Samantha Smith (tennis)

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Samantha Smith (born 27 November 1971) is an English former professional tennis player, who was the British ladies' No. 1 from 1996 to 1999. She now commentates on the game, predominantly for the BBC, ITV, Sky Sports, BT Sport, Eurosport & Amazon Prime[1] and for 16 consecutive years since 2009 in Australia on the Australian Open for the Seven Network and since 2019 the Nine Network.[2]

Samantha Smith
Country (sports) United Kingdom
ResidenceLoughton, Essex, England
Born (1971-11-27) 27 November 1971 (age 52)
Epping, Essex, England
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
PlaysRight-handed
Prize money$351,902
Singles
Career record199–160
Career titles3 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 55 (22 February 1999)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open2R (1999)
French Open1R (1991, 1999)
Wimbledon4R (1998)
US Open2R (1997)
Doubles
Career record54–75
Career titles5 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 126 (25 June 1990)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open1R (1998)
Wimbledon1R (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)
Team competitions
Fed Cup10–5
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
Women's Tennis
Summer Universiade
Silver medal – second place 1995 Fukuoka Mixed doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1993 Buffalo Women's Singles

Early life

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Smith was born in Epping, Essex and was educated at Bancroft's School. She took three years out of tennis to attend the University of Exeter where she attained an upper second class Honours degree in history.[1]

Tennis career

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Smith competed on the WTA Tour from 1990 to 1992 and from 1995 to 2000. Her highest achievement was in reaching the fourth round at the Wimbledon Championships in 1998, when she beat Anne-Gaëlle Sidot, Mariana Díaz Oliva and former champion Conchita Martínez before losing to eventual runner up Nathalie Tauziat. In so doing she picked up an ankle injury that required her to have two operations and spend four months in plaster; this effectively ended her career. She peaked at No. 55 in the WTA rankings before the injury curtailed her climb up the rankings.[1]

At the Australian Open, she competed in the first round of the women's doubles competition in 1992 (with Ilana Berger), and reached the second round in 1999.[1]

At the French Open at Roland Garros, she competed in the first round in 1991 and 1999.[1]

At Wimbledon, she competed eight times and reached the fourth round in 1998.[1]
At the US Open, she competed in the first round in 1998 and reached the second round in 1997.
At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics she reached the second round.

Smith won a silver medal in the mixed doubles at the 1995 Universiade (World University Games) in Fukuoka, Japan, partnering Paul Robinson. She also reached the quarterfinals in the singles.[1]

She won the ITF tournaments at Nottingham in 1995 (singles and doubles) and Frinton-on-Sea in 2000. She represented Britain in the Fed Cup and European Cup in 1991 and from 1996 to 1999. She was unbeaten in her five singles matches in the 1997 Fed Cup.[1]

ITF finals

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$75,000 tournaments
$50,000 tournaments
$25,000 tournaments
$10,000 tournaments

Singles (3–4)

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Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Runner-up 1. 24 April 1989 Sutton, United Kingdom Clay   Kimiko Date 2–6, 1–6
Runner-up 2. 2 September 1991 Arzachena, Italy Hard   Katia Piccolini 2–6, 7–6, 4–6
Runner-up 3. 4 November 1991 Manchester, UK Carpet (i)   Amanda Grunfeld 6–4, 4–6, 2–6
Winner 1. 2 October 1995 Nottingham, UK Hard (i)   Abigail Tordoff 6–4, 6–2
Runner-up 4. 10 February 1996 Sunderland, UK Hard (i)   Raluca Sandu 6–4, 5–7, 4–6
Winner 2. 8 February 1999 Rockford, United States Hard (i)   Miroslava Vavrinec 6–4, 6–4
Winner 3. 23 July 2000 Frinton-on-Sea, UK Grass   Helen Crook 6–3, 6–0

Doubles (5–2)

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Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Winner 1. 13 August 1990 Brasília, Brazil Clay   Sofie Albinus   Luciana Tella
  Andrea Vieira
7–6(7–2), 4–6, 6–3
Winner 2. 11 February 1991 Key Biscayne, US Hard   Penny Barg   Rene Simpson
  Hellas ter Riet
7–5, 6–2
Winner 3. 25 September 1995 Telford, UK Hard (i)   Jane Wood   Kaye Hand
  Anna-Karin Svensson
4–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–3
Runner-up 1. 2 October 1995 Nottingham, UK Hard (i)   Jane Wood   Sofia Finér
  Annica Lindstedt
6–7(7–9), 5–7
Winner 4. 2 August 1998 Salt Lake City, US Hard   Mariaan de Swardt   Liezel Horn
  Karin Kschwendt
6–2, 6–2
Runner-up 2. 25 October 1998 Welwyn, UK Carpet (i)   Louise Pleming   Laurence Courtois
  Tina Križan
6–7, 4–6
Winner 5. 21 February 1999 Midland, US Hard (i)   Liezel Horn   Kirstin Freye
  Sonya Jeyaseelan
7–6(8–6), 0–6, 7–5

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Sam Smith Archived 2009-06-11 at the Wayback Machine Biography and Image, Celebrity Tennis
  2. ^ Knox, David (30 December 2014). "Summer of Tennis: guide". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
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