Leslie Allen (tennis)

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Leslie Allen
Country (sports) United States
Born (1957-03-12) March 12, 1957 (age 67)
Cleveland, U.S.
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) [1]
Turned pro1977
Retired1987
PlaysRight-handed [1]
CollegeUSC
Prize money$334,697
Singles
Career record12–21
Career titles1
Highest rankingNo. 17 (February 15, 1981)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open3R (1982)
French Open4R (1979, 1980, 1981)
Wimbledon3R (1981)
US Open3R (1979)
Doubles
Career record11–15
Career titles5
Highest rankingNo. 10 (February 6, 1983)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open2R (1982)
French Open3R (1983, 1984)
Wimbledon3R (1982, 1984)
US Open3R (1982, 1983)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
French OpenF (1983)
Wimbledon3R (1982)
US Open2R (1981, 1982)

Leslie Allen (born March 12, 1957) is an American retired professional tennis player.

Unranked in junior tennis, Leslie Allen was an ATA, NCAA & WTA Champion. Allen was a member of the

speech communications.[2] She joined the WTA Tour
in 1977 and went on to reach a career high ranking of No. 17 in the world in February 1981.

In 1981, Allen became the first

African American woman to win a significant pro tennis tournament since Althea Gibson in 1958 when she won the Avon Championships of Detroit, although Renee Blount is also credited with this feat because she won the Futures of Columbus in 1979.[3][2] Allen qualified for the season-ending 1981 Avon Championships which featured the eight best players of the winter Avon Championships Circuit.[2] She was also a mixed doubles finalist at the 1983 French Open partnering Charles Strode

After retiring from professional tennis, she became a television broadcaster and was also elected to the WTA Board of Directors.[4] Allen founded the Leslie Allen Foundation to introduce young people to the 100+ careers behind the scenes in pro tennis. Through the Foundation's Win4Life program students are challenged to use the Win4Life 4D's (Desire, Dedication, Determination, Discipline) to succeed on and off the court. Allen currently works as a real estate agent in New Jersey and is a motivational speaker.

Grand Slam finals

Mixed doubles (1 runner-up)

Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1983 French Open Clay United States Charles Strode United States Barbara Jordan
United States Eliot Teltscher		 2–6, 3–6

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 9780722133200
    .
  2. ^ a b c Barry Lorge (March 29, 1981). "Designs on Success". The Washington Times.
  3. ISBN 9780815608189
    . Retrieved 2010-01-26.
  4. ^ Leslie Allen reflects on landmark Detroit win, WTA, February 25, 2021

External links

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