Jane Albert Willens
Stanford University
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2000
Daughter of famed quarterback Frankie Albert, Jane Albert Willens (b.1946) inherited her father’s championship spirit, capturing her first national title at age 14. Two years later she claimed the California State triple crown, the youngest titleholder ever. Albert continued her winning ways at Stanford University, her father’s alma mater, becoming the national collegiate singles champion in 1964 and doubles champion in 1967.
Described as ‘thriving on pressure,’ Albert debuted at Wimbledon in 1963 on Centre Court, nearly taking the match against 1962 finalist Vera Sukova. Despite a back injury in 1964, she broke into the USTA Top 10 and was ranked No. 4 the following year. In 1967, Albert made a fitting exit from competitive tennis by winning two gold metals at the Pan American Games. Now a clinical social worker and the mother of three children, Albert was the first woman inducted into the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame.
Career Highlights
- U.S. Champion Girls’ 15 Singles, Doubles 1961
National Jaycee Champion Girls’ 15 Doubles 1961
Delaware Girls’ Grass Court Invitational Tournament Singles Champion 1962
Captain, Northern California team champions, Eleanora Sears Challenge Bowl 1962
U.S. Hard Court Champion Girls’ 16 and 18 Singles 1962
U.S. Champion Girls’ 18 Doubles; Singles Finalist 1962. 1963
California State Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles Champion 1963
California State Singles, Mixed Doubles Champion; Doubles Finalist 1964
U.S. Collegiate Singles Champion; Doubles Finalist 1964
Quarterfinalist, U.S. and Wimbledon Championships 1965
Ranked in the USTA Top 10 1964, 1965
U.S. Wightman Cup Team Member 1966
U.S. Collegiate Doubles Champion (with Julie Anthony) 1967
Gold Medalist in Doubles and Mixed Doubles, Pan American Games 1967
National Public Parks Champion 1968
B.A.’67 Stanford University; M.S.W.’93 University of Southern California
Inducted into the Northern California Tennis Hall of Fame 1975
Inducted into the Stanford University Athletic Hall of Fame 1976
Director, Santa monica, California Tennis Patrons Tenn Tennis Program 1979-1991
Vice-president, Santta Monica Tennis Patrons Board of Directors 1979 – present
Coach, Boys’ Varsity Tennis Team, Brentwood School (1990 division champions) 1984-1991
Coach, Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team, Westlake School 1977-1988
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) 1993 – present