Suzanne Lenglen

Suzanne Rachel Flore Lenglen (24 May 1899 – 4 July, 1938) was a French tennis player who achieved much success in the French and British women's game from 1919 to 1926, winning 25 Grand Slam titles. A flamboyant, trendsetting athlete, she was the first female tennis celebrity and one of the first international female sport stars, named La Divine (the divine one) by the French press.

Dominance

The French championships were not held again until 1920, but the Wimbledon Championships were again organised after a four year hiatus. Lenglen entered the tournament — her first on grass — and met seven time winner Dorothea Douglass Chambers in the final. The close match, later noted to be one of the hallmarks in tennis history, saw Lenglen saving two match points and winning in 10–8, 4–6, 9–7 to take her first Grand Slam victory.

Related Topics:
1920 - Wimbledon Championships - Grass - Dorothea Douglass Chambers

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Not only her performances on the court were noted, however. She garnered much attention in the media when she appeared at the Wimbledon with her dress revealing bare forearms and cut just above the calf, while all other players competed in outfits covering nearly all of the body. Staid Brits also were in shock at the boldness of the French woman who also casually sipped brandy between sets.

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At the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp (Belgium), Lenglen dominated the women's singles. On her path to the gold medal, she gave up only four games, three of them in the final against Dorothy Holman of Britain. She then teamed up with Max Décugis to win another gold medal in the mixed doubles. She was eliminated in the women's doubles semi-final (playing with Elisabeth d'Ayen), and won the bronze medal after their opponents withdrew.

Related Topics:
1920 Summer Olympics - Antwerp - Belgium - Dorothy Holman - Max Décugis - Elisabeth d'Ayen

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From 1919 to 1925, Suzanne Lenglen won the Wimbledon singles championship every year with the exception of 1924. Health problems due to her asthma which had already taken her out of that year's French Championships, forced her to withdraw after the fourth round. From 1920 to 1926 she won the French Championships (French Open from 1925) six times.

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