Hard, Darlene

Darlene Ruth Hard
Born: January 06, 1936
Hometown: Los Angeles, California, United States
Citizenship: United States
Handed: Right
Inducted: 1973

Grand Slam Record
French Singles 1960
Doubles 1955, 57, 60
Doubles finalist 1956, 61
Mixed 1955, 61
Mixed finalist 1956

U.S. Singles 1960-61
Singles finalist 1958, 62
Doubles 1958-62, 69
Doubles finalist 1957, 63
Mixed finalist 1956, 57, 61

Wimbledon Singles finalist 1957, 59
Doubles 1957, 59-60, 63
Mixed finalist 1963

Australian Doubles finalist 1962
Mixed finalist 1962

Tournament Record
Intercollegiate Singles 1958

Fed Cup   1963

Wightman Cup   1957, 59-60, 62-63

Italian Doubles 1956, 62

An all-out attacking Californian with a splendid serve, volley and overhead, Darlene Ruth Hard nevertheless won the French singles (1960) as well as the U.S. title on grass at Forest Hills (1960, 1961), and was a finalist twice (1957, 1959). A stocky blond right-hander, 5-foot-5-1/2, 140 pounds, she was born January 6, 1936, in Los Angeles and attended Pomona, for whom she won the U.S. Intercollegiate in 1958.

She played with considerable zest, inspiring a variety of doubles partners, winning the U.S. title five straight years (1958-62) and again in 1969 with four different accomplices, the French twice with different partners and four Wimbledons with three different partners. The 1969 triumph with Françoise Durr–a last-minute, one-time amalamation–may have been her most sensational in that Darlene, no longer competing, looked so out of plce in the final. But after a disastrous start, losing the first eight games, she recalled the old moves as they beat Margaret Court and Virginia Wade, 0-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Between 1954 and 1963 she ranked in the U.S. Top Ten 10 times, No. 1 four straight years (1960-63) and in the World Top Ten nine times, No. 2 in 1960 and 1961. She was a standout Wightman and Federation Cup player.

As the grande dame of the original U.S. Fed Cup team, squiring 19-year-olds Billie Jean Moffitt (King) and Carole Caldwell (Graebner), Darlene, 27, led the way to 1963 victory. A blend of all-time doubles champs, present and future, she and B.J. won the Cup decider over Aussies Smith (Court) and Lesley Turner, 3-6, 13-11, 6-3, slick, wooden court inside Queen’s Club, London. She totaled 21 major titles in singles, doubles and mixed (3-13-5).

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973, she Richard Waggoner in 1977.

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