Kathleen McKane Godfree

Kathleen McKane Godfree was a British tennis and badminton champion and is the joint second most decorated female British Olympian, a record she shares with Katherine Grainger.

She won two singles titles at Wimbledon and reached a career-high ranking of World No. 2.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Kathleen "Kitty" McKane Godfree was born on May 7, 1896, in Bayswater, England, UK. She was a versatile athlete who excelled at several sports, including winning eight All England Open Badminton Championships titles.

She and her husband, Leslie Godfree, remain the only married couple to have won the mixed doubles championship at Wimbledon, a feat they accomplished in 1926. She passed away in London in 1992.

Professional Career

McKane made her tournament debut in 1919 and quickly became Britain's top player.

She won two Wimbledon singles titles, defeating Helen Wills in the 1924 final in one of Wills's only losses at the tournament. She reached the singles finals of the French Open twice (1923, 1925) and the US Open once (1925), becoming the first person to reach the singles finals of all three major tournaments in a career.

In Olympic tennis, she holds a record five medals, including a gold in women's doubles in 1920.

Career Record

Singles

• Highest ranking: No. 2 (1923, 1924, 1926)

Best Grand Slam Singles Performances

• French Open: F (1923, 1925)
• Wimbledon: W (1924, 1926)
• US Open: F (1925)

Doubles

Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances

• French Open: F (1925, 1926)
• Wimbledon: F (1922, 1924, 1926)
• US Open: W (1923, 1927)

Mixed Doubles

Best Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Performances

• Wimbledon: W (1924, 1926)
• US Open: W (1925)

-

Team competitions

• Wightman Cup: Member (1924, 1925)
• Olympic Games: Gold (1920 Doubles), Silver (1920 Mixed, 1924 Doubles), Bronze (1920 Singles, 1924 Singles)