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TRACY AUSTIN
LEGENDARY TENNIS PLAYER
Tracy Austin received her first lesson at age two and appeared on the cover of World Tennis at four. After winning 25 national titles as a junior, Austin launched her professional career by winning the first tournament she entered as a pro.
Triumphs over Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova produced two U.S. Open crowns for her. In 1978, Austin broke Navratilova’s 37-match winning streak and, in 1979 Italian Open, she broke Evert’s 125-match claycourt winning streak. Her incredibly consistent record earned her celebrity status and worldwide recognition. She became the youngest person to become #1 in the world in 1980 at age 17. She represented the USA on winning Fed Cup and Wightman Cup teams. When forced to the sidelines in the mid 1980s, she parlayed her on-court experience into a successful broadcasting career.
She debuted as a tennis analyst for NBC’s coverage of Wimbledon 1983. She served tennis correspondent for Good Morning America, providing insights and interviews for the Wimbledon and US Open Championships in 1986-1988. She has since appeared with regularity as a television tennis commentator. In 1992 she covered Olympics tennis in Barcelona for NBC. In 1994 & 1996 she was NBC’s commentator for the French and Wimbledon Championships. For USA Network, she covered the US Open 1991-99 and the French Open 1995-99.
As playing editor for Tennis Magazine, she has authored several instructional columns. She has written a book, Beyond Center Court: My Story, Although not widely publicized, she has contributed much time to charitable organizations, including her own Pro-Celebrity Tournament to benefit the South Bay Children’s Health Center—an event started in 1978.
