Bonnie Gadusek

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Bonnie Gadusek
Country (sports)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Residence Punta Gorda, Florida, U.S. [1]
Born (1963-09-11) September 11, 1963 (age 61)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Turned proSeptember 1981
RetiredApril 1987
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize money$504,238
Singles
Career record169–95
Career titles5
Highest rankingNo. 8 (July 9, 1984)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open 2R (1981)
French Open 4R (1985)
Wimbledon 2R (1985)
US Open QF (1982, 1986)
Doubles
Career record83–71
Career titles3
Highest rankingNo. 59 (January 5, 1987)

Bonnie Gadusek (born September 11, 1963) is a retired American professional tennis player.

Contents

Career

Gadusek started a career in gymnastics, training for the 1980 Olympics, but fell from uneven parallel bars and landed on her neck, dislocating two vertebrae. [2] While recovering from her injuries, she took up tennis as part of her therapy. [3] She played in her first junior tournament wearing a brace. She was named Junior of the Year in 1980 and Player of the Year in 1981 by the Florida Tennis Association. She won the 1981 French Open girls’ singles championship.

Gadusek played on the WTA Tour from 1981 to 1987. She was named Rookie of the Year in 1982. She won five singles and three doubles titles before retiring. The right-hander reached her highest career ranking on July 9, 1984 when she became the world No. 8. Her best Grand Slam finishes were two quarterfinals at the US Open in 1982 and 1986.

Gadusek had career wins over Billie Jean King, Andrea Jaeger, Sue Barker, Hana Mandlíková, Manuela Maleeva, Wendy Turnbull, Gabriela Sabatini, Dianne Fromholtz, Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, Helena Suková, Zina Garrison, Mary Joe Fernandez, Sylvia Hanika, Jo Durie, and Rosie Casals. During her career, she was coached by renowned Australian coach Harry Hopman.

Gadusek was a member of the 1986 Wightman Cup Team. She helped coach the 1987 Wightman Cup Team. She retired with a 169–95 win–loss record. [4]

WTA career finals

Singles: 10 (5 titles, 5 runner-ups)

Winner — Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
WTA Championships (0–0)
Virginia Slims, Avon, other (5–5)
Titles by surface
Hard (1–1)
Grass (0–0)
Clay (2–3)
Carpet (2–1)
ResultW/LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Jul 1982 Tournoi de Monte Carlo, MonacoClay Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg Virginia Ruzici 2–6, 6–7(5–7)
Loss0–2May 1983 Italian Open Clay Flag of Hungary.svg Andrea Temesvári 1–6, 0–6
Loss0–3Nov 1983 Maybelline Classic, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert-Lloyd 0–6, 4–6
Win1–3Jan 1984 VS Marco Island, U.S.Clay Flag of the United States.svg Kathleen Horvath 3–6, 6–0, 6–4
Loss1–4Mar 1984 VS Palm Beach Gardens, U.S.Clay Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert-Lloyd0–6, 1–6
Win2–4Jan 1985VS Marco Island, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Pam Casale 6–3, 6–4
Win3–4May 1985 Swiss Open Clay Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg Manuela Maleeva 6–2, 6–2
Win4–4Sep 1985 VS Chicago, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Kathy Rinaldi 6–1, 6–3
Win5–4Oct 1985 VS Indianapolis, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Pam Casale6–0, 6–3
Loss5–5Dec 1985 Pan Pacific Open, JapanCarpet (i) Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg Manuela Maleeva6–7(2–7), 6–3, 5–7

Doubles: 6 (3 titles, 3 runner-ups)

Winner — Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
Virginia Slims (3–3)
Titles by surface
Hard (1–2)
Grass (0–0)
Clay (1–0)
Carpet (1–1)
ResultW/LDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss1.Oct 1983 Tampa Open, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Wendy White Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova
Flag of the United States.svg Pam Shriver
0–6, 1–6
Win1.Nov 1983 Deerfield Beach Classic, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Wendy White Flag of the United States.svg Pam Casale
Flag of the United States.svg Mary-Lou Piatek
6–1, 3–6, 6–3
Loss2.Jan 1985 Marco Island Cup, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Camille Benjamin Flag of the United States.svg Kathy Jordan
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Elizabeth Smylie
3–6, 3–6
Win2.May 1985 Lugano Open, SwitzerlandClay Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Helena Suková Flag of Germany.svg Bettina Bunge
Flag of Germany.svg Eva Pfaff
6–2, 6–4
Win3.Oct 1985 VS Indianapolis, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Mary-Lou Piatek Flag of the United States.svg Penny Barg
Flag of the United States.svg Sandy Collins
6–1, 6–0
Loss3.Feb 1986 Oakland Classic, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Helena Suková Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Hana Mandlíková
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wendy Turnbull
6–7(5–7), 1–6

Grand Slam singles performance timeline

Key
W F SFQF#RRRQ#DNQANH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
Tournament 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987
Australian Open 2R AAAANHA
French Open 1R 3R 1R A 4R AA
Wimbledon AAAA 2R AA
US Open A QF 4R 4R 3R QF 1R
Year-end ranking351818131013461

References

  1. "Bonnie S Gadusek". Florida Resident Directory. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  2. Linz, Franz (February 11, 1985). "Bonnie Gadusek Calls Herself the Animal, But She Is a Dreamer, Too". Sports Illustrated . Archived from the original on September 14, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  3. Diliberto, Gioia (January 24, 1983). "A Near-Fatal Fall Broke Gymnast Bonnie Gadusek's Neck, but Not the Spirit That Made Her a Champion". People . Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  4. "Bonnie Gadusek – United States". WTA. Retrieved September 4, 2020.