Tracy Austin is a retired professional tennis player from the United States of America. She has a career-high singles ranking of World Number 1, which she reached on April 7, 1980. She was the youngest tennis athlete to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Player Profile
Tracy Ann Austin Holt was born on December 12, 1962, in Palos Verdes Peninsula, California in the United States of America. She currently resides in Rolling Hills, California. She stands 165 cm tall and she was right-handed with a two-handed backhand.
| Height / weight | 1.65 m / 54 kg |
| Born | 12 Dec 1962 |
| Nationality |
United States
|
| Playing Style | Right Handed |
Her older sister Pam, and brothers Jeff, Doug, and John also played professionally. The younger Austin daughter became a tennis sensation as young as 10 years old when she won the 1972 United States National competition.
She turned pro on October 23, 1978. Some of the coaches she has worked with include Pancho Segura, Robert Lansdorp, and Vic Braden. In her professional career, she earned a total of US$2,092,380 in prize money.
Career
She started playing professionally at 14 years old, winning the 1977 Avon Futures Tournament; she continued to make headlines when, at 16 years old, she won the 1979 US Open Championship.
She snatched the title from Chris Evert, who was one of the top players in the world at the time and was working, for her fifth consecutive title. Austin broke her winning streak. Two years later, in 1981, Austin beat another champion, Martina Navratilova, for her second triumph at the US Open.
However, in 1983, at the young age of 21 years old, Austin was forced to retire because of back injuries.
Nonetheless, her legendary record has made her a distinguished name in tennis history. Her seven-year career resulted in a total number of two singles championships and thirty-five titles.
She also played splendidly in the Doubles category, earning four major wins with Betty Stove in the 1978 Phoenix event at Filderstadt and the 1979 Hollywood event in Mahwah. In 1980, she partnered with brother, John for the 1980 Mixed Doubles category at Wimbledon.
She has remained active in the sports scene after her early retirement, working as a tennis events commentator for the BBC, NBC, and USA Network.
Career Record
Singles
- Career Record: 335–90 (78.8%)
- Career Titles: 30
- Highest Singles Ranking: 1 (April 7, 1980)
Best Grand Slam Singles Performances
- Australian Open - QF (1981)
- French Open - QF (1982, 1983)
- Wimbledon - SF (1979, 1980)
- US Open - W (1979, 1981)
Other Tournaments
- Tour Finals - W (1980)
Doubles
- Career Record: 13–16
Career Titles: 5
- Highest Doubles Ranking: 41 (August 14, 1989)
Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances
- Wimbledon - 3R (1977)
- US Open - QF (1978, 1979)
Mixed Doubles
- Career Record: 15–6
- Career Titles: 1
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Performances
- Wimbledon - W (1980)
- US Open - SF (1988)
Team Competitions
- Fed Cup - W (1978, 1979, 1980)
- Wightman Cup - W (1979, 1981)
People Ask
When did Tracy Austin become World Number 1?
She reached a career-high singles ranking of World Number 1 in April 1980.
How old was Tracy Austin when she turned pro?
She turned pro on October 23, 1978. She was 15 years old at the time.
How many Grand Slam titles does Tracy Austin have?
She has three Grand Slam titles - two in singles and one in mixed doubles.
