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Louise Brough

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Tennis Player

The Resume

    (March 11, 1923-February 3, 2014)
    Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
    In singles, won four Wimbledons (1948-50,1955), one US Open (1947) and one Australian Open (1950)
    In doubles, won five Wimbledons (1946,1948-50,1954), twelve US Opens (1942-50,1955-57), three French Opens (1946-47,1949) and one Australian Open (1950)
    In mixed doubles, won four Wimbledons (1946-48,1950) and four US Opens (1942,1947-49)
    Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (1967)
    Last name pronounced 'Bruff'

Why she might be annoying:

    She initially disliked tennis lessons because she had to wear a white dress while playing.
    She kept at it only because she considered it better than the alternative, taking piano lessons.
    A contemporary account noted, 'She sticks out her tongue and makes funny faces while unloading her service.'
    She officially retired to marry dentist Alan Clapp, but later admitted, 'My nerves were shot.... The youth and adrenalin, I guess both of them ran out.'
    She disapproved of modern players wearing tight outfits.

Why she might not be annoying:

    She was called 'the most underrated of tennis players' by the Guardian.
    In 1939, she played in both the national junior championship in Philadelphia and the women's national championships in Queens, which, because of weather-related rescheduling, took place at the same time. Her aunt drove her between the two tournaments. At one point, their car blew a tire mid-route and she hitched a ride with a trucker the rest of the way to the court.
    At Wimbledon 1949, she played 117 games in a single day, starting by beating Margaret Osborne duPont for the women's singles title (10-8,1-6,10-8), then teaming with Osborne duPont to win the women's doubles title (8-6,7-5), and finishing the day by losing the mixed doubles final (9-7,9-11,7-5).
    When several male players at the 2003 US Open complained about rain forcing them to play four days in a row, she said, 'I think they're babies.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 74 Votes: 56.76% Annoying