Fry, Shirley (1927—)
Fry, Shirley (1927—)
American tennis player. Name variations: Mrs. K.E. Irvin. Born Shirley June Fry in June 1927 in Akron, Ohio; married K.E. Irvin.
Won the French Open (1951), beating Doris Hart; won the French Open doubles championshipwith Doris Hart (1950, 1951, 1952, 1953); won Wimbledon's women's doubles with Doris Hart (1951, 1952, 1953); won the U.S. Open (1956); won the U.S. Open doubles championships with Doris Hart (1951, 1954); with Vic Seixas, won the mixed doubles Wimbledon championship (1956); won the Australian singles title (1957).
An outstanding all-round player, Shirley Fry's chief competitors were Doris Hart , Louise Brough , and Maureen Connolly . Twelve years after starting her career, Fry took the Wimbledon singles title in 1956, beating England's Angela Buxton . She had more success in doubles play at Wimbledon, winning the women's doubles with Doris Hart in 1951, the longest set played in the event to that point, as well as in 1952 and 1953 when they triumphed 6–0, 6–0 in the finals. Hart and Fry also took the U.S. women's doubles title in 1951 and 1954. In all, the duo took 12 major doubles events. Fry won two other singles titles, beating Althea Gibson in each final contest, the U.S. and Australian Opens.