She followed up with tournament wins in Tokyo and Washington, defeating Martina Navratilova in both finals.

That same month, she won her first professional singles title, defeating Betty Stöve in the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Filderstadt, West Germany. Less than two months before her sixteenth birthday, Austin turned professional in October 1978. In September, she made her US Open debut and reached the quarterfinal, falling to fifth-seeded Betty Stöve. At her Wimbledon debut in 1977 she reached the third round where she lost to top-seeded Chris Evert.

As an amateur she could not accept the prize money. In January 1977, a month after turning fourteen, Austin won her first professional singles title, defeating Stacy Margolin at the Avon Futures event in Portland. Tracy Austin playing in the Los Angeles Junior Tennis Tournament 1977 to 1980 Īustin's first serve was a mid-paced high percentage shot that functioned well on all playing surfaces, and although her second serve has been described as lacking penetration, she rarely double faulted.

She had excellent court coverage and struck the ball deep, with substantial pace, and with pinpoint accuracy. Her favorite shot was the backhand down the line and she considered her backhand to be more powerful and accurate than her forehand. Playing style Īustin possessed a solid baseline game, with a strong flat-hit forehand and reliable two-handed backhand. A series of injuries and a serious automobile accident in 1989 cut short her career. She won thirty singles titles during her career, on all playing surfaces: clay (both red and green), indoor carpet, grass, and hard courts. Additionally, she won the WTA Tour Championships in 1980 and the year-ending Toyota Championships in 1981, both in singles.Īustin remains the youngest US Open female singles champion (age 16) and the youngest inductee into the International Tennis Hall of Fame at age 29. She won three Grand Slam titles: the women's singles titles at the 19 US Opens, and the mixed doubles title at the 1980 Wimbledon Championships. Tracy Ann Austin Holt (born December 12, 1962) is an American former world No.

Pancho Segura, Robert Lansdorp, Vic Braden

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