Gussie Moran facts for kids
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| Country (sports) |  United States |
|---|---|
| Born | September 8, 1923 Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Died | January 16, 2013 (aged 89) Los Angeles, California, US |
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Turned pro | 1950 |
| Retired | 1971 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Singles | |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Wimbledon | QF (1950) |
| US Open | SF (1948) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | F (1949) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | QF (1950) |
| US Open | F (1947) |
Gertrude Augusta "Gussy" Moran (born September 8, 1923 – died January 16, 2013) was an American tennis player. She played tennis in the late 1940s and 1950s. Her best ranking in the U.S. was 4th. Gussy was born in Santa Monica, California. She passed away in Los Angeles, California, at 89 years old.
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Gussy Moran's Early Life and Amateur Tennis
Gussy Moran's father worked with sound and electricity at Universal Studios. Because of his job, Gussy sometimes worked as an extra in movies. Her tennis friends often visited Charlie Chaplin's house for parties. Chaplin even hosted a party for Gussy when she got engaged.
When Gussy was 17, her family learned that her older brother was missing during World War II. This news made her very sad. She then started working at Douglas Aircraft Company. She helped build airplanes for the war effort. Gussy also joined USO tours. She visited hospitals and military bases in California to support soldiers.
Amateur Tennis Success
Gussy played in many amateur tennis tournaments in California. In March 1949, she won the US Indoor Championships. She beat Nancy Chaffee in the singles final. This tournament was held in New York.
She also won the doubles title with Marjorie Gladman. Gussy won the mixed doubles event too. Her partner for mixed doubles was Pancho Gonzales.
Gussy Moran's Professional Tennis Career
After the 1950 Wimbledon tournament, Gussy became a professional tennis player. She was ranked seventh at Wimbledon and reached the quarterfinals. In September, she started touring as a professional with Pauline Betz. Her unique tennis outfits helped make her very popular.
Fame Beyond the Court
Gussy's popularity grew a lot. She even appeared as herself in a movie called Pat and Mike in 1952. This movie starred Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. Her face was on magazine covers all over the world. A racehorse, an airplane, and even a sauce were named after her. She also posed in her tennis outfits in department stores.
One of the last big tournaments Gussy played professionally was the 1971 U.S. Open. She was eliminated in the first round of the women's singles. She also played mixed doubles with Chuck Diaz in that tournament.
Gussy Moran's Life After Tennis
In 1951, Gussy started working for a TV station in Los Angeles. She did a 15-minute interview show. Later, in 1955, she became a sports newscaster in New York City. She held this job until 1961.
After leaving the news, Gussy started a business. She and a partner made and sold her own line of tennis clothes. This business closed in 1963. She then moved back to California. Gussy became a hostess at a racket club in Palm Springs.
New Challenges and Injuries
Her hostess job did not last long. She then became a co-host of a TV interview show in Hollywood. The show was called Sundown. She was fired after 11 weeks. This happened because of a comment she made about a religion.
Gussy then went back to giving tennis lessons. She taught at a racket club for two and a half years. In 1969, she became an advertising manager for World Tennis magazine.
In 1970, she went on another USO tour. This time, she visited soldiers in Vietnam. While there, her helicopter was shot down. She suffered many broken and dislocated bones. After recovering, she got a job as a radio sports director in Los Angeles in 1972. She also wrote columns for Tennis magazine.
Later Years and Home Life
Gussy lived in her family's home in Santa Monica. It was a Victorian house with a view of the ocean. After her mother passed away, Gussy could not pay the property taxes. She was evicted from her home in 1986. She then moved to smaller apartments in Los Angeles.
Gussy Moran's Personal Life
Gussy Moran was married four times. Her first marriage was when she was 19. She married an ex-pilot, but that marriage was later canceled. All her other marriages ended in divorce. She had no children.
Gussy always preferred to be called 'Gussy', not 'Gussie'. This is how her name was spelled in her obituary.
Grand Slam Finals
Doubles (1 runner-up)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1949 | Wimbledon | Grass |  Patricia Canning Todd |
Louise Brough Margaret Osborne duPont |
6–8, 5–7 |
Mixed doubles (1 runner-up)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1947 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Pancho Segura |
Louise Brough John Bromwich |
3–6, 1–6 |
