Kathy Jordan

Kathy Jordan
Country (sports) United States
ResidencePalo Alto, California, U.S.
Born (1959-12-03) December 3, 1959
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Turned pro1979
Retired1991
PlaysRight-handed (one handed-backhand)
CollegeStanford University
Prize money$1,592,111
Singles
Career record247–155
Career titles3
Highest rankingNo. 5 (March 19, 1984)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenF (1983)
French OpenQF (1980)
WimbledonSF (1984)
US Open4R (1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986)
Doubles
Career record473–136
Career titles42
Highest rankingNo. 6 (February 4, 1991)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenW (1981)
French OpenW (1980)
WimbledonW (1980, 1985)
US OpenW (1981)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour FinalsW (1990)
Mixed doubles
Career titles2
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open2R (1991)
French OpenW (1986)
WimbledonW (1986)
US OpenQF (1984, 1986)
Last updated on: May 24, 2012.

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.[1][2]

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.

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)

Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Loss 1983 Australian Open Grass Martina Navratilova 6–2, 7–6(7–5)

Doubles: 11 (5 titles, 6 runners-up)

Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
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)

Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
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)

Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
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)
Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Jan 1979 San Antonio, US Carpet Linda Siegel 6–2, 7–5
Win 2–0 Mar 1979 Orlando, US Hard Regina Maršíková 4–6, 6–1, 6–4
Loss 2–1 Aug 1979 Richmond, US Carpet Martina Navratilova 1–6, 3–6
Win 3–1 Mar 1982 Boston, US Carpet Wendy Turnbull 7–5, 1–6, 6–4
Loss 3–2 Apr 1983 Atlanta, US Hard Pam Shriver 2–6, 0–6
Loss 3–3 Sep 1983 Richmond, US Carpet Rosalyn Fairbank 4–6, 7–5, 4–6
Loss 3–4 Oct 1983 Detroit, US Carpet Virginia Ruzici 6–4, 4–6, 2–6
Loss 3–5 Nov 1983 Sydney, Australia Grass Jo Durie 3–6, 5–5
Loss 3–6 Nov 1983 Australian Open Grass Martina Navratilova 2–6, 6–7(5–7)
Loss 3–7 Mar 1984 Dallas, US Carpet Hana Mandlíková 6–7(3–7), 6–3, 1–6
Loss 3–8 Jun 1984 Eastbourne, UK Grass Martina Navratilova 4–6, 1–6
Loss 3–9 May 1985 Melbourne, Australia Carpet Pam Shriver 4–6, 4–6
Loss 3–10 Feb 1986 Oakland, US Carpet Chris Evert-Lloyd 2–6, 4–6

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 Opponent Score
Win 1. Jan 1979 San Antonio, US Carpet Wendy White Bunny Bruning
Valerie Ziegenfuss
6–2, 6–2
Win 2. Aug 1979 Indianapolis, US Clay Anne Smith Penny Johnson
Paula Smith
6–1, 6–0
Loss 1. Jan 1980 Chicago, US Carpet Sylvia Hanika Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
3–6, 4–6
Loss 2. Feb 1980 Los Angeles, US Carpet Anne Smith Rosemary Casals
Martina Navratilova
6–7, 2–6
Loss 3. Feb 1980 Detroit, US Carpet Anne Smith Billie Jean King
Ilana Kloss
6–3, 3–6, 2–6
Win 3. Apr 1980 Hilton Head Island, US Clay Anne Smith Candy Reynolds
Paula Smith
6–2, 6–1
Loss 4. Apr 1980 Amelia Island, US Clay Pam Shriver Rosemary Casals
Ilana Kloss
6–7, 6–7
Win 4. May 1980 French Open Clay Anne Smith Ivanna Madruga
Adriana Villagrán
6–1, 6–0
Win 5. Jun 1980 Eastbourne, UK Grass Anne Smith Pam Shriver
Betty Stöve
6–4, 6–1
Win 6. Jun 1980 Wimbledon Grass Anne Smith Rosemary Casals
Wendy Turnbull
4–6, 7–5, 6–1
Win 7. Sep 1980 Las Vegas, US Hard (I) Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
2–6, 6–4, 6–3
Loss 5. Sep 1980 Atlanta, US Carpet Anne Smith Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh
3–6, 1–6
Win 8. Oct 1980 Brighton, UK Carpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
6–3, 7–5
Loss 6. Nov 1980 Filderstadt, West Germany Hard (I) Anne Smith Hana Mandlíková
Betty Stöve
4–6, 5–7
Win 9. Jan 1981 Cincinnati, US Carpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
1–6, 6–3, 6–3
Loss 7. Mar 1981 Dallas, US Carpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
5–7, 4–6
Win 10. Apr 1981 Amelia Island, US Clay Paula Smith JoAnne Russell
Pam Shriver
6–3, 5–7, 7–6
Loss 8. Jun 1981 Eastbourne, UK Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
7–6, 2–6, 1–6
Loss 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, 6–4
Loss 10. Aug 1981 Richmond, US Carpet Anne Smith Sue Barker
Ann Kiyomura
6–4, 6–7, 4–6
Win 12. Sep 1981 US Open Hard Anne Smith Rosemary Casals
Wendy Turnbull
6–3, 6–3
Loss 11. Nov 1981 Sydney, Australia Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
7–6, 2–6, 4–6
Win 13. Nov 1981 Australian Open Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
6–2, 7–5
Win 14. Jan 1982 Washington, D.C., US Carpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
6–2, 3–6, 6–1
Loss 12. Jan 1982 Seattle, US Carpet Anne Smith Rosemary Casals
Wendy Turnbull
5–7, 4–6
Win 15. Feb 1982 Houston, US Carpet Pam Shriver Sue Barker
Sharon Walsh
7–6(8–6), 6–2
Loss 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, 7–5
Win 17. Mar 1982 Boston, US Carpet Anne Smith Rosemary Casals
Wendy Turnbull
7–6, 2–6, 6–4
Loss 14. Mar 1982 Avon Championships, US Carpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
4–6, 3–6
Loss 15. Apr 1982 Fort Worth, US Clay Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
5–7, 3–6
Loss 16. Apr 1982 Orlando, US Clay Anne Smith Rosemary Casals
Wendy Turnbull
3–6, 3–6
Loss 17. Jun 1982 Eastbourne, UK Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
3–6, 4–6
Loss 18. Jun 1982 Wimbledon Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
4–6, 1–6
Win 18. Jul 1982 San Diego, US Hard Paula Smith Patricia Medrado
Cláudia Monteiro
6–3, 5–7, 7–6
Win 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, 3–6
Loss 20. Jan 1983 Palm Beach Gardens, US Clay Paula Smith Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh
4–6, 6–4, 2–6
Loss 21. Feb 1983 Chicago, US Carpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
1–6, 2–6
Win 20. Feb 1983 Palm Springs, US Hard Ann Kiyomura Dianne Fromholtz
Betty Stöve
6–2, 6–2
Loss 22. Mar 1983 Boston, US Carpet Anne Smith Jo Durie
Ann Kiyomura
3–6, 1–6
Loss 23. Mar 1983 Tokyo, Japan Carpet Anne Smith Billie Jean King
Sharon Walsh
1–6, 1–6
Loss 24. May 1983 French Open Clay Anne Smith Rosalyn Fairbank
Candy Reynolds
7–5, 5–7, 2–6
Loss 25. Sep 1983 Richmond, US Carpet Barbara Potter Rosalyn Fairbank
Candy Reynolds
7–6(7–3), 2–6, 1–6
Loss 26. Sep 1983 Hartford, US Carpet Barbara Potter Billie Jean King
Sharon Walsh
6–3, 3–6, 4–6
Win 21. Oct 1983 Detroit, US Carpet Barbara Potter Rosemary Casals
Wendy Turnbull
6–4, 6–1
Win 22. Apr 1984 Amelia Island, US Clay Anne Smith Anne Hobbs
Mima Jaušovec
6–4, 3–6, 6–4
Loss 27. Jun 1984 Wimbledon Grass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
3–6, 4–6
Win 23. Aug 1984 Montreal, Canada Hard Elizabeth Smylie Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Hana Mandlíková
6–1, 6–2
Win 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, 6–3
Loss 28. Feb 1985 Delray Beach, US Hard Hana Mandlíková Gigi Fernández
Martina Navratilova
6–7(4–7), 2–6
Win 26. Apr 1985 Tokyo, Japan Carpet Elizabeth Smylie Betsy Nagelsen
Anne White
6–4, 5–7, 2–6
Loss 29. May 1985 Melbourne, Australia Carpet Anne Hobbs Pam Shriver
Elizabeth Smylie
2–6, 7–5, 1–6
Loss 30. Jun 1985 Eastbourne, UK Grass Elizabeth Smylie Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
5–7, 4–6
Win 27. Jun 1985 Wimbledon Grass Elizabeth Smylie Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
5–7, 6–3, 6–4
Win 28. Aug 1985 Mahwah, US Hard Elizabeth Smylie Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Helena Suková
7–6(8–6), 6–3
Win 29. Sep 1985 Chicago, US Carpet Elizabeth Smylie Elise Burgin
JoAnne Russell
6–2, 6–2
Win 30. Jan 1986 Wichita, US Carpet Candy Reynolds JoAnne Russell
Anne Smith
6–3, 6–7(5–7), 6–3
Win 31. Jan 1986 Key Biscayne, US Hard Elizabeth Smylie Betsy Nagelsen
Barbara Potter
7–6(7–5), 2–6, 6–2
Win 32. Mar 1986 Princeton, US Carpet Elizabeth Smylie Hana Mandlíková
Helena Suková
6–3, 7–5
Loss 31. Mar 1986 Nashville, US Carpet Elizabeth Smylie Barbara Potter
Pam Shriver
4–6, 3–6
Loss 32. Mar 1986 Marco Island, US Clay Elise Burgin Martina Navratilova
Andrea Temesvári
5–7, 2–6
Win 33. Sep 1986 Hilversum, Betherlands Carpet Helena Suková Tine Scheuer-Larsen
Catherine Tanvier
7–5, 6–1
Win 34. Apr 1987 Tokyo, Japan Hard Betsy Nagelsen Sandy Collins
Sharon Walsh
6–3, 7–5
Win 35. Apr 1987 Houston, US Clay Martina Navratilova Zina Garrison
Lori McNeil
6–2, 6–4
Loss 33. Jul 1987 Newport, US Grass Anne Hobbs Gigi Fernández
Lori McNeil
6–7(5–7), 5–7
Win 36. Jul 1987 Aptos, US Hard Robin White Lea Antonoplis
Barbara Gerken
6–1, 6–0
Loss 34. Aug 1987 US Open Hard Elizabeth Smylie Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
7–5, 4–6, 2–6
Win 37. Oct 1987 Brighton, UK Carpet Helena Suková Tine Scheuer-Larsen
Catherine Tanvier
7–5, 6–1
Win 38. Mar 1990 San Antonio, US Hard Elizabeth Smylie Gigi Fernández
Robin White
7–5, 7–5
Win 39. Apr 1990 Tokyo, Japan Hard Elizabeth Smylie Hu Na
Michelle Jaggard
6–0, 3–6, 6–1
Loss 35. May 1990 Strasbourg, France Clay Elizabeth Smylie Nicole Provis
Elna Reinach
1–6, 4–6
Loss 36. Jun 1990 Wimbledon Grass Elizabeth Smylie Jana Novotná
Helena Suková
3–6, 4–6
Win 40. Oct 1990 Nashville, US Hard (I) Larisa Neiland Brenda Schultz
Caroline Vis
6–1, 6–2
Win 41. Nov 1990 Virginia Slims Championships, US Carpet Elizabeth Smylie Mercedes Paz
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
7–6(7–4), 6–4
Win 42. Jan 1991 Tokyo, Japan Carpet Elizabeth Smylie Mary Joe Fernández
Robin White
4–6, 6–0, 6–3

Grand Slam performance timelines

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

Tournament 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 W–L
Australian Open A A A A A 3R A F A A NH A A A A 7–2
French Open A A A QF 3R A 4R 2R A 1R A A A A 8–5
Wimbledon A A 4R 4R 4R 3R QF SF 2R 4R 1R A A 1R 21–10
US Open Q1 2R 4R 4R 4R 1R 4R 2R 4R 4R 1R A A 1R 20–11
Year-end ranking NR NR 11 13 15 21 13 10 19 15 35 NR NR 205

Doubles

Tournament 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 W–L
Australian Open A A A W A SF A A NH A A A 3R QF 13–3
French Open A 2R W QF A F QF A QF A A A 2R QF 24–7
Wimbledon A 1R W F F QF F W 3R QF A A F QF 39–9
US Open QF 2R SF W QF SF 3R 2R QF F A QF SF A 38–11
Year-end ranking 4 5 10 10 NR 65 9 21

Mixed doubles

Tournament 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 W–L
Australian Open NH NH NH NH NH NH NH NH A A A A 2R 1–1
French Open A 2R A A A A A W A A A 1R QF 9–3
Wimbledon A 1R A A QF F SF W QF A A 2R 2R 21–7
US Open 2R A A A 2R QF 1R QF 2R A A 1R A 7–7

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

References

  1. ^ "Tennis". CWSA. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  2. ^ "UT LADY VOL VILMARIE CASTELLVI RECEIVES HONDA SPORTS AWARD FOR TENNIS". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved April 16, 2020.