Tracy Austin facts for kids
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Austin in 2009
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| Country (sports) | United States |
|---|---|
| Residence | Rolling Hills, California, U.S. |
| Born | December 12, 1962 Palos Verdes Peninsula, California, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Turned pro | October 23, 1978 (age 15) |
| Retired | July 1994 (age 31) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Coach | Pancho Segura, Robert Lansdorp, Vic Braden |
| Prize money | $2,092,380 |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1992 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 335–90 (78.82%) |
| Career titles | 30 |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (April 7, 1980) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| 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 ranking | No. 41 (August 14, 1989) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1977) |
| US Open | QF (1978, 1979) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Career record | 15–6 |
| Career titles | 1 |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | W (1980) |
| US Open | SF (1988) |
| Team competitions | |
| Fed Cup | W (1978, 1979, 1980) |
| Wightman Cup | W (1979, 1981) |
Tracy Ann Austin Holt (born December 12, 1962) is an American former professional tennis player. She was once ranked as the world No. 1 in women's singles. Tracy Austin held this top spot for 21 weeks.
She won 30 singles titles during her career. This includes two major titles at the 1979 and 1981 US Opens. She also won five doubles titles. One of these was the mixed doubles title at the 1980 Wimbledon Championships. She partnered with her brother John for that win.
Tracy Austin is still the youngest US Open women's singles champion. She was only 16 years old when she won. She is also the youngest person to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, at age 29. Her amazing career was cut short by a series of injuries and a serious car accident in 1989.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Tracy Austin was born on December 12, 1962. Her birthplace was Palos Verdes Peninsula, California. Her parents were George and Jeanne Austin. Tracy came from a family of tennis players. Her older sister Pam and brothers Jeff, Doug, and John all played professional tennis.
Her Amazing Tennis Career
Tracy Austin started playing tennis at a very young age. She quickly showed incredible talent.
Starting Strong (1977-1980)
In January 1977, just after her fourteenth birthday, Tracy won her first professional singles title. She beat Stacy Margolin at an event in Portland. Since she was an amateur, she could not accept the prize money.
She made her Wimbledon debut in 1977. There, she reached the third round. Later that year, she played in her first US Open. She made it to the quarterfinal round.
Tracy turned professional in October 1978. She was less than two months away from her sixteenth birthday. That same month, she won her first professional title. She defeated Betty Stöve in Germany.
In 1979, Tracy won tournaments in Tokyo and Washington. She beat Martina Navratilova in both finals. At the 1979 Wimbledon Championships, she defeated Billie Jean King. She then lost to Martina Navratilova in the semifinals.
In September 1979, Tracy Austin made history. She became the youngest-ever US Open champion. She was only 16 years and 9 months old. She beat Martina Navratilova in the semifinals. Then, she defeated top player Chris Evert in the final. Chris Evert had been trying to win the title for the fifth year in a row. Earlier that year, Tracy also ended Chris Evert's long winning streak on clay courts.
The Associated Press named Tracy Austin their Female Athlete of the Year for 1979.
In 1980, Tracy reached the semifinals at Wimbledon and the US Open. She became the world No. 1 singles player in 1980. She held this ranking for a total of 21 weeks. She won the Avon Championships in March. She also won the 1980 Colgate Series Championships in January 1981. In 1980, Tracy won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title with her brother John. They were the first brother-and-sister team to win a Grand Slam title together.
Continued Success and Injuries (1981-1983)
In 1981, Tracy Austin faced some challenges with injuries. Despite this, she had a fantastic year. She defended her singles title at the Eastbourne International in June. After Wimbledon, she won 26 matches in a row. She also won four tournaments back-to-back.
At the 1981 US Open, Tracy was the third-seeded player. She defeated fourth-seeded Martina Navratilova in a tough three-set final. This was her second US Open title. She also won the Toyota Series Championships at the end of 1981. For the second time, the Associated Press named Tracy Austin its 1981 Female Athlete of the Year.
In 1982, Tracy Austin played against Steffi Graf in Germany. It was Steffi Graf's first professional match. Tracy defeated the 13-year-old Graf.
However, back injuries and a condition called sciatica started to affect Tracy's playing. These issues kept her off the court for long periods. She still managed to win her 30th and final top-level singles title in San Diego in July 1982. In 1983, she reached the quarterfinals of the French Open.
Comebacks and Challenges (1984-1994)
Tracy Austin played only a few matches from 1984 to 1987. She tried to make a comeback in 1988 and 1989. A major event that affected her career was a serious car accident. This happened on August 3, 1989. A van crashed into her car. She suffered several injuries, including a bruised heart and a shattered knee. After surgery, she was in a wheelchair for a few months. She could not walk without crutches until December 1989.
In 1992, Tracy Austin became the youngest person ever inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She was only 29 years old.
She attempted another comeback in 1993 and 1994. In 1993, she had some good wins. She upset Rennae Stubbs and Katerina Maleeva at a tournament in California. She also beat Gigi Fernández and Elena Likhovtseva at another event. These wins made people wonder if she could become a top 20 player again. However, her results in 1994 were not as strong. She retired from professional tennis in June 1994.
Playing Style
Tracy Austin had a very strong playing style from the back of the court. She hit the ball flat and hard with her forehand. Her two-handed backhand was also very reliable. Her favorite shot was hitting the backhand down the line. She felt her backhand was more powerful and accurate than her forehand.
She was excellent at covering the court. She hit the ball deep into her opponent's side of the court. Her shots were very powerful and accurate. Her first serve was steady and worked well on all types of courts. Even though her second serve was not as strong, she rarely made double faults.
Life After Tennis
After retiring as a player in 1994, Tracy Austin became a well-known tennis commentator. She started working as a pundit and commentator in 1991 for CBS.
She has worked for many major television networks. These include NBC, CBS, and the USA Network. She covered the French Open and the US Open. In the 2000s, she worked for the Seven Network, which broadcast the Australian Open. She has also worked for the BBC for many years. Since 2010, she has been with the Tennis Channel. She joined their US Open team and later their Australian Open team. She has also worked for Canadian television, covering the Rogers Cup since 2004.
Personal Life
Tracy Austin is married to Scott Holt, who is a mortgage broker. They have three sons: Sean, Brandon, and Dylan. Brandon Holt is also a professional tennis player. He was previously a member of the USC tennis team.
As mentioned, Tracy comes from a tennis family. Her older sister Pam and her brothers Jeff, Doug, and John were all professional tennis players. Her sister-in-law is fitness author Denise Austin, who is married to Jeff.
Major Wins
Tracy Austin won two Grand Slam singles titles during her career.
US Open Singles Titles
- 1979 US Open: She defeated Chris Evert in the final.
- 1981 US Open: She defeated Martina Navratilova in the final.
Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Title
- 1980 Wimbledon: She won the mixed doubles title with her brother John Austin.
See also
In Spanish: Tracy Austin para niños
