Tennis Great

October 6, 2009

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Profile America — Tuesday, October 6th. Today marks the birth date of one of America’s greatest tennis players — Helen Wills Moody. During her professional career, she had a phenomenal 92 percent winning average. In one five year period, she did not lose even one set in singles competition. She won Wimbledon eight times, the U.S. Open seven times and the French Open four times. For her serious demeanor on court, she was nicknamed “Little Miss Poker Face.” Helen Wills Moody lived to be 92. Players of her caliber helped to make the game popular with the public. Across the U.S., over 10 million people play tennis and close to 6.5 million more attend matches as spectators. You can find these and more facts about sports in America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, p. 496
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 1206, 1209
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2009edition.html