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Margaret Osborne duPont

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Margaret Osborne duPont
Full nameMargaret Evelyn Osborne duPont
Country (sports) United States
Born(1918-03-04)March 4, 1918
Joseph, Oregon, U.S.[1]
DiedOctober 24, 2012(2012-10-24) (aged 94)
El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)[2]
PlaysRight-handed
Int. Tennis HoF1967 (member page)
Singles
Career record0–0
Highest rankingNo. 1 (1947)
Grand Slam singles results
French OpenW (1946, 1949)
WimbledonW (1947)
US OpenW (1948, 1949, 1950)
Doubles
Career record0–0
Grand Slam doubles results
French OpenW (1946, 1947, 1949)
WimbledonW (1946, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1954)
US OpenW (1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1957)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
WimbledonW (1962)
US OpenW (1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1950, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960)

Margaret Osborne duPont (born Margaret Evelyn Osborne; March 4, 1918 – October 24, 2012) was a world No. 1 American female tennis player.

DuPont won a total of 37 singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles major titles, which places her fourth on the all-time list, despite never entering the Australian Championships. She won 25 of those major titles at the U.S. Championships, which is an all-time record.

Career

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DuPont won six Grand Slam tournament singles titles. She saved match points in the final of the 1946 French International Championships (versus Pauline Betz) and in the final of the 1948 U.S. National Championships (versus Louise Brough). The 48 games played during the 1948 final remain the most played in a women's singles final at that tournament.

DuPont teamed with Brough to win 20 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, tied with Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver for the most Grand Slam titles ever won by a women's doubles team. DuPont and Brough won nine consecutive titles at the U.S. National Championships from 1942 through 1950. They won that tournament in 12 of the 14 years they entered as a team. Their 12 titles is an all-time record for a women's doubles team at the U.S. National Championships, well-surpassing the four career titles won by the teams of Navratilova and Shriver, Doris Hart and Shirley Fry, and Sarah Palfrey Cooke and Alice Marble. DuPont won 13 women's doubles titles, 10 of which were in succession from 1941 through 1950, at the U.S. National Championships. Both of those are all-time records.

DuPont's nine mixed doubles titles at the U.S. National Championships is more than any other player. Four of those titles were in partnership with William Talbert, which is a record for a mixed doubles team at the U.S. National Championships. One each with Ken McGregor and Ken Rosewall, and three were with Neale Fraser.

According to John Olliff and Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail, duPont was ranked in the world top 10 from 1946 through 1950, and in 1953-1954, and in 1956-1957. She was ranked world No. 1 from 1947 through 1950. No rankings were issued from 1940 through 1945.[3][4]

DuPont was included in the year-end top 10 rankings issued by the United States Lawn Tennis Association in 1938, from 1941 through 1950, and in 1953, 1956 and 1958. She was the top ranked U.S. player from 1948 through 1950.[5]

From 1938 through 1958, DuPont went undefeated in 10 Wightman Cup competitions, winning 10 singles and nine doubles matches. She also was the captain of the U.S. team nine times, and won eight.

Personal life

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Margaret married William duPont, Jr. on November 26, 1947[6] and later interrupted her career to give birth to a son, William duPont III on July 22, 1952. She is one of the few women to win a major title after childbirth. DuPont never played the Australian Championships because her husband would not let her.

They didn't start to invite people down there and pay their expenses until I got married, and that was wintertime and Will's vacation time, and I just never got to go. He threatened to divorce me if I went to Australia, so I never went. He had that respiratory trouble, and he wanted me to come to California with him. He thought I should be with him. That was that.[7]

She later divorced duPont in 1964 and formed a life partnership with fellow player Margaret Varner Bloss.[8]

DuPont died on October 24, 2012, while in hospice care in El Paso, Texas, at age 94.[1]

Awards

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She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1967. The Delaware Sports Hall of Fame inducted DuPont in 1999.[9] In 2010, she was inducted into the US Open Court of Champions.[10]

Grand Slam finals

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Singles (6 titles, 4 runners-up)

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Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Loss 1944 U.S. Championships Grass United States Pauline Betz 6–3, 8–6
Win 1946 French Championships Clay United States Pauline Betz 1–6, 8–6, 7–5
Win 1947 Wimbledon Grass United States Doris Hart 6–2, 6–4
Loss 1947 U.S. Championships Grass United States Louise Brough 6–8, 6–4, 1–6
Win 1948 U.S. Championships Grass United States Louise Brough 4–6, 6–4, 15–13
Win 1949 French Championships (2) Clay France Nelly Adamson-Landry 7–5, 6–2
Loss 1949 Wimbledon Grass United States Louise Brough 8–10, 6–1, 8–10
Win 1949 U.S. Championships (2) Grass United States Doris Hart 6–3, 6–1
Loss 1950 Wimbledon Grass United States Louise Brough 1–6, 6–3, 1–6
Win 1950 U.S. Championships (3) Grass United States Doris Hart 6–4, 6–3

Doubles (21 titles, 6 runners-up)

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Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1941 U.S. Championships Grass United States Sarah Palfrey United States Dorothy Bundy
United States Pauline Betz
3–6, 6–1, 6–4
Win 1942 U.S. Championships (2) Grass United States Louise Brough United States Pauline Betz
United States Doris Hart
2–6, 7–5, 6–0
Win 1943 U.S. Championships (3) Grass United States Louise Brough United States Pauline Betz
United States Doris Hart
6–4, 6–3
Win 1944 U.S. Championships (4) Grass United States Louise Brough United States Pauline Betz
United States Doris Hart
4–6, 6–4, 6–3
Win 1945 U.S. Championships (5) Grass United States Louise Brough United States Pauline Betz
United States Doris Hart
6–3, 6–3
Win 1946 Wimbledon Championships Grass United States Louise Brough United States Pauline Betz
United States Doris Hart
6–3, 2–6, 6–3
Win 1946 French Championships Clay United States Louise Brough United States Pauline Betz
United States Doris Hart
6–4, 0–6, 6–1
Win 1946 U.S. Championships (6) Grass United States Louise Brough United States Pat Canning Todd
United States Mary Arnold Prentiss
6–1, 6–3
Loss 1947 Wimbledon Championships Grass United States Louise Brough United States Doris Hart
United States Pat Canning Todd
3–6, 6–4, 7–5
Win 1947 French Championships (2) Clay United States Louise Brough United States Pauline Betz
United States Pat Canning Todd
7–5, 6–2
Win 1947 U.S. Championships (7) Grass United States Louise Brough United States Pat Canning Todd
United States Doris Hart
5–7, 6–3, 7–5
Win 1948 Wimbledon Championships (2) Grass United States Louise Brough United States Doris Hart
United States Pat Canning Todd
6–3, 3–6, 6–3
Win 1948 U.S. Championships (8) Grass United States Louise Brough United States Pat Canning Todd
United States Doris Hart
6–4, 8–10, 6–1
Win 1949 French Championships (3) Clay United States Louise Brough United Kingdom Joy Gannon
United Kingdom Betty Hilton
7–5, 6–1
Win 1949 Wimbledon Championships (3) Grass United States Louise Brough United States Gussy Moran
United States Pat Canning Todd
8–6, 7–5
Win 1949 U.S. Championships (9) Grass United States Louise Brough United States Doris Hart
United States Shirley Fry
6–4, 10–8
Loss 1950 French Championships Clay United States Louise Brough United States Doris Hart
United States Shirley Fry
1–6, 7–5, 6–2
Win 1950 Wimbledon Championships (4) Grass United States Louise Brough United States Shirley Fry
United States Doris Hart
6–4, 5–7, 6–1
Win 1950 U.S. Championships (10) Grass United States Louise Brough United States Doris Hart
United States Shirley Fry
6–2, 6–3
Loss 1951 Wimbledon Championships Grass United States Louise Brough United States Shirley Fry
United States Doris Hart
6–3, 13–11
Loss 1953 U.S. Championships Grass United States Louise Brough United States Doris Hart
United States Shirley Fry
6–2, 7–9, 9–7
Win 1954 Wimbledon Championships (5) Grass United States Louise Brough United States Shirley Fry
United States Doris Hart
4–6, 9–7, 6–3
Loss 1954 U.S. Championships Grass United States Louise Brough United States Doris Hart
United States Shirley Fry
6–4, 6–4
Win 1955 U.S. Championships (11) Grass United States Louise Brough United States Doris Hart
United States Shirley Fry
6–3, 1–6, 6–3
Win 1956 U.S. Championships (12) Grass United States Louise Brough United States Betty Rosenquest Pratt
United States Shirley Fry
6–3, 6–0
Win 1957 U.S. Championships (13) Grass United States Louise Brough United States Althea Gibson
United States Darlene Hard
6–2, 7–5
Loss 1958 Wimbledon Championships (5) Grass United States Margaret Varner Brazil Maria Bueno
United States Althea Gibson
3–6, 5–7

Mixed doubles: (10 titles, 4 runners-up)

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Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1943 U.S. Championships Grass United States Bill Talbert United States Pauline Betz
United States Pancho Segura
10–6, 6–4
Win 1944 U.S. Championships Grass United States Bill Talbert United States Dorothy Bundy
United States Don McNeill
6–2, 6–3
Win 1945 U.S. Championships Grass United States Bill Talbert United States Doris Hart
United States Bob Falkenburg
6–4, 6–4
Win 1946 U.S. Championships Grass United States Bill Talbert United States Louise Brough
United States Robert Kimbrell
6–3, 6–4
Loss 1948 U.S. Championships Grass United States Bill Talbert United States Louise Brough
United States Tom Brown
4–6, 4–6
Loss 1949 U.S. Championships Grass United States Bill Talbert United States Louise Brough
South Africa Eric Sturgess
6–4, 3–6, 5–7
Win 1950 U.S. Championships Grass Australia Ken McGregor United States Doris Hart
Australia Frank Sedgman
6–4, 3–6, 6–3
Loss 1954 Wimbledon Grass Australia Ken Rosewall United States Doris Hart
United States Vic Seixas
7–5, 4–6, 3–6
Loss 1954 U.S. Championships Grass Australia Ken Rosewall United States Doris Hart
United States Vic Seixas
6–4, 1–6, 1–6
Win 1956 U.S. Championships Grass Australia Ken Rosewall United States Darlene Hard
Australia Lew Hoad
9–7, 6–1
Win 1958 U.S. Championships Grass Australia Neale Fraser Brazil Maria Bueno
United States Alex Olmedo
6–3, 3–6, 9–7
Win 1959 U.S. Championships Grass Australia Neale Fraser United States Janet Hopps
Australia Bob Mark
7–5, 13–15, 6–2
Win 1960 U.S. Championships Grass Australia Neale Fraser Brazil Maria Bueno
Mexico Antonio Palafox
6–3, 6–2
Win 1962 Wimbledon Grass Australia Neale Fraser United Kingdom Ann Haydon
United States Dennis Ralston
2–6, 6–3, 13–11

Grand Slam performance timelines

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Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Singles

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Tournament 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 19461 19471 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 Career SR
Australian Championships A A A NH NH NH NH NH A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 0 / 0
French Championships A A NH R R R R A W SF A W QF SF A A A A A A A A A A A 2 / 5
Wimbledon A A NH NH NH NH NH NH SF W SF F F QF A A QF A A A QF A A A 1R 1 / 9
U.S. Championships 2R A 3R SF SF QF F QF QF F W W W A A QF 3R A QF A 3R A 1R A A 3 / 17
SR 0 / 1 0 / 0 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 1 / 3 1 / 3 1 / 2 2 / 3 1 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 0 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 / 0 0 / 1 0 / 0 0 / 2 0 / 0 0 / 1 0 / 0 0 / 1 6 / 31

Women's doubles

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Tournament 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 19461 19471 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 Career SR
Australian Championships A A A A A NH NH NH NH NH A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 0 / 0
French Championships A A A A NH R R R R A W W A W F A A A A A A A A A A A A 3 / 4
Wimbledon A A A A NH NH NH NH NH NH W F W W W F A A W A A A F A A A 3R 5 / 9
U.S. Championships QF A 1R A QF W W W W W W W W W W A A F F W W W QF QF A SF SF 13 / 22
SR 0 / 1 0 / 0 0 / 1 0 / 0 0 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1 3 / 3 2 / 3 2 / 2 3 / 3 2 / 3 0 / 1 0 / 0 0 / 1 1 / 2 1 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1 0 / 2 0 / 1 0 / 0 0 / 1 0 / 2 21 / 35

Mixed doubles

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Tournament 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 19461 19471 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 Career SR
Australian Championships A A A A A NH NH NH NH NH A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 0 / 0
French Championships A A A A NH R R R R A A A A A A SF A A A A A A A A A A A 0 / 1
Wimbledon A A A A NH NH NH NH NH NH SF SF SF 4R 4R SF A A F A A A 2R A A A W 1 / 9
U.S. Championships 2R A 2R A SF 2R SF W W W W SF F F W A A A F ? W SF W W W A A 9 / ?
SR 0 / 1 0 / 0 0 / 1 0 / 0 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 2 1 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 0 0 / 0 0 / 2 0 / ? 1 / 1 0 / 1 1 / 2 1 / 1 1 / 1 0 / 0 1 /1 10 / ?

R = tournament restricted to French nationals and held under German occupation.
1In 1946 and 1947, the French Championships were held after Wimbledon.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Finn, Robin (October 25, 2012). "Margaret Osborne duPont, Tennis Champion, Dies at 94". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  2. ^ "Mrs. duPont denies secret success formula". Newport Daily News. AP. August 24, 1962. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Collins, Bud (2008). The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book. New York City, N.Y: New Chapter Press. pp. 695, 702–3. ISBN 978-0-942257-41-0.
  4. ^ Stites, Russell (October 10, 2024). "DuPont, Margaret Evelyn Osborne (1918–2012)". Texas State Historical Association.
  5. ^ United States Tennis Association (1988). 1988 Official USTA Tennis Yearbook. Lynn, Massachusetts: H. O. Zimman, Inc. pp. 260–1.
  6. ^ "William du Pont, Jr. papers (Accession 2317.II), Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, DE 19807".
  7. ^ Billie Jean King with Cynthia Starr (1988). We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis. New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 70. ISBN 0-07-034625-9.
  8. ^ Billie Jean King with Cynthia Starr (1988). We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis. New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 75. ISBN 0-07-034625-9.
  9. ^ "Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in Wilmington, Delaware - 1999". www.desports.org.
  10. ^ "The US Open 2010 - Grand Slam Tennis - Official Site by IBM". Archived from the original on August 29, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
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