Jones, Ann Haydon (1938–)

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Jones, Ann Haydon (1938–)

English tennis player. Name variations: Ann Haydon, Ann Jones-Haydon, and Ann Haydon-Jones; Mrs. P.F. Jones. Born Ann Adrianne Shirley Haydon, Oct 7, 1938, in Birmingham, England; dau. of prominent table tennis players; m. Phillip Jones, 1962 (died 1993).

Took up ping-pong, reaching finals in World Table Tennis championships (1954, 1959); developed into powerful lawn tennis player, twice winning British junior championships (1954, 1955); won 1st title at French Open (1961) and made finals at US Open (1961), losing to Darlene Hard; won 2nd French Open (1962); was 9-time semifinalist at Wimbledon; as a Wimbledon finalist, lost to Billie Jean King (1967), then beat King (1969), the 1st left-handed woman to win Wimbledon singles title; also won Wimbledon mixed doubles with Fred Stolle (1969) and was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year; joined King, Françoise Durr and Rosie Casals as 1st professional female touring group (1968); became BBC tennis commentator (1975) and director of Women's Tennis, Lawn Tennis Association (1990). Inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame (1985).

See also Ann Jones, Game to Love (Stanley Paul, 1971).