Peanut Louie Harper

Last updated
Peanut Louie-Harper
Country (sports)Flag of the United States.svg United States
ResidenceSan Francisco, California, USA
Born (1960-08-15) 15 August 1960 (age 64)
San Francisco, USA
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) [1]
Turned pro1978
Retired1994
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
Singles
Career record238–263
Career titles4
Highest rankingNo. 19 (1 April 1985)
Grand Slam singles results
French Open 3R (1978)
Wimbledon 3R (1980, 1987)
US Open 3R (1978, 1984)
Doubles
Career record118–162
Career titles5
Highest rankingNo. 31 (6 April 1992)
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 "Peanut" Louie-Harper (born Mareen Louie; [2] August 15, 1960) is a retired American tennis player, born in San Francisco, California [3] to Ron and Alice Louie. [4]

Contents

She was a top-ranked junior tennis player and professional tennis player on the WTA tour. She reached a career high singles ranking of 19 in the world in 1985 and doubles ranking of 31 in the world in 1992. She is currently the co-founder and program director of Harper for Kids, a youth character development program.[ citation needed ]

Professional tennis career

During her career, she won 14 USTA National Junior titles and was the #1 ranked 16-and-under (1976) and 12-and-under tennis player (1972) in the United States. Peanut was the Junior Wimbledon finalist in 1977 and a semifinalist in 1978. [5] She was also the #1 ranked junior in NorCal in all age divisions (10, 12, 14, 16 & 18 & unders).[ citation needed ]

After a successful junior career, she turned pro in 1978. In her 16-year career, she won four singles titles and reached a career high ranking of No. 19 in the world (in 1985). She also won five doubles titles and reached a career high ranking of No. 31 in the world (in 1992). At the Grand Slams, her best results were reaching the round of 32 in singles and the round of 16 in doubles several times. Among her best wins were victories over Gabriela Sabatini, Zina Garrison, Mary Joe Fernández, Helena Suková, Wendy Turnbull, Stephanie Rehe and Andrea Jaeger. [6]

Louie was honored with the WTA Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award in back-to-back years in 1985 and 1986 from the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). In 1986, she was also named Tennis magazine's Comeback Player of the Year. During her junior career, she was presented with the USTA Girls’ 18 National Championship Sportsmanship Award in 1977.[ citation needed ]

Personal life and post-tennis career

Her older sister, Marcie Louie, also played on the WTA Tour, and her sisters Cici and Marisa, and brother Ronnie, all played at the University of San Francisco. [7] She, along with her siblings, trained on the tennis courts of Golden Gate Park. She was given the nickname "Peanut" by her father because she was the youngest of the five children. [6]

She was inducted into the USTA Northern California Hall of Fame in 2000, [8] the Multi-Ethnic Sports of Fame in 2017, the San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame in 2010, [5] and the George Washington Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.

She married Tim Harper in 1986. They live in San Francisco and have two kids, Casey and Jared. Jared, who is a singer-songwriter, auditioned on Season 18 of The Voice [9]

Charity work

In 2008, she co-founded Harper for Kids (HFK), a children's nonprofit organization, with her husband Tim Harper. [10] HFK's youth character development program is based on John Wooden's Pyramid of Success and teaches youth essential character traits that can help them achieve their personal best in life. HFK helps schools incorporate the Pyramid of Success into their character education. Before starting Harper for Kids, Peanut collaborated with John Wooden on his children's book Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success (Perfection Learning), with co-author Steve Jamison.

Hall of Fame inductions

Awards and honors

WTA career finals

Singles (4 titles, 1 runner-up)

ResultW–LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0Sep 1978Avon Futures of Northern California, USHardFlag of the United States.svg Ruta Gerulaitis 7–6, 6–2
Win2–0Mar 1980Avon Futures of Columbus, USHard Flag of the United States.svg Beth Norton 6–2, 6–3
Loss2–1Dec 1980Tucson Open, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Tracy Austin 2–6, 0–6
Win3–1Apr 1984Durban, South AfricaHard Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Rene Uys 6–1, 6–4
Win4–1Jan 1985 Virginia Slims of Denver, USCarpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Zina Garrison 6–4, 4–6, 6–4

Doubles (5 titles, 5 runner-ups)

ResultDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss Mar 1979La Costa Tennis ClassicHard Flag of the United States.svg Marita Redondo Flag of the United States.svg Marcie Louie
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Regina Maršíková
6–2, 2–6, 6–4
WinOct 1980Hit-Union Japan OpenHard Flag of the United States.svg Dana Gilbert Flag of Australia (converted).svg Nerida Gregory
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Marie Pinterová
7–5, 7–6
LossMar 1981 Avon Championships of Los Angeles Hard Flag of the United States.svg Marita Redondo Flag of Australia (converted).svg Susan Leo
Flag of the United States.svg Kim Sands
6–1, 4–6, 6–1
WinApr 1984Durban, South AfricaHard Flag of the United States.svg Anna-Maria Fernandez Flag of Brazil.svg Cláudia Monteiro
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Beverly Mould
7–5, 5–7, 6–1
WinJul 1984 Virginia Slims of Newport Grass Flag of the United States.svg Anna-Maria Fernandez Flag of the United States.svg Lea Antonopolis
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Beverly Mould
7–5, 7–6
LossSep 1987 Virginia Slims of New Orleans Carpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Heather Ludloff Flag of the United States.svg Zina Garrison
Flag of the United States.svg Lori McNeil
6–3, 6–3
WinOct 1989 Virginia Slims of Arizona Hard Flag of the United States.svg Penny Barg Flag of the United States.svg Elise Burgin
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Rosalyn Fairbank
7–6, 7–6
LossAug 1990 Virginia Slims of Albuquerque Hard Flag of the United States.svg Wendy White Flag of the United States.svg Meredith McGrath
Flag of the United States.svg Anne Smith
7–6, 6–4
LossAug 1991Virginia Slims of AlbuquerqueHard Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Lise Gregory Flag of the United States.svg Katrina Adams
Flag of France.svg Isabelle Demongeot
6–7, 6–4, 6–3
WinOct 1991Virginia Slims of ArizonaHard Flag of the United States.svg Cammy MacGregor Flag of the United States.svg Sandy Colins
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Elna Reinach
7–5, 3–6, 6–3

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References

  1. Bostic, Stephanie, ed. (1979). USTA Player Records 1978. United States Tennis Association (USTA). p. 215.
  2. Profile, upi.com. Accessed April 5, 2024.
  3. "Peanut Louie Harper ITF Profile" . Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  4. Bonk, Thomas (1991-03-03). "Peanut Bags Two Big Victories". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  5. 1 2 "Talented class of 10 set to join SF Prep Hall of Fame" . Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  6. 1 2 Berton, Justin (2009-08-20). "Peanut Louie Harper's new spin on sports: kids". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  7. 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. Archived from the original on August 3, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  8. "USTA Northern California Hall of Fame" . Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  9. "Watch". www.youtube.com/watch?v=um_of7NtSy0.
  10. "Harper for Kids". www.harperforkids.org.