Peanut Louie Harper

Peanut Louie Harper
Country (sports)  United States
Born (1960-08-15) 15 August 1960
San Francisco, USA
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) [1]
Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Singles
Career record 238–263
Career titles 7
Highest ranking No. 19 (1 April 1985)
Grand Slam Singles results
French Open 2R (1978, 1988)
Wimbledon 3R (1980)
US Open 3R (1978, 1984)
Doubles
Career record 118–162
Grand Slam Doubles results
French Open 2R (1988)
Wimbledon 3R (1989)
US Open 3R (1980)
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
French Open 2R (1988)
Wimbledon 2R (1976, 1989)
US Open 3R (1978)

Mareen Louie Harper (née Louie; born August 15, 1960), better known by her nickname Peanut, is a retired American female tennis player, born in San Francisco, California[2] to Ron and Alice Louie.[3] Her elder sister, Marcie, also played on the WTA Tour, while her sisters Cici and Marisa, and brother Ronnie, all played at the University of San Francisco.[4] She, along with her siblings, trained on the tennis courts of Golden Gate Park. She was given the nickname "Peanut" by her dad because she was the youngest of the five children.[5]

Louie Harper won 14 junior national titles and was the top ranked 16-and-under tennis player in the United States in 1976 and top ranked 12-and-under in 1972. She reached the finals of the Wimbledon junior tournament in 1977 and the semifinals in 1978.[6]

She made her professional debut in 1976, and that same year also played the US Open, where she lost in the first round. In her 19-year career, she won four singles title and reached her highest ranking of No. 19 in 1985. Her best results at the Grand Slams was the third round, which she achieved several times. Among her best wins were victories over Gabriela Sabatini and Zina Garrison.[5] She retired in 1992.

She married her husband, Tim Harper, in 1986,[7] and thereafter competed under the name Peanut Louie Harper.

Since retiring from tennis, Louie Harper has started a graphic design firm based in San Francisco, ITP Design,[4] and the organisation Harper For Kids with her husband, which aims to teach children about important life skills.[8] She also co-authored the book Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success with basketball coach John Wooden.[9] She was inducted into the USTA Northern California Hall of Fame in 2000,[10] and the San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame in 2010.[6]

She lives in Cow Hollow, San Francisco, with her husband and two children: Casey and Jared.[8]

Career finals

Singles (2 titles, 1 runner-up)

Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Runner-up 1. 21 December 1980 Tucson Open, USA Carpet (i) United States Tracy Austin 2–6, 0–6
Winner 2. 29 April 1984 Durban, South Africa Hard South Africa Rene Uys 6–1, 6–4
Winner 3. 20 January 1985 Virginia Slims of Denver, USA Carpet (i) United States Zina Garrison 6–4, 4–6, 6–4

References

  1. ↑ Bostic, Stephanie, ed. (1979). USTA Player Records 1978. United States Tennis Association (USTA). p. 215.
  2. ↑ "Peanut Louie Harper ITF Profile". Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  3. ↑ Bonk, Thomas (1991-03-03). "Peanut Bags Two Big Victories". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  4. 1 2 Chapin, Dwight (2002-02-10). "WHERE ARE THEY NOW? / 'Peanut' Louie-Harper / This tennis nut made a name for herself on court". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  5. 1 2 Berton, Justin (2009-08-20). "Peanut Louie Harper's new spin on sports: kids". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  6. 1 2 "Talented class of 10 set to join SF Prep Hall of Fame". Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  7. ↑ Araton, Harvey (1991-07-21). "TENNIS; Another Young Star, Another Harper Loss". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  8. 1 2 Gedulig, Lisa (2010-12-19). "Tennis great Peanut Louie Harper on the joy of empowering kids". The Examiner. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  9. ↑ "COACH WOODEN FOR KIDS© Inch and Miles Sportsmanship Tennis Festival". Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  10. ↑ "USTA Northern California Hall of Fame". Retrieved 2010-05-18.
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