Maria Bueno
Maria Esther Andion Bueno (11 October 1939 – 8 June 2018) was a Brazilian professional tennis player. During her 11-year career in the 1950s and 1960s, she won 19 major titles (seven in women's singles, 11 in women's doubles, and one in mixed doubles), making her the most successful South American tennis player in history, and the only one to ever win Wimbledon.[1] Bueno was the year-end No. 1 female player in 1959 and 1960 and was known for her graceful style of play.[2]
Bueno in 2016 | |
| Full name | Maria Esther Andion Bueno |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) | Brazil |
| Born | 11 October 1939 São Paulo, Brazil |
| Died | 8 June 2018 (aged 78) São Paulo, Brazil |
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Turned pro | 1950 |
| Retired | 1977 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1978 (member page) |
| Official website | www.mariabueno.org |
| Singles | |
| Career titles | 63 |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (1959) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1965) |
| French Open | F (1964) |
| Wimbledon | W (1959, 1960, 1964) |
| US Open | W (1959, 1963, 1964, 1966) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1960) |
| French Open | W (1960) |
| Wimbledon | W (1958, 1960, 1963, 1965, 1966) |
| US Open | W (1960, 1962, 1966, 1968) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | SF (1960) |
| French Open | W (1960) |
| Wimbledon | F (1959, 1960, 1967) |
| US Open | F (1958, 1960) |
In 1960, Bueno became the first woman to win the Grand Slam in doubles (all four majors in a year), three of them partnering Darlene Hard and one with Christine Truman.[3]
Tennis career edit
Bueno was born in São Paulo.[4] Her father, a businessman, was a keen club tennis player.[5] Her elder brother Pedro was also a tennis player.[5] She began playing tennis aged six[4][6] at the Clube de Regatas Tiete in São Paulo and, without having received any formal training, won her first tournament at age 12.[7] She was 15 when she won her country's women's singles championship.[8] She first went abroad in 1957 at age 17 and won the Orange Bowl juniors tournament in Florida, USA.[9][10]
Joining the international circuit in 1958, Bueno won the singles title at the Italian Championships.[a] The same year she gained the first of her Grand Slam titles, winning the women's doubles at Wimbledon with Althea Gibson.[12] The following year, Bueno won her first singles title at Wimbledon, defeating Darlene Hard in the final.[13] She also won the singles title at the U.S. Championships after a straight-sets victory in the final against Christine Truman, earning the World No. 1 ranking for 1959 and the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award.[14] Bueno was the first non-North-American woman to win both Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships in the same calendar year. In her native Brazil, she returned as a national heroine, honored by the country's president and given a ticker-tape parade on the streets of São Paulo.[15]
According to Lance Tingay of the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail and Bud Collins, Bueno was ranked in the world top ten from 1958 through 1960 and from 1962 through 1968, reaching a career high of World No. 1 in those rankings in 1959 and 1960.[16] The International Tennis Hall of Fame also lists her as the top ranked player in 1964 (after losing the final at the French Championships and winning both Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships) and 1966.
Bueno won the singles title at Wimbledon three times and at the U.S. Championships four times.[7] She was a singles finalist at the Australian Championships and the French Championships, losing both finals to Margaret Smith. Bueno reached at least the quarterfinals in each of the first 26 Grand Slam singles tournaments she played.[8] This streak ended at Wimbledon in 1967 when she lost in the fourth round because of an arm injury.[citation needed]
As a doubles player, Bueno won twelve Grand Slam championships with six different partners. In 1960, she became the first woman to win the women's doubles title at all four Grand Slam tournaments in the same calendar year, partnered with Christine Truman at the Australian Championships and Hard at the French Championships, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Championships.[17]
Her playing career was affected by various arm and leg injuries.[6][8] She played only intermittently after 1968; her final tournament win was the Japan Open in 1974, her only professional win.[4][8] She retired from playing in 1977.[18]
Her playing style was described as bold and aggressive; she had a hard serve, was a strong volleyer, and often came into the net.[8] Bud Collins described her as "incomparably balletic and flamboyant".[8] She did not use a coach,[6][8] and attributed her speed on the court to training with men.[6] The American player Billie Jean King acknowledged her as an influence.[19] She was also known for her on-court style, wearing tennis dresses designed by Ted Tinling.[6][8]
Later career edit
Bueno worked as a commentator for SporTV, a Brazilian cable television sports channel.[18]
Death edit
Bueno died on 8 June 2018, aged 78, at a hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, where she had been admitted for mouth cancer.[20][4] She was diagnosed in 2016 with virulent Merkel-cell carcinoma, a rare and highly aggressive skin cancer.[21] A minute's applause in honour of Bueno was held as a tribute before the Women's Singles final at the 2018 French Open the day after her death.[22]
Honours edit
In 1959 Correios do Brasil issued a postal stamp honouring her title at the Wimbledon Ladies Singles Championships.[8] That same year the Associated Press voted her Female Athlete of the Year.[20] In 1978, Bueno was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.[8]
Bueno was awarded the International Club's prestigious Jean Borotra Sportsmanship Award in 2003.
The Seniors World Team Championships for the women's 50 age category is named "Maria Esther Bueno Cup" by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in her honour.[23] In 2015 the centre court of the Olympic Tennis Centre in Rio de Janeiro was named after her.[24]
In October 2018, Maria Esther Bueno received the Medal of Sporting Merit from the Chamber of Councilors of São Paulo, according to the Resolution 03/2014. The award is instituted within the scope of the Municipality of São Paulo, to be awarded annually to the entity or citizen of São Paulo in recognition of the relevance of services rendered in favor of sport in the Municipality of São Paulo, or that, in any case, have contributed to the aggrandizement of the sport or significantly encourage its practice, whether through personal goals achieved or activity with society.[25]
Grand Slam finals edit
Bueno won 19 and lost 16 of her Grand Slam finals.[26][27] This represents a success rate of 54%.
Singles: 12 (7 titles, 5 runners-up) edit
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | 1959 | Wimbledon | Grass | Darlene Hard | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Won | 1959 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Christine Truman | 6–1, 6–4 |
| Won | 1960 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | Sandra Reynolds | 8–6, 6–0 |
| Lost | 1960 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Darlene Hard | 4–6, 12–10, 4–6 |
| Won | 1963 | U.S. Championships (2) | Grass | Margaret Court | 7–5, 6–4 |
| Lost | 1964 | French Championships | Clay | Margaret Court | 7–5, 1–6, 2–6 |
| Won | 1964 | Wimbledon (3) | Grass | Margaret Court | 6–4, 7–9, 6–3 |
| Won | 1964 | U.S. Championships (3) | Grass | Carole Caldwell Graebner | 6–1, 6–0 |
| Lost | 1965 | Australian Championships | Grass | Margaret Court | 7–5, 4–6, 2–5, ret. |
| Lost | 1965 | Wimbledon | Grass | Margaret Court | 4–6, 5–7 |
| Lost | 1966 | Wimbledon | Grass | Billie Jean King | 3–6, 6–3, 1–6 |
| Won | 1966 | U.S. Championships (4) | Grass | Nancy Richey | 6–3, 6–1 |
Doubles: 16 (11 wins, 5 runners-up) edit
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | 1958 | Wimbledon | Grass | Althea Gibson | Margaret Osborne duPont Margaret Varner | 6–3, 7–5 |
| Lost | 1958 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Althea Gibson | Jeanne Arth Darlene Hard | 6–2, 3–6, 4–6 |
| Lost | 1959 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Sally Moore | Jeanne Arth Darlene Hard | 2–6, 3–6 |
| Won | 1960 | Australian Championships | Grass | Christine Truman | Lorraine Coghlan Robinson Margaret Court | 6–2, 5–7, 6–2 |
| Won | 1960 | French Championships | Clay | Darlene Hard | Ann Haydon-Jones Patricia Ward Hales | 6–2, 7–5 |
| Won | 1960 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | Darlene Hard | Sandra Reynolds Renée Schuurman | 6–4, 6–0 |
| Won | 1960 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Darlene Hard | Ann Haydon-Jones Deidre Catt | 6–1, 6–1 |
| Lost | 1961 | French Championships | Clay | Darlene Hard | Sandra Reynolds Renée Schuurman | walkover |
| Won | 1962 | U.S. Championships (2) | Grass | Darlene Hard | Billie Jean Moffitt Karen Hantze Susman | 4–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| Won | 1963 | Wimbledon (3) | Grass | Darlene Hard | Margaret Court Robyn Ebbern | 8–6, 9–7 |
| Lost | 1963 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Darlene Hard | Margaret Court Robyn Ebbern | 6–4, 8–10, 3–6 |
| Won | 1965 | Wimbledon (4) | Grass | Billie Jean Moffitt | Françoise Dürr Janine Lieffrig | 6–2, 7–5 |
| Won | 1966 | Wimbledon (5) | Grass | Nancy Richey | Margaret Court Judy Tegart | 6–3, 4–6, 6–4 |
| Won | 1966 | U.S. Championships (3) | Grass | Nancy Richey | Billie Jean King Rosemary Casals | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Lost | 1967 | Wimbledon | Grass | Nancy Richey | Rosemary Casals Billie Jean King | 11–9, 4–6, 2–6 |
| Won | 1968 | US Open (4) | Grass | Margaret Court | Billie Jean King Rosemary Casals | 4–6, 9–7, 8–6 |
Mixed doubles: 7 (1 win, 6 runners-up) edit
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost | 1958 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Alex Olmedo | Margaret Osborne duPont Neale Fraser | 3–6, 6–3, 7–9 |
| Lost | 1959 | Wimbledon | Grass | Neale Fraser | Darlene Hard Rod Laver | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Won | 1960 | French Championships | Clay | Bob Howe | Ann Haydon-Jones Roy Emerson | 1–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
| Lost | 1960 | Wimbledon | Grass | Bob Howe | Darlene Hard Rod Laver | 11–13, 6–3, 6–8 |
| Lost | 1960 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Antonio Palafox | Margaret Osborne duPont Neale Fraser | 3–6, 2–6 |
| Lost | 1965 | French Championships | Clay | John Newcombe | Margaret Court Ken Fletcher | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Lost | 1967 | Wimbledon | Grass | Ken Fletcher | Billie Jean King Owen Davidson | 6–3, 2–6, 13–15 |
Grand Slam singles tournament timeline edit
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
| Tournament | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969–1975 | 1976 | 1977 | Career SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | A | A | A | QF | A | A | A | A | F | A | A | A | A | A | A / A | 0 / 2 |
| France | 1R | SF | QF | SF | QF | A | A | F | SF | SF | QF | QF | A | 1R | A | 0 / 11 |
| Wimbledon | A | QF | W | W | A | SF | QF | W | F | F | 4R | QF | A | 4R | 3R | 3 / 12 |
| United States | A | QF | W | F | A | SF | W | W | SF | W | 2R | SF | A | 3R | 2R | 4 / 12 |
| SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 2 / 3 | 1 / 4 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 2 | 1 / 2 | 2 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 1 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 7 / 37 |
Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
See also edit
Notes edit
- ^ Bueno won the Italian Championships again in 1961 and 1965 to become the second three-time winner of the tournament after Margaret Smith.[11]
References edit
- ^ Schudel, Matt (9 June 2018). "Maria Bueno, Brazilian tennis star who won 3 Wimbledon singles titles, dies at 78". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
- ^ "Maria BUeno, 60 years on – The Championships, Wimbledon 2021 – Official Site by IBM". wimbledon.com. from the original on 21 February 2022.
- ^ "O Globo – 4 July 2017". Maria Esther Bueno. from the original on 21 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Maria Bueno, Brazilian tennis star, dies aged 78". The Guardian. 9 June 2018.
- ^ a b "The early years: Fast track to the top: 1939 to 1959". Maria Esther Bueno. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Maria Bueno, three-time Wimbledon champion whose pink knickers caused a storm, dies from cancer". The Daily Telegraph. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ a b Leigh Walsh (29 May 2014). . wimbledon,com. AELTC. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Maria Bueno". tennisfame.com. International Tennis Hall of Fame.
- ^ "Europeans rate Bueno as next tennis champ". The Miami News. 16 August 1958. p. 2C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Paul Newman (16 August 2016). "From the archive: Maria Bueno, pride of Brazil". wimbledon.com. AELTC.
- ^ "Maria Bueno Cops Italian Net Crown". Schenectady Gazette. Associated Press. 12 May 1965. p. 36 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "Australians Fail in Wimbledon Doubles Attempt". The Canberra Times. Vol. 32, no. 9, 525. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 7 July 1958. p. 12. Retrieved 10 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Fraser And Emerson Tale Doubles Title". The Canberra Times. Vol. 33, no. 9, 334. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 6 July 1959. p. 6. Retrieved 10 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Maria Bueno: A Brazilian Tennis Legend". wtatennis.com. WTA. 26 February 2014.
- ^ "Wimbledon Champions: Women's top 25". The Telegraph. 28 June 2008.
- ^ Collins, Bud (2008). The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book. New York, N.Y: New Chapter Press. pp. 695, 703. ISBN 978-0-942257-41-0.
- ^ Collins, Bud (2016). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (3rd ed.). New York: New Chapter Press. pp. 589–590. ISBN 978-1-937559-38-0.
- ^ a b "Maria Bueno: Brazilian star of 1960s women's tennis dies". BBC. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ "Seven-time Grand Slam champion Maria Esther Bueno, who passed away on Friday, was "the first superstar of South America"". Women's Tennis Association. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Brazilian Tennis Great Maria Bueno Dies After Cancer Battle". The New York Times. 8 June 2018.
- ^ Obituaries, Telegraph (10 June 2018). "Maria Bueno, three-times women's singles champion at Wimbledon – obituary". The Telegraph.
- ^ Lehman, Stan; Savarese, Mauricio (9 June 2018). "Brazilian tennis great Maria Bueno dies after cancer battle". The Bradenton Herald. Associated Press. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ "Maria Esther Bueno Cup (W50)". itftennis.com. International Tennis Federation (ITF).
- ^ Carol Fontes (12 December 2016). "Paes inaugura arena olímpica de tênis em homenagem a Maria Esther Bueno". Globoesporte.com (in Portuguese).
- ^ "Sessão Solene Archives". 27 June 2023.
- ^ Robertson, Max (1974). The Encyclopedia of Tennis. London: Allen & Unwin. pp. 175, 213. ISBN 9780047960420.
- ^ Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. p. 555. ISBN 978-0942257700.
External links edit
- Maria Bueno at the International Tennis Hall of Fame
- Maria Bueno at the Women's Tennis Association
- Maria Bueno at the International Tennis Federation
- Maria Bueno at the Billie Jean King Cup