Anna Mallory

Anna Mallory was a Norwegian-American tennis player who won a record eight singles titles at the U.S. National Championships. She was the first woman to represent Norway at the Olympics and was at one time ranked World No. 2.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Anna Margrethe "Molla" Bjurstedt Mallory was born on March 6, 1884, in Mosvik, Norway.

She arrived in New York City in 1915 as a relatively unknown player and worked as a masseuse. She died in Stockholm, Sweden, on November 22, 1959.

Professional Career

Mallory won a bronze medal in singles for Norway at the 1912 Summer Olympics. She was known as a fierce competitor with a relentless baseline game and great endurance.

Her rivalry with Suzanne Lenglen, which included a famous default by Lenglen at the 1921 U.S. National Championships, brought her great celebrity. Mallory won a record eight singles titles at the U.S. National Championships, with her last title coming in 1926 at the age of 42.

Legacy

According to A. Wallis Myers of The Daily Telegraph, Mallory was ranked in the World Top 10 from 1921 through 1927 and reached a career high of World No. 2. She was ranked in the U.S. top 10 for 13 consecutive years.

In 1916, she co-wrote the book "Tennis for Women" with Samuel Crowther. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1958.

Career Record

Singles

• Career record: 668–87 (88.5%)
• Career titles: 100
• Highest ranking: No. 1 (US ranking)

Best Grand Slam Singles Performances

• French Open: 2R (1928)
• Wimbledon: F (1922)
• US Open: W (1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1926)

Doubles

• Career titles: 2 major titles

Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances

• US Open: W (1916, 1917)

Mixed Doubles

• Career titles: 3 major titles

Best Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Performances

• US Open: W (1917, 1922, 1923)

Team competitions

• Wightman Cup: W (1923, 1927)