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2008 Hall of Fame Inductions
People Who Changed The Game
In 2008, we inducted 4 incredible women into the Hall of Fame. Each of their legacies has created a lasting impact on the sport of tennis and will for the rest of time.
Inductees
Alice Luthy Tym
Alice Luthy Tym (b. 1942) blazed a trail as founder of the women’s tennis team while a student at the University of Florida in 1960, and continued her myriad contributions to the game as a champion player, collegiate coach and teaching professional.
A standout junior player in her native Peoria, Illinois, Tym captained her college team all four years while earning Phi Beta Kappa academic honors. She went on to earn an M.A. from UF in 1966 as a Ford Foundation Fellow. From 1964 to 1970, she played on the international circuit, winning titles on five continents and securing a world ranking as high as No. 13 in 1969.
As head coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from 1974 to 1978, Tym started the varsity women’s program and guided her teams to two AIAW Small College National Championships.
Appointed Director of Tennis at Yale in 1978, she coached the nationally ranked women’s team for four years and won the Ivy Championships in 1981. Tym returned to UT to take up a distinguished teaching career in the Geography Department, maintaining her involvement in athletics as an active horsewoman and gold medalist in the National Senior Olympics.
A standout junior player in her native Peoria, Illinois, Tym captained her college team all four years while earning Phi Beta Kappa academic honors. She went on to earn an M.A. from UF in 1966 as a Ford Foundation Fellow. From 1964 to 1970, she played on the international circuit, winning titles on five continents and securing a world ranking as high as No. 13 in 1969.
As head coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from 1974 to 1978, Tym started the varsity women’s program and guided her teams to two AIAW Small College National Championships.
Appointed Director of Tennis at Yale in 1978, she coached the nationally ranked women’s team for four years and won the Ivy Championships in 1981. Tym returned to UT to take up a distinguished teaching career in the Geography Department, maintaining her involvement in athletics as an active horsewoman and gold medalist in the National Senior Olympics.
Gigi Fernandez
With 17 Grand Slam titles and two Olympic Gold Medals, Beatriz “Gigi” Fernandez (b. 1964) ranks among the greatest doubles players of all time. Recruited to Clemson University from her native Puerto Rico, Fernandez went pro after reaching the national collegiate singles finals in her freshman year. From 1983 to 1997, she captured 69 doubles titles, reached 26 Grand Slam finals in doubles and mixed doubles, and was consistently ranked No. 1 from 1991 to 1995. Employing her big serve-and-volley game, Fernandez also reached as high as No. 17 in the singles rankings.
Retiring at the top of her game, Fernandez went on to earn her B.A. with honors from the University of South Florida in 2003, coaching the USF women’s tennis team as well from 2002-2005. Dedicated to developing Puerto Rican tennis, Fernandez worked with the island’s Fed Cup and Olympic teams, and in 1999 was named Puerto Rico’s Female Athlete of the Century.
Pursuing a second career as a businesswoman, Fernandez continues to head the Gigi Fernandez Charitable Foundation, established in 1992, which has donated more than a half-million dollars to charitable causes.
Retiring at the top of her game, Fernandez went on to earn her B.A. with honors from the University of South Florida in 2003, coaching the USF women’s tennis team as well from 2002-2005. Dedicated to developing Puerto Rican tennis, Fernandez worked with the island’s Fed Cup and Olympic teams, and in 1999 was named Puerto Rico’s Female Athlete of the Century.
Pursuing a second career as a businesswoman, Fernandez continues to head the Gigi Fernandez Charitable Foundation, established in 1992, which has donated more than a half-million dollars to charitable causes.
Janice Metcalf Cromer
The winner of eight national titles while in college, Janice Metcalf (b. 1952) holds the distinction of being the first woman to play on the men’s tennis team at the University of Redlands. Metcalf first took up tennis at age 10, honing her game at public parks and college courts in Claremont, California, and becoming a top junior player in the Southern California region.
During her remarkable career at Redlands, she captured the women’s national collegiate singles title in both 1972 and 1973, and also helped lead the men’s team to two national championships in 1973 and 1974.
Metcalf turned pro after receiving her B.A. and played internationally against some of the game’s greats, including Margaret Court and Chris Evert, earning a ranking among the top 15 in the U.S. and top 40 in the world.
Retiring in 1977 because of a severe knee injury, Metcalf earned an M.S. from California State University at Fullerton in 1980. She went on to coaching and teaching positions at Southern Methodist University and The Claremont Club, and since 1990 has enjoyed a longtime career at San Dimas High School in California.
During her remarkable career at Redlands, she captured the women’s national collegiate singles title in both 1972 and 1973, and also helped lead the men’s team to two national championships in 1973 and 1974.
Metcalf turned pro after receiving her B.A. and played internationally against some of the game’s greats, including Margaret Court and Chris Evert, earning a ranking among the top 15 in the U.S. and top 40 in the world.
Retiring in 1977 because of a severe knee injury, Metcalf earned an M.S. from California State University at Fullerton in 1980. She went on to coaching and teaching positions at Southern Methodist University and The Claremont Club, and since 1990 has enjoyed a longtime career at San Dimas High School in California.
Wendy White Prausa
Joining the professional circuit in 1980 after capturing the national collegiate singles crown, Wendy White (b. 1960) remains the only woman to turn pro and to continue to attend college and graduate on time.
Introduced to tennis at summer camp as an 8-year-old, White became a dominant junior player in her native Georgia and on the sectional and national levels. Between 1977–78, she won or was a finalist in more than 30 national junior and amateur championships. In 1978, White received a full scholarship to Rollins College and in 1980 was named Collegiate Player of the Year by Tennis Magazine.
A versatile all-court player, White ranked as high as No. 22 in singles and No. 18 in doubles as a pro, competing in all four Grand Slams and scoring victories over some of the game’s legends, including two wins against Billie Jean King. Continuing to play and coach after retiring in 1992, White has been active for many years in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The U.S. Professional Tennis Registry recognized her as the Player of the Decade in 2000, and the following year she was inducted into the USTA Southern Hall of Fame.
Introduced to tennis at summer camp as an 8-year-old, White became a dominant junior player in her native Georgia and on the sectional and national levels. Between 1977–78, she won or was a finalist in more than 30 national junior and amateur championships. In 1978, White received a full scholarship to Rollins College and in 1980 was named Collegiate Player of the Year by Tennis Magazine.
A versatile all-court player, White ranked as high as No. 22 in singles and No. 18 in doubles as a pro, competing in all four Grand Slams and scoring victories over some of the game’s legends, including two wins against Billie Jean King. Continuing to play and coach after retiring in 1992, White has been active for many years in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The U.S. Professional Tennis Registry recognized her as the Player of the Decade in 2000, and the following year she was inducted into the USTA Southern Hall of Fame.
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