Kathy Jordan

Kathryn Jordan (born December 3, 1959) is a former American tennis player. During her career, she won seven Grand Slam titles, five of them in women's doubles and two in mixed doubles. She also was the 1983 Australian Open women's singles runner-up and won three singles titles and 42 doubles titles.

College She received an athletic scholarship to Stanford University in 1978. While at Stanford, she won the 1979 AIAW Championships in singles and in doubles with her sister Barbara Jordan. in 1979, she won the Broderick Award (now the Honda Sports Award) as the best female collegiate player.

Career Jordan turned professional in 1979. Her best performance in a Grand Slam singles tournament was runner-up at the 1983 Australian Open, where she lost to Martina Navratilova in straight sets..

She was the first player to defeat Chris Evert before the semifinals of a Grand Slam singles tournament. Jordan defeated Evert 6–1, 7–6 in the third round of Wimbledon in 1983 after Evert had reached at least the semifinals of her first 34 Grand Slam singles tournaments. Jordan and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (also in the third round and by the same score 6–1, 7–6 at the 1988 French Open) are the only two women who ever beat Evert before the quarterfinals as Evert made 54 quarterfinals from the 56 grand slams she played in her career.

In women's doubles, Jordan won five Grand Slam titles, four of which were in partnership with Anne Smith. She also won a career Grand Slam in women's doubles, winning the 1980 French Open, 1980 and 1985 Wimbledon, 1981 US Open, and 1981 Australian Open.

In the Wimbledon final on July 6, 1985, Jordan and Elizabeth Smylie teamed to snap the 109-match winning streak of Navratilova and Pam Shriver by defeating them in three sets.

In mixed doubles, Jordan won two Grand Slam titles, 1986 French Open and 1986 Wimbledon, both of which were in partnership with Ken Flach.

Jordan retired in 1991. Her highest singles rank was world number five in 1984 and her highest doubles rank was world number 6 in 1991. She won several awards during her career, including 1979 WTA Most Impressive Newcomer Award, 1980 WTA Doubles Team of the Year Award with Smith, 1984 WTA Most Improved Player of the Year Award, and 1991 WTA Player Service Award

After retiring, Jordan returned to Stanford University and received a B.A. in political science in 1991. She was elected vice-president of the WTA in 1992. She also served as chairperson of the WTA Drug Testing Committee and served on WTA executive, deferred compensation, finance/marketing, and insurance committees through 1992.

In 2002, Jordan was presented with a Mentor Award by Martina Navratilova, on behalf of the WTA Tour, in recognition of her contribution to the Partners for Success program and to the sport of tennis at large.

Personal life Jordan was one of the top juniors during the 1970s. She also was a top high school basketball player, being named to the All-Conference basketball team while at Upper Merion Area High School in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Her sister won the 1979 Australian Open women's singles title. Her father, Bob Jordan, was instrumental in the development of the WTA deferred compensation plan. Now, Jordan lives in Palo Alto, California.

Major finals

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 1 (1 runner–up) ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScore Loss 1983 Australian Open Grass Martina Navratilova 6–2, 7–6(7–5)

Doubles: 11 (5 titles, 6 runners-up) ResultYearChampionship SurfacePartnerOpponentsScore Win 1980 French Open Clay Anne Smith Ivanna Madruga Adriana Villagrán 6–1, 6–0 Win 1980 Wimbledon Grass Anne Smith Rosemary Casals Wendy Turnbull 4–6, 7–5, 6–1 Loss 1981 Wimbledon Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–3, 7–6(8–6) Win 1981 US Open Hard Anne Smith Rosemary Casals Wendy Turnbull 6–3, 6–3 Win 1981 Australian Open Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–2, 7–5 Loss 1982 Wimbledon Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–4, 6–1 Loss 1983 French Open Clay Anne Smith Rosalyn Fairbank Candy Reynolds 5–7, 7–5, 6–2 Loss 1984 Wimbledon Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–3, 6–4 Win 1985 Wimbledon Grass Elizabeth Smylie Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 5–7, 6–3, 6–4 Loss 1987 US Open Hard Elizabeth Smylie Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 5–7, 6–4, 6–2 Loss 1990 Wimbledon Grass Elizabeth Smylie Jana Novotná Helena Suková 6–4, 6–1

Mixed doubles: 3 (2 titles, 1 runner–up) ResultYearChampionship SurfacePartnerOpponentsScore Loss 1984 Wimbledon Grass Steve Denton Wendy Turnbull John Lloyd 6–3, 6–3 Win 1986 French Open Clay Ken Flach Rosalyn Fairbank Mark Edmondson 3–6, 7–6(7–3), 6–3 Win 1986 Wimbledon Grass Ken Flach Martina Navratilova Heinz Günthardt 6–3, 7–6(9–7)

Year-end championships finals

Doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner–up) ResultYearChampionship SurfacePartnerOpponentsScore Loss 1982 New York City Carpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–4, 6–3 Win 1990 New York City Carpet Elizabeth Smylie Mercedes Paz Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 7–6(7–4), 6–4

WTA career finals

Singles 13 (3–10) Winner — Legend Grand Slam tournaments (0–1) WTA Tour Championships (0–0) Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (3–9) Titles by surface Hard (1–1) Grass (0–3) Clay (0–0) Carpet (2–6)

Doubles 78 (42–36) Winner — Legend Grand Slam tournaments (6–6) WTA Tour Championships (1–1) Tier I (0–0) Tier II (1–0) Tier III (1–0) Tier IV (2–1) Tier V (0–0) Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (31–28) Titles by surface Hard (16–3) Grass (4–9) Clay (6–7) Carpet (16–17) Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner OpponentScoreWin 1. Jan 1979 San Antonio, US Carpet Wendy White Bunny Bruning Valerie Ziegenfuss 6–2, 6–2Win 2. Aug 1979 Indianapolis, US Clay Anne Smith Penny Johnson Paula Smith 6–1, 6–0Loss 1. Jan 1980 Chicago, US Carpet Sylvia Hanika Billie Jean King Martina Navratilova 3–6, 4–6Loss 2. Feb 1980 Los Angeles, US Carpet Anne Smith Rosemary Casals Martina Navratilova 6–7, 2–6Loss 3. Feb 1980 Detroit, US Carpet Anne Smith Billie Jean King Ilana Kloss 6–3, 3–6, 2–6Win 3. Apr 1980 Hilton Head Island, US Clay Anne Smith Candy Reynolds Paula Smith 6–2, 6–1Loss 4. Apr 1980 Amelia Island, US Clay Pam Shriver Rosemary Casals Ilana Kloss 6–7, 6–7Win 4. May 1980 French Open Clay Anne Smith Ivanna Madruga Adriana Villagrán 6–1, 6–0Win 5. Jun 1980 Eastbourne, UK Grass Anne Smith Pam Shriver Betty Stöve 6–4, 6–1Win 6. Jun 1980 Wimbledon Grass Anne Smith Rosemary Casals Wendy Turnbull 4–6, 7–5, 6–1Win 7. Sep 1980 Las Vegas, US Hard (I) Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Betty Stöve 2–6, 6–4, 6–3Loss 5. Sep 1980 Atlanta, US Carpet Anne Smith Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh 3–6, 1–6Win 8. Oct 1980 Brighton, UK Carpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Betty Stöve 6–3, 7–5Loss 6. Nov 1980 Filderstadt, West Germany Hard (I) Anne Smith Hana Mandlíková Betty Stöve 4–6, 5–7Win 9. Jan 1981 Cincinnati, US Carpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 1–6, 6–3, 6–3Loss 7. Mar 1981 Dallas, US Carpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 5–7, 4–6Win 10. Apr 1981 Amelia Island, US Clay Paula Smith JoAnne Russell Pam Shriver 6–3, 5–7, 7–6Loss 8. Jun 1981 Eastbourne, UK Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 7–6, 2–6, 1–6Loss 9. Jun 1981 Wimbledon Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 3–6, 6–7(6–8)Win 11. Jul 1981 San Diego, US Hard Candy Reynolds Rosemary Casals Pam Shriver 6–1, 2–6, 6–4Loss 10. Aug 1981 Richmond, US Carpet Anne Smith Sue Barker Ann Kiyomura 6–4, 6–7, 4–6Win 12. Sep 1981 US Open Hard Anne Smith Rosemary Casals Wendy Turnbull 6–3, 6–3Loss 11. Nov 1981 Sydney, Australia Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 7–6, 2–6, 4–6Win 13. Nov 1981 Australian Open Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–2, 7–5Win 14. Jan 1982 Washington, D.C., US Carpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–2, 3–6, 6–1Loss 12. Jan 1982 Seattle, US Carpet Anne Smith Rosemary Casals Wendy Turnbull 5–7, 4–6Win 15. Feb 1982 Houston, US Carpet Pam Shriver Sue Barker Sharon Walsh 7–6(8–6), 6–2Loss 13. Feb 1982 Oakland, US Carpet Pam Shriver Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh 1–6, 6–3, 6–7(5–7)Win 16. Mar 1982 Los Angeles, US Carpet Anne Smith Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh 6–3, 7–5Win 17. Mar 1982 Boston, US Carpet Anne Smith Rosemary Casals Wendy Turnbull 7–6, 2–6, 6–4Loss 14. Mar 1982 Avon Championships, US Carpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 4–6, 3–6Loss 15. Apr 1982 Fort Worth, US Clay Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 5–7, 3–6Loss 16. Apr 1982 Orlando, US Clay Anne Smith Rosemary Casals Wendy Turnbull 3–6, 3–6Loss 17. Jun 1982 Eastbourne, UK Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 3–6, 4–6Loss 18. Jun 1982 Wimbledon Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 4–6, 1–6Win 18. Jul 1982 San Diego, US Hard Paula Smith Patricia Medrado Cláudia Monteiro 6–3, 5–7, 7–6Win 19. Aug 1982 Atlanta, US Hard Betsy Nagelsen Chris Evert Billie Jean King 4–6, 7–6(13–11), 7–6(7–3)Loss 19. Jan 1983 Washington, D.C., US Carpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–4, 5–7, 3–6Loss 20. Jan 1983 Palm Beach Gardens, US Clay Paula Smith Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh 4–6, 6–4, 2–6Loss 21. Feb 1983 Chicago, US Carpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 1–6, 2–6Win 20. Feb 1983 Palm Springs, US Hard Ann Kiyomura Dianne Fromholtz Betty Stöve 6–2, 6–2Loss 22. Mar 1983 Boston, US Carpet Anne Smith Jo Durie Ann Kiyomura 3–6, 1–6Loss 23. Mar 1983 Tokyo, Japan Carpet Anne Smith Billie Jean King Sharon Walsh 1–6, 1–6Loss 24. May 1983 French Open Clay Anne Smith Rosalyn Fairbank Candy Reynolds 7–5, 5–7, 2–6Loss 25. Sep 1983 Richmond, US Carpet Barbara Potter Rosalyn Fairbank Candy Reynolds 7–6(7–3), 2–6, 1–6Loss 26. Sep 1983 Hartford, US Carpet Barbara Potter Billie Jean King Sharon Walsh 6–3, 3–6, 4–6Win 21. Oct 1983 Detroit, US Carpet Barbara Potter Rosemary Casals Wendy Turnbull 6–4, 6–1Win 22. Apr 1984 Amelia Island, US Clay Anne Smith Anne Hobbs Mima Jaušovec 6–4, 3–6, 6–4Loss 27. Jun 1984 Wimbledon Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 3–6, 4–6Win 23. Aug 1984 Montreal, Canada Hard Elizabeth Smylie Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Hana Mandlíková 6–1, 6–2Win 24. Jan 1985 Key Biscayne, US Hard Elizabeth Smylie Svetlana Parkhomenko Larisa Savchenko 6–4, 7–6(7–2)Win 25. Jan 1985 Marco Island, US Hard Elizabeth Smylie Camille Benjamin Bonnie Gadusek 6–3, 6–3Loss 28. Feb 1985 Delray Beach, US Hard Hana Mandlíková Gigi Fernández Martina Navratilova 6–7(4–7), 2–6Win 26. Apr 1985 Tokyo, Japan Carpet Elizabeth Smylie Betsy Nagelsen Anne White 6–4, 5–7, 2–6Loss 29. May 1985 Melbourne, Australia Carpet Anne Hobbs Pam Shriver Elizabeth Smylie 2–6, 7–5, 1–6Loss 30. Jun 1985 Eastbourne, UK Grass Elizabeth Smylie Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 5–7, 4–6Win 27. Jun 1985 Wimbledon Grass Elizabeth Smylie Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 5–7, 6–3, 6–4Win 28. Aug 1985 Mahwah, US Hard Elizabeth Smylie Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková 7–6(8–6), 6–3Win 29. Sep 1985 Chicago, US Carpet Elizabeth Smylie Elise Burgin JoAnne Russell 6–2, 6–2Win 30. Jan 1986 Wichita, US Carpet Candy Reynolds JoAnne Russell Anne Smith 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 6–3Win 31. Jan 1986 Key Biscayne, US Hard Elizabeth Smylie Betsy Nagelsen Barbara Potter 7–6(7–5), 2–6, 6–2Win 32. Mar 1986 Princeton, US Carpet Elizabeth Smylie Hana Mandlíková Helena Suková 6–3, 7–5Loss 31. Mar 1986 Nashville, US Carpet Elizabeth Smylie Barbara Potter Pam Shriver 4–6, 3–6Loss 32. Mar 1986 Marco Island, US Clay Elise Burgin Martina Navratilova Andrea Temesvári 5–7, 2–6Win 33. Sep 1986 Hilversum, Betherlands Carpet Helena Suková Tine Scheuer-Larsen Catherine Tanvier 7–5, 6–1Win 34. Apr 1987 Tokyo, Japan Hard Betsy Nagelsen Sandy Collins Sharon Walsh 6–3, 7–5Win 35. Apr 1987 Houston, US Clay Martina Navratilova Zina Garrison Lori McNeil 6–2, 6–4Loss 33. Jul 1987 Newport, US Grass Anne Hobbs Gigi Fernández Lori McNeil 6–7(5–7), 5–7Win 36. Jul 1987 Aptos, US Hard Robin White Lea Antonoplis Barbara Gerken 6–1, 6–0Loss 34. Aug 1987 US Open Hard Elizabeth Smylie Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 7–5, 4–6, 2–6Win 37. Oct 1987 Brighton, UK Carpet Helena Suková Tine Scheuer-Larsen Catherine Tanvier 7–5, 6–1Win 38. Mar 1990 San Antonio, US Hard Elizabeth Smylie Gigi Fernández Robin White 7–5, 7–5Win 39. Apr 1990 Tokyo, Japan Hard Elizabeth Smylie Hu Na Michelle Jaggard 6–0, 3–6, 6–1Loss 35. May 1990 Strasbourg, France Clay Elizabeth Smylie Nicole Provis Elna Reinach 1–6, 4–6Loss 36. Jun 1990 Wimbledon Grass Elizabeth Smylie Jana Novotná Helena Suková 3–6, 4–6Win 40. Oct 1990 Nashville, US Hard (I) Larisa Neiland Brenda Schultz Caroline Vis 6–1, 6–2Win 41. Nov 1990 Virginia Slims Championships, US Carpet Elizabeth Smylie Mercedes Paz Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 7–6(7–4), 6–4Win 42. Jan 1991 Tokyo, Japan Carpet Elizabeth Smylie Mary Joe Fernández Robin White 4–6, 6–0, 6–3

Grand Slam performance timelines

Singles

Doubles

Mixed doubles

Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.