Belmar Gunderson (September 7, 1934 – May 15, 2023) was an American tennis player.[1]
| Country (sports) |  United States |
|---|---|
| Born | September 7, 1934 Fort Sill, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | May 15, 2023 (aged 88) |
| Singles | |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| French Open | 2R (1963) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1959) |
| US Open | QF (1955) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| French Open | 2R (1961) |
| Wimbledon | QF (1964) |
| US Open | QF (1960) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1959, 1961) |
| US Open | SF (1961) |
Gunderson, the daughter of an Army colonel, was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and she lived in various other military bases during her childhood, including in post-war Germany where she began playing tennis aged 13.[2]
A diminutive player, Gunderson served as captain of the U.S. junior Wightman Cup side. She celebrated her 21st birthday by beating the second-seeded Louise Brough at the 1955 U.S. National Championships to reach the quarterfinals. As a doubles player, she was ranked as high as two in the U.S., winning titles at the Canadian Championships and U.S. Indoor Championships.[3]
Gunderson retired as a player in 1965 and completed a doctorate at Texas Woman's University. From 1974 to 1976, she served as the first women's athletics director for the University of Minnesota.[4]
Gunderson died on May 15, 2023, at the age of 88.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Horsin' around". Leader-Telegram. July 8, 1998.
- ^ "Tiny Titan Bidding for Tennis Title". The Macon News. September 9, 1955.
- ^ "Visiting Netters Cart Off Trophies". Times Colonist. September 19, 1960.
- ^ "ITA names 2004 class". The Virginia Gazette. September 11, 2004.
- ^ Boike, Lauren (May 15, 2023). "In memoriam: Belmar Gunderson". College of Education and Human Development.
