Barbara Potter

Barbara Potter (born October 22, 1961) is a former tennis player from the United States, who competed professionally on the WTA Tour between 1978 and 1989, winning six singles titles and 19 doubles titles. Her highest singles ranking was No. 7 in December 1982.

Barbara Potter
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceHarlem, Georgia, USA
Born (1961-10-22) October 22, 1961
Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Turned pro1978
Retired1989
PlaysLeft-handed
Prize moneyUS$ 1,313,808
Singles
Career record320–191
Career titles6
Highest rankingNo. 7 (December 6, 1982)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian OpenQF (1984)
French Open1R (1985)
WimbledonQF (1982, 1983, 1985)
US OpenSF (1981)
Doubles
Career record200–74
Career titles19
Highest rankingNo. 3
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian OpenSF (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988)
WimbledonSF (1983, 1984)
US OpenF (1982)
Mixed doubles
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
US OpenF (1982, 1983)

Career

Potter started playing tennis when she was eight years old.[1] After graduating from Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut in 1978 Potter elected to turn professional instead of accepting an offer of admission at Princeton.[1][2][3][4] A left-hander, she reached the semifinals at the U.S. Open in 1981[4] as well as the quarterfinals at the Australian Open in 1984, and Wimbledon in 1982, 1983 and 1985. At the WTA Tour Championships, she reached the semifinals in singles in 1984 and was a runner-up in doubles with Sharon Walsh in 1981.

Potter reached a career high ranking of No. 7 in 1982 and that year won the singles titles at the Avon Championships of Cincinnati and the US Indoor Championships.[4][3] She also played in three Grand Slam doubles finals, the 1982 US Open women's doubles with Sharon Walsh as well as the 1982 and 1983 US Open mixed doubles with Ferdi Taygan.

In 1986, Potter suffered two herniated disks in her back at a tournament in England and was forced off the tour several times. After a grueling exercise and fitness program, she successfully returned to the tour.

She was a member of the 1982 and 1984 U.S. Wightman Cup teams and the 1988 United States Fed Cup team. In 1989, she re-aggravated a persistent back condition at the beginning season when she was involved in an automobile accident. She retired in November 1989 due to deteriorating hip cartilage.

Potter currently resides in Harlem, Georgia.

Major finals

Grand Slam finals

Women's doubles (1 runner–up)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up1982US OpenHard Sharon Walsh Kathy Jordan
Anne Smith
6–4, 6–4

Mixed doubles (2 runners-up)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up1982US OpenHard Ferdi Taygan Anne Smith
Kevin Curren
6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–5)
Runner-up1983US OpenHard Ferdi Taygan Elizabeth Sayers
John Fitzgerald
3–6, 6–3, 6–4

Year-End Championships finals

Doubles: (1 runner–up)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up1981New York CityCarpet (i) Sharon Walsh Martina Navrátilová
Pam Shriver
6–0, 7–6(8–6)

WTA career finals

Singles: 14 (6–8)

Winner — Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
Tier I (0–0)
Tier II (0–0)
Tier III (1–0)
Tier IV (0–1)
Tier V (0–1)
Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (5–6)
Titles by surface
Hard (2–2)
Grass (0–1)
Clay (0–0)
Carpet (4–5)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Winner 1. January 29, 1979 Toronto Carpet (i) Bettina Bunge 6–1, 6–4
Runner-up 1. January 14, 1980 Las Vegas Hard (i) Andrea Jaeger 6–7, 6–4, 1–6
Runner-up 2. February 23, 1981 Seattle Carpet (i) Sylvia Hanika 2–6, 4–6
Winner 2. January 11, 1982 Cincinnati Carpet (i) Bettina Bunge 6–2, 7–6(7–3)
Runner-up 3. February 8, 1982 Kansas City Carpet (i) Martina Navratilova 2–6, 2–6
Runner-up 4. September 13, 1982 Tokyo Carpet (i) Bettina Bunge 6–7(4–7), 2–6
Winner 3. September 27, 1982 Philadelphia Carpet (i) Pam Shriver 6–4, 6–2
Runner-up 5. February 6, 1984 Chicago Carpet (i) Pam Shriver 6–7(4–7), 6–2, 3–6
Winner 4. August 19, 1985 Monticello Hard Helen Kelesi 4–6, 6–3, 6–2
Winner 5. February 2, 1987 Wichita Carpet (i) Larisa Savchenko 7–6(8–6), 7–6(7–5)
Runner-up 6. March 23, 1987 Washington Carpet (i) Hana Mandlíková 4–6, 2–6
Runner-up 7. July 11, 1988 Newport Grass Lori McNeil 4–6, 6–4, 3–6
Winner 6. August 1, 1988 Cincinnati Hard Helen Kelesi 6–2, 6–2
Runner-up 8. February 20, 1989 Wichita Hard (i) Amy Frazier 6–4, 4–6, 0–6

Doubles: 41 (19–22)

Winner — Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–1)
WTA Tour Championships (0–1)
Tier I (0–0)
Tier II (0–0)
Tier III (0–0)
Tier IV (1–0)
Tier V (0–0)
Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (18–20)
Titles by surface
Hard (3–5)
Grass (3–0)
Clay (1–1)
Carpet (12–16)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up 1. August 21, 1978 Mahwah Hard Pam Whytcross Ilana Kloss
Marise Kruger
3–6, 4–6
Winner 1. January 14, 1980 Las Vegas Hard (i) Kay McDaniel Diane Desfor
Barbara Jordan
4–5, 7–6, 6–4
Winner 2. September 22, 1980 Atlanta Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Kathy Jordan
Anne Smith
6–3, 6–1
Winner 3. December 15, 1980 Tucson Carpet (i) Leslie Allen Mary-Lou Piatek
Wendy White
7–6, 6–0
Winner 4. January 12, 1981 Kansas City Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Rosie Casals
Wendy Turnbull
6–2, 7–6(4)
Runner-up 2. January 26, 1981 Chicago Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Martina Navrátilová
Pam Shriver
3–6, 4–6
Winner 5. March 16, 1981 Boston Carpet (Ii) Sharon Walsh JoAnne Russell
Virginia Ruzici
6–7, 6–4, 6–3
Runner-up 3. March 25, 1981 Avon Championships Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Martina Navrátilová
Pam Shriver
0–6, 6–7(6)
Runner-up 4. May 4, 1981 Tokyo Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Sue Barker
Ann Kiyomura
5–7, 2–6
Winner 6. October 19, 1981 Brighton Carpet (i) Anne Smith Mima Jaušovec
Pam Shriver
6–7, 6–3, 6–4
Runner-up 5. October 26, 1981 Filderstadt Carpet (i) Anne Smith Mima Jaušovec
Martina Navrátilová
4–6, 1–6
Winner 7. November 16, 1981 Perth Grass Sharon Walsh Betsy Nagelsen
Candy Reynolds
6–4, 6–2
Winner 8. February 8, 1982 Kansas City Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Mary-Lou Piatek
Anne Smith
4–6, 6–2, 6–2
Winner 9. February 22, 1982 Oakland Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Kathy Jordan
Pam Shriver
6–1, 3–6, 7–6(5)
Runner-up 6. March 1, 1982 Los Angeles Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Kathy Jordan
Anne Smith
3–6, 5–7
Runner-up 7. April 19, 1982 Amelia Island Clay Sharon Walsh Leslie Allen
Mima Jaušovec
1–6, 5–7
Runner-up 8. August 16, 1982 Montreal Hard Sharon Walsh Martina Navratilova
Candy Reynolds
4–6, 4–6
Winner 10. August 23, 1982 Mahwah Hard Sharon Walsh Rosie Casals
Wendy Turnbull
6–1, 6–4
Runner-up 9. August 30, 1982 US Open Hard Sharon Walsh Rosie Casals
Wendy Turnbull
4–6, 4–6
Runner-up 10. September 27, 1982 Philadelphia Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Rosie Casals
Wendy Turnbull
6–3, 6–7(5), 4–6
Winner 11. October 4, 1982 Deerfield Beach Hard Sharon Walsh Rosie Casals
Wendy Turnbull
7–6(5), 7–6(3)
Runner-up 11. October 25, 1982 Brighton Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
6–2, 5–7, 4–6
Runner-up 12. January 10, 1983 Houston Carpet (i) Jo Durie Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
4–6, 3–6
Winner 12. January 30, 1983 Palm Beach Garden Clay Sharon Walsh Kathy Jordan
Paula Smith
6–4, 4–6, 6–2
Winner 13. July 11, 1983 Newport Grass Sharon Walsh Barbara Jordan
Elizabeth Sayers
6–3, 6–1
Runner-up 13. September 19, 1983 Richmond Carpet (i) Kathy Jordan Rosalyn Fairbank
Candy Reynolds
7–6(3), 2–6, 1–6
Runner-up 14. September 26, 1983 Hartford Carpet (i) Kathy Jordan Billie Jean King
Sharon Walsh
6–3, 3–6, 4–6
Winner 14. October 2, 1983 Detroit Carpet (i) Kathy Jordan Rosie Casals
Wendy Turnbull
6–4, 6–1
Winner 15. January 2, 1984 Washington Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Leslie Allen
Anne White
6–1, 6–7(7), 6–2
Runner-up 15. January 30, 1984 Houston Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Mima Jaušovec
Anne White
4–6, 6–3, 6–7(4)
Runner-up 16. February 6, 1984 Chicago Carpet (i) Pam Shriver Billie Jean King
Sharon Walsh
7–5, 3–6, 3–6
Winner 16. March 26, 1984 Boston Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Andrea Leand
Mary-Lou Piatek
7–6(4), 6–0
Runner-up 17. September 17, 1984 Fort Lauderdale Hard Sharon Walsh Martina Navratilova
Elizabeth Sayers
6–2, 2–6, 3–6
Runner-up 18. October 22, 1984 Brighton Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Alycia Moulton
Paula Smith
7–6, 3–6, 5–7
Winner 17. March 11, 1985 Dallas Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Marcella Mesker
Pascale Paradis
5–7, 6–4, 7–6(4)
Runner-up 19. May 6, 1985 Sydney Carpet (i) Sharon Walsh Pam Shriver
Elizabeth Smylie
5–7, 5–7
Runner-up 20. October 21, 1985 Brighton Carpet (i) Helena Suková Lori McNeil
Catherine Suire
6–4, 6–7(3), 4–6
Runner-up 21. January 27, 1986 Key Biscayne Hard Betsy Nagelsen Kathy Jordan
Elizabeth Smylie
6–7(5), 6–2, 2–6
Winner 18. March 28, 1986 Nashville Carpet (i) Pam Shriver Kathy Jordan
Elizabeth Smylie
6–4, 6–3
Runner-up 22. February 2, 1987 Wichita Carpet (i) Wendy White Svetlana Parkhomenko
Larisa Savchenko
2–6, 4–6
Winner 19. July 11, 1988 Newport Grass Rosalyn Fairbank Gigi Fernández
Lori McNeil
6–4, 6–3

Grand Slam performance timeline

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# A NH
(W) Won; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent; (NH) not held. SR=strike rate (events won/competed)

Singles

Tournament197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989Career SR
Australian Open A A A 2R 3R 3R QF 2R NH A 4R 1R 0 / 7
French Open A A A A A A A 1R A A A A 0 / 1
Wimbledon 2R 1R 3R 4R QF QF 4R QF A 2R 4R A 0 / 10
U.S. Open 2R 3R 3R SF 2R 2R 4R 2R A 1R 4R A 0 / 10
SR 0 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 0 0 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 1 0 / 28
Year End Ranking 62 47 25 10 8 25 12 17 26 12 10 105

Doubles

Tournament197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989Career SR
Australian Open A A A QF SF SF SF SF NH A SF 1R 0 / 7
French Open A A A A A A A A A A A A 0 / 0
Wimbledon 2R 2R 1R QF 2R SF SF QF A A 2R 2R 0 / 10
U.S. Open A A A 1R F A QF QF A 2R 1R A 0 / 6
SR 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 0 0 / 1 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 23
Year End Ranking 3 9 25 26 51 356
gollark: Although the code is substantially nicer, and it does actual HTML parsing.
gollark: As you can see, I have stolen* DDGBot's concept.
gollark: Oh no.
gollark: ++search palaiologos inevitably
gollark: Maybe I should just use <#800374627897442335>.

References

  1. Thomas Rogers (March 25, 1981). "Miss Potter making a bid in title tennis". The New York Times.
  2. Charles Friedman (March 21, 1982). "At 20, tennis star seeks to advance". The New York Times.
  3. "Barbara Potter is facing the wall of the Charles..." UPI. March 31, 1984.
  4. Sarah Pileggi (March 8, 1982). "Young and old, wise and goofy". Sports Illustrated. Vol. 56 no. 10. pp. 36–39.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.