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)
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
Winner | 1. | 28 May 1973 | Surbiton | Grass | ![]() | 6–2, 6–0 |
Winner | 2. | 12 July 1976 | Kitzbühel | Clay | ![]() | 6–4, 5–7, 6–3 |
Winner | 3. | 1 November 1976 | Tokyo | Clay | ![]() | 6–1, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 1. | 31 August 1977 | US Open | Clay | ![]() | 6–7, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 2. | 10 October 1977 | Phoenix | Hard | ![]() | 6–1, 1–6, 0–6 |
Runner-up | 3. | 21 November 1977 | :fr:Tournoi de tennis de Melbourne|Melbourne | Grass | ![]() | 4–6, 1–6 |
Runner-up | 4. | 9 January 1978 | Hollywood | Carpet | ![]() | 2–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 5. | 18 December 1978 | Sydney | Grass | ![]() | 2–6, 5–7 |
Winner | 4. | 19 February 1979 | Detroit | Carpet | ![]() | 7–5, 1–6, 7–6 |
Winner | 5. | 5 March 1979 | Philadelphia | Carpet | ![]() | 5–7, 6–3, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 6. | 28 May 1979 | French Open | Clay | ![]() | 2–6, 0–6 |
Runner-up | 7. | 24 September 1979 | Atlanta | Carpet | ![]() | 6–7, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 8. | 26 November 1979 | :fr:Tournoi de tennis de Melbourne|Melbourne | Grass | ![]() | 3–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 9. | 16 June 1980 | Eastbourne | Grass | ![]() | 6–7, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 10. | 28 July 1980 | San Diego | Hard | ![]() | 1–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 11. | 22 September 1980 | Atlanta | Carpet | ![]() | 3–6, 5–7 |
Runner-up | 12. | 6 October 1980 | Phoenix | Hard | ![]() | 6–7, 6–7 |
Winner | 6. | 3 November 1980 | Hong Kong | Hard | ![]() | 6–0, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 13. | 24 November 1980 | Australian Open | Grass | ![]() | 0–6, 5–7 |
Winner | 7. | 1 December 1980 | Sydney | Grass | ![]() | 3–6, 6–4, 7–6 |
Winner | 8. | 2 November 1981 | Hong Kong | Hard | ![]() | 6–3, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 14. | 25 January 1982 | Chicago | Carpet | ![]() | 4–6, 1–6 |
Runner-up | 15. | 15 March 1982 | Boston | Carpet | ![]() | 5–7, 6–1, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 16. | 26 April 1982 | Orlando | Clay | ![]() | 2–6, 5–7 |
Winner | 9. | 15 November 1982 | Brisbane | Grass | ![]() | 6–3, 6–1 |
Winner | 10. | 6 December 1982 | Richmond | Carpet | ![]() | 6–7, 6–4, 6–2 |
Winner | 11. | 14 March 1983 | Boston | Carpet | ![]() | 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 17. | 13 June 1983 | Eastbourne | Grass | ![]() | 1–6, 1–6 |
Runner-up | 18. | 14 November 1983 | Brisbane | Grass | ![]() | 4–6, 5–7 |
Runner-up | 19. | 1 October 1984 | Los Angeles | Hard | ![]() | 2–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 20. | 22 April 1985 | San Diego | Hard | ![]() | 0–6, 6–7 |
Doubles: 110 (55–55)
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
Winner | 1. | 7 May 1973 | Bournemouth | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 7–5 |
Winner | 2. | 6 January 1975 | :fr:Classic d'Auckland|Auckland | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 4–6, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 1. | 23 February 1976 | San Antonio | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 0–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 2. | 17 May 1976 | Hamburg | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 5–7, 1–6 |
Winner | 3. | 5 July 1976 | Gstaad | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 3. | 9 August 1976 | Indianapolis | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 3–6 |
Winner | 4. | 7 March 1977 | Pensacola | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–1, 6–2 |
Winner | 5. | 17 October 1977 | :fr:Open du Brésil|São Paulo | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 5–7, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 4. | 2 January 1978 | Washington | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 5–7 |
Winner | 6. | 9 January 1978 | Hollywood | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 6–4 |
Winner | 7. | 6 February 1978 | Seattle | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 5. | 20 February 1978 | Detroit | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 6. | 27 February 1978 | Kansas City | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 8. | 20 March 1978 | Philadelphia | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 7–5 |
Winner | 9. | 26 June 1978 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 9–8, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 7. | 29 August 1978 | US Open | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7, 4–6 |
Winner | 10. | 9 October 1978 | Minneapolis | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 8. | 6 November 1978 | Clearwater | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 9. | 14 November 1978 | Palm Springs | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 11. | 4 December 1978 | :fr:Tournoi de Sydney|Sydney | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 4–6, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 10. | 22 January 1979 | Hollywood | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 6–2, 2–6 |
Winner | 12. | 19 February 1979 | Detroit | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 7–6 |
Winner | 13. | 12 March 1979 | Boston | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–2 |
Winner | 14. | 7 May 1979 | Rome | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–4 |
Winner | 15. | 21 May 1979 | Berlin | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 7–5 |
Winner | 16. | 28 May 1979 | French Open | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 7–5, 6–4 |
Winner | 17. | 11 June 1979 | :fr:Tournoi de Chichester|Chichester | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 1–6, 7–5 |
Winner | 18. | 18 June 1979 | Eastbourne | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 11. | 25 June 1979 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 3–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 19. | 13 August 1979 | Richmond | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–1, 6–4 |
Winner | 20. | 27 August 1979 | US Open | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 6–3 |
Winner | 21. | 24 September 1979 | Atlanta | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 12. | 1 October 1979 | Minneapolis | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 6–7 |
Winner | 22. | 8 October 1979 | Phoenix | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 7–6 |
Winner | 23. | 29 October 1979 | Stockholm | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 13. | 5 November 1979 | Filderstadt | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 3–6 |
Winner | 24. | 26 November 1979 | :fr:Tournoi de Melbourne|Melbourne | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–3 |
Winner | 25. | 3 December 1979 | :fr:Tournoi de Sydney|Sydney | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 6–4 |
Winner | 26. | 28 January 1980 | Seattle | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 2–6, 7–5 |
Runner-up | 14. | 25 February 1980 | Houston | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 1–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 15. | 3 March 1980 | Dallas | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 3–6, 3–6 |
Winner | 27. | 10 March 1980 | Boston | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 16. | 19 March 1980 | Avon Championships | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 6–4, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 17. | 9 June 1980 | :fr:Tournoi de Chichester|Chichester | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 5–7 |
Runner-up | 18. | 23 June 1980 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 5–7, 1–6 |
Runner-up | 19. | 28 July 1980 | San Diego | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 4–6, 3–6 |
Winner | 28. | 3 November 1980 | Hong Kong | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–1, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 20. | 1 December 1980 | Sydney | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 1–6, 6–4, 4–6 |
Winner | 29. | 7 January 1981 | Washington | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 4–6, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 21. | 12 January 1981 | Kansas City | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 6–7 |
Winner | 30. | 2 February 1981 | Detroit | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–2 |
Winner | 31. | 9 February 1981 | Oakland | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–1, 6–4 |
Winner | 32. | 23 February 1981 | Seattle | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–1, 6–4 |
Winner | 33. | 6 April 1981 | Hilton Head Island | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 7–5 |
Runner-up | 22. | 27 April 1981 | Orlando | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 1–6, 6–7 |
Winner | 34. | 24 August 1981 | Mahwah | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 23. | 31 August 1981 | US Open | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 24. | 28 September 1981 | Minneapolis | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 5–7 |
Winner | 35. | 5 October 1981 | Tampa | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 25. | 14 December 1981 | East Rutherford | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 36. | 18 January 1982 | Seattle | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 26. | 25 January 1982 | Chicago | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 5–7, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 27. | 1 February 1982 | Detroit | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 0–6 |
Runner-up | 28. | 15 March 1982 | Boston | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7, 6–2, 4–6 |
Winner | 37. | 3 April 1982 | Palm Beach Gardens | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–1, 7–6 |
Winner | 38. | 26 April 1982 | Orlando | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 29. | 24 May 1982 | French Open | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 30. | 7 June 1982 | Birmingham | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 31. | 23 August 1982 | Mahwah | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 1–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 39. | 30 August 1982 | US Open | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–4 |
Winner | 40. | 27 September 1982 | Philadelphia | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 7–6, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 32. | 4 October 1982 | Deerfield Beach | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7, 6–7 |
Runner-up | 33. | 22 January 1983 | Marco Island | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 5–7, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 34. | 21 February 1983 | Oakland | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 6–4, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 35. | 7 March 1983 | Dallas | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 36. | 25 April 1983 | Atlanta | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 6–7 |
Runner-up | 37. | 20 June 1983 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 38. | 3 October 1983 | Detroit | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 1–6 |
Winner | 41. | 14 November 1983 | Brisbane | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–4 |
Winner | 42. | 21 November 1983 | Sydney | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 39. | 28 November 1983 | Australian Open | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 7–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 40. | 23 April 1984 | Orlando | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 0–6, 6–1, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 41. | 27 August 1984 | US Open | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 42. | 24 September 1984 | New Orleans | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 1–6 |
Winner | 43. | 1 October 1984 | Los Angeles | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 43. | 19 November 1984 | Sydney | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 6–7 |
Winner | 44. | 18 February 1985 | Oakland | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 7–5, 6–1 |
Winner | 45. | 22 April 1985 | San Diego | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–0 |
Winner | 46. | 15 July 1985 | Newport | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 44. | 29 July 1985 | Los Angeles | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 47. | 23 September 1985 | New Orleans | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–1, 6–2 |
Winner | 48. | 18 November 1985 | Sydney | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 7–6, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 45. | 10 February 1986 | Boca West | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 3–6 |
Winner | 49. | 24 February 1986 | Oakland | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 46. | 10 March 1986 | Dallas | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 5–7, 4–6 |
Winner | 50. | 17 March 1986 | Virginia Slims Championships | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–7, 6–3 |
Winner | 51. | 5 May 1986 | Houston | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 47. | 9 June 1986 | Birmingham | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 48. | 23 June 1986 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 1–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 49. | 25 August 1986 | US Open | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
Winner | 52. | 29 December 1986 | Brisbane | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–3 |
Winner | 53. | 9 February 1987 | San Francisco | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 50. | 13 April 1987 | Amelia Island | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 3–6, 7–5 |
Winner | 54. | 27 April 1987 | Tampa | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 51. | 11 January 1988 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 0–6, 5–7 |
Runner-up | 52. | 9 January 1989 | Sydney | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 53. | 17 July 1989 | Newport | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 7–6, 5–7 |
Winner | 55. | 7 August 1989 | Los Angeles | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 5–2 ret. |
Runner-up | 54. | 15 September 1989 | Tokyo | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 55. | 5 March 1990 | Boca Raton | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 2–6 |
Grand Slam tournament timeline
Singles
Doubles
Mixed doubles
- Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.