Margaret Osbourne duPont
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University of Texas El Paso
1996
Admired for her incomparable sportsmanship, as well as for her unforgettable volleys, Margaret Osborne duPont (b.1918) ranks among the top Grand Slam champions with 37 titles. Beginning in 1942, duPont joined forces with Louise Brough to form ‘the greatest of the great’ in doubles pairings. The two friends also treated fans to the longest women’s singles match in the history of the U.S. Championship, a 4-6, 6-4, 15-13 marathon in 1948 which was finally won by duPont.
For her longtime contributions to the game of tennis as a volunteer, coach, teacher and writer, duPont was honored with both the USTA’s Service Bowl and the Educational Merit Award. In 1966, duPont moved to El Paso, Texas where she attended college and joined former doubles partner, Margaret Varner Bloss, in a highly successful second career raising thoroughbred racehorses.
Career Highlights
- 37 Grand Slam titles (6 Singles, 21 Doubles, 10 Mixed Doubles)
Ranked in USTA Top 10 in 1938, 1941-1950, 1953, 1956, 1958; No.1 from 1948-1950
U.S. Girls’ 18 Singles Hard Court Champion 1935; Doubles 1933-1934
U.S. Girls’ 18 Singles and Doubles Champion 1936
U.S. Singles Champion 1948-1950
U.S. Doubles Champion 1941-1950, 1955-1957
U.S. Mixed Doubles Champion 1943-1946, 1950, 1956, 1958-1960
U.S. Hard Court Doubles Champion 1948
Wimbledon Singles Champion 1947
Wimbledon Doubles Champion 1946, 1948-1950, 1954
Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Champion 1962
French Singles Champion 1946, 1949
French Doubles Champion 1946-1947, 1949
U.S. Wightman Cup Team Member 1946-1950, 1954-1955, 1961-1962 (19-0 record); Team Captain 1953-1955, 1957-1958, 1961-1963, 1965
Chair, USTA Wightman Cup Committee 1954-1966
Winner of USTA Service Bowl 1945
Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame 1967
Winner of the USTA Educational Merit Award 1974
Ranked as a Top 20 Thoroughbred Racehorse Owner by Thoroughbred Times 1996
