Elizabeth Ryan

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 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.

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 3 (3 runner-ups)

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

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

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

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

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

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1922	World Hard Court Championships (3)	Clay	Template:Flagicon Suzanne Lenglen	3–6, 2–6

See also

• Performance timelines for all female tennis players who reached at least one Grand Slam or Olympic singles final

External links

• Template:Tennis Hall of Fame