Browne, Mary

Mary Kendall Browne
Born: June 03, 1891
Died: August 19, 1971
Hometown: Ventura County, California, United States
Citizenship: United States
Handed: Right
Inducted: 1957

Grand Slam Record
U.S. Singles 1912-14
   Singles finalist 1921
   Doubles 1912-14, 1921, 1925
   Doubles finalist 1926
   Mixed 1912-14, 1921
 French Singles finalist 1926
 Wimbledon Doubles 1926
   Mixed finalist 1926
Tournament Record
Wightman Cup   1925-26

As the first American female professional, Mary Kendall Browne left a splendid amateur record behind in 1926 to join promoter C. C. Pyle’s original troupe of touring pros (France’s great Suzanne Lenglen was the centerpiece. Others: Vinnie Richards, Howard Kinsey, Harvey Snodgrass and Paul Feret). During the winter of 1926-27, well past her prime, 35, she played one-night stands across North America as “the opponent” against the invincible Lenglen, losing all 38 matches.

A 5-foot-2 right-hander and staunch volleyer, Browne was born June 3, 1891, in Ventura County, CA, and came East to dominate the U.S. Championships at Philadelphia, scoring triples–singles, doubles, mixed titles–in 1912, 1913 and 1914. Only Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman, the previous three years, and Alice Marble (1938, 1939 and 1940) swept the field as thoroughly.

She was unique for an American woman in transferring her talent to golf, spectacularly in 1924. Shortly after making the U.S. semis at Forest Hills, losing to Helen Wills in three sets, she entered the U.S. Women’s Golf Championships and beat the legendary Glenna Collett Vare to reach the final. There she lost the title to Dorothy Campbell Hurd.

In one of the most demanding days in tennis annals, Mary played 82 games while winning the 1912 singles, doubles and mixed finals all in the same afternoon, much of it in a downpour. “The rain was coming down in torrents, and still we went on,” she later recalled, “our rackets mushy and our clothes soaked.” She beat Eleo Sears, 6-4, 6-2, in the all-comers singles to become champion since Wightman didn’t defend the title. With Dorothy Green she won the doubles, 6-2, 5-7, 6-0, over Maud Barger Wallach and Mrs. Frederick Schmitz. And, with Dick Williams, she won the soggy mixed, 6-4, 2-6, 11-9, over Evelyn Sears and Bill Clothier.

Mary ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in 1913 and 1914, the first two years of the Top Ten, returning to the select group at No. 2 in 1921 and 1924, and No. 6 in 1925. In 1926 she had a world ranking No. 6, the USTA declining to give her a high ranking that she’d earned because she turned pro. She was later married to Kenneth Kenneth-Smith. Browne, remaining a fine golfer in her 70s, capable of shooting close to her age, died August 19, 1971, in Laguna Hills, CA. She was elected to Hall of Fame in 1957.

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