Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat (née Fromholtz ; born 10 August 1956) is an Australian former professional tennis player who reached a highest singles ranking of world No. 4 in 1979.
In 2019, Fromholtz was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame , commemorated by a bronze bust.
Career Fromholtz began playing tennis at the age of seven. She left school at the age of 16 to play in international tournaments. She turned pro in 1973 and joined the WTA Tour .[citation needed
At the age of 17, she participated in the professional tennis circuit, winning the singles title at a dozen tournaments in 1973, but the rules at the time did not permit prize money to be paid to participants under 18 years of age.[1]
She reached the finals of the Australian Open in January 1977, losing to fellow Australian Kerry Melville Reid in two sets. She was a semifinalist at the French Open in 1979 and 1980. She also reached the semifinals of the US Open in 1976.
Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat in Wimbledon Mixed Doubles with Tom Okker in the background, 1985 Fromholtz won eight WTA Tour singles titles and reached a career-high ranking of world No. 4 in 1979. Partnering with Helen Gourlay Cawley , she won the Australian Open women's doubles in January 1977. She had career wins over Chris Evert , Martina Navratilova , Billie Jean King , Evonne Goolagong Cawley , Margaret Court , Virginia Wade , Pam Shriver , and Gabriela Sabatini . She holds an 8–7 career record over King.
Fromholtz met French businessman Claude Balestrat at a New Year's Eve party in 1981, and the couple wed in Dural on 26 December 1982.[2]
On 30 August 2000, Fromholtz was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for her commitment to tennis.[3]
In 2019, Fromholtz was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame , commemorated by a bronze bust located in Garden Square, within Melbourne Park .[4]
Grand Slam finals
Singles: (1 runners-up)
Doubles: (1 title)
Mixed doubles: (1 runner-up)
WTA career finals
Singles: 24 (8–16) Winner – Legend Grand Slam tournaments (0–1) WTA Tour Championships (0–0) Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (8–15)
Titles by surface Hard (0–4) Grass (4–5) Clay (3–1) Carpet (1–6)
Result No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score Win 1. May 1973 Guildford Clay Kazuko Sawamatsu 7–5, 4–6, 6–3 Win 2. Jun 1973 Chichester Grass Brigitte Cuypers 6–1, 6–0 Win 3. Jun 1973 Beckenham Grass Janet Newberry 7–5, 0–6, 6–1 Loss 1. Jul 1973 Newport Grass Julie Heldman 6–1, 1–6, 9–11 Loss 2. Nov 1973 Adelaide Grass Janet Young 5–7, 1–6 Win 4. Nov 1973 Sydney Clay Ann Kiyomura 6–1, 7–5 Loss 3. Aug 1974 South Orange Grass Pam Teeguarden 5–7, 3–6 Loss 4. Nov 1974 Johannesburg Hard Kerry Melville 3–6, 5–7 Loss 5. Aug 1975 Indianapolis Clay Chris Evert 3–6, 4–6 Loss 6. Octr 1976 Phoenix Hard 1–6, 5–7 Win 5. Nov 1976 Sydney Clay Leanne Harrison 6–1, 6–0 Loss 7. Dec 1976 Sydney Grass 6–3, 2–6, 3–6 Loss 8. Jan 1977 Australian Open Grass 5–7, 2–6 Loss 9. Oct 1977 Atlanta Carpet 3–6, 2–6 Loss 10. Feb 1978 Detroit Carpet Martina Navratilova 3–6, 2–6 Win 6. Dec 1978 Sydney Grass 6–1, 1–6, 6–4 Win 7. Dec 1978 Sydney Grass Wendy Turnbull 6–2, 7–5 Loss 11. Jan 1979 Hollywood Carpet Greer Stevens 4–6, 6–2, 4–6 Win 8. Mar 1979 Boston Carpet Sue Barker 6–2, 7–6(7–4) Loss 12. Mar 1979 Carlsbad Hard 6–3, 3–6, 1–6 Loss 13. Oct 1979 Minneapolis Carpet Evonne Goolagong 3–6, 4–6 Loss 14. Sep 1980 Minneapolis Carpet Tracy Austin 1–6, 6–2, 2–6 Loss 15. May 1985 Sydney Carpet Pam Shriver 3–6, 4–6 Loss 16. Mar 1987 Phoenix Hard Anne White 1–6, 2–6
Doubles: 12 (5-1–6) Winner – Legend Grand Slam tournaments (1–0) WTA Tour Championships (0–0) Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (4–1-6)
Titles by surface Hard (2–2) Grass (1-1–3) Clay (2–1) Carpet (0–0)
Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score Draw 1. 9 July 1973 Newport Grass Julie Heldman Patti Hogan Sharon Walsh 1–5 Shared – Loss 1. 17 December 1973 Hobart Grass Jackie Fayter Helen Gourlay Karen Krantzcke 2–6, 1–6 Win 1. 8 April 1974 Phoenix, Arizona Hard Janet Young Ann Kiyomura Betsy Nagelsen w/o Loss 2. 18 November 1974 Johannesburg Hard Margaret Court Ilana Kloss Kerry Melville 3–6, 5–7 Win 2. 19 May 1975 Hamburg Clay Renáta Tomanová Paulina Peisachov Kazuko Sawamatsu 6–3, 6–2 Win 3. 8 March 1976 Tallahassee, Florida Hard Julie Anthony Virginia Ruzici Mariana Simionescu 6–2, 7–5 Loss 3. 26 December 1976 Sydney Grass 4–6, 1–6 Win 4. 3 January 1977 Australian Open Grass Helen Gourlay 5–7, 6–1, 7–5 Loss 4. 23 September 1977 Hilton Head Clay Virginia Wade Evonne Goolagong 2–6, 6–3, 4–6 Win 5. 14 May 1979 Vienna Clay Marise Kruger Ilana Kloss Betty Ann Stuart 3–6, 6–4, 6–1 Loss 5. 26 November 1979 Melbourne Grass Anne Smith Billie Jean King Wendy Turnbull 3–6, 3–6 Loss 6. 28 February 1983 Palm Springs Hard Betty Stöve Kathy Jordan Ann Kiyomura 2–6, 2–6
Grand Slam singles tournament timeline (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.
Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
See also
References
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