Dianne Fromholtz
Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat is an Australian former professional tennis player who reached a highest singles ranking of world No. 4 in 1979.
in the background, 1985
Career
Fromholtz began playing tennis at the age of seven. She left school at the age of 16 to play in international tournaments. She turned pro in 1973 and joined the WTA Tour.At the age of 17, she actively participated in the professional tennis circuit, winning the singles title at a dozen tournaments in 1973, but the rules at the time did not permit prize money to be paid out to participants under 18 years of age.
She reached the finals of the Australian Open in January 1977, losing to fellow Australian Kerry Melville Reid in two sets. She was a semifinalist at the French Open in 1979 and 1980. She also reached the semifinals of the US Open in 1976.
Fromholtz won 8 WTA Tour singles titles and reached a career-high ranking of World No. 4 in 1979. Partnering with Helen Gourlay Cawley, she won the Australian Open women's doubles in January 1977. She had career wins over Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Margaret Court, Virginia Wade, Pam Shriver, and Gabriela Sabatini. She holds an 8–7 career record over King.
She married French businessman Claude Balestrat in 1983.
On 30 August 2000, Fromholtz was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for her commitment to tennis.
Grand Slam finals
Singles: (1 runners-up)
Doubles: (1 title)
Mixed doubles: (1 runner-up)
WTA career finals
Singles: 24 (8–16)
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Win | 1. | 14 May 1973 | :fr:Tournoi de Guildford|Guildford | Clay |  Kazuko Sawamatsu | 7–5, 4–6, 6–3 |
| Win | 2. | 4 June 1973 | Chichester | Grass |  Brigitte Cuypers | 6–1, 6–0 |
| Win | 3. | 11 June 1973 | Beckenham | Grass |  Janet Newberry | 7–5, 0–6, 6–1 |
| Loss | 1. | 9 July 1973 | :fr:Championnat de Newport|Newport | Grass | Julie Heldman | 6–1, 1–6, 9–11 |
| Loss | 2. | 19 November 1973 | :fr:Tournoi de tennis d'Adélaïde|Adelaide | Grass |  Janet Young | 5–7, 1–6 |
| Win | 4. | 26 November 1973 | :fr:Tournoi de tennis Australian Hardcourt|Sydney | Clay | Ann Kiyomura | 6–1, 7–5 |
| Loss | 3. | 19 August 1974 | :fr:Tournoi de tennis de South Orange|South Orange | Grass | Pam Teeguarden | 5–7, 3–6 |
| Loss | 4. | 18 November 1974 | Johannesburg | Hard | Kerry Melville | 3–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 5. | 4 August 1975 | Indianapolis | Clay | Chris Evert | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 6. | 4 October 1976 | Phoenix | Hard | Chris Evert | 1–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 5. | 19 November 1976 | Sydney | Clay | Leanne Harrison | 6–1, 6–0 |
| Loss | 7. | 26 December 1976 | Sydney | Grass | Kerry Melville Reid | 6–3, 2–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 8. | 3 January 1977 | Australian Open | Grass | Kerry Melville Reid | 5–7, 2–6 |
| Loss | 9. | 3 October 1977 | Atlanta | Carpet | Chris Evert | 3–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 10. | 20 February 1978 | Detroit | Carpet | Martina Navratilova | 3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 6. | 4 December 1978 | Sydney | Grass | Kerry Melville Reid | 6–1, 1–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 7. | 18 December 1978 | Sydney | Grass | Wendy Turnbull | 6–2, 7–5 |
| Loss | 11. | 22 January 1979 | Hollywood | Carpet | Greer Stevens | 4–6, 6–2, 4–6 |
| Win | 8. | 12 March 1979 | Boston | Carpet |  Sue Barker | 6–2, 7–6 |
| Loss | 12. | 31 March 1979 | :fr:Clairol Crown|Carlsbad | Hard | Chris Evert | 6–3, 3–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 13. | 1 October 1979 | Minneapolis | Carpet | Evonne Goolagong | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 14. | 29 September 1980 | Minneapolis | Carpet | Tracy Austin | 1–6, 6–2, 2–6 |
| Loss | 15. | 6 May 1985 | :fr:Australian Indoors|Sydney | Carpet | Pam Shriver | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 16. | 9 March 1987 | Phoenix | Hard | Anne White | 1–6, 2–6 |
Doubles: 12 (6–6)
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Win | 1. | 9 July 1973 | :fr:Championnat de Newport|Newport | Grass | Julie Heldman | Patti Hogan Sharon Walsh | 1–5 Shared – final rained out |
| Loss | 1. | 17 December 1973 | Hobart | Grass | Jackie Fayter | Helen Gourlay Karen Krantzcke | 2–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 2. | 8 April 1974 | Phoenix | Hard | Janet Young | Ann Kiyomura Betsy Nagelsen | w/o |
| Loss | 2. | 18 November 1974 | Johannesburg | Hard | Margaret Court | Ilana Kloss Kerry Melville | 3–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 3. | 19 May 1975 | Hamburg | Clay |  Renáta Tomanová |  Paulina Peisachov Kazuko Sawamatsu | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 4. | 8 March 1976 | Tallahassee | Hard | Julie Anthony |  Virginia Ruzici Mariana Simionescu | 6–2, 7–5 |
| Loss | 3. | 26 December 1976 | Sydney | Grass | Renáta Tomanová | Helen Gourlay Betsy Nagelsen | 4–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 5. | 3 January 1977 | Australian Open | Grass | Helen Gourlay | Kerry Melville Reid Betsy Nagelsen | 5–7, 6–1, 7–5 |
| Loss | 4. | 23 September 1977 | :fr:Classic d'Hilton Head|Hilton Head | Clay | Virginia Wade | Evonne Goolagong Kerry Melville Reid | 2–6, 6–3, 4–6 |
| Win | 6. | 14 May 1979 | Vienna | Clay | Marise Kruger | Ilana Kloss Betty Ann Stuart | 3–6, 6–4, 6–1 |
| Loss | 5. | 26 November 1979 | :fr:Tournoi de Melbourne|Melbourne | Grass | Anne Smith | Billie Jean King Wendy Turnbull | 3–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 6. | 28 February 1983 | Palm Springs | Hard |  Betty Stöve | Kathy Jordan Ann Kiyomura | 2–6, 2–6 |