Francoise Durr

Francoise Durr (b. December 25 1942 in Algiers, Algeria) is a former tennis player from France. She is best remembered for winning the women's singles title at Roland Garros in 1967. She also won 11 Grand Slam doubles titles.

Related Topics:
December 25 - 1942 - Algiers - Algeria - Tennis - France - Roland Garros - 1967 - Grand Slam

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Durr won both the women's singles and the women's doubles titles at Roland Garros in 1967. (She was the last Frenchwoman to win the coveted singles trophy until 2000, when Mary Pierce ended a 33-year drought.) It was the first of a record five consecutive women's doubles titles at the event for Durr (the record has since been equalled by Martina Navratilova and Gigi Fernandez). She also claimed the mixed doubles title in 1968, 1971 and 1973.

Related Topics:
2000 - Mary Pierce - Martina Navratilova - Gigi Fernandez - 1968 - 1971 - 1973

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Durr also won the women's doubles at the US Open in 1969 and 1972, and the mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 1976.

Related Topics:
US Open - 1969 - 1972 - Wimbledon - 1976

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Durr was an integral member of France's Fed Cup team in the 1960s and 70s, and then served as Team Captain in 1996.

Related Topics:
Fed Cup - 1996

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Over the course of her career, Durr won 26 singles titles and 42 doubles titles. She was ranked the World No. 3 woman player in 1967, and as was ranked in the world's top-10 a total of nine times between 1965 and 1976. Her titles were won using unorthodox grips and strokes, giving way to pinpoint accuracy. Durr was also the first woman to travel the tennis circuit with her dog, named Topspin, who became a star by carrying Durr's racquet onto court.

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Durr received the WTA Tour's Honorary Membership Award in 1988 for her contributions to the founding, development and direction of women's professional tennis. In 1993, she was appointed the first Director of Women's Tennis for the French Tennis Federation.

Related Topics:
WTA - 1988 - 1993

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In 2003, Durr was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In 2005, she received the International Tennis Federation/International Tennis Hall of Fame Fed Cup Award of Excellence.

Related Topics:
2003 - International Tennis Hall of Fame - 2005 - International Tennis Federation

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