Margaret Osborne duPont

Margaret Osborne duPont
Full name	Margaret Evelyn Osborne duPont
Country (sports)	United States
Born	March 4, 1918; Joseph, Oregon, U.S.
Died	October 24, 2012 (aged 94); El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Height	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Plays	Right-handed
Int. Tennis HoF	1967 (member page)
Singles
Career record	0–0
Highest ranking	No. 1 (1947)
Grand Slam singles results
French Open	W (1946, 1949)
Wimbledon	W (1947)
US Open	W (1948, 1949, 1950)
Doubles
Career record	0–0
Grand Slam doubles results
French Open	W (1946, 1947, 1949)
Wimbledon	W (1946, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1954)
US Open	W (1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1957)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Wimbledon	W (1962)
US Open	W (1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1950, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960)

Margaret Osborne duPont (born Margaret Evelyn Osborne; March 4, 1918 – October 24, 2012) was a world No. 1 American female tennis player.

DuPont won a total of 37 singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles major titles, which places her fourth on the all-time list, despite never entering the Australian Championships. She won 25 of those major titles at the U.S. Championships, which is an all-time record.

Career

DuPont won six Grand Slam tournament singles titles. She saved match points in the final of the 1946 French International Championships (versus Pauline Betz) and in the final of the 1948 U.S. National Championships (versus Louise Brough). The 48 games played during the 1948 final remain the most played in a women's singles final at that tournament.

DuPont teamed with Brough to win 20 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, tied with Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver for the most Grand Slam titles ever won by a women's doubles team. DuPont and Brough won nine consecutive titles at the U.S. National Championships from 1942 through 1950. They won that tournament in 12 of the 14 years they entered as a team. Their 12 titles is an all-time record for a women's doubles team at the U.S. National Championships, well-surpassing the four career titles won by the teams of Navratilova and Shriver, Doris Hart and Shirley Fry, and Sarah Palfrey Cooke and Alice Marble. DuPont won 13 women's doubles titles, 10 of which were in succession from 1941 through 1950, at the U.S. National Championships. Both of those are all-time records.

DuPont's nine mixed doubles titles at the U.S. National Championships is more than any other player. Four of those titles were in partnership with William Talbert, which is a record for a mixed doubles team at the U.S. National Championships. One each with Ken McGregor and Ken Rosewall, and three were with Neale Fraser.

According to John Olliff and Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail, duPont was ranked in the world top 10 from 1946 through 1950, and in 1953-1954, and in 1956-1957. She was ranked world No. 1 from 1947 through 1950. No rankings were issued from 1940 through 1945.^[3]^[4]

DuPont was included in the year-end top 10 rankings issued by the United States Lawn Tennis Association in 1938, from 1941 through 1950, and in 1953, 1956 and 1958. She was the top ranked U.S. player from 1948 through 1950.^[5]

From 1938 through 1958, DuPont went undefeated in 10 Wightman Cup competitions, winning 10 singles and nine doubles matches. She also was the captain of the U.S. team nine times, and won eight.

Personal life

Margaret married William duPont, Jr. on November 26, 1947^[6] and later interrupted her career to give birth to a son, William duPont III on July 22, 1952. She is one of the few women to win a major title after childbirth. DuPont never played the Australian Championships because her husband would not let her.

They didn't start to invite people down there and pay their expenses until I got married, and that was wintertime and Will's vacation time, and I just never got to go. He threatened to divorce me if I went to Australia, so I never went. He had that respiratory trouble, and he wanted me to come to California with him. He thought I should be with him. That was that.^[7]

She later divorced duPont in 1964 and formed a life partnership with fellow player Margaret Varner Bloss.^[8]

DuPont died on October 24, 2012, while in hospice care in El Paso, Texas, at age 94.^[1]

Awards

She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1967. The Delaware Sports Hall of Fame inducted DuPont in 1999.^[9] In 2010, she was inducted into the US Open Court of Champions.^[10]

Grand Slam finals

Singles (6 titles, 4 runners-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1944	U.S. Championships	Grass	Pauline Betz	6–3, 8–6
Win	1946	French Championships	Clay	Pauline Betz	1–6, 8–6, 7–5
Win	1947	Wimbledon	Grass	Doris Hart	6–2, 6–4
Loss	1947	U.S. Championships	Grass	Louise Brough	6–8, 6–4, 1–6
Win	1948	U.S. Championships	Grass	Louise Brough	4–6, 6–4, 15–13
Win	1949	French Championships (2)	Clay	Nelly Adamson-Landry	7–5, 6–2
Loss	1949	Wimbledon	Grass	Louise Brough	8–10, 6–1, 8–10
Win	1949	U.S. Championships (2)	Grass	Doris Hart	6–3, 6–1
Loss	1950	Wimbledon	Grass	Louise Brough	1–6, 6–3, 1–6
Win	1950	U.S. Championships (3)	Grass	Doris Hart	6–4, 6–3

Doubles (21 titles, 6 runners-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Win	1941	U.S. Championships	Grass	Sarah Palfrey	Dorothy Bundy Pauline Betz	3–6, 6–1, 6–4
Win	1942	U.S. Championships (2)	Grass	Louise Brough	Pauline Betz Doris Hart	2–6, 7–5, 6–0
Win	1943	U.S. Championships (3)	Grass	Louise Brough	Pauline Betz Doris Hart	6–4, 6–3
Win	1944	U.S. Championships (4)	Grass	Louise Brough	Pauline Betz Doris Hart	4–6, 6–4, 6–3
Win	1945	U.S. Championships (5)	Grass	Louise Brough	Pauline Betz Doris Hart	6–3, 6–3
Win	1946	Wimbledon Championships	Grass	Louise Brough	Pauline Betz Doris Hart	6–3, 2–6, 6–3
Win	1946	French Championships	Clay	Louise Brough	Pauline Betz Doris Hart	6–4, 0–6, 6–1
Win	1946	U.S. Championships (6)	Grass	Louise Brough	Pat Canning Todd Mary Arnold Prentiss	6–1, 6–3
Loss	1947	Wimbledon Championships	Grass	Louise Brough	Doris Hart Pat Canning Todd	3–6, 6–4, 7–5
Win	1947	French Championships (2)	Clay	Louise Brough	Pauline Betz Pat Canning Todd	7–5, 6–2
Win	1947	U.S. Championships (7)	Grass	Louise Brough	Pat Canning Todd Doris Hart	5–7, 6–3, 7–5
Win	1948	Wimbledon Championships (2)	Grass	Louise Brough	Doris Hart Pat Canning Todd	6–3, 3–6, 6–3
Win	1948	U.S. Championships (8)	Grass	Louise Brough	Pat Canning Todd Doris Hart	6–4, 8–10, 6–1
Win	1949	French Championships (3)	Clay	Louise Brough	Joy Gannon Betty Hilton	7–5, 6–1
Win	1949	Wimbledon Championships (3)	Grass	Louise Brough	Gussy Moran Pat Canning Todd	8–6, 7–5
Win	1949	U.S. Championships (9)	Grass	Louise Brough	Doris Hart Shirley Fry	6–4, 10–8
Loss	1950	French Championships	Clay	Louise Brough	Doris Hart Shirley Fry	1–6, 7–5, 6–2
Win	1950	Wimbledon Championships (4)	Grass	Louise Brough	Shirley Fry Doris Hart	6–4, 5–7, 6–1
Win	1950	U.S. Championships (10)	Grass	Louise Brough	Doris Hart Shirley Fry	6–2, 6–3
Loss	1951	Wimbledon Championships	Grass	Louise Brough	Shirley Fry Doris Hart	6–3, 13–11
Loss	1953	U.S. Championships	Grass	Louise Brough	Doris Hart Shirley Fry	6–2, 7–9, 9–7
Win	1954	Wimbledon Championships (5)	Grass	Louise Brough	Shirley Fry Doris Hart	4–6, 9–7, 6–3
Loss	1954	U.S. Championships	Grass	Louise Brough	Doris Hart Shirley Fry	6–4, 6–4
Win	1955	U.S. Championships (11)	Grass	Louise Brough	Doris Hart Shirley Fry	6–3, 1–6, 6–3
Win	1956	U.S. Championships (12)	Grass	Louise Brough	Betty Rosenquest Pratt Shirley Fry	6–3, 6–0
Win	1957	U.S. Championships (13)	Grass	Louise Brough	Althea Gibson Darlene Hard	6–2, 7–5
Loss	1958	Wimbledon Championships (5)	Grass	Margaret Varner	Maria Bueno Althea Gibson	3–6, 5–7

Mixed doubles: (10 titles, 4 runners-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Win	1943	U.S. Championships	Grass	Bill Talbert	Pauline Betz Pancho Segura	10–6, 6–4
Win	1944	U.S. Championships	Grass	Bill Talbert	Dorothy Bundy Don McNeill	6–2, 6–3
Win	1945	U.S. Championships	Grass	Bill Talbert	Doris Hart Bob Falkenburg	6–4, 6–4
Win	1946	U.S. Championships	Grass	Bill Talbert	Louise Brough Robert Kimbrell	6–3, 6–4
Loss	1948	U.S. Championships	Grass	Bill Talbert	Louise Brough Tom Brown	4–6, 4–6
Loss	1949	U.S. Championships	Grass	Bill Talbert	Louise Brough Eric Sturgess	6–4, 3–6, 5–7
Win	1950	U.S. Championships	Grass	Ken McGregor	Doris Hart Frank Sedgman	6–4, 3–6, 6–3
Loss	1954	Wimbledon	Grass	Ken Rosewall	Doris Hart Vic Seixas	7–5, 4–6, 3–6
Loss	1954	U.S. Championships	Grass	Ken Rosewall	Doris Hart Vic Seixas	6–4, 1–6, 1–6
Win	1956	U.S. Championships	Grass	Ken Rosewall	Darlene Hard Lew Hoad	9–7, 6–1
Win	1958	U.S. Championships	Grass	Neale Fraser	Maria Bueno Alex Olmedo	6–3, 3–6, 9–7
Win	1959	U.S. Championships	Grass	Neale Fraser	Janet Hopps Bob Mark	7–5, 13–15, 6–2
Win	1960	U.S. Championships	Grass	Neale Fraser	Maria Bueno Antonio Palafox	6–3, 6–2
Win	1962	Wimbledon	Grass	Neale Fraser	Ann Haydon Dennis Ralston	2–6, 6–3, 13–11

Grand Slam performance timelines

Key
W	F	SF	QF	#R	RR	Q#	DNQ	A	NH

(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Singles

Tournament	1938	1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	1946¹	1947¹	1948	1949	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958	1959	1960	1961	1962	Career SR
Australian Championships	A	A	A	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	0 / 0
French Championships	A	A	NH	R	R	R	R	A	W	SF	A	W	QF	SF	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	2 / 5
Wimbledon	A	A	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	SF	W	SF	F	F	QF	A	A	QF	A	A	A	QF	A	A	A	1R	1 / 9
U.S. Championships	2R	A	3R	SF	SF	QF	F	QF	QF	F	W	W	W	A	A	QF	3R	A	QF	A	3R	A	1R	A	A	3 / 17
SR	0 / 1	0 / 0	0 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 1	1 / 3	1 / 3	1 / 2	2 / 3	1 / 3	0 / 2	0 / 0	0 / 1	0 / 2	0 / 0	0 / 1	0 / 0	0 / 2	0 / 0	0 / 1	0 / 0	0 / 1	6 / 31

Women's doubles

Tournament	1936	1937	1938	1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	1946¹	1947¹	1948	1949	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958	1959	1960	1961	1962	Career SR
Australian Championships	A	A	A	A	A	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	0 / 0
French Championships	A	A	A	A	NH	R	R	R	R	A	W	W	A	W	F	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	3 / 4
Wimbledon	A	A	A	A	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	W	F	W	W	W	F	A	A	W	A	A	A	F	A	A	A	3R	5 / 9
U.S. Championships	QF	A	1R	A	QF	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	A	A	F	F	W	W	W	QF	QF	A	SF	SF	13 / 22
SR	0 / 1	0 / 0	0 / 1	0 / 0	0 / 1	1 / 1	1 / 1	1 / 1	1 / 1	1 / 1	3 / 3	2 / 3	2 / 2	3 / 3	2 / 3	0 / 1	0 / 0	0 / 1	1 / 2	1 / 1	1 / 1	1 / 1	0 / 2	0 / 1	0 / 0	0 / 1	0 / 2	21 / 35

Mixed doubles

Tournament	1936	1937	1938	1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	1946¹	1947¹	1948	1949	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958	1959	1960	1961	1962	Career SR
Australian Championships	A	A	A	A	A	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	0 / 0
French Championships	A	A	A	A	NH	R	R	R	R	A	A	A	A	A	A	SF	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	0 / 1
Wimbledon	A	A	A	A	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	NH	SF	SF	SF	4R	4R	SF	A	A	F	A	A	A	2R	A	A	A	W	1 / 9
U.S. Championships	2R	A	2R	A	SF	2R	SF	W	W	W	W	SF	F	F	W	A	A	A	F	?	W	SF	W	W	W	A	A	9 / ?
SR	0 / 1	0 / 0	0 / 1	0 / 0	0 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 1	1 / 1	1 / 1	1 / 1	1 / 2	0 / 2	0 / 2	0 / 2	1 / 2	0 / 2	0 / 0	0 / 0	0 / 2	0 / ?	1 / 1	0 / 1	1 / 2	1 / 1	1 / 1	0 / 0	1 /1	10 / ?

R = tournament restricted to French nationals and held under German occupation.
¹In 1946 and 1947, the French Championships were held after Wimbledon.

References

^ ^a ^b Finn, Robin (October 25, 2012). "Margaret Osborne duPont, Tennis Champion, Dies at 94". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
^ "Mrs. duPont denies secret success formula". Newport Daily News. AP. August 24, 1962. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Collins, Bud (2008). The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book. New York City, N.Y: New Chapter Press. pp. 695, 702–3. ISBN 978-0-942257-41-0.
^ Stites, Russell (October 10, 2024). "DuPont, Margaret Evelyn Osborne (1918–2012)". Texas State Historical Association.
^ United States Tennis Association (1988). 1988 Official USTA Tennis Yearbook. Lynn, Massachusetts: H. O. Zimman, Inc. pp. 260–1.
^ "William du Pont, Jr. papers (Accession 2317.II), Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, DE 19807".
^ Billie Jean King with Cynthia Starr (1988). We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis. New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 70. ISBN 0-07-034625-9.
^ Billie Jean King with Cynthia Starr (1988). We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis. New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 75. ISBN 0-07-034625-9.
^ "Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in Wilmington, Delaware - 1999". www.desports.org.
^ "The US Open 2010 - Grand Slam Tennis - Official Site by IBM". Archived from the original on August 29, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.

External links

Margaret Osborne duPont at the International Tennis Hall of Fame

[NYT-1] Finn, Robin (October 25, 2012). "Margaret Osborne duPont, Tennis Champion, Dies at 94". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2014.

[2] "Mrs. duPont denies secret success formula". Newport Daily News. AP. August 24, 1962. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] Collins, Bud (2008). The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book. New York City, N.Y: New Chapter Press. pp. 695, 702–3. ISBN 978-0-942257-41-0.

[4] Stites, Russell (October 10, 2024). "DuPont, Margaret Evelyn Osborne (1918–2012)". Texas State Historical Association.

[5] United States Tennis Association (1988). 1988 Official USTA Tennis Yearbook. Lynn, Massachusetts: H. O. Zimman, Inc. pp. 260–1.

[6] "William du Pont, Jr. papers (Accession 2317.II), Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, DE 19807".

[7] Billie Jean King with Cynthia Starr (1988). We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis. New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 70. ISBN 0-07-034625-9.

[8] Billie Jean King with Cynthia Starr (1988). We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis. New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 75. ISBN 0-07-034625-9.

[9] "Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in Wilmington, Delaware - 1999". www.desports.org.

[10] "The US Open 2010 - Grand Slam Tennis - Official Site by IBM". Archived from the original on August 29, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.

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