open and extended Martina Navratilova to three sets at the Australian Open
in 1980. She has competed in Wimbledon five times including a 1986 doubles quarter finalist appearance.
at the University of Virginia
and was inducted into the St. Louis Tennis Hall of Fame in 1997.
Blount founded the Keswick Tennis Foundation to help children with autism
and disabilities develop skills through tennis. She currently coaches at the Keswick Tennis Foundation in Central Virginia.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional tennis
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.
Early career
Blount, a protégé of Arthur AsheArthur Ashe
Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States...
, was a number one singles and doubles All-American player for UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
. She joined the WTA Tour in 1978 and went on to reach a career high ranking of 63 in singles and 8 in doubles in the world.
Tournament career
She was the 5th seed in the 1978 Australian Open and competed in the 1979 US Open and the 1980 US Open.In 1979, Blount made history when she became the first African American woman to win a professional tennis tournament since Althea Gibson
Althea Gibson
Althea Gibson was a World No. 1 American sportswoman who became the first African-American woman to be a competitor on the world tennis tour and the first to win a Grand Slam title in 1956. She is sometimes referred to as "the Jackie Robinson of tennis" for breaking the color barrier...
when she won the Futures of Columbus.
In 1984, Blount achieved her best Grand Slam women's doubles result, reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon
1984 Wimbledon Championships – Women's Doubles
Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver were the defending champions and won in the final 6–3, 6–4 against Kathy Jordan and Anne Smith.-Seeds:...
partnering Janet Newberry
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...
, losing to Kathy Jordan
Kathy Jordan
Kathryn "Kathy" Jordan is a former American tennis player. During her career, she won 7 Grand Slam titles, 5 of them in women's doubles and 2 of them in mixed doubles...
and Anne Smith
Anne Smith
Anne Smith is a female former professional tennis player from the United States. Smith's highest women's doubles ranking was World No. 1 in 1980 and 1981. Her highest singles ranking was World No. 12 in 1982...
6–0, 6–1.
Blount was, also, a mixed doubles semi-finalist at the French Open and extended Martina Navratilova to three sets at the Australian Open
1980 Australian Open
The 1980 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on grass courts at the Kooyong Stadium in Melbourne in Victoria in Australia. It was the 69th edition of the Australian Open and was held from 26 December 1980 through 4 January 1981.-Men's Singles:...
in 1980. She has competed in Wimbledon five times including a 1986 doubles quarter finalist appearance.
Retirement
After retiring from professional tennis, she became an assistant coachCoach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and was inducted into the St. Louis Tennis Hall of Fame in 1997.
Blount founded the Keswick Tennis Foundation to help children with autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
and disabilities develop skills through tennis. She currently coaches at the Keswick Tennis Foundation in Central Virginia.