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Margaret Smith Court ) (born July 16, 1942Margaret Smith Court is a retired Australian professional tennis player, who was one of the most successful players in the history of the sport. She was born in Albury, New South Wales in Australia.

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Court began playing tennis at the age of eight and was seventeen when she won her first of seven straight Australian Open singles titles. In 1966 she retired, married Barry Court, and started a family. She returned to tennis in 1968. She retired permanently in 1977 when she learned she was expecting the third of her four children.

Court is one of only three players to have a "boxed set" of Grand Slam titles, i.e., every possible title (singles, same-sex doubles, and mixed doubles) from each Grand Slam event. The others are Doris Hart and Martina Navrátilová.

In 1979, Court was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and in January of 2003, Show Court One at Melbourne Park was renamed Margaret Court Arena. Also in 2003, the Government of Australia honoured her and fellow Australian tennis superstar Rod Laver by putting their images on postage stamps.

Court now lives in Perth, Western Australia and runs a Christian ministry. Her father-in-law, Sir Charles Court, and brother-in-law, Richard Court, were Liberal premiers of Western Australia

1960 - Won her first singles title at the Australian Championships, but lost the junior girls final to Lesley Turner.1963 - Became the first Australian woman to win Wimbledon. She and Ken Fletcher became the first, and only, pair to win a Grand Slam in mixed doubles.1965 - Won three of the Grand Slam singles events and won another Grand Slam in mixed doubles, with three different partners.1970 - Won all four of the Grand Slam tournaments, defeating Kerry Melville in the Australian Open final, Helga Niessen in the French Open final, Billie Jean King in the Wimbledon final, and Rosie Casals in the US Open final. Maureen Connolly in 1953 and Steffi Graf in 1988 are the only other women who have won all four Grand Slam events during the same calendar year.1973 - Won three of the Grand Slam singles events. On Mother's Day (May 13), lost a televised match to Bobby Riggs 6–2, 6–1, despite being the top-ranked women's player at the time. Billie Jean King beat Riggs to even the score four months later.1975 - Played the final Grand Slam singles match of her career, losing to Martina Navratilova 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the US Open.1977 - Played the final singles match of her career, defeating Greer Stevens 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 in the third round of the Virginia Slims of Detroit. Court defaulted the quarterfinal to Francoise Durr upon learning that she was pregnant.

Court won a record 62 Grand Slam titles (24 singles, 19 women's doubles, 19 mixed doubles).

Court reached the finals in 29, the semifinals in 36, and the quarterfinals in 43 of the 47 Grand Slams singles events she entered during her career. Her won-lost record in Grand Slam events was 210-23 .901 (47-5 at the French ChampionshipsOpen). She won 11 of the 16 Grand Slam singles events she entered beginning with the 1969 Australian Open and ending with the 1973 United States Open. She also won 11 of the 17 Grand Slam singles events she entered beginning with the 1962 Australian Championships and ending with the 1966 Australian Championships. During her career, Court was an astounding 146-2 .986 against unseeded players in Grand Slam singles events.

Court is the only player to have won the calendar year Grand Slam in both singles and mixed doubles. She won the singles slam in 1970, the mixed doubles slam in 1963 with fellow Australian Ken Fletcher, and the mixed doubles slam in 1965 with three different partners.

According to the end-of-year rankings compiled by the London Daily Telegraph from 1914 through 1972, Court was ranked No. 1 in the world six times: 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, and 1970. Court also was ranked No. 1 for 1973, when the official rankings were produced by the Women's Tennis Association.

Her singles championships at the four major tournaments:

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Court's overall win-loss record at Wimbledon was 51-9 .850 in 12 years (1961-1966, 1968-1971, 1973, 1975). (Her win total includes one mid-match retirement but does not include any first round byes.) Her only losses were to Evonne Goolagong in 1975 and 1971, Chris Evert in 1973, Ann Haydon Jones in 1969, Judy Tegart Dalton in 1968, Billie Jean King in 1966 and 1962, Maria Bueno in 1964, and Christine Truman Janes in 1961.

Court was 3-2 in finals, 5-4 in semifinals, and 9-2 in quarterfinals. Court failed to reach the quarterfinals only once, in 1962 during her second Wimbledon. After receiving a bye during the first round, Court lost to unseeded Billie Jean King in the second round.

Court was 5-6 in three set matches, 46-3 in two set matches, and 0-2 in deuce third sets, i.e., sets that were tied 5-5 before being resolved.

Court was seeded all 12 years she entered Wimbledon. (The tournament seeded only 8 players through 1976.)

Seeded #1 in 1962 (lost second round), 1963 (champion), 1964 (finalist), 1966 (semifinalist), 1969 (semifinalist), 1970 (champion), 1971 (finalist), 1973 (semifinalist).

Court was 10-8 .556 against seeded players. She was 41-1 against unseeded players, her only loss occurring during the second round of the 1962 tournament against Billie Jean King.

Versus #2 seeds, Court was 2-1 (wins: Martina Navratilova (1975), Billie Jean King (1970); loss: Maria Bueno (1964)).Versus #4 seeds, Court was 1-4 (win: Darlene Hard (1963); losses: Evonne Goolagong (1975), Chris Evert (1973), Ann Haydon Jones (1969), Billie Jean King (1966)).

Against her major rivals at Wimbledon, Court was 3-2 versus Billie Jean King, 2-1 versus Christine Truman Janes, 1-0 versus Martina Navratilova, 1-0 versus Darlene Hard, 1-0 versus Karen Hantze Susman, 1-0 versus Nancy Richey Gunter, 1-0 versus Rosie Casals, 1-1 versus Maria Bueno, 0-1 versus Ann Haydon Jones, 0-1 versus Chris Evert, and 0-2 versus Evonne Goolagong.

United States Open was 51-6 .895 in 11 years (1961-1965, 1968-1970, 1972-1973, 1975). (Her win total does not include any first round byes.) Her only losses were to Martina Navratilova in 1975, Billie Jean King in 1972, Maria Bueno in 1968 and 1963, Karen Hantze Susman in 1964, and Darlene Hard in 1961.

Court was 5-1 in finals, 6-2 in semifinals, and 8-2 in quarterfinals. Court failed to reach the quarterfinals only once, in 1964 when she lost to Karen Hantze Susman in the fourth round.

Court was 9-3 in three set matches, 42-3 in two set matches, and 0-0 in deuce third sets, i.e., sets that were tied 5-5 before being resolved.

Court was seeded all 11 years she entered the United States ChampionshipsVersus #3 seeds, Court was 3-1 (wins: Chris Evert (1973), Nancy Richey Gunter (1970 and 1965); loss: Martina Navratilova (1975)).Versus #4 seeds, Court was 3-1 (wins: Evonne Goolagong (1973), Rosie Casals (1972), Christine Truman Janes (1961); loss: Maria Bueno (1963)).Versus #5 seeds, Court was 2-1 (wins: Virginia Wade (1969), Billie Jean King (1965); loss: Maria Bueno (1968)).United States Open, Court was 3-0 versus Nancy Richey Gunter, 2-0 versus Virginia Wade, 2-0 versus Rosie Casals, 2-0 versus Francoise Durr, 2-0 versus Christine Truman Janes, 1-0 versus Chris Evert, 1-0 versus Evonne Goolagong, 1-1 versus Darlene Hard, 1-1 versus Billie Jean King, 1-2 versus Maria Bueno, 0-1 versus Martina Navratilova, and 0-1 versus Karen Hantze Susman.

French Open was 47-5 .850 in 10 years (1961-1966, 1969-1971, 1973). (Her win total includes three walkovers but does not include any first round byes.) Her only losses were to Gail Chanfreau in 1971, Nancy Richey Gunter in 1966, Lesley Turner in 1965, Věra Suková in 1963, and Ann Haydon Jones in 1961.

Court was 5-1 in finals, 6-1 in semifinals, and 7-2 in quarterfinals. Court failed to reach the quarterfinals only once, in 1971 when she lost to unseeded Gail Chanfreau in the third round.

Court was 8-0 in three set matches, 39-5 in two set matches, and 2-0 in deuce third sets, i.e., sets that were tied 5-5 before being resolved.

Court was seeded all 10 years she entered the French ChampionshipsSeeded #1 in 1963 (quarterfinalist), 1964 (champion), 1965 (finalist), 1966 (semifinalist), 1969 (champion), 1970 (champion), 1971 (lost third round), 1973 (champion).

Court was 15-4 .789 against seeded players. She was 32-1 against unseeded players, her only loss occurring during the third round of the 1971 tournament against Gail Chanfreau.

Versus #4 seeds, Court was 4-0 (Evonne Goolagong (1973), Julie Heldman (1970), Nancy Richey Gunter (1969 and 1965)).Versus #8 seeds, Court was 3-1 (wins: Rosie Casals (1970), Kerry Reid (1969), Věra Suková (1964); loss: Věra Suková (1963)).French Open, Court was 2-1 versus Nancy Richey Gunter, 1-0 versus Chris Evert, 1-0 versus Evonne Goolagong, 1-0 versus Maria Bueno, 1-0 versus Rosie Casals, 1-1 versus Ann Haydon Jones, 1-1 versus Lesley Turner, and 1-1 versus Věra Suková.

Australian Open was 61-3 .953 in 14 years (1959-1966, 1968-1971, 1973, 1975). (Her win total includes one walkover but does not include any first round byes.) Her only losses were to Martina Navratilova in 1975, Billie Jean King in 1968, and Mary Reitano in 1959.

Court was 11-1 in finals, 12-0 in semifinals, and 12-1 in quarterfinals. Court failed to reach the quarterfinals only once, in 1959 during her first Australian Championships. Court lost to fourth seeded Mary Reitano in the second round.

Court was 6-0 in three set matches, 51-3 in two set matches, and 2-0 in deuce third sets, i.e., sets that were tied 5-5 before being resolved.

Court was seeded 13 of the 14 years she entered the Australian ChampionshipsSeeded #1 overall in 1961 (champion), 1962 (champion), 1963 (champion), 1964 (champion), 1970 (champion), 1971 (champion), 1973 (champion), 1975 (quarterfinalist).Versus #1 seeds (overall, domestic, or foreign), Court was 5-1 (wins: Billie Jean King (1969), Lesley Turner (1968), Nancy Richey Gunter (1966), Maria Bueno (1965 and 1960); loss: Billie Jean King (1968)).Versus #2 seeds (overall, domestic, or foreign), Court was 6-0 (Evonne Goolagong (1973 and 1971), Kerry Melville (1970), Carol Graebner (1966), Billie Jean King (1965), Jan Lehane (1961)).Versus #3 seeds (overall, domestic, or foreign), Court was 3-0 (Rosie Casals (1968), Jan Lehane (1963 and 1960)).Versus #4 seeds (overall, domestic, or foreign), Court was 5-1 (wins: Karen Krantzcke (1970), Kerry Melville (1973 and 1969), Yola Rameriez (1962), Mary Reitano (1960); loss: Mary Reitano (1959)).Versus #5 seeds (overall, domestic, or foreign), Court was 4-0 (Rosie Casals (1969), Norma Baylon (1965), Robyn Ebbern (1965), Jan Lehane (1962)).Versus #8 seeds (overall, domestic, or foreign), Court was 2-1 (wins: Karen Krantzcke (1973), Helen Gourlay (1971)); loss: Martina Navratilova (1975)).Australian Open, Court was 5-0 versus Jan Lehane, 4-0 versus Evonne Goolagong, 3-0 versus Kerry Melville, 2-0 versus Maria Bueno, 2-0 versus Rosie Casals, 2-0 versus Lesley Turner, 2-1 versus Billie Jean King, 1-0 versus Judy Tegart Dalton, 1-0 versus Francoise Durr, 1-0 versus Nancy Richey Gunter, and 0-1 versus Martina Navratilova.