Lea Antonoplis (born January 20, 1959) is a former professional tennis player from the U.S. who won the Wimbledon Girls' Singles in 1977 and four WTA doubles titles.[3]

Lea Antonoplis
Country (sports) USA
Born (1959-01-20) January 20, 1959 (age 65)
West Covina, California, United States
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Turned pro1979[1]
Retired1991
PlaysRight-handed
Singles
Career record78–96
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 50 (December 31, 1981)[2]
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open3R (1988)
French Open1R (1983, 1984)
Wimbledon4R (1977)
US Open3R (1976)
Wimbledon JuniorW (1977)
Doubles
Career record99–110
Career titles4
Highest rankingNo. 55 (September 14, 1987)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open2R (1982, 1984)
French Open3R (1983, 1987)
Wimbledon3R (1978, 1979, 1983)
US Open3R (1977)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
French Open1R (1987)
Wimbledon2R (1979, 1987)
US Open1R (1979)

Early life

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Antonoplis attended Glendora High School from 1974 to 1977 and graduated from the University of Southern California.

Tennis career

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In 1974, Lea played an exhibition match arranged by Dale Jensen in Claremont, Ca with Tracy Austin, Lawrence McCutcheon, and Elgin Baylor.

Also in 1974, Antonoplis played in her first Grand Slam match at the US Open, losing to Sue Mappin in three sets. In the 1977 Wimbledon Championships, Antonoplis won the junior singles, beating compatriot Peanut Louie-Harper in the final in straight sets.[4] In 1979, she won her first WTA doubles title in the Player's Canadian Open with Diane Evers, defeating Chris O'Neil and Mimmi Wikstedt 2–6, 6–1, 6–3. In 1983, she won two doubles titles with Barbara Jordan. In Indianapolis, they beat Rosalyn Fairbank and Candy Reynolds 5–7, 6–4, 7–5 in the final, and in Hershey, they beat Sherry Acker and Ann Henricksson 6–3, 6–4. In 1986, she won her fourth and last WTA doubles title with Barbara Gerken, beating Gigi Fernández and Susan Leo 6–1, 6–2 in the final.[3]

Antonoplis also acquired some notability at a 1976 satellite tournament in South Orange, New Jersey when she won a three-set semifinal match against Renée Richards. This was the first tournament in which Richards competed after it was revealed that she had undergone a sex-change procedure.

WTA Tour finals

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Doubles 10 (3–7)

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Legend
Grand Slam 0
WTA Championships 0
Tier I 0
Tier II 0
Tier III 0
Tier IV & V 0
Titles by surface
Hard 2
Clay 0
Grass 0
Carpet 1
Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1. Feb 1983 Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Hard   Barbara Jordan   Rosalyn Fairbank
  Candy Reynolds
5–7, 6–4, 7–5
Win 2. Feb 1983 Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA Hard   Barbara Jordan   Sherry Acker
  Ann Henricksson
6–3, 6–4
Loss 3. Nov 1983 Ginny Championships, US Carpet (i)   Barbara Jordan   Rosalyn Fairbank
  Candy Reynolds
7–5, 5–7, 3–6
Loss 4. Aug 1984 Newport, Rhode Island, US Grass   Beverly Mould   Anna-Maria Fernandez
  Peanut Louie
5–7, 6–7
Loss 5. Dec 1985 Auckland, New Zealand Grass   Adriana Villagrán   Anne Hobbs
  Candy Reynolds
1–6, 3–6
Win 6. Oct 1986 Taipei Carpet (i)   Barbara Gerken   Gigi Fernández
  Susan Leo
6–1, 6–2
Loss 7. Aug 1987 Aptos, California, US Hard   Barbara Gerken   Kathy Jordan
  Robin White
1–6, 0–6
Loss 8. Nov 1987 Little Rock, Arkansas, US Hard   Barbara Gerken   Mary-Lou Daniels
  Robin White
2–6, 4–6
Loss 9. Apr 1988 Tokyo Outdoor, Japan Hard   Barbara Gerken   Gigi Fernández
  Robin White
1–6, 4–6
Loss 10. Jul 1988 Schenectady, New York, US Hard   Cammy MacGregor   Ann Henricksson
  Julie Richardson
3–6, 6–3, 5–7

References

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  1. ^ LinkedIn profile page
  2. ^ Womens International computer rankings as of Dec. 31, 1981
  3. ^ a b "Antonoplis, Lea (USA)". Players – Biography. ITF. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  4. ^ Jim Bainbridge (1978). 1978 Colgate Series Media Guide. New York: H.O. Zimman Inc. p. 23.
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