Mary Kendall Browne

Mary Kendall Browne (June 3, 1891 – August 19, 1971) was an American professional tennis player and an amateur golfer. She was born in Ventura County, California.

Biography According to A. Wallis Myers of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail, Browne was ranked in the world top 10 in 1921 (when the rankings began), 1924, and 1926, reaching a career high of world no. 3 in those rankings in 1921. Browne was included in the year-end top 10 rankings issued by the United States Lawn Tennis Association in 1913 (when the rankings began), 1914, 1921, 1924, and 1925. She was the top-ranked U.S. player in 1914. She also played golf and was runner-up at the 1924 U.S. Women's Amateur to champion Dorothy Campbell Hurd. She took part in the 1925 and 1926 editions of the Wightman Cup, an annual women's team tennis competition between the United States and Great Britain.

She later became a coach at the University of Chicago, where she is credited with inventing the backboard for use in practice. She later transferred to the University of Washington and then Lake Erie College.

She died in Laguna Hills on August 19, 1971, age 80, of complications from kidney failure.

Browne was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1957.

Grand Slam finals Singles (3 titles, 2 runners-up) ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScoreWin 1912 U.S. National Championships Grass Eleonora Sears 6–4, 6–2Win 1913 U.S. National Championships Grass Dorothy Green 6–2, 7–5Win 1914 U.S. National Championships Grass Marie Wagner 6–2, 1–6, 6–1Loss 1921 U.S. National Championships Grass Molla Mallory 6–4, 4–6, 2–6Loss 1926 French Championships Clay Suzanne Lenglen 1–6, 0–6

Doubles (6 titles, 1 runner-up) ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1912 U.S. National Championships Grass Dorothy Green Maud Barger-Wallach Mrs. Frederick Schmitz 6–2, 5–7, 6–0Win 1913 U.S. National Championships Grass Louise Riddell Williams Dorothy Green Edna Wildey 12–10, 2–6, 6–3Win 1914 U.S. National Championships Grass Louise Riddell Williams Louise Raymond Edna Wildey 10–8, 6–2Win 1921 U.S. National Championships Grass Louise Riddell Williams Helen Gilleaudeau Mrs. L.G. Morris 6–3, 6–2Win 1925 U.S. National Championships Grass Helen Wills May Sutton Bundy Elizabeth Ryan 6–4, 6–3Win 1926 Wimbledon Grass Elizabeth Ryan Evelyn Colyer Kitty McKane Godfree 6–1, 6–1Loss 1926 U.S. National Championships Grass Charlotte Hosmer Chapin Eleanor Goss Elizabeth Ryan 6–3, 4–6, 10–12

Mixed Doubles (4 titles, 1 runner-up) ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1912 U.S. National Championships Grass R. Norris Williams Eleonora Sears Bill Clothier 6–4, 2–6, 11–9Win 1913 U.S. National Championships Grass Bill Tilden Dorothy Green C.S. Rogers 7–5, 7–5Win 1914 U.S. National Championships Grass Bill Tilden Margaretta Myers J. R. Rowland 6–1, 6–4Win 1921 U.S. National Championships Grass Bill Johnston Molla Bjurstedt Mallory Bill Tilden 3–6, 6–4, 6–3Loss 1926 Wimbledon Grass Howard Kinsey Kathleen McKane Leslie Godfree 3–6, 4–6

Grand Slam singles tournament timeline

1Through 1923, the French Championships were open only to French nationals. The World Hard Court Championships (WHCC), actually played on clay in Paris or Brussels, began in 1912 and were open to all nationalities. The results from that tournament are shown here from 1912 through 1914 and from 1920 through 1923. The Olympics replaced the WHCC in 1924, as the Olympics were held in Paris. Beginning in 1925, the French Championships were open to all nationalities, with the results shown here beginning with that year.