Kathy May
Kathy May Fritz (born June 18, 1956) is an American former professional tennis player.[2] She reached three Grand Slam quarterfinals, once at the US Open in 1978 and twice at the French Open in 1977 and 1978. She won seven WTA singles titles during her career, and achieved a career-high ranking of world no. 10 in 1977.
Full name | Kathy May Fritz |
---|---|
Country (sports) | United States |
Born | Beverly Hills, California, USA | June 18, 1956
Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) [1] |
Plays | Right-handed [1] |
Singles | |
Career record | 56–50 |
Career titles | 7 |
Highest ranking | No. 10 (July 3, 1977) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
French Open | QF (1977, 1978) |
Wimbledon | 4R (1977) |
US Open | QF (1978) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 36–49 |
Career titles | 4 |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
French Open | 2R (1977) |
Wimbledon | 3R (1974) |
US Open | QF (1978, 1979) |
She also competed under the names Kathy May Teacher after her marriage in 1979 to tennis player Brian Teacher, and Kathy May-Paben. Her son Taylor Fritz is also a professional tennis player, and he was the 2015 ITF Junior World Champion.
Early and personal life
May was born and grew up in Beverly Hills, California.[3] She is the great-granddaughter of David May, founder of The May Department Stores Company[3] (now Macy's).
In 1979, she married fellow Californian player Brian Teacher, also a top 10 tennis player and the 1980 Australian Open champion; they subsequently divorced.[4] She married fireman Donn Paben in 1981 with whom she had two sons, and subsequently divorced.[5][6] She later married Guy Fritz, her third husband, and had her third son Taylor Fritz but she and Guy have since divorced.[7][8]
Tennis career
She reached three Grand Slam quarterfinals, once at the US Open in 1978 and twice at the French Open in 1977 and 1978. She won seven WTA singles titles during her career, and achieved a career-high ranking of world no. 10 in 1977.
She was coached by Tony Trabert.[9]
WTA Tour finals
Singles: 7 (7–0)
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|
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1. | September 17, 1973 | Los Angeles | Hard | Lea Antonoplis | 5–7, 6–1, 6–2 |
Winner | 2. | April 22, 1974 | Ojai Tennis Tournament | Hard | Susan Hagey | 2–6, 6–0, 6–1 |
Winner | 3. | May 6, 1974 | Los Angeles | Hard | Lindsay Morse | 6–4, 7–6 |
Winner | 4. | August 19, 1974 | Haverford | Grass | Barbara Jordan | 6–3, 7–5 |
Winner | 5. | March 17, 1975 | Pensacola, Florida | Clay | Ilana Kloss | 5–7, 6–4, 7–6 |
Winner | 6. | January 19, 1976 | Fort Myers, Florida | Clay | Ann Kiyomura | 5–7, 6–3, 6–1 |
Winner | 7. | September 8, 1976 | Indianapolis | Clay | Brigitte Cuypers | 6–4, 4–6, 6–2 |
Doubles: 7 (4–3)
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|
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1. | May 7, 1973 | Los Angeles | Hard | Marita Redondo | Lindsay Morse Jean Nachand |
6–4, 6–0 |
Winner | 2. | September 17, 1973 | Los Angeles | Hard | Marita Redondo | Laurie Tenney Robin Tenney |
6–3, 7–5 |
Runner-up | 1. | May 6, 1974 | Los Angeles | Hard | Maricaye Christenson | Lea Antonoplis Susan Hagey |
6–3, 6–4 |
Winner | 3. | July 8, 1974 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Clay | Rayni Fox | Lindsay Morse JoAnne Russell |
5–7, 6–4, 6–2 |
Winner | 4. | September 16, 1974 | Los Angeles | Hard | Susan Hagey | Dodo Cheney Cynthia-Ann Thomas |
6–2, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 2. | August 18, 1975 | South Orange | Clay | Kathleen Harter | Kristien Shaw Greer Stevens |
w/o |
Runner-up | 3. | November 21, 1978 | Tokyo | Hard (i) | Tracy Austin | Martina Navratilova Betty Stöve |
6–4, 6–7, 3–6 |
Grand Slam singles tournament timeline
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
Tournament | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | Career SR | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australian Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 |
French Open | A | A | A | 3R | QF | QF | 2R | A | 0 / 4 | |
Wimbledon | A | 2R | 3R | 2R | 4R | 3R | 3R | 2R | 0 / 7 | |
US Open | 1R | A | 3R | 2R | 1R | QF | 4R | 2R | 0 / 7 | |
SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 18 | |
Year-end ranking | 57 | 19 | 21 | 15 | 19 | 130 |
- Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
See also
References
- Bostic, Stephanie, ed. (1979). USTA Player Records 1978. United States Tennis Association (USTA). p. 220.
- Jim Bainbridge (1978). 1978 Colgate Series Media Guide. New York: H.O. Zimman Inc. p. 88.
- The Making of America's Next Great Tennis Talent
- "The Australian Open Champion Who Almost Wasn't - Book Excerpt From 'The Greatest Jewish Tennis Players of All Time,'" World Tennis Magazine.
- Katherine May - Free Marriage & Vital Records
- World Tennis
- "Dad at 19: A young tennis star turning heads, raising eyebrows," The Economic Times.
- Is Taylor Fritz The Next American Tennis Star?
- "Kathy May Hands Wade Upset Loss". Spokane Daily Chronicle. AP. January 5, 1978. p. 34.