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Elizabeth Ryan

American tennis player

Field	Value
name	Elizabeth Ryan
image	Elizabeth Ryan 1913.jpg
caption	Ryan in 1913
fullname	Elizabeth Montague Ryan
country
birth_date
birth_place	Anaheim, California, U.S.
death_date
death_place	Wimbledon, England
turnedpro	1905 (amateur tour)
retired	1934
plays	Right handed
tennishofyear	1972
tennishofid	elizabeth-ryan
singlesrecord	1064-94 (91.9%)
singlestitles	244
highestsinglesranking	No. 3 (1927)
FrenchOpenresult	QF (1926, 1930, 1931)
Wimbledonresult	F (1921, 1930)
USOpenresult	F (1926)
FrenchOpenDoublesresult	W (1930, 1932, 1933, 1934)
WimbledonDoublesresult	W (1914, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1930, 1933, 1934)
USOpenDoublesresult	W (1926)
FrenchOpenMixedresult	F (1934)
WimbledonMixedresult	W (1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1932)
USOpenMixedresult	W (1926, 1933)
Othertournaments	yes
WHCCresult	F (1922)

Elizabeth Montague Ryan (February 5, 1892 – July 6, 1979) was an American tennis player who was born in Anaheim, California, but lived most of her adult life in the United Kingdom. Ryan won 26 Grand Slam titles, 19 in women's doubles and 7 in mixed doubles at Wimbledon, an all-time record for those two events. Twelve of her Wimbledon titles were in women's doubles and seven were in mixed doubles. Ryan also won four women's doubles titles at the French Championships, as well as one women's doubles title and two mixed-doubles titles at the U.S. Championships. During a 19-year run Ryan amassed a total of 659 titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

Career

Although she reached the Wimbledon singles finals twice, Ryan never won the title. Eight of her losses at Wimbledon were to players generally considered to be among the best ever. Ryan had to play Dorothea Lambert Chambers in the all-comers final of 1920; Suzanne Lenglen in the 1919 semifinals (losing 6–4, 7–5), 1921 final, 1922 quarterfinals, 1924 quarterfinals (losing 6–2, 6–8, 6–4), and 1925 second round; and Helen Wills Moody in the 1928 semifinals and 1930 final.

In the 1926 singles final at the U.S. Championships, the 34-year-old Ryan led 42-year-old Molla Bjurstedt Mallory 4–6, 6–4, 4–0 and had a match point at 7–6 in the third set before losing the final three games of the match.

Ryan and her longtime partner Lenglen never lost a women's doubles match at Wimbledon, going 31–0. Only Billie Jean King (224 match wins) and Martina Navratilova won more matches at Wimbledon than Ryan (190 match wins): 47–15 in singles, 73–4 in women's doubles, and 70–9 in mixed doubles.

The longtime tennis writer Ted Tinling has credited Ryan with inventing the volleying style later perfected by players such as Sarah Palfrey Cooke, Alice Marble, Louise Brough Clapp, Margaret Osborne duPont, Doris Hart, Darlene Hard, Margaret Court, Navratilova, and King. "Before World War I, women's tennis consisted primary of slogging duels from the baseline. There were a few volleying pioneers, notably ... Hazel [Hotchkiss] Wightman and Ethel [Thomson] Larcombe, but volleying as a fundamental, aggressive technique was first injected into the women's game by ... Ryan." Tinling, however, also said about Ryan, "Elizabeth wasn't fast enough for singles. Too heavy."

According to A. Wallis Myers of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail, Ryan was ranked in the world top 10 from 1921 (when the rankings began) through 1928 and again in 1930, reaching a career high of world No. 3 in those rankings in 1927. Ryan was ranked second behind Mallory in the year-end rankings issued by the United States Lawn Tennis Association for 1925 and 1926.

Ryan died on July 6, 1979, at age 87 on the grounds of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon, following the ladies singles final and the day before Billie Jean King broke her record number of Wimbledon wins by winning her 20th title. When tennis writer and television commentator Bud Collins tried to arrange for Ryan and King to film an interview together at Wimbledon in 1979, Ryan refused. King said "I always liked seeing Miss Ryan at Wimbledon, and I'd try to be friendly, but she didn't seem to want it. For me, it wasn't personal. Sure, I wanted the record, but I wasn't trying to steal a possession of hers." King also said "[T]here is no doubt in my mind that she just didn't want to be alive to see her record broken. She was [87], she had held it for a long, long time and she wanted it for herself. But records are there to be broken." Two years before her death, Ryan had told Ted Tinling, the tennis fashion designer, "I hope I don't live to see my record broken, but if someone is to break it, I hope it is Billie Jean. She has so much courage on the court." According to reports, Ryan became ill while watching the men's doubles final and excused herself, heading for the women's rest room. She collapsed there and was rushed to the hospital, where she died at 5:20 p.m. London time.

Career statistics

Main article: Elizabeth Ryan career statistics

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 3 (3 runner-ups)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1921	Wimbledon	Grass	FRA Suzanne Lenglen	2–6, 0–6
Loss	1926	U.S. Championships	Grass	USA Molla Mallory	6–4, 4–6, 7–9
Loss	1930	Wimbledon	Grass	USA Helen Wills	2–6, 2–6

Doubles: 21 (17 titles, 4 runner-ups)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents
Win	1914	Wimbledon	Grass	GBR Agnes Morton	GBR Edith Hannam
GBR Ethel Thomson Larcombe	6–1, 6–3
Win	1919	Wimbledon	Grass	FRA Suzanne Lenglen	GBR Dorothea Lambert Chambers
GBR Ethel Thomson Larcombe	4–6, 7–5, 6–3
Win	1920	Wimbledon	Grass	FRA Suzanne Lenglen	GBR Dorothea Lambert Chambers
GBR Ethel Thomson Larcombe	6–4, 6–0
Win	1921	Wimbledon	Grass	FRA Suzanne Lenglen	GBR Geraldine Beamish
RSA Irene Bowder Peacock	6–1, 6–2
Win	1922	Wimbledon	Grass	FRA Suzanne Lenglen	GBR Kathleen McKane Godfree
GBR Margaret McKane Stocks	6–0, 6–4
Win	1923	Wimbledon	Grass	FRA Suzanne Lenglen	GBR Joan Austin
GBR Evelyn Colyer	6–3, 6–1
Win	1925	Wimbledon	Grass	FRA Suzanne Lenglen	GBR Kathleen Lidderdale
GBR Mary McIlquham	6–2, 6–2
Loss	1925	U.S. Championships	Grass	USA May Sutton	USA Mary Browne
USA Helen Wills	4–6, 3–6
Win	1926	Wimbledon	Grass	USA Mary Browne	GBR Evelyn Colyer
GBR Kathleen McKane Godfree	6–1, 6–1
Win	1926	U.S. Championships	Grass	USA Eleanor Goss	USA Mary Browne
USA Charlotte Hosmer Chapin	3–6, 6–4, 12–10
Win	1927	Wimbledon	Grass	USA Helen Wills	RSA Bobbie Heine
RSA Irene Bowder Peacock	6–3, 6–2
Win	1930	French Championships	Clay	USA Helen Wills	FRA Simone Barbier
FRA Simonne Mathieu	6–3, 6–1
Win	1930	Wimbledon	Grass	USA Helen Wills	GBR Edith Cross
USA Sarah Palfrey	6–2, 9–7
Loss	1931	French Championships	Clay	GER Cilly Aussem	GBR Eileen Bennett Whittingstall
GBR Betty Nuthall	7–9, 2–6
Win	1932	French Championships	Clay	USA Helen Wills	GBR Eileen Bennett Whittingstall
GBR Betty Nuthall	6–1, 6–3
Loss	1932	Wimbledon	Grass	USA Helen Jacobs	FRA Doris Metaxa
BEL Josane Sigart	4–6, 3–6
Win	1933	French Championships	Clay	FRA Simonne Mathieu	FRA Sylvie Jung Henrotin
FRA Colette Rosambert	6–1, 6–3
Win	1933	Wimbledon	Grass	FRA Simonne Mathieu	GBR Freda James
GBR Billie Yorke	6–2, 9–11, 6–4
Loss	1933	U.S. Championships	Grass	USA Helen Wills	GBR Freda James
GBR Betty Nuthall	default
Win	1934	French Championships	Clay	FRA Simonne Mathieu	USA Helen Jacobs
USA Sarah Palfrey	3–6, 6–4, 6–2
Win	1934	Wimbledon	Grass	FRA Simonne Mathieu	GBR Dorothy Andrus
FRA Sylvie Jung Henrotin	6–3, 6–3

Mixed doubles: 14 (9 titles, 5 runner-ups)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents
Win	1919	Wimbledon	Grass	GBR Randolph Lycett	GBR Dorothea Chambers
GBR Albert Prebble	6–0, 6–0
Loss	1920	Wimbledon	Grass	GBR Randolph Lycett	FRA Suzanne Lenglen
AUS Gerald Patterson	5–7, 3–6
Win	1921	Wimbledon	Grass	GBR Randolph Lycett	GBR Phyllis Howkins
GBR Max Woosnam	6–3, 6–1
Loss	1922	Wimbledon	Grass	GBR Randolph Lycett	FRA Suzanne Lenglen
AUS Pat O'Hara Wood	4–6, 3–6
Win	1923	Wimbledon	Grass	GBR Randolph Lycett	GBR Dorothy Shepherd-Barron
British Raj Lewis Deane	6–4, 7–5
Loss	1925	Wimbledon	Grass	ITA Umberto de Morpurgo	FRA Suzanne Lenglen
FRA Jean Borotra	3–6, 3–6
Win	1926	U.S. Championships	Grass	FRA Jean Borotra	USA Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman
FRA René Lacoste	6–4, 7–5
Win	1927	Wimbledon	Grass	USA Frank Hunter	GBR Kathleen McKane Godfree
GBR Leslie Godfree	8–6, 6–0
Win	1928	Wimbledon	Grass	RSA Patrick Spence	AUS Daphne Akhurst
AUS Jack Crawford	7–5, 6–4
Win	1930	Wimbledon	Grass	AUS Jack Crawford	GER Hilde Krahwinkel
GER Daniel Prenn	6–1, 6–3
Win	1932	Wimbledon	Grass	ESP Enrique Maier	BEL Josane Sigart
AUS Harry Hopman	7–5, 6–2
Win	1933	U.S. Championships	Grass	USA Ellsworth Vines	USA Sarah Palfrey
USA George Lott	11–9, 6–1
Loss	1934	French Championships	Clay	AUS Adrian Quist	FRA Colette Rosambert
FRA Jean Borotra	2–6, 4–6
Loss	1934	U.S. Championships	Grass	USA Lester Stoefen	USA Helen Jacobs
USA George Lott	6–4, 11–13, 2–6

Grand Slam tournament timelines

Singles

Tournament	1912	1913	1914	1915	1916	1917	1918	1919	1920	1921	1922	1923	1924	1925	1926	1927	1928	1929	1930	1931	1932	1933	1934	Career SR
Australian Open	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	0 / 0
French Championships	A	A	A	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	A	A	A	A	NH	A	QF	A	A	A	QF	QF	1R	1R	1R	0 / 7
Wimbledon	QF	1R	ACF	NH	NH	NH	NH	SF	ACF	F	QF	SF	QF	2R	3R	SF	SF	3R	F	A	1R1	A	A	0 / 16
U.S. Championships	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	QF	F	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	QF	0 / 3
SR	0 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 0	0 / 0	0 / 0	0 / 0	0 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 2	0 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 2	0 / 3	0 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 2	0 / 1	0 / 2	0 / 1	0 / 2	0 / 26

ACF = All comers final, with the winner to play the defending champion.

1 Ryan did not play. Her opponent got a walkover.

Doubles

Tournament	1912	1913	1914	1915	1916	1917	1918	1919	1920	1921	1922	1923	1924	1925	1926	1927	1928	1929	1930	1931	1932	1933	1934	Career SR
Australian Open	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	0 / 0
French Championships	A	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	A	A	NH	A	NH	A	SF	A	A	A	W	F	W	W	W	4 / 6
Wimbledon	NH	2R	W	NH	NH	NH	NH	W	W	W	W	W	QF	W	W	W	SF	SF	W	A	F	W	W	12 / 16
U.S. Championships	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	F	W	A	A	A	A	A	A	F	SF	1 / 4
SR	0 / 0	0 / 0	1 / 1	0 / 0	0 / 0	0 / 0	0 / 0	1 / 1	1 / 1	1 / 1	1 / 1	1 / 1	0 / 1	1 / 2	2 / 3	1 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 1	2 / 2	0 / 1	1 / 2	2 / 3	2 / 3	17 / 26

Mixed doubles

Tournament	1912	1913	1914	1915	1916	1917	1918	1919	1920	1921	1922	1923	1924	1925	1926	1927	1928	1929	1930	1931	1932	1933	1934	Career SR
Australian Open	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	0 / 0
French Championships	A	A	A	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	?	?	?	?	NH	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	F	0 / 1
Wimbledon	NH	?	?	NH	NH	NH	NH	W	F	W	F	W	2R	F	SF	W	W	SF	W	A	W	QF	QF	7 / 15
U.S. Championships	?	A	A	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	W	?	?	?	?	?	?	W	F	2 / 3
SR	0 / 0	0 / 0	0 / 0	0 / 0	0 / 0	0 / 0	0 / 0	1 / 1	0 / 1	1 / 1	0 / 1	1 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 1	1 / 2	1 / 1	1 / 1	0 / 1	1 / 1	0 / 0	1 / 1	1 / 2	0 / 3	9 / 19

World Championship finals

Singles: 1 final (1 runner up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1922	World Hard Court Championships	Clay	FRA Suzanne Lenglen	3–6, 2–6

Doubles: 2 finals (2 titles)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents
Win	1914	World Hard Court Championships	Clay	FRA Suzanne Lenglen	FRA Blanche Amblard
FRA Suzanne Amblard	6–0, 6–0
Win	1922	World Hard Court Championships	Clay	FRA Suzanne Lenglen	GBR Winifred Beamish
GBR Kitty McKane	6–0, 6–4

Mixed doubles: 2 finals(2 titles)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents
Win	1913	World Hard Court Championships	Clay	FRA Max Decugis	NZL Anthony Wilding
FRA Germaine Golding	walkover
Win	1914	World Hard Court Championships	Clay	FRA Max Decugis	AUT Ludwig von Salm-Hoogstraeten
FRA Suzanne Lenglen	6–3, 6–1

Notes

References

Dyer, Braven. (June 16, 1935). "The Sports Parade". Los Angeles Times.
(July 7, 1979). "Elizabeth Ryan, 87, Tennis Star Who Won 19 Wimbledon Titles". The New York Times.
Ted Tinling. (1980). "World of Tennis 1980: A BP Yearbook". Queen Ann Press.
Bud Collins. (1989). "My Life With the Pros". E. P. Dutton.
Bud Collins. (2008). "The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book". New Chapter Press.
United States Tennis Association. (1988). "1988 Official USTA Tennis Yearbook". H. O. Zimman, Inc..
(July 8, 1979). "King's Rejoicing Subdued Following 20th Wimbledon Title". [[Ocala Star-Banner]].
(July 7, 1979). "Ryan Dies at Wimbledon". [[The Milwaukee Journal]].
(1980). "World of Tennis 1980: a BP yearbook". Queen Anne Press.
Collins, Bud. (1989). "My Life With the Pros". E. P. Dutton.
(1981). "Play Better Tennis: With Billie Jean King and Reginald Brace". Octopus.
(July 7, 1977). "Elizabeth Ryan, 87, Tennis Star Who Won 19 Wimbledon Titles". The New York Times.

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