Zina Lynna Garrison (born November 16, 1963) is an American former professional tennis player. Garrison was the runner-up in singles at the 1990 Wimbledon Championships, a three-time major mixed doubles champion, and an Olympic gold and bronze medalist from the women's doubles and singles events, respectively, at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. She reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 4, on 20 November 1989.

Zina Garrison
Garrison in 2001
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceHouston, Texas
Born (1963-11-16) November 16, 1963 (age 60)
Houston, Texas
Height1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
Turned pro1982
Retired1997
PlaysRight-handed (one handed-backhand)
Prize money$4,590,816
Singles
Career record587–270 (68.5%)
Career titles14
Highest rankingNo. 4 (November 20, 1989)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenSF (1983)
French OpenQF (1982)
WimbledonF (1990)
US OpenSF (1988, 1989)
Doubles
Career record436–231 (65.4%)
Career titles20
Highest rankingNo. 5 (May 23, 1988)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenF (1987, 1992)
French OpenQF (1988, 1989, 1991, 1995)
WimbledonSF (1988, 1990, 1991, 1993)
US OpenSF (1985, 1991)
Mixed doubles
Career titles3
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian OpenW (1987)
French OpenSF (1989)
WimbledonW (1988, 1990)
US OpenSF (1987)
Team competitions
Fed CupW (1989, 1990)
Hopman CupF (1991)
Medal record
Women's tennis
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul Women's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Seoul Women's singles

Career edit

The youngest of seven children, Garrison started playing tennis at the age of 10 and entered her first tournament at the age of 12. At 14, she won the national girls' 18s title. In 1981, she won both the Wimbledon and US Open junior titles and was ranked the world No. 1 junior player. Garrison graduated from Sterling High School in Houston, Texas in 1982.[1]

Garrison began suffering from the eating disorder bulimia when she was 19, following the death of her mother.[1] "I had never been comfortable with my looks and felt I had lost the only person who loved me unconditionally", Garrison told the Observer Sport Monthly in 2006. "The pressure of being labeled 'the next Althea Gibson' only made things worse. I felt I was never going to be allowed to grow into just becoming me."[2]

Garrison turned professional in 1982, and skipped her graduation at Ross Sterling High School to compete in the French Open, her first tournament as a professional, where she reached the quarterfinals. She was awarded the WTA Newcomer of the Year in 1982.

Despite battling bulimia during her first few years on the tour, Garrison enjoyed notable success on-court. She reached the Australian Open semifinals in 1983, her first full year on the tour, and finished the year ranked world No. 10. She won her first top-level singles titles in 1984 at the European Indoor Championships in Zürich. In 1985, Garrison beat world no. 3 Hana Mandlíková and world no. 2 Chris Evert on her way to winning the Amelia Island Championships. She was also a Wimbledon semifinalist in 1985, and in 1986, she won her first tour doubles at the Canadian Open (partnering Gabriela Sabatini).

At the Australian Open in 1987, Garrison won the mixed doubles (partnering Sherwood Stewart) and finished runner-up in the women's doubles (partnering Lori McNeil). A year later, Garrison and Stewart captured the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon.

At the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Garrison teamed with Pam Shriver to win the women's doubles gold medal for the United States, defeating Jana Novotná and Helena Suková of Czechoslovakia in the final. Garrison defeated Shriver in the quarterfinals of the singles event, where she won a bronze medal.[3] At the US Open, she defeated defending champion Navratilova for the first time in her career, advancing to the semifinals, where she lost to Sabatini.

In 1989, Garrison defeated Chris Evert 7–6, 6–2 in the quarterfinals of the US Open in Evert's final tournament. Garrison lost to Navratilova in the semifinals. She finished 1989 ranked at career-high No. 4 in singles.

The highlight of Garrison's career came in 1990 at Wimbledon, as she defeated Samantha Smith, Cecilia Dahlman, Andrea Leand, Helena Suková, then French Open champion Monica Seles in the quarterfinals 3–6, 6–3, 9–7, and defending Wimbledon champion and world No. 1, Steffi Graf, in the semifinals 6–3, 3–6, 6–4 to reach her only Grand Slam singles final, becoming the first African-American woman to do so since Gibson. Moreover, it ended Graf's record 13-time streak of Grand Slam finals. Then, she lost to Navratilova 4–6, 1–6, who thus won her record ninth women's singles title at Wimbledon. Garrison claimed her third mixed-doubles title at Wimbledon that year (partnering Rick Leach).

In 1992, Garrison finished runner-up in the Australian Open women's doubles (partnering Mary Joe Fernández).

At Wimbledon in 1994, Garrison beat world No. 2 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario on the way to her 15th and final Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance.

Garrison retired from professional tennis in 1996. From 1982 to 1995, she remained uninterrupted in the world's top 25. During her career, she won 14 top-level singles titles and 20 doubles titles.

Personal life and post-tennis career edit

Garrison married Willard Jackson in September 1989; however, the marriage ended in divorce in 1997.

Since retiring from the tour, Garrison has worked as a television commentator and maintained active roles in the community and in tennis. She founded the Zina Garrison Foundation for the Homeless in 1988, and the Zina Garrison All-Court Tennis Program, which supports inner-city tennis in Houston, in 1992. She has also served as a member of the United States President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Garrison has maintained a presence on the professional tennis scene, and was the captain for the U.S. Federation Cup (later Fed Cup) team. Garrison also led the U.S. women's team at the 2008 Beijing Games tennis event where team members Venus and Serena Williams won a gold medal in doubles.[4]

After "piling on weight" in her 40s, Garrison participated in season 16 of the reality TV competition The Biggest Loser, titled The Biggest Loser: Glory Days, which premiered September 11, 2014 on NBC. Despite losing 8 lbs., she was the first person eliminated from the program.[5]

Playing style edit

Garrison played an attacking style. It was common for her to slice her backhand and attack the net (a chip-and-charge tactic). Garrison had excellent volleys and overheads. She was able to rally when she wanted to but her main game plan was to get to the net so she could finish with the volley.

Major finals edit

Grand Slam tournaments edit

Singles: 1 (runner–up) edit

Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Loss 1990 Wimbledon Grass   Martina Navratilova 6–4, 6–1

Doubles: 2 (2 runner-ups) edit

Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1987 Australian Open Grass   Lori McNeil   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
6–1, 6–0
Loss 1992 Australian Open Hard   Mary Joe Fernández   Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
  Helena Suková
6–4, 7–6(7–3)

Mixed doubles: 6 (3 titles, 3 runner-ups) edit

Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1987 Australian Open Grass   Sherwood Stewart   Anne Hobbs
  Andrew Castle
3–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–3
Win 1988 Wimbledon Grass   Sherwood Stewart   Gretchen Magers
  Kelly Jones
6–1, 7–6(7–3)
Loss 1989 Australian Open Hard   Sherwood Stewart   Jana Novotná
  Jim Pugh
6–3, 6–4
Loss 1990 Australian Open Hard   Jim Pugh   Natasha Zvereva
  Andrew Castle
4–6, 6–2, 6–3
Win 1990 Wimbledon (2) Grass   Rick Leach   Elizabeth Smylie
  John Fitzgerald
7–5, 6–2
Loss 1993 Australian Open Hard   Rick Leach   Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
  Todd Woodbridge
7–5, 6–4

Olympics edit

Singles: 1 (bronze medal) edit

Result Year Location Surface Opponent Score
Bronze 1988 Seoul Hard Tied DNP

Garrison lost in the semifinals to Steffi Graf 2–6, 0–6. In 1988, there was no bronze medal play-off match, both beaten semifinal players received bronze medals.

Doubles: 1 (gold medal) edit

Result Year Location Surface Partner Opponents Score
Gold 1988 Seoul Hard   Pam Shriver   Jana Novotná
  Helena Suková
4–6, 6–2, 10–8

WTA career finals edit

Singles: 36 (14–22) edit

Winner — Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–1)
WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
Tier I (0–0)
Tier II (0–8)
Tier III (5–2)
Tier IV (3–2)
Tier V (0–2)
Virginia Slims (6–7)
Finals by surface
Hard (3–6)
Grass (4–4)
Clay (1–3)
Carpet (6–9)
Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 1. Aug 1983 Indianapolis Clay   Andrea Temesvári 2–6, 2–6
Loss 2. Jan 1984 Washington Carpet (i)   Hana Mandlíková 1–6, 1–6
Loss 3. Sep 1984 New Orleans Carpet (i)   Martina Navratilova 4–6, 3–6
Win 1. Oct 1984 Zürich Carpet (i)   Claudia Kohde-Kilsch 6–1, 0–6, 6–2
Loss 4. Jan 1985 Denver Carpet (i)   Peanut Louie 4–6, 6–4, 4–6
Win 2. Apr 1985 Amelia Island Clay   Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–4, 6–3
Loss 5. Jul 1985 Indianapolis Clay   Andrea Temesvári 6–7(0–7), 3–6
Win 3. Oct 1985 Zürich Carpet (i)   Hana Mandlíková 6–1, 6–3
Loss 6. Sep 1986 Tampa Hard   Lori McNeil 6–2, 5–7, 2–6
Win 4. Oct 1986 Indianapolis Hard (i)   Melissa Gurney 6–3, 6–3
Win 5. Jan 1987 Sydney Grass   Pam Shriver 6–2, 6–4
Win 6. Feb 1987 San Francisco Carpet (i)   Sylvia Hanika 7–5, 4–6, 6–3
Loss 7. Aug 1987 Toronto Hard   Pam Shriver 4–6, 1–6
Loss 8. Oct 1988 Indianapolis Hard (i)   Katerina Maleeva 3–6, 6–2, 2–6
Loss 9. Feb 1989 Washington Carpet (i)   Steffi Graf 1–6, 5–7
Win 7. Feb 1989 Oakland Carpet (i)   Larisa Savchenko 6–1, 6–1
Loss 10. Jun 1989 Birmingham Grass   Martina Navratilova 6–7(5–7), 3–6
Win 8. Jul 1989 Newport Grass   Pam Shriver 6–0, 6–1
Loss 11. Jul 1989 San Diego Hard   Steffi Graf 4–6, 5–7
Loss 12. Oct 1989 Worcester Carpet (i)   Martina Navratilova 2–6, 3–6
Win 9. Nov 1989 Chicago Carpet (i)   Larisa Savchenko 6–3, 2–6, 6–4
Loss 13. Feb 1990 Washington Carpet (i)   Martina Navratilova 1–6, 0–6
Win 10. Jun 1990 Birmingham Grass   Helena Suková 6–4, 6–1
Loss 14. Jun 1990 Wimbledon Grass   Martina Navratilova 4–6, 1–6
Loss 15. Oct 1990 Dorado Hard   Jennifer Capriati 7–5, 4–6, 2–6
Loss 16. Feb 1991 Chicago Carpet (i)   Martina Navratilova 1–6, 2–6
Loss 17. Oct 1991 Brighton Carpet (i)   Steffi Graf 7–5, 4–6, 1–6
Win 11. Feb 1992 Oklahoma City Hard (i)   Lori McNeil 7–5, 3–6, 7–6(12–10)
Loss 18. Apr, 1992 Houston Clay   Monica Seles 1–6, 1–6
Win 12. Feb 1993 Oklahoma City Hard (i)   Patty Fendick 6–2, 6–2
Loss 19. Jun 1993 Birmingham Grass   Lori McNeil 4–6, 6–2, 3–6
Loss 20. Jul 1993 Stratton Mountain Hard   Conchita Martínez 3–6, 2–6
Win 13. Oct 1993 Budapest Carpet (i)   Sabine Appelmans 7–5, 6–2
Loss 21. Nov 1993 Oakland Carpet (i)   Martina Navratilova 2–6, 6–7(1–7)
Loss 22. Jun 1994 Birmingham Grass   Lori McNeil 2–6, 2–6
Win 14. Jun 1995 Birmingham Grass   Lori McNeil 6–3, 6–3

Doubles: 45 (19–26) edit

Winner — Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–2)
WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
Tier I (2–2)
Tier II (6–11)
Tier III (6–2)
Tier IV (0–0)
Tier V (0–1)
Virginia Slims (5–8)
Finals by surface
Hard (7–7)
Grass (2–3)
Clay (3–5)
Carpet (7–11)
Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1. August 4, 1986 Montreal Hard   Gabriela Sabatini   Pam Shriver
  Helena Suková
7–6(7–2), 5–7, 6–4
Loss 1. October 13, 1986 Filderstadt Carpet (i)   Gabriela Sabatini   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
6–7(5–7), 4–6
Win 2. October 27, 1986 Indianapolis Hard (i)   Lori McNeil   Candy Reynolds
  Anne Smith
4–5 ret.
Loss 2. January 12, 1987 Australian Open Grass   Lori McNeil   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
1–6, 0–6
Loss 3. February 9, 1987 San Francisco Carpet (i)   Gabriela Sabatini   Hana Mandlíková
  Wendy Turnbull
4–6, 6–7(4–7)
Loss 4. March 23, 1987 Washington Carpet (i)   Lori McNeil   Elise Burgin
  Pam Shriver
1–6, 6–3, 4–6
Loss 5. April 6, 1987 Hilton Head Island Clay   Lori McNeil   Mercedes Paz
  Eva Pfaff
6–7(6–8), 5–7
Loss 6. April 20, 1987 Houston Clay   Lori McNeil   Kathy Jordan
  Martina Navratilova
2–6, 4–6
Loss 7. August 10, 1987 Los Angeles Hard   Lori McNeil   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
3–6, 4–6
Win 3. August 17, 1987 Toronto Hard   Lori McNeil   Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
  Helena Suková
6–1, 6–2
Win 4. September 28, 1987 New Orleans Carpet (i)   Lori McNeil   Peanut Louie Harper
  Heather Ludloff
6–3, 6–4
Loss 8. October 12, 1987 Filderstadt Carpet (i)   Lori McNeil   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
1–6, 2–6
Loss 9. November 9, 1987 Chicago Carpet (i)   Lori McNeil   Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
  Helena Suková
4–6, 3–6
Loss 10. February 8, 1988 Dallas Carpet (i)   Gigi Fernández   Lori McNeil
  Eva Pfaff
6–2, 4–6, 5–7
Win 5. March 7, 1988 Boca Raton Hard   Katrina Adams   Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
  Helena Suková
4–6, 5–7, 6–4
Loss 11. March 14, 1988 Key Biscayne Hard   Gigi Fernández   Steffi Graf
  Gabriela Sabatini
6–7(3–7), 3–6
Win 6. April 11, 1988 Amelia Island Clay   Eva Pfaff   Katrina Adams
  Penny Barg
4–6, 6–2, 7–6(7–5)
Win 7. April 18, 1988 Houston Clay   Katrina Adams   Lori McNeil
  Martina Navratilova
6–7(4–7), 6–2, 6–4
Loss 12. August 15, 1988 Montreal Hard   Pam Shriver   Jana Novotná
  Helena Suková
6–7(2–7), 6–7(6–8)
Loss 13. October 24, 1988 Indianapolis Hard (i)   Katrina Adams   Larisa Savchenko
  Natalia Zvereva
2–6, 1–6
Win 8. November 25, 1988 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Katrina Adams   Gigi Fernández
  Robin White
7–5, 7–5
Win 9. January 31, 1989 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Katrina Adams   Mary Joe Fernández
  Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
6–3, 6–3, 7–6(7–5)
Win 10. April 24, 1989 Houston Clay   Katrina Adams   Gigi Fernández
  Lori McNeil
6–3, 6–4
Win 11. June 19, 1989 Eastbourne Grass   Katrina Adams   Jana Novotná
  Helena Suková
6–3, ret.
Win 12. February 19, 1990 Washington Carpet (i)   Martina Navratilova   Ann Henricksson
  Dinky van Rensburg
6–0, 6–3
Loss 14. June 18, 1990 Eastbourne Grass   Patty Fendick   Larisa Savchenko-Neiland
  Natalia Zvereva
4–6, 3–6
Win 13. August 6, 1990 San Diego Hard   Patty Fendick   Elise Burgin
  Rosalyn Fairbank
6–4, 7–6(7–5)
Win 14. October 15, 1990 Filderstadt Carpet (i)   Mary Joe Fernández   Mercedes Paz
  Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
7–5, 6–3
Win 15. March 15, 1991 Key Biscayne Hard   Mary Joe Fernández   Gigi Fernández
  Jana Novotná
7–5, 6–2
Loss 15. October 7, 1991 Zürich Carpet (i)   Lori McNeil   Jana Novotná
  Andrea Strnadová
4–6, 3–6
Loss 16. October 22, 1991 Brighton Carpet (i)   Lori McNeil   Pam Shriver
  Natasha Zvereva
1–6, 2–6
Loss 17. November 11, 1991 Philadelphia Carpet (i)   Mary Joe Fernández   Jana Novotná
  Larisa Savchenko-Neiland
2–6, 4–6
Loss 18. January 6, 1992 Sydney Hard   Mary Joe Fernández   Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
  Helena Suková
6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–4), 2–6
Loss 19. January 13, 1992 Australian Open Hard   Mary Joe Fernández   Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
  Helena Suková
4–6, 6–7(3–7)
Loss 20. February 10, 1992 Chicago Carpet (i)   Katrina Adams   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
4–6, 6–7(7–9)
Loss 21. April 6, 1992 Amelia Island Clay   Jana Novotná   Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
  Natasha Zvereva
1–6, 0–6
Loss 22. June 15, 1992 Eastbourne Grass   Mary Joe Fernández   Jana Novotná
  Larisa Savchenko-Neiland
0–6, 3–6
Loss 23. August 10, 1992 Los Angeles Hard   Pam Shriver   Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
  Helena Suková
4–6, 2–6
Win 16. February 8, 1993 Chicago Carpet (i)   Katrina Adams   Amy Frazier
  Kimberly Po
7–6(7–3), 6–3
Win 17. February 15, 1993 Oklahoma City Hard (i)   Patty Fendick   Katrina Adams
  Manon Bollegraf
6–3, 6–2
Loss 24. May 3, 1993 Rome Clay   Mary Joe Fernández   Jana Novotná
  Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
4–6, 2–6
Win 18. October 4, 1993 Zürich Carpet (i)   Martina Navratilova   Gigi Fernández
  Natasha Zvereva
6–3, 5–7, 6–3
Loss 25. March 21, 1994 Houston Clay   Katrina Adams   Manon Bollegraf
  Martina Navratilova
4–6, 2–6
Win 19. June 6, 1994 Birmingham Grass   Larisa Savchenko-Neiland   Catherine Barclay
  Kerry-Anne Guse
6–4, 6–4
Loss 26. October 30, 1995 Oakland Carpet (i)   Katrina Adams   Lori McNeil
  Helena Suková
6–3, 4–6, 3–6

Grand Slam performance timelines edit

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Singles edit

Tournament 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Career SR
Australian Open A A 1R SF 1R QF NH QF 2R QF QF 4R 4R 3R 1R 3R A 0 / 13
French Open A A QF 1R 4R 2R 3R A 4R 3R 1R 1R A 1R 1R 1R A 0 / 12
Wimbledon A A 4R 1R 2R SF 2R A QF 2R F QF 4R 4R QF 3R A 0 / 13
US Open 2R 1R 4R 4R 3R QF 4R 4R SF SF QF 4R 4R 3R 4R 4R 1R 0 / 17
SR 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 1 0 / 55
Year-end ranking NR NR 16 10 9 8 11 9 9 4 8 12 18 14 24 22 255

Doubles edit

Tournament 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Career SR
Australian Open A 1R 2R QF QF NH F SF 3R 1R 2R F QF QF 1R A A 0 / 13
French Open A 2R 1R 1R 1R 1R A QF QF 1R QF 1R 3R 3R QF A A 0 / 13
Wimbledon A 1R 2R 2R 2R 3R A SF QF SF SF QF SF 1R 3R A A 0 / 13
US Open 2R 1R 3R 1R SF QF QF 2R 3R 3R SF QF A A 3R 1R 1R 0 / 15
SR 0 / 1 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 54
Year-end ranking 40 44 18 7 7 9 13 12 10 13 21 27 90 NR

Mixed doubles edit

Tournament 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Career SR
Australian Open NH NH NH NH NH W 1R F F 1R A F 1R A A 1 / 7
French Open A QF A 3R A A 2R SF 2R 3R A 2R 2R 3R A 0 / 9
Wimbledon A QF 1R 2R 1R A W 3R W 2R 2R 3R 1R A A 2 / 11
US Open QF 2R A QF 2R SF QF QF QF 1R QF 1R 2R A 1R 0 / 13
SR 0 / 1 0 / 3 0 / 1 0 / 3 0 / 2 1 / 2 1 / 4 0 / 4 1 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 1 0 / 1 3 / 40

References edit

  1. ^ a b ESPN Classic – Garrison's biggest rally came off the court at espn.go.com (retrieved 2009-04-13)
  2. ^ Honeyball, Lee (2006-05-07). "'Bulimia crushes your self-esteem. It took me five years to get help'". The Observer. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  3. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Zina Garrison". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17.
  4. ^ "Harmon and Garrison to coach US teams in Beijing". 2008-03-19. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  5. ^ "The Biggest Loser" Season 16: Zina Garrison. LA Times

Bibliography edit

  • A. P. Porter, Zina Garrison: Ace, First Ave. Editions, 1992

External links edit