Maureen Connolly’s Passion

MAUREEN CONNOLLY’S PASSION for tennis translated into success on the court. And despite injury and an illness that cut both her career and her life short, her legacy endures.

In 1951, the San Diego, California, native burst on the tennis scene, claiming the United States Open at age 16. Two years later, she captured the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon titles before advancing to the U.S. Open finals for the third straight year.

After going through the preliminary rounds undefeated, Connolly drew longtime adversary Doris Hart in the finals. The pair had recently met in the Wimbledon finals.

Using her speed and strong ground strokes, the blond teenager broke Hart’s serve twice in the first set and coasted to a 6–2 win. Connolly dispatched her opponent with almost the same ease in set two, winning 6–4. The entire match lasted only 43 minutes. Together with her triumphs in Australia, France, and Great Britain, Connolly became the first woman to claim all four Grand Slam titles in the same year.

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POINT The press nicknamed Maureen Connolly “Little Mo,” comparing her power to the big guns of the Battleship Missouri, known as “Big Mo.”

From 1951 to 1954, Little Mo won nine Grand Slams. But two weeks after her 1954 Wimbledon win, tragedy struck. While she was horseback riding, a cement truck knocked her from her mount. The star’s fall injured her leg so severely that she could no longer compete.

Married to 1952 Olympic equestrian Norman Brinker, the two settled in Dallas where Maureen dedicated herself to developing young tennis talent. In 1968, she established a foundation to promote junior tennis but six months later died of cancer at age 34.

When tragedies strike and death takes a person at a young age, we ask why. But God doesn’t promise answers, fairness, freedom from pain, or long life. He simply promises his comforting presence. And he wants us to show that same comfort to others who are going through tough times.

GOAL! Is there a family you know that has experienced tragedy? If so, there are certainly ways to offer loving support. Ask God to help those people feel his presence and comfort even in the midst of the sadness.