Janet Newberry (born August 6, 1953) is an American former professional tennis player who was active in the 1970s. She is also known by her former married name Janet Newberry-Wright and Janet Wright. She reached the semifinals of the French Open in 1975 and 1977 and the final of the 1973 Wimbledon Championships mixed doubles.

Janet Newberry
Full nameJanet Newberry-Howe
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceSt Petersburg, Florida
Born (1953-08-06) August 6, 1953 (age 71)
Los Angeles, California
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Turned pro1971
Retired1985 (doubles) 1980 (singles)
PlaysRight-handed
Singles
Career titles2
Highest rankingNo. 17
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenQF (1974, 1979)
French OpenSF (1975, 1977)
Wimbledon3R (1973, 1975, 1978)
US Open4R (1976)
Doubles
Career titles6
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open2R (1974)
French Open2R (1975, 1977)
WimbledonQF (1984)
US Open2R (1973, 1974)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
WimbledonF (1973)
US OpenQF (1971, 1973)

Personal life

edit

Janet Newberry is a stepdaughter of lawyer Edward A. Turville, a former Davis Cup Captain, President of the USTA and a founder of the Florida Lawn Tennis Association in 1949 who served as its first president for five years. Janet married Frank I. Wright, a horse trainer at Belmont Park, television horse racing commentator for CBS and ESPN and World War II veteran, in 1981 and went by the name Janet Newberry-Wright. After Wright's death in 1991, she married Ralph Howe, the national grass court 60 & over singles champion, court tennis champion, Yale intercollegiate squash champion, North American singles squash champion, in 1997 and now is known as Janet Newberry-Howe.

Career

edit

In 1968, Newberry won the USLTA 16-and-under championship.[1]

In 1974, she played for the Boston Lobsters of the World Team Tennis league.[2] In 1975, she won the British Hardcourt Championship in Bournemouth, reached the semifinals of the French Open, and played for the United States Federation Cup team in doubles, partnering Julie Heldman.

In 1976, Newberry beat Martina Navratilova in the first round of the US Open 1–6, 6–4, 6–3. Navratilova said, "I still consider that loss the worst of my career, at least in the way I responded to it on and off the court."[3] Newberry was reported as saying that she had never seen anyone so distraught,[4] and she helped Navratilova calm down afterwards.[5]

In 1977, Newberry won the Italian Open after defeating Renáta Tomanová in the final in straight sets,[6] and reached the semifinals of the French Open.

In 1984, Newberry achieved her best Grand Slam women's doubles result, reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon partnering Renee Blount, losing to Kathy Jordan and Anne Smith 6–0, 6–1.

Newberry's highest world ranking was World No. 17.[6]

Later

edit

Newberry was manager of British women's national training.[7] She later worked for the Women's Tennis Association.[8]

In 2004, she opened an antique shop in St Petersburg, Florida based on her collection of tennis memorabilia.[9]

WTA Tour finals

edit

Singles (2 titles, 2 runners-up)

edit
Legend
Grand Slam 0
WTA Championships 0
Tier I 0
Tier II 0
Tier III 0
Tier IV & V 0
Result No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 1. Mar 1973 Virginia Slims of Richmond, U.S. Clay (i)   Margaret Court 2–6, 1–6
Win 2. May 1975 British Hard Court Championships, England Clay   Terry Holladay 7–9, 7–5, 6–3
Win 3. May 1977 Italian Open, Italy Clay   Renáta Tomanová 6–3, 7–6(7–5)
Loss 4. Oct 1977 Borinquen Classic, Puerto Rico Hard   Billie Jean King 1–6, 3–6

Doubles 3 (2-1)

edit
Legend
Grand Slam 0
WTA Championships 0
Tier I 0
Tier II 0
Tier III 0
Tier IV & V 0
Titles by surface
Hard 0
Clay 0
Grass 1
Carpet 1
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1. Feb 27, 1977 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Carpet   JoAnne Russell   Martina Navratilova
  Betty Stöve
6–4, 2–6, 4–6
Win 2. Jun 1978 Chichester, England Grass   Pam Shriver   Michelle Tyler
  Yvonne Vermaak
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win 3. Jan 1979 Houston, Texas, U.S. Carpet   Martina Navratilova   Pam Shriver
  Betty Stöve
4–6, 6–4, 6–2

Mixed doubles 1

edit
Legend
Grand Slam 0
WTA Championships 0
Tier I 0
Tier II 0
Tier III 0
Tier IV & V 0
Titles by surface
Hard 0
Clay 0
Grass 0
Carpet 0
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1. Jul 1973 Wimbledon, England Grass   Raúl Ramírez   Owen Davidson
  Billie Jean King
3–6, 2–6

References

edit
  1. ^ "Faces In The Crowd". SI Vault. Time Inc. August 26, 1968. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
  2. ^ Gardner, Anne. "Andrea Voikos Dorr". United States Tennis Association. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
  3. ^ "Shape Your Self". Excerpt from: Shape Your Self: My 6-Step Diet and Fitness Plan to Achieve the Best Shape of Your Life by Martina Navratilova. Buzzle. March 28, 2006. Archived from the original on March 16, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ Kettmann, Steve (April 18, 2000). "Martina Navratilova". Salon. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
  5. ^ Araton, Harvey (November 16, 1994). "Sports of The Times; Martina Exits Smiling". The New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
  6. ^ a b Morgan, Nancy (April 4, 2001). "Florida is runner-up in intersectional doubles Series: TENNIS". St Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
  7. ^ O'Hagan, Simon (December 3, 1995). "Fleming backing Britain". The Independent. Newspaper Publishing PLC. Retrieved February 17, 2009. [dead link]
  8. ^ "Venus Williams". Interview. ASAP Sports. July 2, 2005. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
  9. ^ Bond, Sharon L. (June 13, 2004). "Work to start on presold townhomes". St Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
edit