Wendy Turnbull


Wendy Turnbull,, is a retired professional tennis player from Australia. During her career, she won nine Grand Slam titles, four of them in women's doubles and five of them in mixed doubles. She also was a three-time Grand Slam singles runner-up and won 11 singles titles and 55 doubles titles.

Career

Turnbull turned professional in 1975. Her career high rankings were third in singles and fifth in doubles. She was ranked in the year-end world top 20 for 10 consecutive years and in the year-end world top 10 for eight consecutive years from 1977 to 1984. She was nicknamed "Rabbit" by her peers because of her foot speed around the court.
Turnbull was a singles runner-up at the 1977 US Open, the 1979 French Open, and the 1980 Australian Open. She won four women's doubles titles and five mixed doubles titles at Grand Slam events.
She was a 12-time runner-up in Grand Slam doubles events: 11 times in women's doubles and one time in mixed doubles. Nine of her 11 women's doubles losses were to teams that included Martina Navratilova.
Turnbull teamed with Elizabeth Smylie to win the bronze medal in women's doubles at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. She is one of very few players to have a winning record against Steffi Graf and leads 2–1 in head-to-head matches.
Turnbull was a member of Australia's Fed Cup team from 1977 through 1988, compiling a 46–16 overall win–loss record. She was the captain or coach of the team from 1985 to 1993.
In 1979, the Supersisters trading card set was produced and distributed; one of the cards featured Turnbull's name and picture.
Turnbull was appointed to the International Tennis Federation Olympic Committee in 1991, the only player appointed to the committee. She also serves on the ITF's Fed Cup Committee.
Wendy Turnbull was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1984. In December 1993, the city of Brisbane named a public park in her honour. She was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 2009.

Major finals

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 3 (3 runners-up)

Doubles: 15 (4 titles, 11 runners-up)

Mixed doubles: 6 (5 titles, 1 runner-up)

Olympics

Doubles

Smylie and Turnbull lost in the semifinals to Pam Shriver and Zina Garrison. In 1988, there was no bronze medal play off match, both beaten semifinal pairs received bronze medals.

Year-End Championships finals

Doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)

WTA career finals

Singles: 31 (11–20)

OutcomeNo.DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Winner1.28 May 1973SurbitonGrass Ann Kiyomura6–2, 6–0
Winner2.12 July 1976KitzbühelClay Virginia Ruzici6–4, 5–7, 6–3
Winner3.1 November 1976TokyoClay Michele Gurdal6–1, 6–1
Runner-up1.31 August 1977US OpenClay Chris Evert6–7, 2–6
Runner-up2.10 October 1977PhoenixHard Billie Jean King6–1, 1–6, 0–6
Runner-up3.21 November 1977:fr:Tournoi de tennis de Melbourne|MelbourneGrass Evonne Goolagong4–6, 1–6
Runner-up4.9 January 1978HollywoodCarpet Evonne Goolagong2–6, 3–6
Runner-up5.18 December 1978SydneyGrass Dianne Fromholtz2–6, 5–7
Winner4.19 February 1979DetroitCarpet Virginia Ruzici7–5, 1–6, 7–6
Winner5.5 March 1979PhiladelphiaCarpet Virginia Wade5–7, 6–3, 6–2
Runner-up6.28 May 1979French OpenClay Chris Evert-Lloyd2–6, 0–6
Runner-up7.24 September 1979AtlantaCarpet Martina Navratilova6–7, 4–6
Runner-up8.26 November 1979:fr:Tournoi de tennis de Melbourne|MelbourneGrass Hana Mandlíková3–6, 2–6
Runner-up9.16 June 1980EastbourneGrass Tracy Austin6–7, 2–6
Runner-up10.28 July 1980San DiegoHard Tracy Austin1–6, 3–6
Runner-up11.22 September 1980AtlantaCarpet Hana Mandlíková3–6, 5–7
Runner-up12.6 October 1980PhoenixHard Regina Maršíková6–7, 6–7
Winner6.3 November 1980Hong KongHard Marcie Louie6–0, 6–2
Runner-up13.24 November 1980Australian OpenGrass Hana Mandlíková0–6, 5–7
Winner7.1 December 1980SydneyGrass Pam Shriver3–6, 6–4, 7–6
Winner8.2 November 1981Hong KongHard Sabina Simmonds6–3, 6–4
Runner-up14.25 January 1982ChicagoCarpet Martina Navratilova4–6, 1–6
Runner-up15.15 March 1982BostonCarpet Kathy Jordan5–7, 6–1, 4–6
Runner-up16.26 April 1982OrlandoClay Martina Navratilova2–6, 5–7
Winner9.15 November 1982BrisbaneGrass Pam Shriver6–3, 6–1
Winner10.6 December 1982RichmondCarpet Tracy Austin6–7, 6–4, 6–2
Winner11.14 March 1983BostonCarpet Sylvia Hanika6–4, 3–6, 6–4
Runner-up17.13 June 1983EastbourneGrass Martina Navratilova1–6, 1–6
Runner-up18.14 November 1983BrisbaneGrass Pam Shriver4–6, 5–7
Runner-up19.1 October 1984Los AngelesHard Chris Evert-Lloyd2–6, 3–6
Runner-up20.22 April 1985San DiegoHard Annabel Croft0–6, 6–7

Doubles: 110 (55–55)

OutcomeNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Winner1.7 May 1973BournemouthClay :fr:Patricia Coleman|Patricia Coleman Evonne Goolagong
:fr:Janet Young|Janet Young
7–5, 7–5
Winner2.6 January 1975:fr:Classic d'Auckland|AucklandGrass Evonne Goolagong Laura duPont
:fr:Cecilia Martinez|Cecilia Martinez
6–3, 4–6, 6–4
Runner-up1.23 February 1976San AntonioClay :fr:Patricia Bostrom|Patricia Bostrom Julie Anthony
Helen Gourlay
0–6, 4–6
Runner-up2.17 May 1976HamburgClay Laura duPont Linky Boshoff
Ilana Kloss
6–4, 5–7, 1–6
Winner3.5 July 1976GstaadClay Betsy Nagelsen Brigitte Cuypers
Annette Du Plooy
6–4, 6–4
Runner-up3.9 August 1976IndianapolisClay Laura duPont Linky Boshoff
Ilana Kloss
2–6, 3–6
Winner4.7 March 1977PensacolaClay Ann Kiyomura Carrie Meyer
Betsy Nagelsen
6–1, 6–2
Winner5.17 October 1977:fr:Open du Brésil|São PauloHard Kerry Melville Reid Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
6–3, 5–7, 6–2
Runner-up4.2 January 1978WashingtonCarpet Betty Stöve Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
3–6, 5–7
Winner6.9 January 1978HollywoodCarpet Rosie Casals Françoise Dürr
Virginia Wade
6–2, 6–4
Winner7.6 February 1978SeattleCarpet Kerry Melville Reid Patricia Bostrom
:fr:Marita Redondo|Marita Redondo
6–2, 6–4
Runner-up5.20 February 1978DetroitCarpet Kerry Melville Reid Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
3–6, 4–6
Runner-up6.27 February 1978Kansas CityCarpet Kerry Melville Reid Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
4–6, 4–6
Winner8.20 March 1978PhiladelphiaCarpet Kerry Melville Reid Françoise Dürr
Virginia Wade
6–2, 7–5
Winner9.26 June 1978WimbledonGrass Kerry Melville Reid Mima Jaušovec
Virginia Ruzici
4–6, 9–8, 6–3
Runner-up7.29 August 1978US OpenHard Kerry Melville Reid Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
6–7, 4–6
Winner10.9 October 1978MinneapolisCarpet Kerry Melville Reid Lesley Hunt
Ilana Kloss
6–3, 6–3
Runner-up8.6 November 1978ClearwaterHard Kerry Melville Reid Martina Navratilova
Anne Smith
6–7, 3–6
Runner-up9.14 November 1978Palm SpringsHard Kerry Melville Reid Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
3–6, 4–6
Winner11.4 December 1978:fr:Tournoi de Sydney|SydneyGrass Kerry Melville Reid :fr:Judy Connor|Judy Chaloner
Anne Hobbs
6–2, 4–6, 6–2
Runner-up10.22 January 1979HollywoodCarpet Rosie Casals Tracy Austin
Betty Stöve
2–6, 6–2, 2–6
Winner12.19 February 1979DetroitCarpet Betty Stöve Sue Barker
Ann Kiyomura
6–4, 7–6
Winner13.12 March 1979BostonCarpet Kerry Melville Reid Sue Barker
Ann Kiyomura
6–4, 6–2
Winner14.7 May 1979RomeClay Betty Stöve Evonne Goolagong
Kerry Melville Reid
6–3, 6–4
Winner15.21 May 1979BerlinClay Rosie Casals Evonne Goolagong
Kerry Melville Reid
6–2, 7–5
Winner16.28 May 1979French OpenClay Betty Stöve Françoise Dürr
Virginia Wade
2–6, 7–5, 6–4
Winner17.11 June 1979:fr:Tournoi de Chichester|ChichesterGrass Greer Stevens Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
6–3, 1–6, 7–5
Winner18.18 June 1979EastbourneGrass Betty Stöve Ilana Kloss
Betty Ann Stuart
6–2, 6–2
Runner-up11.25 June 1979WimbledonGrass Betty Stöve Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
7–5, 3–6, 2–6
Winner19.13 August 1979RichmondCarpet Betty Stöve Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
6–1, 6–4
Winner20.27 August 1979US OpenHard Betty Stöve Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
7–5, 6–3
Winner21.24 September 1979AtlantaCarpet Betty Stöve Ann Kiyomura
Anne Smith
6–2, 6–4
Runner-up12.1 October 1979MinneapolisCarpet Betty Stöve Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
4–6, 6–7
Winner22.8 October 1979PhoenixHard Betty Stöve Rosie Casals
Chris Evert-Lloyd
6–4, 7–6
Winner23.29 October 1979StockholmCarpet Betty Stöve Billie Jean King
Ilana Kloss
7–5, 7–6
Runner-up13.5 November 1979FilderstadtCarpet Betty Stöve Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
3–6, 3–6
Winner24.26 November 1979:fr:Tournoi de Melbourne|MelbourneGrass Billie Jean King Dianne Fromholtz
Anne Smith
6–3, 6–3
Winner25.3 December 1979:fr:Tournoi de Sydney|SydneyGrass Billie Jean King Sue Barker
Pam Shriver
7–5, 6–4
Winner26.28 January 1980SeattleCarpet Rosie Casals Greer Stevens
Virginia Wade
6–4, 2–6, 7–5
Runner-up14.25 February 1980HoustonCarpet Betty Stöve Billie Jean King
Ilana Kloss
6–3, 1–6, 4–6
Runner-up15.3 March 1980DallasCarpet Rosie Casals Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
6–4, 3–6, 3–6
Winner27.10 March 1980BostonCarpet Rosie Casals Billie Jean King
Ilana Kloss
6–4, 7–6
Runner-up16.19 March 1980Avon ChampionshipsCarpet Rosie Casals Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
3–6, 6–4, 3–6
Runner-up17.9 June 1980:fr:Tournoi de Chichester|ChichesterGrass Rosie Casals Pam Shriver
Betty Stöve
4–6, 5–7
Runner-up18.23 June 1980WimbledonGrass Rosie Casals Kathy Jordan
Anne Smith
6–4, 5–7, 1–6
Runner-up19.28 July 1980San DiegoHard Rosie Casals Tracy Austin
Ann Kiyomura
6–3, 4–6, 3–6
Winner28.3 November 1980Hong KongClay Sharon Walsh :fr:Penny Johnson |Penny Johnson
Silvana Urroz
6–1, 6–2
Runner-up20.1 December 1980SydneyGrass Rosie Casals Pam Shriver
Betty Stöve
1–6, 6–4, 4–6
Winner29.7 January 1981WashingtonCarpet Rosie Casals Candy Reynolds
Paula Smith
6–3, 4–6, 7–6
Runner-up21.12 January 1981Kansas CityCarpet Rosie Casals Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh
2–6, 6–7
Winner30.2 February 1981DetroitCarpet Rosie Casals Hana Mandlíková
Betty Stöve
6–4, 6–2
Winner31.9 February 1981OaklandCarpet Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova
Virginia Wade
6–1, 6–4
Winner32.23 February 1981SeattleCarpet Rosie Casals Sue Barker
Ann Kiyomura
6–1, 6–4
Winner33.6 April 1981Hilton Head IslandClay Rosie Casals Mima Jaušovec
Pam Shriver
7–5, 7–5
Runner-up22.27 April 1981OrlandoClay Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
1–6, 6–7
Winner34.24 August 1981MahwahHard Rosie Casals Candy Reynolds
Betty Stöve
6–2, 6–1
Runner-up23.31 August 1981US OpenHard Rosie Casals Kathy Jordan
Anne Smith
3–6, 3–6
Runner-up24.28 September 1981MinneapolisCarpet Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
4–6, 5–7
Winner35.5 October 1981TampaHard Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova
Renáta Tomanová
6–3, 6–4
Runner-up25.14 December 1981East RutherfordCarpet Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
3–6, 4–6
Winner36.18 January 1982SeattleCarpet Rosie Casals Kathy Jordan
Anne Smith
7–5, 6–4
Runner-up26.25 January 1982ChicagoCarpet Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
5–7, 4–6
Runner-up27.1 February 1982DetroitCarpet Rosie Casals Leslie Allen
Mima Jaušovec
4–6, 0–6
Runner-up28.15 March 1982BostonCarpet Rosie Casals Kathy Jordan
Anne Smith
6–7, 6–2, 4–6
Winner37.3 April 1982Palm Beach GardensClay Rosie Casals Evonne Goolagong
Betty Stöve
6–1, 7–6
Winner38.26 April 1982OrlandoClay Rosie Casals Kathy Jordan
Anne Smith
6–3, 6–3
Runner-up29.24 May 1982French OpenClay Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova
Anne Smith
3–6, 4–6
Runner-up30.7 June 1982BirminghamGrass Rosie Casals Jo Durie
Anne Hobbs
3–6, 2–6
Runner-up31.23 August 1982MahwahHard Rosie Casals Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh
1–6, 4–6
Winner39.30 August 1982US OpenHard Rosie Casals Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh
6–4, 6–4
Winner40.27 September 1982PhiladelphiaCarpet Rosie Casals Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh
3–6, 7–6, 6–4
Runner-up32.4 October 1982Deerfield BeachHard Rosie Casals Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh
6–7, 6–7
Runner-up33.22 January 1983Marco IslandClay Rosie Casals Andrea Jaeger
Mary-Lou Piatek
5–7, 4–6
Runner-up34.21 February 1983OaklandCarpet Rosie Casals Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Eva Pfaff
4–6, 6–4, 4–6
Runner-up35.7 March 1983DallasCarpet Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
3–6, 2–6
Runner-up36.25 April 1983AtlantaHard Rosie Casals Alycia Moulton
Sharon Walsh
3–6, 6–7
Runner-up37.20 June 1983WimbledonGrass Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
2–6, 2–6
Runner-up38.3 October 1983DetroitCarpet Rosie Casals Kathy Jordan
Barbara Potter
4–6, 1–6
Winner41.14 November 1983BrisbaneGrass Anne Hobbs Pam Shriver
Sharon Walsh
6–3, 6–4
Winner42.21 November 1983SydneyGrass Anne Hobbs Hana Mandlíková
Helena Suková
6–4, 6–3
Runner-up39.28 November 1983Australian OpenGrass Anne Hobbs Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
4–6, 7–6, 2–6
Runner-up40.23 April 1984OrlandoClay Anne Hobbs Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Hana Mandlíková
0–6, 6–1, 3–6
Runner-up41.27 August 1984US OpenHard Anne Hobbs Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
2–6, 4–6
Runner-up42.24 September 1984New OrleansHard Sharon Walsh Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
4–6, 1–6
Winner43.1 October 1984Los AngelesHard Chris Evert-Lloyd Bettina Bunge
Eva Pfaff
6–2, 6–4
Runner-up43.19 November 1984SydneyGrass Sharon Walsh Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Helena Suková
2–6, 6–7
Winner44.18 February 1985OaklandCarpet Hana Mandlíková Rosalyn Fairbank
Candy Reynolds
4–6, 7–5, 6–1
Winner45.22 April 1985San DiegoHard Candy Reynolds Rosalyn Fairbank
Susan Leo
6–4, 6–0
Winner46.15 July 1985NewportGrass Chris Evert-Lloyd Pam Shriver
Elizabeth Smylie
6–4, 7–6
Runner-up44.29 July 1985Los AngelesHard Hana Mandlíková Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Helena Suková
4–6, 2–6
Winner47.23 September 1985New OrleansHard Chris Evert-Lloyd Mary-Lou Piatek
Anne White
6–1, 6–2
Winner48.18 November 1985SydneyGrass Hana Mandlíková Rosalyn Fairbank
Candy Reynolds
3–6, 7–6, 6–4
Runner-up45.10 February 1986Boca WestHard Chris Evert-Lloyd Pam Shriver
Helena Suková
2–6, 3–6
Winner49.24 February 1986OaklandCarpet Hana Mandlíková Bonnie Gadusek
Helena Suková
7–6, 6–1
Runner-up46.10 March 1986DallasCarpet Hana Mandlíková Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Helena Suková
6–4, 5–7, 4–6
Winner50.17 March 1986Virginia Slims ChampionshipsCarpet Hana Mandlíková Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Helena Suková
6–4, 6–7, 6–3
Winner51.5 May 1986HoustonClay Chris Evert-Lloyd Elise Burgin
JoAnne Russell
6–2, 6–4
Runner-up47.9 June 1986BirminghamGrass Elizabeth Smylie Elise Burgin
Rosalyn Fairbank
2–6, 4–6
Runner-up48.23 June 1986WimbledonGrass Hana Mandlíková Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
1–6, 3–6
Runner-up49.25 August 1986US OpenHard Hana Mandlíková Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
4–6, 6–3, 3–6
Winner52.29 December 1986BrisbaneGrass Hana Mandlíková Betsy Nagelsen
Elizabeth Smylie
6–4, 6–3
Winner53.9 February 1987San FranciscoCarpet Hana Mandlíková Zina Garrison
Gabriela Sabatini
6–4, 7–6
Runner-up50.13 April 1987Amelia IslandClay Hana Mandlíková Steffi Graf
Gabriela Sabatini
6–3, 3–6, 7–5
Winner54.27 April 1987TampaClay Chris Evert Elise Burgin
Rosalyn Fairbank
6–4, 6–3
Runner-up51.11 January 1988Australian OpenHard Chris Evert Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
0–6, 5–7
Runner-up52.9 January 1989SydneyHard Elizabeth Smylie Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
3–6, 3–6
Runner-up53.17 July 1989NewportGrass Elizabeth Smylie Gigi Fernández
Lori McNeil
3–6, 7–6, 5–7
Winner55.7 August 1989Los AngelesHard Martina Navratilova Mary Joe Fernández
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
5–2 ret.
Runner-up54.15 September 1989TokyoCarpet Elizabeth Smylie Gigi Fernández
Robin White
2–6, 2–6
Runner-up55.5 March 1990Boca RatonHard Elise Burgin Jana Novotná
Helena Suková
4–6, 2–6

Grand Slam tournament timeline

Singles

Doubles

Mixed doubles