São Paulo (Brazil), 1939

By Pablo Alabarces

The greatest Latin American tennis player in history, Maria Esther Bueno from São Paulo started playing tennis at six years old and became the Brazilian champion at fifteen. At seventeen, she participated in her first international competition, the Pan American Games. In 1957, she won the Orange Bowl, and the following year, she claimed her first Grand Slam title by winning the doubles at Wimbledon alongside American athlete Althea Gibson. In 1959, she captured the singles titles at both Wimbledon and Forest Hills. In 1960, she triumphed again in singles and doubles at Wimbledon (with Darlene Hard from the United States), as well as her first doubles title at Forest Hills.

After an injury, the Brazilian returned to the courts in 1962, once again winning the doubles title at Forest Hills, partnered with Darlene Hard. In 1963, they both won at Wimbledon, and Bueno also triumphed in singles at Forest Hills. In 1964, she won both tournaments, and in 1965, she claimed victory at Wimbledon in doubles with Billie Jean Moffit. In 1966, she secured her fourth singles title at Forest Hills, and continued her success in doubles at both Forest Hills and Wimbledon, alongside Nancy Richey. In 1968, she once again won at Forest Hills, partnering with Margareth Smith Court. After a long hiatus, she returned to play in the 1970s, winning the Tokyo Open in 1974. Throughout her career, Maria Esther Bueno won 571 tournaments, including singles and doubles, with a remarkable total of sixteen Grand Slam titles. In the 1960s, the Brazilian government issued a postage stamp featuring her image. In the 1970s, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.