| Full name | Delina Ann Boshoff–Mortlock |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
| Residence | South Africa |
| Born | 12 November 1956 Queenstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Turned pro | 1973 |
| Retired | 1978 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Singles | |
| Career record | no value |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| French Open | QF (1977) |
| Wimbledon | QF (1974) |
| US Open | 3R (1975) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | no value |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (1976) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| French Open | SF (1976) |
| Wimbledon | SF (1976) |
| US Open | W (1976) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| French Open | F (1976) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (1973, 1974) |
Delina Ann Boshoff-Mortlock, commonly known as Linky Boshoff (born 12 November 1956), [1] is a former professional tennis player who won the 1976 US Open women's doubles title with her partner Ilana Kloss.
In 1973 she won the South African Open doubles title with Ilana Kloss after a victory in the final against Chris Evert and Virginia Wade. In 1977, she won the singles title, defeating Brigitte Cuypers in the final in straight sets.
In December 1975, Boshoff was the first selection in the 1976 World Team Tennis Draft by the San Diego Friars; however, she didn't sign with the team.
In 1976, she won several doubles titles with Kloss, including the German Open, Italian Open and U.S. Clay Court Championships and reached the world No. 1 ranking in doubles.
She retired in 1978 to study computer science at the University of Port Elizabeth. [2] She is married with three children and has continued to play the tennis at a recreational level. [3]
In Snoopy's Tennis Book (Charles Schulz, Henry Holt & Co., 1979), Snoopy imagines himself playing at Wimbledon and claims he had a "good day" at the tournament: "I ate five bowls of strawberries and cream, and fell in love with Linky Boshoff!"
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1976 | US Open | Clay |  Ilana Kloss |  Olga Morozova  Virginia Wade | 6–1, 6–4 |
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1976 | French Open | Clay |  Colin Dowdeswell | Ilana Kloss  Kim Warwick | 7–5, 5–7, 2–6 |
Ilana Sheryl Kloss is a former professional tennis player, tennis coach, and commissioner of World TeamTennis from 2001-21. She was the World's No. 1 ranked doubles player in 1976, and World No. 19 in singles in 1979. She won the Wimbledon juniors singles title in 1972, the US Open juniors singles title in 1974, and the US Open Doubles and French Open Mixed Doubles titles in 1976. She won three gold medals at the 1973 Maccabiah Games in Israel.
Margaret Court and Virginia Wade were the defending champions but only Wade competed that year. Wade and Olga Morozova lost in the final 6–1, 6–4 against Linky Boshoff and Ilana Kloss.
The 1977 South African Open, also known by its sponsored name SAB Open, was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts in Johannesburg, South Africa. The men's tournament was part of the 1977 Colgate-Palmolive Grand Prix while the women's event was part of the 1977–1978 Colgate International Series. It was the 74th edition of the tournament and was held from 28 November through 6 December 1977. Guillermo Vilas and Linky Boshoff won the singles titles.
The 1973 South African Open was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts in Johannesburg, South Africa that was part of the 1973 Commercial Union Assurance Grand Prix. It was the 70th edition of the tournament and was held from 14 November through 27 November 1973. Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert won the singles titles.
The 1976 British Hard Court Championships, also known by its sponsored name Coca-Cola British Hard Court Championships, was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts in Bournemouth, England. The men's event was part of the 1976 Commercial Union Assurance Grand Prix. The tournament was held from 10 May through 16 May 1976. Wojciech Fibak and Helga Masthoff won the singles titles.
The 1976 U.S. Clay Court Championships was a tennis tournament that was part of the men's Grand Prix and the women's Grand Prix. It was held in Indianapolis in the United States and played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 8th edition of the tournament in the Open Era and was held from August 9 through August 16, 1976. First-seeded Jimmy Connors won the singles title and the accompanying $25,000 first-prize money. Kathy May claimed the women's title and $6,000 in prize money.
The 1976 Italian Open was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament that was played by men on outdoor clay courts at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy. The men's tournament was part of the 1976 Commercial Union Assurance Grand Prix while the women's tournament was part of the 1976 Virginia Slims World Championship Series. The tournament was held from 23 May until 30 May 1976. The singles titles were won by Third-seeded Adriano Panatta and Mima Jaušovec. In his first-round match Panatta survived 11 match points against Kim Warwick.
The 1976 Grand Prix German Open, also known by its sponsored name Holsten-Bier German Open. was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament played on outdoor red clay courts. It was the 68th edition of the event and was part of the 1976 Commercial Union Assurance Grand Prix circuit. It took place at the Am Rothenbaum in Hamburg, West Germany, from 17 May through 23 May 1976. Eddie Dibbs and Sue Barker won the singles titles.
The 1977 Grand Prix German Open was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament played on outdoor red clay courts. It was the 69th edition of the event and was part of the 1977 Colgate-Palmolive Grand Prix circuit and categorized as a four-star event. It took place at the Am Rothenbaum in Hamburg, West Germany, from 9 May through 15 May 1977. Paolo Bertolucci, after a victory in the final over title-holder Manuel Orantes, and Laura duPont won the singles titles.
The 1976 Toyota Women's Classic, was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor grass courts at Kooyong in Melbourne in Australia. The event was part of the 1976–1977 Colgate International Series. It was the 14th edition of the tournament and was held from 7 December through 12 December 1976. Sixth-seeded Margaret Court won the singles title, the 191st and final of her career, and earned $9,000 first-prize money.
The 1977 U.S. Clay Court Championships was a tennis tournament that was part of the men's Grand Prix and women's Colgate Series circuits. It was held in Indianapolis in the United States and played on outdoor clay courts at the Indianapolis Racquet Club. It was the 9th edition of the tournament in the Open Era and was held from August 8 through August 14, 1977. Second-seeded Manuel Orantes won the men's singles title and the accompanying $17,500 first-prize money.
Linky Boshoff and Ilana Kloss were the defending champions but did not participate due to Boshoff's retirement and Kloss' return to World TeamTennis. Helena Anliot and Helle Sparre-Viragh won the title after defeating Barbara Hallquist and Sheila McInerney in the final.
Third-seeded team Linky Boshoff and Ilana Kloss won the title after defeating Laura duPont and Wendy Turnbull in the final.
The 1976 Family Circle Cup was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at Amelia Island, Florida in the United States. The event was part of the 1976 WTA Tour. It was the fourth edition of the tournament and was held from March 28 through April 2, 1976. First-seeded Chris Evert won the singles title, her third consecutive title at the event, and earned $25,000 first-prize money.
The 1976 Thunderbird Classic, also known by its sponsored name Talley Industries Phoenix Thunderbird Women's Tournament, was a women's singles tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona in the United States. The event was part of the 1976 WTA Tour. It was the sixth edition of the tournament and was held from October 4 through October 10, 1976. First-seeded Chris Evert won the singles title and earned $14,000 first-prize money.
The 1977 Florida Federal Open was a women's singles tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts in Palm Harbor, Florida in the United States. The event was part of the A category of the 1977 Colgate Series. It was the fifth edition of the tournament and was held from September 26 through October 2, 1977. Unseeded Virginia Ruzici won the title and earned $6,000 first-prize money.
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova were the defending champions, but decided not to play together. Evert partnered with Rosie Casals, but they lost in the second round to Helen Cawley and JoAnne Russell.
Linky Boshoff and Ilana Kloss were the defending champions, but lost in the second round to Mima Jaušovec and Virginia Ruzici.
Thomaz Koch and Fiorella Bonicelli were the defending champions but only Fiorella Bonicelli competed that year with Jairo Velasco. Jairo Velasco and Fiorella Bonicelli lost in the quarterfinals to Kim Warwick and Ilana Kloss.
Carolyn Meyer Richardson is an American former professional tennis player.
