Nancy Richey

Nancy Richey

The first women's major of the Open era belongs to Nancy Richey. At Roland Garros in 1968, the first Grand Slam tournament open to professionals, she beat top seed Billie Jean King in three sets in the semifinal, then came from a set down to defeat Ann Jones 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 in the final. It was her second major, but the only one these records cover: her 1967 Australian title, won over Lesley Turner, predates the Open era. Margaret Court denied her a third in the 1969 US Open final.

The game was pure Texas baseline: patient, relentless, built on a merciless forehand drilled by her father George, a teaching pro in San Angelo. Her brother Cliff learned there too and won 28 titles himself. She owned American clay, winning six straight US Clay Court Championships from 1963 to 1968, and in September 1970 signed the one-dollar contract at Houston as one of the Original 9 who founded the women's professional tour. The Hall of Fame called in 2003.