Peanut Louie Harper

Mareen "Peanut" Louie-Harper (born Mareen Louie; [2] August 15, 1960) is a retired American tennis player, born in San Francisco, California[3] to Ron and Alice Louie.[4]

Peanut Louie-Harper
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceSan Francisco, California, USA
Born (1960-08-15) 15 August 1960 (age 63)
San Francisco, USA
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) [1]
Turned pro1978
Retired1994
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
Singles
Career record238–263
Career titles4
Highest rankingNo. 19 (1 April 1985)
Grand Slam singles results
French Open3R (1978)
Wimbledon3R (1980, 1987)
US Open3R (1978, 1984)
Doubles
Career record118–162
Career titles5
Highest rankingNo. 31 (6 April 1992)
Grand Slam doubles results
French Open2R (1988)
Wimbledon3R (1989)
US Open3R (1980)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
French Open2R (1988)
Wimbledon2R (1976, 1989)
US Open3R (1978)

She was a top-ranked junior tennis player and professional tennis player on the WTA tour. She reached a career high singles ranking of 19 in the world in 1985 and doubles ranking of 31 in the world in 1992. She is currently the co-founder and program director of Harper for Kids, a youth character development program.[citation needed]

Professional tennis career

During her career, she won 14 USTA National Junior titles and was the #1 ranked 16-and-under (1976) and 12-and-under tennis player (1972) in the United States. Peanut was the Junior Wimbledon finalist in 1977 and a semifinalist in 1978.[5] She was also the #1 ranked junior in NorCal in all age divisions (10, 12, 14, 16 & 18 & unders).[citation needed]

After a successful junior career, she turned pro in 1978. In her 16-year career, she won four singles titles and reached a career high ranking of No. 19 in the world (in 1985). She also won five doubles titles and reached a career high ranking of No. 31 in the world (in 1992). At the Grand Slams, her best results were reaching the round of 32 in singles and the round of 16 in doubles several times. Among her best wins were victories over Gabriela Sabatini, Zina Garrison, Mary Joe Fernández, Helena Suková, Wendy Turnbull, Stephanie Rehe and Andrea Jaeger.[6]

Louie was honored with the WTA Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award in back-to-back years in 1985 and 1986 from the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). In 1986, she was also named Tennis magazine's Comeback Player of the Year. During her junior career, she was presented with the USTA Girls’ 18 National Championship Sportsmanship Award in 1977.[citation needed]

Personal life and post-tennis career

Her older sister, Marcie Louie, also played on the WTA Tour, and her sisters Cici and Marisa, and brother Ronnie, all played at the University of San Francisco.[7] She, along with her siblings, trained on the tennis courts of Golden Gate Park. She was given the nickname "Peanut" by her father because she was the youngest of the five children.[6]

She was inducted into the USTA Northern California Hall of Fame in 2000,[8] the Multi-Ethnic Sports of Fame in 2017, the San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame in 2010,[5] and the George Washington Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.

She married Tim Harper in 1986. They live in San Francisco and have two kids, Casey and Jared. Jared, who is a singer-songwriter, auditioned on Season 18 of The Voice [9]

Charity work

In 2008, she co-founded Harper for Kids (HFK), a children's nonprofit organization, with her husband Tim Harper.[10] HFK's youth character development program is based on John Wooden's Pyramid of Success and teaches youth essential character traits that can help them achieve their personal best in life. HFK helps schools incorporate the Pyramid of Success into their character education. Before starting Harper for Kids, Peanut collaborated with John Wooden on his children's book Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success (Perfection Learning), with co-author Steve Jamison.

Hall of Fame inductions

  • Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame, 2017
  • San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame, 2010
  • USTA NorCal Hall of Fame, 2000
  • George Washington High School Athletic Hall of Fame, 1991

Awards and honors

  • The Chinese Historical Society of America, 1986 recipient
  • Tennis magazine's Comeback Player of the Year, 1986 recipient
  • WTA Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award, 1985 ad 1986
  • USTA Girls’ 18 National Championship Sportsmanship Award
  • OCA (Organization of Chinese Americans) East Bay Chapter
  • Queen of Hearts Foundation, 2011 Honorary Chairperson
  • OCA (Organization of Chinese Americans) San Mateo Chapter

WTA career finals

Singles (4 titles, 1 runner-up)

ResultW–LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0Sep 1978Avon Futures of Northern California, USHard Ruta Gerulaitis7–6, 6–2
Win2–0Mar 1980Avon Futures of Columbus, USHard Beth Norton6–2, 6–3
Loss2–1Dec 1980Tucson Open, U.S.Carpet (i) Tracy Austin2–6, 0–6
Win3–1Apr 1984Durban, South AfricaHard Rene Uys6–1, 6–4
Win4–1Jan 1985Virginia Slims of Denver, USCarpet (i) Zina Garrison6–4, 4–6, 6–4

Doubles (5 titles, 5 runner-ups)

ResultPartnerDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentsScore
Loss Marita Redondo28 March 1979La Costa Tennis ClassicHard Marcie Louie

Regina Maršíková

6–2, 2–6, 6–4
Win Dana Gilbert20 October 1980Hit-Union Japan OpenHardNerida Gregory

Marie Pinterová

7–5, 7–6
Loss Marita Redondo2 March 1981Avon Championships of Los AngelesHard Susan Leo

Kim Sands

6–1, 4–6, 6–1
Win Anna-Maria Fernandez29 April 1984Durban, South AfricaHard Cláudia Monteiro

Beverly Mould

7–5, 5–7, 6–1
Win Anna-Maria Fernandez30 July 1984Virginia Slims of NewportGrass Lea Antonopolis

Beverly Mould

7–5, 7–6
Loss Heather Ludloff29 September 1987Virginia Slims of New OrleansCarpet (i) Zina Garrison

Lori McNeil

6–3, 6–3
Win Penny BargOctober 1989Virginia Slims of ArizonaHard Elise Burgin

Rosalyn Fairbank

7–6, 7–6
Loss Wendy White6 August 1990Virginia Slims of AlbuquerqueHard Meredith McGrath

Anne Smith

7–6, 6–4
Loss Lise Gregory5 August 1991Virginia Slims of AlbuquerqueHard Katrina Adams

Isabelle Demongeot

6–7, 6–4, 6–3
Win Cammy MacGregorOctober 1991Virginia Slims of ArizonaHard Sandy Colins

Elna Reinach

7–5, 3–6, 6–3

References

External links