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|country= {{USA}}
|country= {{USA}}
|residence= [[Rolling Hills, California]]
|residence= [[Rolling Hills, California]]
|datebirth= {{birth date and age|1962|12|12}}
|datebirth= {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1962|12|12}}
|placebirth= [[Palos Verdes Peninsula]], [[California]], [[U.S.]]
|placebirth= [[Palos Verdes Peninsula]], [[California]], U.S.
|height= 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
|height= 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
|weight= 120 lb. (54.4 kg)
|weight= 120 lb. (54.4 kg)
|turnedpro= [[October 23]], [[1978]]
|turnedpro= October 23, 1978
|retired= July, 1994
|retired= July, 1994
|plays= Right-handed<br>(two-handed backhand)
|plays= Right-handed<br>(two-handed backhand)
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|updated= N/A
|updated= N/A
}}
}}
'''Tracy Ann Austin Holt''' (b. [[December 12]] [[1962]], in [[Palos Verdes]], [[California]]) is a former World No. 1 women's professional [[tennis]] player from the [[United States]] who won the women's singles title at the [[US Open (tennis)|US Open]] in 1979 and 1981 and the mixed doubles title at [[Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]] in 1980, before a series of injuries cut short her career.
'''Tracy Ann Austin Holt''' (b. December 12, 1962, in [[Palos Verdes]], [[California]]) is a former World No. 1 women's professional [[tennis]] player from the United States who won the women's singles title at the [[US Open (tennis)|US Open]] in 1979 and 1981 and the mixed doubles title at [[Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]] in 1980, before a series of injuries cut short her career.


==Career==
==Career==
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Austin lost in the semifinals of both Grand Slam tournaments she played in 1980. [[Evonne Goolagong Cawley]], seeded fourth and the eventual champion, defeated Austin 6–3, 0–6, 6–4 at Wimbledon. As the top seed and defending champion at the US Open, Austin was expected to extend her five-match winning streak against third-ranked Evert. Austin raced to a 4–0 lead in the first set before Evert won 16 of the final 20 games to take the match 4–6, 6–1, 6–1. Evert went on to beat [[Hana Mandlikova]] in the final, thus securing for herself the year-ending World No. 1 ranking. Austin was ranked the World No. 1 singles player at times during 1980, partly because she captured the two sponsors' tour-ending events, defeating Navrátilová to win the [[WTA Tour Championships|Avon Championships]] in March and [[Andrea Jaeger]] to capture the [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tournoi_du_New_Jersey Colgate Series Championships] in January 1981. In 1980, Austin won the Wimbledon [[mixed doubles]] title with her brother [[John Austin (tennis)|John]].
Austin lost in the semifinals of both Grand Slam tournaments she played in 1980. [[Evonne Goolagong Cawley]], seeded fourth and the eventual champion, defeated Austin 6–3, 0–6, 6–4 at Wimbledon. As the top seed and defending champion at the US Open, Austin was expected to extend her five-match winning streak against third-ranked Evert. Austin raced to a 4–0 lead in the first set before Evert won 16 of the final 20 games to take the match 4–6, 6–1, 6–1. Evert went on to beat [[Hana Mandlikova]] in the final, thus securing for herself the year-ending World No. 1 ranking. Austin was ranked the World No. 1 singles player at times during 1980, partly because she captured the two sponsors' tour-ending events, defeating Navrátilová to win the [[WTA Tour Championships|Avon Championships]] in March and [[Andrea Jaeger]] to capture the [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tournoi_du_New_Jersey Colgate Series Championships] in January 1981. In 1980, Austin won the Wimbledon [[mixed doubles]] title with her brother [[John Austin (tennis)|John]].


During the first four months of 1981, Austin played only two events because of chronic injuries. On [[grass court|grass]], Austin won the tournament in [[International Women's Open|Eastbourne, United Kingdom]] without losing a set before losing to [[Pam Shriver]] in a Wimbledon quarterfinal 7–5, 6–4. Austin then won 26 consecutive matches and four consecutive tournaments. She defeated Shriver in the final of the tournament in [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_de_San_Diego San Diego] and, three weeks later, she beat both Navrátilová and Evert in straight sets to win the [[Rogers Cup (tennis)|Canadian Open]] in [[Toronto]]. As the third-seeded player at the US Open, Austin defeated fourth-seeded Navrátilová in the final 1–6, 7–6(4), 7–6(1). Navrátilová, however, ended Austin's winning streak in the final of the [[US Indoors|U.S. Indoor Championships]]. In Europe during the autumn, Austin lost to [[Sue Barker]] in the quarterfinals of the tournament in [[Brighton International|Brighton, United Kingdom]] but recovered the following week to defeat Navrátilová in the final of the tournament in [[Porsche Tennis Grand Prix|Stuttgart, West Germany]]. At the final Grand Slam tournament of the year, Austin was seeded second but lost to sixth-seeded Shriver in the [[Australian Open]] quarterfinals 7–5, 7–6. The year-ending [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tournoi_du_New_Jersey Toyota Series Championships] featured two matches against Evert and one against Navrátilová. Evert won her round robin match with Austin 4–6, 6–4, 7–6 before Austin won their semifinal 6–1, 6–2, with Evert blaming the loss on exhaustion. Austin then won the tournament with a three-set defeat of Navrátilová.
During the first four months of 1981, Austin played only two events because of chronic injuries. On [[grass court|grass]], Austin won the tournament in [[International Women's Open|Eastbourne, United Kingdom]] without losing a set before losing to [[Pam Shriver]] in a Wimbledon quarterfinal 7–5, 6–4. Austin then won 26 consecutive matches and four consecutive tournaments. She defeated Shriver in the final of the tournament in [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_de_San_Diego San Diego] and, three weeks later, she beat both Navrátilová and Evert in straight sets to win the [[Rogers Cup (tennis)|Canadian Open]] in Toronto. As the third-seeded player at the US Open, Austin defeated fourth-seeded Navrátilová in the final 1–6, 7–6(4), 7–6(1). Navrátilová, however, ended Austin's winning streak in the final of the [[US Indoors|U.S. Indoor Championships]]. In Europe during the autumn, Austin lost to [[Sue Barker]] in the quarterfinals of the tournament in [[Brighton International|Brighton, United Kingdom]] but recovered the following week to defeat Navrátilová in the final of the tournament in [[Porsche Tennis Grand Prix|Stuttgart, West Germany]]. At the final Grand Slam tournament of the year, Austin was seeded second but lost to sixth-seeded Shriver in the [[Australian Open]] quarterfinals 7–5, 7–6. The year-ending [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tournoi_du_New_Jersey Toyota Series Championships] featured two matches against Evert and one against Navrátilová. Evert won her round robin match with Austin 4–6, 6–4, 7–6 before Austin won their semifinal 6–1, 6–2, with Evert blaming the loss on exhaustion. Austin then won the tournament with a three-set defeat of Navrátilová.


Back injuries and recurring [[sciatica]] then began to impair Austin's effectiveness and sidelined her for long stretches. King, seeded twelfth, upset third-seeded Austin in the 1982 Wimbledon quarterfinals 3–6, 6–4, 6–2. Several weeks later, however, Austin won her 30th and final top-level singles title in San Diego. Austin's last good showing at a major event was at the 1982 season-ending Toyota Series Championships where she defeated Jaeger, the World No. 3, in straight sets to reach the semifinals. However, she was unable to repeat the previous year's victory over Evert, who defeated Austin 6–0, 6–0 in less than 50 minutes. By 1983, before her 21st birthday, Austin was virtually finished as a top ten player.
Back injuries and recurring [[sciatica]] then began to impair Austin's effectiveness and sidelined her for long stretches. King, seeded twelfth, upset third-seeded Austin in the 1982 Wimbledon quarterfinals 3–6, 6–4, 6–2. Several weeks later, however, Austin won her 30th and final top-level singles title in San Diego. Austin's last good showing at a major event was at the 1982 season-ending Toyota Series Championships where she defeated Jaeger, the World No. 3, in straight sets to reach the semifinals. However, she was unable to repeat the previous year's victory over Evert, who defeated Austin 6–0, 6–0 in less than 50 minutes. By 1983, before her 21st birthday, Austin was virtually finished as a top ten player.
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| after = Martina Navrátilová<br>[[Chris Evert]]
| after = Martina Navrátilová<br>[[Chris Evert]]
| title = [[List of WTA number 1 ranked players|World No. 1]]
| title = [[List of WTA number 1 ranked players|World No. 1]]
| years = [[April 7]], [[1980]] - [[April 20]], [[1980]]<br>[[July 1]], [[1980]] - [[November 17]], [[1980]]
| years = April 7, 1980 - April 20, 1980<br>July 1, 1980 - November 17, 1980
|}}
|}}
{{end box}}
{{end box}}

Revision as of 14:56, 16 November 2008

Tracy Austin
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceRolling Hills, California
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Turned proOctober 23, 1978
RetiredJuly, 1994
PlaysRight-handed
(two-handed backhand)
Prize moneyUS$2,092,380
Singles
Career record335–90
Career titles30
Highest rankingNo. 1 (1980)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenQF (1981)
French OpenQF (1982, '83)
WimbledonSF (1979, '80)
US OpenW (1979, '81)
Doubles
Career record13–16
Career titles4
Highest ranking?
Last updated on: N/A.

Tracy Ann Austin Holt (b. December 12, 1962, in Palos Verdes, California) is a former World No. 1 women's professional tennis player from the United States who won the women's singles title at the US Open in 1979 and 1981 and the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon in 1980, before a series of injuries cut short her career.

Career

Austin won 21 age-group junior titles, including the U.S. national 12-and-under title at age 10 in 1972. In 1977, she became the youngest player to win a professional tournament, capturing the title in Portland, Oregon aged 14 years and 28 days. Later that year, she made her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon, losing to Chris Evert in the third round. At the US Open two months later, she reached the quarterfinals, losing to Betty Stöve.

Austin defeated 35 year old Billie Jean King in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 1979 6–4, 6–7, 6–2 before losing to Martina Navrátilová in straight sets in the semifinals. Austin then became the youngest-ever US Open champion, aged 16 years and 9 months. In the final, she faced Evert who was bidding to win the title for the fifth consecutive year. Austin won the match 6–4, 6–3. Earlier that year, Austin had ended Evert's 125-match winning streak on clay by beating her in three sets in a semifinal of the Italian Open.

Austin lost in the semifinals of both Grand Slam tournaments she played in 1980. Evonne Goolagong Cawley, seeded fourth and the eventual champion, defeated Austin 6–3, 0–6, 6–4 at Wimbledon. As the top seed and defending champion at the US Open, Austin was expected to extend her five-match winning streak against third-ranked Evert. Austin raced to a 4–0 lead in the first set before Evert won 16 of the final 20 games to take the match 4–6, 6–1, 6–1. Evert went on to beat Hana Mandlikova in the final, thus securing for herself the year-ending World No. 1 ranking. Austin was ranked the World No. 1 singles player at times during 1980, partly because she captured the two sponsors' tour-ending events, defeating Navrátilová to win the Avon Championships in March and Andrea Jaeger to capture the Colgate Series Championships in January 1981. In 1980, Austin won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title with her brother John.

During the first four months of 1981, Austin played only two events because of chronic injuries. On grass, Austin won the tournament in Eastbourne, United Kingdom without losing a set before losing to Pam Shriver in a Wimbledon quarterfinal 7–5, 6–4. Austin then won 26 consecutive matches and four consecutive tournaments. She defeated Shriver in the final of the tournament in San Diego and, three weeks later, she beat both Navrátilová and Evert in straight sets to win the Canadian Open in Toronto. As the third-seeded player at the US Open, Austin defeated fourth-seeded Navrátilová in the final 1–6, 7–6(4), 7–6(1). Navrátilová, however, ended Austin's winning streak in the final of the U.S. Indoor Championships. In Europe during the autumn, Austin lost to Sue Barker in the quarterfinals of the tournament in Brighton, United Kingdom but recovered the following week to defeat Navrátilová in the final of the tournament in Stuttgart, West Germany. At the final Grand Slam tournament of the year, Austin was seeded second but lost to sixth-seeded Shriver in the Australian Open quarterfinals 7–5, 7–6. The year-ending Toyota Series Championships featured two matches against Evert and one against Navrátilová. Evert won her round robin match with Austin 4–6, 6–4, 7–6 before Austin won their semifinal 6–1, 6–2, with Evert blaming the loss on exhaustion. Austin then won the tournament with a three-set defeat of Navrátilová.

Back injuries and recurring sciatica then began to impair Austin's effectiveness and sidelined her for long stretches. King, seeded twelfth, upset third-seeded Austin in the 1982 Wimbledon quarterfinals 3–6, 6–4, 6–2. Several weeks later, however, Austin won her 30th and final top-level singles title in San Diego. Austin's last good showing at a major event was at the 1982 season-ending Toyota Series Championships where she defeated Jaeger, the World No. 3, in straight sets to reach the semifinals. However, she was unable to repeat the previous year's victory over Evert, who defeated Austin 6–0, 6–0 in less than 50 minutes. By 1983, before her 21st birthday, Austin was virtually finished as a top ten player.

Austin began her first comeback on the tour in 1988 when she played in seven doubles tournaments and 1989 when she played in one doubles and two singles tournaments. This comeback was ended by a near-fatal motor vehicle accident. She attempted a second comeback in 1993 and 1994 but was not particularly successful.

In 1992, Austin became the youngest person to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Since retiring as a player, Austin has worked frequently as a commentator for NBC and the USA Network. She worked for the Seven Network at the 2006, 2007, and 2008 Australian Open and usually participates in the BBC's Wimbledon coverage.

Family

Tracy's older sister, Pam, and her older brother, Jeff Austin, were also professional tennis players, as were brothers Doug and John. She is the sister-in-law of fitness author Denise Austin. She is married to Scott Holt and is the mother of three sons.

Trivia

Austin was the first opponent of Steffi Graf when the German made her professional debut at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart in 1982. Austin defeated the 13-year-old Graf 6–4, 6–0. When asked about Graf after the match, Austin said, "There are hundreds of girls like her in America."[citation needed] Their paths crossed again twelve years later in 1994 at the Evert Cup in Indian Wells, California when Austin, in the middle of her comeback, played Graf, who was World No. 1 at the time. This proved to be another lopsided encounter with Graf blanking Austin 6–0, 6–0.

Grand Slam singles finals

Wins (2)

Year Championship Opponent in Final Score in Final
1979 US Open United States Chris Evert 6–4, 6–3
1981 US Open (2) United States Martina Navrátilová 1–6, 7–6, 7–6

Titles (35)

Singles (30)

Doubles (4)

Mixed Doubles (1)

Grand Slam singles tournament timeline

Tournament 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984-1993 1994 Career SR
Australian Open A / A A A A QF A A A 2R 0 / 2
French Open A A A A A QF QF A 1R 0 / 3
Wimbledon 3R 4R SF SF QF QF A A A 0 / 6
US Open QF QF W SF W QF A A A 2 / 6
SR 0 / 2 0 / 2 1 / 2 0 / 2 1 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 1 0 / 0 0 / 2 2 / 17

A = did not participate in the tournament.

SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.

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

See also

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Martina Navrátilová
Martina Navrátilová
World No. 1
April 7, 1980 - April 20, 1980
July 1, 1980 - November 17, 1980
Succeeded by
Martina Navrátilová
Chris Evert