Sporting icons: Maureen Connolly - Australian women tennis legend- her career HLs & video

 

Maureen Connolly, often known as "Little Mo," was a prominent American tennis player born on September 17, 1934, in San Diego, California. Renowned for her impressive career, Connolly's style of play was characterized by her powerful groundstrokes, aggressive net play, and exceptional speed on the court.

**Career Achievements:**

- **Grand Slam Titles:** Connolly achieved a remarkable feat by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles in a single calendar year in 1953, becoming the first woman to complete the Grand Slam. Her victories that year included:

  - Australian Open

  - French Open

  - Wimbledon

  - U.S. Open

  In total, Connolly won 9 Grand Slam singles titles, including:

  - Australian Open: 1953

  - French Open: 1953

  - Wimbledon: 1953, 1954

  - U.S. Open: 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954

  - In addition to her Grand Slam singles titles, Connolly won 6 Grand Slam doubles titles and 3 mixed doubles titles.

- **Other Achievements:**

  - She held the world No. 1 ranking for 1953 and 1954.

  - Connolly was a dominant force in the sport during her peak years, and her 1953 Grand Slam victory is considered one of the most remarkable achievements in tennis history.

**Career Breakups:**

Connolly's career was cut short by injuries and personal circumstances. In 1954, she suffered a severe motorcycle accident that led to significant injuries, which forced her to retire from competitive tennis at the age of 22. Despite her relatively brief career, Connolly left a lasting legacy in the world of tennis.

Her contributions to the sport were later recognized with her induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1969.

In the below video, watch Maureen Connolly in brief action during which she won tge Wimbledon 1952