A former world No1 American tennis player, Doris Hart was the first person to complete a ‘career boxed set’ of grand slam titles – that is having at least one of every possible title in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, from all four majors.
Hart, who was born on this day in 1925, was one of the stars of the women’s game in the 1940s and early 1950s, rising to the top of the rankings in 1951. She finished her career with 325 titles in total, 35 of them captured in grand slam events.
As a child, Hart suffered an infection, which prompted her doctors to consider amputating her right leg. As a result, she was slightly bow-legged, with one of her limbs thinner than the other.
Still that didn’t stop her from using her finesse and smart serve-and volley tactics to the top. Hart, who has won six grand slam singles titles, died in May last year aged 89.
Other sporting stars born on this day:
1971: Josh Kronfeld, New Zealand former rugby union player, who gained 54 caps with the All Blacks (45).
1978: Frank Lampard, English footballer and Chelsea legend, who plays as a midfielder for NYCFC in the MLS (38).
1982: Aleksei and Vasili Berezutski, Russian twin footballers, who play for CSKA Moscow and Russia (34).
1989: Javier Pastore, Argentinean footballer, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina (27).
