The standard measure of success in tennis is the number of Grand Slam trophies sitting on a player’s mantle after she finally hangs up her racquet.
However, at best only four individual women can achieve a major win each season, causing many top players to end their careers without a Grand Slam victory.
Today’s Open Forum Friday discussion is on these players, and I’d like to read your thoughts about who are the best former and/or current women to never win a major title in singles.
Which of the rising stars or steady veterans will be next to achieve a breakthrough major victory?
I know this same question was asked last summer, but we do have many new readers who may be interested in talking about this topic. I plan to post my list later this week, so stay tuned!
Also, today we have two (unrelated to the OFF) trivia questions.
What tennis player acted with William Holden, Ken Curtis, and a man named Marion in a western film?
and . . .
This athlete’s career (the answer to the question above) was boosted by another woman who starred in a picture with Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. What was her name?
The first person to leave the correct answers to both questions in the comments will receive a $10.00 Golfsmith tennis gift card!
Best current player not to win a grand slam would be Dementieva.
Past would be Pam Shriver for me.
Next steady veteran to acheive a grand slam victory. Hmm. Not much to choose from, but if you consider an injury free Li Na or Daniela Hantuchova a veteran, than those two are it.
Next rising star would be tough, because I see none of them winning a slam. Closest would be Victoria Azarenka.
Trivia: Wow, I actually know one of this, I think!
The first one is one of my classic favorites, The Horse Soldier starred Althea Gibson, if I’m not mistaken.
Last one’s a toughie, as the only Hepburn movie I’m aware of that features tennis is Pat and Mike, and that had Gussie Moran in it. But I have no idea who’s career it actually boosted. Sigh.
That was a long post!
Sorry Richard, you are close, but it’s not Gussie Moran! Feel free to try again.
Let me clarify something, though. The second question is directly related to the first one. Woman A (the answer to the first question) was benefited by Woman B (the answer to the second question and the player who starred with Hepburn and Tracy).
Sorry for the confusion! I hope this helped!
Althea Gibson – Horse Soldiers
Alice Marble in Pat and Mike. Alice’s letter of course helped Althea get accepted.
And I’ll have to agree with the previous comment
Elena D. for the current player, and Pammy for the past.
Is Chanda Rubin a “current player”? If so, I think she is the best to never have won a Grand Slam title. Among former players, I’m not sure, but I lean toward Mary Joe Fernandez.
And if–IF–she can stay healthy, I still like Jankovic to make the breakthrough.
Congratulations cyandream! You answered both questions correctly.
If you’ll email info(AT)onthebaseline.com with your contact info, we’ll get your prize to you ASAP.
Ah, tricky stuff. Congrats cyandream!
Never crossed my mind that the same lady could apply to both questions lol.
I think Rubin is all but retired…she’ll probably just fade away and announce retirement, then Capriati (loved her!) and Pierce will probably follow. Can’t see them return playing good tennis.
Jankovic has a French and US Open in her, but she still needs to rest a bit. Maybe studying some Economics would help, just like how she snapped that nasty losing streak by going back to school!
Richard, Mary Pierce announced that she is returning to the tour this summer. I expect she’ll seek a wild card to the French Open. No one ever really recovers from the kind of injury she had, though.
Hi Diane! I also heard about Mary Pierce’s return news, but let’s not forget; a few months ago Seles also announced she was coming back at the Miami Masters. Fast forward to today, she’s gone. Poof. Which is why I don’t really get worked up over those announcements anymore.
Good point, Richard, especially when you consider that Pierce’s injury is the kind from which you can never fully recover.
Complete recovery from such is more than possible. In fact, many people do have full recoveries.