Zenda Liess (born December 12, 1959) is a former professional tennis player from the United States.
| Full name | Zenda Liess |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United States |
| Born | December 12, 1959 |
| Singles | |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| French Open | 1R (1979) |
| US Open | QF (1976) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| US Open | 1R (1976, 1978) |
Biography
editTennis career
editLiess competed as a junior in Florida, where she attended Spruce Creek High School.[1] She won back to back Orange Bowl titles for the 16s and Under in 1973 and 1974.[2]
As a 16-year old she was a quarter-finalist at the 1976 US Open, one of few occasions the tournament had been played on clay, a surface Liess was strong on.[3]
In 1977 she won the state championships while at Spruce Creek, then upon graduating played on the professional circuit for three years.[3]
She made the US Open third round in both 1977 and 1978, but could not repeat her earlier success.
On the WTA Tour her best performance was a semi-final appearance at the 1978 Rothmans Canadian Open.[4]
Later life
editLiess ran a hotdog stand with first husband Byron on Daytona Beach for 10 years.[3]
With a master's degree in accounting from the University of Florida, Liess eventually settled in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she still lives.[3]
Only working as an accountant for a short period of time, she instead became a pilot with Atlantic Southeast Airlines. In 1998 she became a designated pilot examiner. Her second husband, Pat, was once her flight instructor.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Tennis is the Only Thing Liess Wants To Do". The Palm Beach Post. October 14, 1978. p. 63. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
- ^ "Orange Bowl Champions". United States Tennis Association (USTA.com). Retrieved May 12, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Lewis, Michael (April 19, 2011). "Ex-tennis great Zenda Liess still flying high". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
- ^ "Lewis upsets Ramirez". The Ottawa Journal. August 19, 1978. p. 17. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
