Hard, Darlene R.
Tennis
b. Jan. 6, 1936, Los Angeles, CA
The irrepressible Hard, who was known for a strong serve and her volleying ability, won the French and U. S. championships in 1960 and was also U. S. champion in 1961.
Because of an erratic forehand, she was at her best as a doubles player. With eight different partners, she won a total of 14 doubles titles in grand slam tournaments: The U. S. from 1958 through 1962 and in 1969, Wimbledon in 1957, 1959, 1960, and 1963, and the French title in 1955, 1957, and 1960. Her last doubles title, at the U. S. Nationals in 1969, came five years after she had retired from serious competition to become a tennis instructor.
Hard once said, "I was the last of the amateurs. In our day, I won Forest Hills and got my airfare from New York to Los Angeles. Whoopee." But, she added, "I was happy. I loved it. I loved tennis."