Elly Hakami

Elly Hakami (born 25 August 1969) was an American professional tennis player from the mid-1980s until 1997. Hakami is from Tiburon, California near San Francisco and makes her home there today.[1] She was ranked world No. 32 in 1988.[2] In 1987, when she was ranked No. 44, she played in the third round of the US Open and was beaten by Gabriela Sabatini. They had a re-match in 1989 in the Miami Masters, in which Hakami also lost.[3]

In 1987 Hakami played against the world’s highest ranking woman player, Martina Navratilova in Manhattan Beach, California. Although Hakami lost the match in straight sets, Navratilova said of Hakami, "She's a very good player. She seems to be very bright and she's a lot better all-court player than I thought she would be. I thought she served well and she comes out tough."[4]

Family

Hakami is married to Polo Cowan, a tennis pro at the Tiburon Peninsula Club. They have two children, Sonya and Polo, and live in Tiburon, California.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Elly Hakami". ITFTennis.com. International Tennis Federation. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Tennis Staff". Tiburon Peninsula Club. Tiburon Peninsula Club. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "Gabriela Sabatini vs Elly Hakami Head To Head". Steven G Tennis. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  4. ↑ Dillman, Lisa (August 15, 1987). "Manhattan Beach Tennis : Hakami Arrives in Time to Lose to Navratilova". LA Times. Retrieved 10 June 2014. Said Hakami: "The match wasn't above (my capabilities). I could have given her a better match. It was the first time I played against her and it was a little difficult."
  5. ↑ "Tennis Staff". Tiburon Peninsula Club. Retrieved 10 June 2014.