A tribute to British tennis star and former Wimbledon champion, Angela Mortimer Barrett, MBE
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Angela Mortimer Barrett, MBE, a three-time Grand Slam singles champion and former Wightman Cup winner for Great Britain, has sadly passed away aged 93.
Born in Plymouth on 21 April 1932, Mortimer is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in British tennis history – winning a grand total of 108 singles titles and 603 singles matches throughout her career
Mortimer was ranked by experts as a former women’s singles world No.1 (1961) having won three major titles by the age of 29 - the Roland Garros in 1955, the Australian Open in 1958 and famously, Wimbledon in 1961.
Angela Mortimer Barrett’s greatest achievements
- 1955 – Winning her first Grand Slam at Roland Garros
- 1955 – Lifting the 1955 Wimbledon ladies’ doubles title with Anne Shilcock
- 1958 – Returned from illness to win the Australian Open
- 1960 – Winning the Wightman Cup with Great Britain
- 1961 – Being crowned Wimbledon ladies’ singles champion
- 1961 - ranked by experts as the women's singles world No.1
- 1967 – Taking Great Britain to the Federation Cup final as captain
- 1968 – Captaining the Wightman Cup team to the title
- Finishing her playing career with 108 singles titles and 603 singles wins
Her victory over Dorothy Knode in the final of the 1955 French Open was a landmark achievement – not only as her first Grand Slam title but also in making her the first British woman in 18 years to win a Grand Slam trophy.
Mortimer had to overcome illness throughout her career which left her partially deaf. After a spell away from the game, she returned to her best in 1958, beating Lorraine Coghlan in the Australian Open final to claim her second major title.
Having lost in the final at Wimbledon in 1958 to American Althea Gibson, the Briton returned three years later to claim the ladies’ singles trophy with a 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 win over fellow Brit Christine Truman.
Mortimer also enjoyed great success on the doubles court – lifting the Wimbledon title in 1955 alongside Anne Shilcock. She also reached the women’s and mixed doubles finals of the Australian Open in 1958.
She had a fighting spirit that underlined her successes and resilience that saw her overcome so many obstacles during her career.
Her achievements extended beyond Grand Slams to the many years spent competing for and captaining Great Britain in the Wightman Cup and the Federation Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup).
She played a pivotal role in the 1960 Great Britain Wightman Cup team who defeated USA 4-3 at Wimbledon to take home the title.
Mortimer would later captain the squad from 1964-1970 – with the Brit’s lifting the trophy once again in 1968.
As the captain of the Great Britain Federation Cup team from 1967-1969, Mortimer’s side made one final and two semi-final appearances.
In 1967, Mortimer married former British tennis player, Davis Cup star and broadcaster John Barrett.
Following her induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993, the Barretts were one of only two married couples to be recognised in the Hall of Fame based on individual achievements, alongside Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf.
She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Lawn Tennis in the 1967 New Year Honours and in 2004 was recognised at Wimbledon with a bust outside Centre Court in celebration of her achievements.
Scott Lloyd, LTA Chief Executive said: “Angela, as a three-time Grand Slam singles champion, including The Championships at Wimbledon, alongside one grand slam doubles title was one of Britain’s greatest ever tennis players.
“She had a fighting spirit that underlined her successes and resilience that saw her overcome so many obstacles during her career.
“After her retirement she captained Great Britain to victory in The Wightman Cup, was inducted into The International Tennis Hall of Fame, and right up until her death remained very much part of the British tennis family. She will be greatly missed.
“On behalf of everyone at the LTA, I send my most sincere condolences to her husband John, her children Michael and Sarah Jane, and her whole family.”
