Kathy Jordan


Kathryn "Kathy" Jordan is a former American tennis player. During her career, she won seven Grand Slam titles, five of them in women's doubles and two in mixed doubles. She also was the 1983 Australian Open women's singles runner-up and won three singles titles and 42 doubles titles.

College

She received an athletic scholarship to Stanford University in 1978. While at Stanford, she won the 1979 AIAW Championships in singles and in doubles with her sister, Barbara Jordan. While at Stanford, she won the Broderick Award as the nation's best female tennis player in 1979.

Career

Jordan turned professional in 1979. Her best performance in a Grand Slam singles tournament was runner-up at the 1983 Australian Open, where she lost to Martina Navratilova in straight sets..
She was the first player to defeat Chris Evert before the semifinals of a Grand Slam singles tournament. Jordan defeated Evert 6–1, 7–6 in the third round of Wimbledon in 1983 after Evert had reached at least the semifinals of her first 34 Grand Slam singles tournaments.
In women's doubles, Jordan won five Grand Slam titles, four of which were in partnership with Anne Smith. She also won a career Grand Slam in women's doubles, winning the 1980 French Open, 1980 and 1985 Wimbledon, 1981 US Open, and 1981 Australian Open.
In the Wimbledon final on July 6, 1985, Jordan and Elizabeth Smylie teamed to snap the 109-match winning streak of Navratilova and Pam Shriver by defeating them in three sets..
In mixed doubles, Jordan won two Grand Slam titles, 1986 French Open and 1986 Wimbledon, both of which were in partnership with Ken Flach.
Jordan retired in 1991. Her highest singles rank was world number five in 1984 and her highest doubles rank was world number 6 in 1991. She won several awards during her career, including 1979 WTA Most Impressive Newcomer Award, 1980 WTA Doubles Team of the Year Award with Smith, 1984 WTA Most Improved Player of the Year Award, and 1991 WTA Player Service Award
After retiring, Jordan returned to Stanford University and received a B.A. in political science in 1991. She was elected vice-president of the WTA in 1992. She also served as chairperson of the WTA Drug Testing Committee and served on WTA executive, deferred compensation, finance/marketing, and insurance Committees through 1992.
In 2002, Jordan was presented with a Mentor Award by Martina Navratilova, on behalf of the WTA Tour, in recognition of her contribution to the Partners for Success program and to the sport of tennis at large.
Jordan was nicknamed "KJ."

Personal life

Jordan was one of the top juniors during the 1970s. She also was a top high school basketball player, being named to the All-Conference basketball team while at Upper Merion Area High School in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Her sister won the 1979 Australian Open women's singles title. Her father, Bob Jordan, was instrumental in the development of the WTA deferred compensation plan. Now, Jordan spends her time running for school board in Palo Alto, California.

Major finals

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 1 (1 runner–up)

Women's doubles: 11 (5 titles, 6 runners-up)

Mixed doubles: 3 (2 titles, 1 runner–up)

Year-End Championships finals

Doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner–up)

WTA career finals

Singles 13 (3–10)

OutcomeNo.DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Winner1.January 8, 1979San AntonioCarpet Linda Siegel6–2, 7–5
Winner2.March 12, 1979OrlandoHard Regina Maršíková4–6, 6–1, 6–4
Runner-up1.August 13, 1979RichmondCarpet Martina Navratilova1–6, 3–6
Winner3.March 15, 1982BostonCarpet Wendy Turnbull7–5, 1–6, 6–4
Runner-up2.April 25, 1983AtlantaHard Pam Shriver2–6, 0–6
Runner-up3.September 19, 1983RichmondCarpet Rosalyn Fairbank4–6, 7–5, 4–6
Runner-up4.October 3, 1983DetroitCarpet Virginia Ruzici6–4, 4–6, 2–6
Runner-up5.November 21, 1983SydneyGrass Jo Durie3–6, 5–5
Runner-up6.November 28, 1983Australian OpenGrass Martina Navratilova2–6, 6–7
Runner-up7.March 19, 1984DallasCarpet Hana Mandlíková6–7, 6–3, 1–6
Runner-up8.June 18, 1984EastbourneGrass Martina Navratilova4–6, 1–6
Runner-up9.May 13, 1985:fr:Tournoi de Melbourne|MelbourneCarpet Pam Shriver4–6, 4–6
Runner-up10.February 24, 1986OaklandCarpet Chris Evert-Lloyd2–6, 4–6

Doubles 78 (42–36)

OutcomeNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentScore
Winner1.January 8, 1979San AntonioCarpet Wendy White :fr:Bunny Bruning|Bunny Bruning
Valerie Ziegenfuss
6–2, 6–2
Winner2.August 6, 1979IndianapolisClay Anne Smith Penny Johnson
Paula Smith
6–1, 6–0
Runner-up1.January 21, 1980ChicagoCarpet Sylvia Hanika Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
3–6, 4–6
Runner-up2.February 4, 1980Los AngelesCarpet Anne Smith Rosemary Casals
Martina Navratilova
6–7, 2–6
Runner-up3.February 18, 1980DetroitCarpet Anne Smith Billie Jean King
Ilana Kloss
6–3, 3–6, 2–6
Winner3.April 7, 1980Hilton Head IslandClay Anne Smith Candy Reynolds
Paula Smith
6–2, 6–1
Runner-up4.April 14, 1980Amelia IslandClay Pam Shriver Rosemary Casals
Ilana Kloss
6–7, 6–7
Winner4.May 26, 1980French OpenClay Anne Smith Ivanna Madruga
Adriana Villagrán
6–1, 6–0
Winner5.June 16, 1980EastbourneGrass Anne Smith Pam Shriver
Betty Stöve
6–4, 6–1
Winner6.June 23, 1980WimbledonGrass Anne Smith Rosemary Casals
Wendy Turnbull
4–6, 7–5, 6–1
Winner7.September 15, 1980:fr:Tournoi de Las Vegas|Las VegasHard Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
2–6, 6–4, 6–3
Runner-up5.September 22, 1980:fr:Classic d'Atlanta|AtlantaCarpet Anne Smith Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh
3–6, 1–6
Winner8.October 20, 1980BrightonCarpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
6–3, 7–5
Runner-up6.November 3, 1980FilderstadtHard Anne Smith Hana Mandlíková
Betty Stöve
4–6, 5–7
Winner9.January 19, 1981CincinnatiCarpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
1–6, 6–3, 6–3
Runner-up7.March 9, 1981DallasCarpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
5–7, 4–6
Winner10.April 20, 1981Amelia IslandClay Paula Smith JoAnne Russell
Pam Shriver
6–3, 5–7, 7–6
Runner-up8.June 15, 1981EastbourneGrass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
7–6, 2–6, 1–6
Runner-up9.22 June 1981WimbledonGrass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
3–6, 6–7
Winner11.July 27, 1981San DiegoHard Candy Reynolds Rosemary Casals
Pam Shriver
6–1, 2–6, 6–4
Runner-up10.August 10, 1981RichmondCarpet Anne Smith Sue Barker
Ann Kiyomura
6–4, 6–7, 4–6
Winner12.September 1, 1981US OpenHard Anne Smith Rosemary Casals
Wendy Turnbull
6–3, 6–3
Runner-up11.November 23, 1981SydneyGrass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
7–6, 2–6, 4–6
Winner13.November 30, 1981Australian OpenGrass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
6–2, 7–5
Winner14.January 4, 1982Washington, D.C.Carpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
6–2, 3–6, 6–1
Runner-up12.January 18, 1982SeattleCarpet Anne Smith Rosemary Casals
Wendy Turnbull
5–7, 4–6
Winner15.February 15, 1982HoustonCarpet Pam Shriver Sue Barker
Sharon Walsh
7–6, 6–2
Runner-up13.February 22, 1982OaklandCarpet Pam Shriver Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh
1–6, 6–3, 6–7
Winner16.March 1, 1982Los AngelesCarpet Anne Smith Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh
6–3, 7–5
Winner17.March 15, 1982BostonCarpet Anne Smith Rosemary Casals
Wendy Turnbull
7–6, 2–6, 6–4
Runner-up14.March 24, 1982Avon ChampionshipsCarpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
4–6, 3–6
Runner-up15.April 15, 1982Fort WorthClay Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
5–7, 3–6
Runner-up16.April 26, 1982OrlandoClay Anne Smith Rosemary Casals
Wendy Turnbull
3–6, 3–6
Runner-up17.June 14, 1982EastbourneGrass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
3–6, 4–6
Runner-up18.June 21, 1982WimbledonGrass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
4–6, 1–6
Winner18.July 26, 1982San DiegoHard Paula Smith Patricia Medrado
Cláudia Monteiro
6–3, 5–7, 7–6
Winner19.August 9, 1982:fr:Classic d'Atlanta|AtlantaHard Betsy Nagelsen Chris Evert
Billie Jean King
4–6, 7–6, 7–6
Runner-up19.January 3, 1983Washington, D.C.Carpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
6–4, 5–7, 3–6
Runner-up20.January 30, 1983Palm Beach GardensClay Paula Smith Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh
4–6, 6–4, 2–6
Runner-up21.February 14, 1983ChicagoCarpet Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
1–6, 2–6
Winner20.February 21, 1983Palm SpringsHard Ann Kiyomura Dianne Fromholtz
Betty Stöve
6–2, 6–2
Runner-up22.March 14, 1983BostonCarpet Anne Smith Jo Durie
Ann Kiyomura
3–6, 1–6
Runner-up23.March 28, 1983TokyoCarpet Anne Smith Billie Jean King
Sharon Walsh
1–6, 1–6
Runner-up24.May 23, 1983French OpenClay Anne Smith Rosalyn Fairbank
Candy Reynolds
7–5, 5–7, 2–6
Runner-up25.September 19, 1983RichmondCarpet Barbara Potter Rosalyn Fairbank
Candy Reynolds
7–6, 2–6, 1–6
Runner-up26.26 September 1983HartfordCarpet Barbara Potter Billie Jean King
Sharon Walsh
6–3, 3–6, 4–6
Winner21.October 3, 1983DetroitCarpet Barbara Potter Rosemary Casals
Wendy Turnbull
6–4, 6–1
Winner22.April 16, 1984Amelia IslandClay Anne Smith Anne Hobbs
Mima Jaušovec
6–4, 3–6, 6–4
Runner-up27.June 25, 1984WimbledonGrass Anne Smith Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
3–6, 4–6
Winner23.August 20, 1984MontrealHard Elizabeth Smylie Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Hana Mandlíková
6–1, 6–2
Winner24.January 21, 1985Key BiscayneHard Elizabeth Smylie Svetlana Parkhomenko
Larisa Savchenko
6–4, 7–6
Winner25.January 28, 1985Marco IslandHard Elizabeth Smylie Camille Benjamin
Bonnie Gadusek
6–3, 6–3
Runner-up28.February 4, 1985Delray BeachHard Hana Mandlíková Gigi Fernández
Martina Navratilova
6–7, 2–6
Winner26.April 1, 1985TokyoCarpet Elizabeth Smylie Betsy Nagelsen
Anne White
6–4, 5–7, 2–6
Runner-up29.May 13, 1985:fr:Tournoi de Melbourne|MelbourneCarpet Anne Hobbs Pam Shriver
Elizabeth Smylie
2–6, 7–5, 1–6
Runner-up30.June 17, 1985EastbourneGrass Elizabeth Smylie Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
5–7, 4–6
Winner27.June 24, 1985WimbledonGrass Elizabeth Smylie Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
5–7, 6–3, 6–4
Winner28.August 12, 1985MahwahHard Elizabeth Smylie Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Helena Suková
7–6, 6–3
Winner29.September 16, 1985ChicagoCarpet Elizabeth Smylie Elise Burgin
JoAnne Russell
6–2, 6–2
Winner30.January 20, 1986WichitaCarpet Candy Reynolds JoAnne Russell
Anne Smith
6–3, 6–7, 6–3
Winner31.January 27, 1986Key BiscayneHard Elizabeth Smylie Betsy Nagelsen
Barbara Potter
7–6, 2–6, 6–2
Winner32.March 3, 1986PrincetonCarpet Elizabeth Smylie Hana Mandlíková
Helena Suková
6–3, 7–5
Runner-up31.March 28, 1986NashvilleCarpet Elizabeth Smylie Barbara Potter
Pam Shriver
4–6, 3–6
Runner-up32.March 31, 1986Marco IslandClay Elise Burgin Martina Navratilova
Andrea Temesvári
5–7, 2–6
Winner33.September 29, 1986HilversumCarpet Helena Suková Tine Scheuer-Larsen
Catherine Tanvier
7–5, 6–1
Winner34.April 13, 1987TokyoHard Betsy Nagelsen Sandy Collins
Sharon Walsh
6–3, 7–5
Winner35.April 20, 1987HoustonClay Martina Navratilova Zina Garrison
Lori McNeil
6–2, 6–4
Runner-up33.July 13, 1987NewportGrass Anne Hobbs Gigi Fernández
Lori McNeil
6–7, 5–7
Winner36.July 27, 1987AptosHard Robin White Lea Antonoplis
Barbara Gerken
6–1, 6–0
Runner-up34.August 31, 1987US OpenHard Elizabeth Smylie Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
7–5, 4–6, 2–6
Winner37.October 19, 1987BrightonCarpet Helena Suková Tine Scheuer-Larsen
Catherine Tanvier
7–5, 6–1
Winner38.March 26, 1990San AntonioHard Elizabeth Smylie Gigi Fernández
Robin White
7–5, 7–5
Winner39.April 9, 1990TokyoHard Elizabeth Smylie Hu Na
Michelle Jaggard
6–0, 3–6, 6–1
Runner-up35.May 21, 1990StrasbourgClay Elizabeth Smylie Nicole Provis
Elna Reinach
1–6, 4–6
Runner-up36.June 25, 1990WimbledonGrass Elizabeth Smylie Jana Novotná
Helena Suková
3–6, 4–6
Winner40.October 29, 1990NashvilleHard Larisa Neiland Brenda Schultz
Caroline Vis
6–1, 6–2
Winner41.November 12, 1990Virginia Slims ChampionshipsCarpet Elizabeth Smylie Mercedes Paz
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
7–6, 6–4
Winner42.January 28, 1991TokyoCarpet Elizabeth Smylie Mary Joe Fernández
Robin White
4–6, 6–0, 6–3

Grand Slam performance timeline

Singles

Doubles

Mixed doubles

Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.