This vintage treasure features Sarah Cooke winning the U.S. National Tennis women’s singles championship in 1941….as the video says….Sarah was # 1 in ’41…..Sarah Hammond Palfrey Danzig (September 18, 1912 – February 27, 1996) was an American tennis player….whose career spanned two decades from the late 1920’s until the late 1940’s. She won the singles title at the U.S. Championships in 1941 and 1945.
Robert Larimore “Bobby” Riggs (February 25, 1918 – October 25, 1995) was an American tennis champion….who was the World # 1 or the World co-# 1 player for three years….first as an amateur in 1939….then as a professional in 1946 and 1947. He played his first professional tennis match on December 26, 1941. As a 21-year-old amateur in 1939, Riggs won Wimbledon….the U.S. National Championships (now U.S. Open)….and was runner-up at the French Championships. He was U.S. champion again in 1941….as seen in this video herewith….after a runner-up finish the year before.
After retirement from pro career, Riggs became well known as a hustler and gambler. He organized numerous exhibition challenges, inviting active and retired tennis pros to participate. In September 1973, at age 55, he held one such event against the then current women’s champion Billie Jean King….which he lost….but teir prime time “Battle of the Sexes” match remains one of the most famous tennis events of all time….with a $100,000 ($551,000 today) winner-take-all prize.
