Connolly, Maureen C. (Mrs. Brinker)
Tennis
b. Sept. 17, 1934, San Diego, CA
d. June 21, 1969
In a tragically brief career that ended before she turned twenty, Connolly won all nine grand slam tournaments that she entered and was the first woman to win the grand slam of tennis, all four major international championships in a single year.
As a child, Connolly loved horses, but her divorced mother couldn't afford a horse or riding lessons, so she began playing tennis when she was nine. Helen Wills saw her play when she was twelve and predicted, "That little girl will become the national champion in four years, and possibly the world's champion as well."
A tremendous baseline driver with great accuracy, Connolly more than fulfilled the prophecy. At fourteen, she won 56 straight matches and became the youngest player to win the national junior girls championship. Two years later, in 1951, she became the youngest U. S. women's champion, and she repeated in 1952 and 1953.
Nicknamed "Little Mo," Connolly won the Wimbledon singles title from 1952 through 1954, was the French champion in 1953 and 1954, and won the Australian championship in 1953, her grand slam year. She was named woman athlete of the year by the Associated Press three years in a row, 1951 through 1953.
Just two weeks after she won the 1954 Wimbledon title, a cement truck brushed against Connolly's right leg while she was horseback riding. She was thrown to the ground and the leg was seriously damaged, ending her competitive career.
Connolly married Norman Brinker, who had been on the 1952 Olympic equestrian team, and established the Maureen Connolly Brinker Foundation to promote junior tennis. She died of cancer.