Portal:Tennis/Selected biography/05 2008

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Dorothea Katherine Douglass Lambert Chambers (September 3, 1878 – January 7, 1960) was a British female tennis player who was born in Guayamas, Ealing in England. In 1900, Douglass made her debut at Wimbledon. Three years later, she won her first of seven ladies singles titles. She wrote Tennis for Ladies, which was published in 1910. The book contained photographs of tennis techniques. It also contained advice on attire and equipment. In 1911, Douglass won the women's final at Wimbledon 6–0, 6–0. The only other female player who won a Grand Slam singles final without losing a game was Steffi Graf when she defeated Natalia Zvereva in the 1988 French Open final. In 1919, Doublass played the longest Wimbledon final up to that time: 44 games against Frenchwoman Suzanne Lenglen. Douglass held two match points at 6–5 in the third set but eventually lost to Lenglen 8–10, 6–4, 9–7. Douglass retired from singles play in 1921 but continued to compete in doubles until 1927. From 1924 to 1926, she captained Britain's Wightman Cup team and in 1928 turned to professional coaching. Douglass was inducted in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1981. She died in Kensington, London.