Three-times singles champion Darlene Hard passed way on Thursday in Los Angeles at the age of 85.
Hard, an ‘aggressive serve-and-volley player’, played in seven major championship singles finals, winning titles at the 1960 French Championships and the 1960 and ‘61 U.S. Championships.
She was also a Wimbledon finalist in 1957 (losing to Althea Gibson) and ’59, and reached the quarter-finals of the Australian championships in 1962.
Hard was ranked in the U.S. top 10 every year between 1954 and 1963, including four times as No. 1. She rose to No. 2 in the world in 1960 and ’61.
