Alice Marble

Alice Marble (September 13, 1913 – December 13, 1990) was an early American tennis champion.

Related Topics:
September 13 - 1913 - December 13 - 1990 - American - Tennis

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Born in the small town of Beckwourth, California, Marble moved with her family at the age of five to San Francisco. A tomboy, she excelled in many sports such as baseball, but her brother persuaded her to try a more lady-like sport; tennis, which she quickly honed while playing in Golden Gate Park. She suffered a setback at age fifteen when she was raped by a stranger, but she overcame the trauma and won several Californian junior tournaments. She was again challenged in 1934 to recover after collapsing during a match in France; doctors diagnosed her with pleurisy and tuberculosis. She took an extended rest but roared back into competition. At the US amateur championship in 1936 (there was no professional counterpart), she took the national title in singles and mixed doubles play. Sweeping the sport, she won all the U.S. singles titles (1938-1940), doubles titles (1937-1940), mixed titles (1938-1940), and all these categories at Wimbledon in 1939. Her Wightman Cup performance (1936-1940) was equally impressive, she lost only one singles and doubles match. She was the Associated Press Athlete of the Year in 1939 and 1940. After capping a stellar amateur career in 1940, she turned professional and earned a great sum of money traveling around playing exhibition tournaments.

Related Topics:
Beckwourth, California - San Francisco - Tomboy - Golden Gate Park - Californian - France - Pleurisy - Tuberculosis - U.S. singles titles - Doubles titles - Mixed titles - Wimbledon - 1939 - Wightman Cup - Associated Press Athlete of the Year

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Through illness and victory, Marble had the support of her coach and mentor, Eleanor "Teach" Tennant, who changed her technique and influenced her life.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During World War II she was married to Joe Crowley, a pilot, who was killed in action over Germany. Only days before, she miscarried their child following a car accident. After an attempt to kill herself, she recuperated and in 1945 agreed to spy for U.S. intelligence. Her mission involved renewing contact with a former lover, a Swiss banker, and obtaining Nazi financial data. The operation ended when a Nazi agent shot her in the back. She was extracted and recovered from her injury. Few details of the operation ever emerged because of her silence. The story was told only after her death when Courting Danger ISBN 0312928130, a second autobiography, was published.

Related Topics:
World War II - Germany - Miscarried - Spy - Swiss - Nazi

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1964, Marble was inducted to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Related Topics:
1964 - International Tennis Hall of Fame

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Marble, weakened by pernicious anemia, died at a hospital in Palm Springs, California.

Related Topics:
Pernicious anemia - Palm Springs - California

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~