Elizabeth Smylie

Elizabeth Smylie
Country (sports)  Australia
Born (1963-04-11) 11 April 1963
Perth
Turned pro 1982
Retired 1997
Prize money US$1,615,247
Singles
Career record 181 – 213 (45.93%)
Career titles 3
Highest ranking No. 20 (14 September 1987)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open QF (1987)
French Open 2R (1983)
Wimbledon 4R (1984, 1985)
US Open 2R (1986, 1987, 1989)
Doubles
Career record 483 – 215 (69.19%)
Career titles 36
Highest ranking No. 5 (28 March 1988)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open F (1993)
French Open SF (1984)
Wimbledon W (1985)
US Open F (1987)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour Finals W (1990)
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
Australian Open SF (1990, 1991)
French Open SF (1993)
Wimbledon W (1991)
US Open W (1983, 1990)

Elizabeth "Liz" Smylie (née Sayers, born 11 April 1963) is a retired Australian professional tennis player. During her career, she won four Grand Slam titles, one of them in women's doubles and three in mixed doubles. She also won three singles titles and 36 doubles titles.

Career

Smylie turned professional in 1982. She won the women's doubles title at Wimbledon in 1985 with Kathy Jordan. In mixed doubles, she teamed with John Fitzgerald to win the 1983 US Open and 1991 Wimbledon titles and with Todd Woodbridge to win the 1990 US Open. She won the Virginia Slims Championships with Jordan in 1990. Her best Grand Slam performance in singles came at the Australian Open in 1987, when she reached the quarterfinals. Her highest ever singles ranking was World No. 20 and her highest in doubles was World No. 5.

She played Fed Cup from 1984 to 1994. She won a bronze medal in women's doubles with Wendy Turnbull at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

Over the course of her career, Smylie won 3 singles titles and 36 doubles titles. She won the Western Australian Sports Star of the Year award in 1985 and the Comeback Player of the Year award in 1990 and 1993.

Personal life

She is married to player-manager Peter Smylie and they have three children, Laura, Jordan and Elvis. She was the long-time tournament director of the Australian Women's Hardcourts and also works as a sports television commentator.

Major finals

Grand Slam finals

Women's doubles: 5 (1 title, 4 runners-up)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Winner 1985 Wimbledon Grass United States Kathy Jordan United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver
5–7, 6–3, 6–4
Runner-up 1987 Wimbledon Grass United States Betsy Nagelsen West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
7–5, 7–5
Runner-up 1987 US Open Hard United States Kathy Jordan United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver
5–7, 6–4, 6–2
Runner-up 1990 Wimbledon Grass United States Kathy Jordan Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
6–3, 6–4
Runner-up 1993 Australian Open Hard United States Pam Shriver United States Gigi Fernández
Belarus Natasha Zvereva
6–4, 6–3

Mixed doubles: 8 (3 titles, 5 runners-up)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Winner 1983 US Open Hard Australia John Fitzgerald United States Barbara Potter
United States Ferdi Taygan
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Runner-up 1984 US Open Hard Australia John Fitzgerald Bulgaria Manuela Maleeva
United States Tom Gullikson
2–6, 7–5, 6–4
Runner-up 1985 Wimbledon Grass Australia John Fitzgerald United States Martina Navratilova
Australia Paul McNamee
7–5, 4–6, 6–2
Runner-up 1985 US Open Hard Australia John Fitzgerald United States Martina Navratilova
Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
6–3, 6–4
Runner-up 1988 US Open Hard United States Patrick McEnroe Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
United States Jim Pugh
7–5, 6–3
Runner-up 1990 Wimbledon Grass Australia John Fitzgerald United States Zina Garrison
United States Rick Leach
7–5, 6–2
Winner 1990 US Open Hard Australia Todd Woodbridge Soviet Union Natasha Zvereva
United States Jim Pugh
6–4, 6–2
Winner 1991 Wimbledon Grass Australia John Fitzgerald Soviet Union Natasha Zvereva
United States Jim Pugh
7–6(7–4), 6–2

Olympics

Doubles: 1 medal (1 bronze medal)

Outcome Year Location Surface Partner Opponents Score
Bronze1988SeoulHardAustralia Wendy TurnbullTiedDNP

Smylie and Turnbull lost in the semi-finals to Zina Garrison and Pam Shriver 7–6(5), 6–4. In 1988, there was no bronze medal play-off match, both beaten semi-final pairs received bronze medals.

Year-End Championships finals

Doubles: 1 final (1 title, 0 runners-up)

Outcome Year Location Surface Partner Opponents Score
Winner 1990 New York City Carpet (I) United States Kathy Jordan Argentina Mercedes Paz
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
7–6(7–4), 6–4

WTA Career finals

Singles: 6 (3–3)

Winner — Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
Tier I (0–0)
Tier II (0–0)
Tier III (0–0)
Tier IV (0–1)
Tier V (0–1)
Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (3–1)
Titles by Surface
Hard (2–2)
Grass (0–1)
Clay (1–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Winner 1. 26 April 1982 Sardinia Clay United States Dana Gilbert 6–3, 6–0
Winner 2. 19 September 1983 Kansas City Hard Australia Anne Minter 6–3, 6–1
Runner-up 1. 12 November 1984 Brisbane Grass Czechoslovakia Helena Suková 4–6, 4–6
Winner 3. 9 February 1987 Oklahoma City Hard United States Lori McNeil 4–6, 6–3, 7–5
Runner-up 2. 17 April 1989 Tokyo Hard Japan Kumiko Okamoto 4–6, 2–6
Runner-up 3. 9 April 1990 Tokyo Hard Sweden Catarina Lindqvist 3–6, 2–6

Doubles: 69 (36–33)

Winner — Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (1–4)
WTA Tour Championships (1–0)
Tier I (2–1)
Tier II (7–1)
Tier III (2–3)
Tier IV (3–3)
Tier V (3–2)
Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (17–19)
Titles by Surface
Hard (17–10)
Grass (5–12)
Clay (4–1)
Carpet (10–10)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up 1. 12 October 1981 Kyoto Hard United States Kim Steinmetz Netherlands Nanette Schutte
Netherlands Marianne van der Torre
2–6, 4–6
Winner 1. 21 February 1983 Ridgewood Carpet South Africa Beverly Mould South Africa Rosalyn Fairbank
United States Susan Leo
7–6, 4–6, 7–5
Runner-up 2. 6 June 1983 Birmingham Grass South Africa Beverly Mould United States Billie Jean King
United States Sharon Walsh
2–6, 4–6
Runner-up 3. 11 July 1983 Newport Grass United States Barbara Jordan United States Barbara Potter
United States Pam Shriver
3–6, 1–6
Winner 2. 19 September 1983 Kansas City Hard United States Sandy Collins Australia Chris O'Neil
Australia Brenda Remilton
7–5, 7–6
Runner-up 4. 30 January 1984 Indianapolis Carpet South Africa Beverly Mould Brazil Cláudia Monteiro
South Africa Yvonne Vermaak
7–6(9–7), 4–6, 5–7
Runner-up 5. 5 March 1984 Tokyo Carpet United States Barbara Jordan United States Ann Kiyomura
United States Pam Shriver
3–6, 7–6(9–7), 3–6
Runner-up 6. 19 March 1984 Dallas Carpet United States Sandy Collins United States Leslie Allen
United States Anne White
4–6, 7–5, 2–6
Runner-up 7. 11 June 1984 Birmingham Grass United States Barbara Jordan United States Leslie Allen
United States Anne White
6–7(1–7), 3–6
Winner 3. 20 August 1984 Montreal Hard United States Kathy Jordan West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Czechoslovakia Hana Mandlíková
6–1, 6–2
Winner 4. 17 September 1984 Deerfield Beach Hard United States Martina Navratilova United States Barbara Potter
United States Sharon Walsh
2–6, 6–2, 6–3
Winner 5. 8 October 1984 Tampa Hard Canada Carling Bassett United States Mary-Lou Piatek
United States Wendy White
6–4, 6–3
Runner-up 8. 10 December 1984 Tokyo Carpet France Catherine Tanvier West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
4–6, 4–6
Winner 6. 21 January 1985 Key Biscayne Hard United States Kathy Jordan Soviet Union Svetlana Parkhomenko
Soviet Union Larisa Savchenko
6–4, 7–6(7–2)
Winner 7. 28 January 1985 Marco Island Hard United States Kathy Jordan United States Camille Benjamin
United States Bonnie Gadusek
6–3, 6–3
Runner-up 9. 4 March 1985 Princeton Carpet Netherlands Marcella Mesker United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver
5–7, 2–6
Winner 8. 1 April 1985 Tokyo Carpet United States Kathy Jordan United States Betsy Nagelsen
United States Anne White
4–6, 7–5, 6–2
Winner 9. 6 May 1985 Sydney Carpet United States Pam Shriver United States Barbara Potter
United States Sharon Walsh
7–5, 7–5
Winner 10. 13 May 1985 Melbourne Carpet United States Pam Shriver United Kingdom Anne Hobbs
United States Kathy Jordan
6–2, 5–7, 6–1
Runner-up 10. 17 June 1985 Eastbourne Grass United States Kathy Jordan United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver
5–7, 4–6
Winner 11. 24 June 1985 Wimbledon Grass United States Kathy Jordan United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver
5–7, 6–3, 6–4
Runner-up 11. 15 July 1985 Newport Grass United States Pam Shriver United States Chris Evert
Australia Wendy Turnbull
4–6, 6–7(2–7)
Winner 12. 12 August 1985 Mahwah Hard United States Kathy Jordan West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
7–6(8–6), 6–3
Winner 13. 16 September 1985 Chicago Carpet United States Kathy Jordan United States Elise Burgin
United States JoAnne Russell
6–2, 6–2
Runner-up 12. 9 December 1985 Tokyo Carpet Netherlands Marcella Mesker West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
0–6, 4–6
Winner 14. 27 January 1986 Key Biscayne Hard United States Kathy Jordan United States Betsy Nagelsen
United States Barbara Potter
7–6(8–6), 2–6, 6–2
Winner 15. 3 March 1986 Princeton Carpet United States Kathy Jordan Czechoslovakia Hana Mandlíková
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
6–3, 7–5
Runner-up 13. 28 March 1986 Nashville Carpet United States Kathy Jordan United States Barbara Potter
United States Pam Shriver
4–6, 3–6
Runner-up 14. 9 June 1986 Birmingham Grass Australia Wendy Turnbull United States Elise Burgin
South Africa Rosalyn Fairbank
2–6, 4–6
Winner 16. 18 August 1986 Mahwah Hard United States Betsy Nagelsen West Germany Steffi Graf
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
7–6(7–4), 6–3
Runner-up 15. 29 December 1986 Brisbane Grass United States Betsy Nagelsen Czechoslovakia Hana Mandlíková
Australia Wendy Turnbull
4–6, 3–6
Winner 17. 5 January 1987 Sydney Grass United States Betsy Nagelsen Australia Jenny Byrne
Australia Janine Thompson
6–7(5–7), 7–5, 6–1
Runner-up 16. 30 March 1987 Piscataway Carpet United States Betsy Nagelsen United States Gigi Fernández
United States Lori McNeil
1–6, 4–6
Winner 18. 18 May 1987 Geneva Clay United States Betsy Nagelsen Peru Laura Gildemeister
France Catherine Tanvier
4–6, 6–4, 6–3
Runner-up 17. 15 June 1987 Eastbourne Grass South Africa Rosalyn Fairbank Soviet Union Svetlana Parkhomenko
Soviet Union Larisa Savchenko
6–7(6–8), 6–4, 5–7
Runner-up 18. 22 June 1987 Wimbledon Grass United States Betsy Nagelsen West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
5–7, 5–7
Runner-up 19. 24 August 1987 Mahwah Hard United Kingdom Anne Hobbs United States Gigi Fernández
United States Lori McNeil
3–6, 2–6
Runner-up 20. 31 August 1987 US Open Hard United States Kathy Jordan United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver
7–5, 4–6, 2–6
Winner 19. 13 June 1988 Eastbourne Grass West Germany Eva Pfaff New Zealand Belinda Cordwell
South Africa Dinky Van Rensburg
6–3, 7–6(8–6)
Runner-up 21. 9 January 1989 Sydney Hard Australia Wendy Turnbull United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver
3–6, 3–6
Runner-up 22. 30 January 1989 Auckland Hard Australia Janine Thompson United States Patty Fendick
Canada Jill Hetherington
4–6, 4–6
Winner 20. 6 February 1989 Wellington Hard Australia Janine Thompson Australia Tracey Morton
Austria Heidi Sprung
7–6(7–3), 6–1
Runner-up 23. 27 February 1989 Oklahoma City Hard (I) United States Elise Burgin United States Lori McNeil
United States Betsy Nagelsen
w/o
Winner 21. 10 April 1989 Singapore Hard New Zealand Belinda Cordwell United States Ann Henricksson
United States Beth Herr
6–7(6–8), 6–2, 6–1
Winner 22. 17 April 1989 Tokyo Hard Canada Jill Hetherington United States Ann Henricksson
United States Beth Herr
6–1, 6–3
Winner 23. 8 May 1989 Rome Clay Australia Janine Thompson Netherlands Manon Bollegraf
Argentina Mercedes Paz
6–4, 6–3
Winner 24. 15 May 1989 Berlin Clay Australia Janine Thompson South Africa Lise Gregory
United States Gretchen Magers
5–7, 6–3, 6–2
Runner-up 24. 17 July 1989 Newport Grass Australia Wendy Turnbull United States Gigi Fernández
United States Lori McNeil
3–6, 6–7(5–7), 5–7
Runner-up 25. 15 September 1989 Tokyo Carpet Australia Wendy Turnbull United States Gigi Fernández
United States Robin White
2–6, 2–6
Winner 25. 29 January 1990 Tokyo Carpet United States Gigi Fernández Australia Jo-Anne Faull
Australia Rachel McQuillan
6–2, 6–2
Winner 26. 26 March 1990 San Antonio Hard United States Kathy Jordan United States Gigi Fernández
United States Robin White
7–5, 7–5
Winner 27. 9 April 1990 Tokyo Hard United States Kathy Jordan Australia Michelle Jaggard
United States Hu Na
6–0, 3–6, 6–1
Runner-up 26. 21 May 1990 Strasbourg Clay United States Kathy Jordan Australia Nicole Provis
South Africa Elna Reinach
1–6, 4–6
Runner-up 27. 25 June 1990 Wimbledon Grass United States Kathy Jordan Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
3–6, 4–6
Winner 28. 12 November 1990 Virginia Slims Championships Carpet United States Kathy Jordan Argentina Mercedes Paz
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
7–6(7–4), 6–4
Winner 29. 28 January 1991 Tokyo Carpet United States Kathy Jordan United States Mary Joe Fernández
United States Robin White
4–6, 6–0, 6–3
Winner 30. 20 May 1991 Geneva Clay Australia Nicole Provis Switzerland Cathy Caverzasio
Switzerland Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere
6–1, 6–2
Winner 31. 10 June 1991 Birmingham Grass Australia Nicole Provis United States Sandy Collins
South Africa Elna Reinach
6–3, 6–4
Winner 32. 11 January 1993 Sydney Hard United States Pam Shriver United States Lori McNeil
Australia Rennae Stubbs
7–6(7–4), 6–2
Runner-up 28. 18 January 1993 Australian Open Hard United States Pam Shriver United States Gigi Fernández
Belarus Natasha Zvereva
4–6, 3–6
Runner-up 29. 7 June 1993 Birmingham Grass United States Pam Shriver United States Lori McNeil
United States Martina Navratilova
3–6, 4–6
Winner 33. 26 July 1993 Stratton Mountain Hard Czech Republic Helena Suková Switzerland Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere
Argentina Mercedes Paz
6–1, 6–2
Runner-up 30. 2 August 1993 San Diego Hard United States Pam Shriver United States Gigi Fernández
Czech Republic Helena Suková
4–6, 3–6
Winner 34. 31 January 1994 Tokyo Carpet United States Pam Shriver Netherlands Manon Bollegraf
United States Martina Navratilova
6–3, 3–6, 7–6(7–3)
Runner-up 31. 7 February 1994 Osaka Carpet United States Pam Shriver Latvia Larisa Neiland
Australia Rennae Stubbs
4–6, 7–6(7–2), 5–7
Winner 35. 25 July 1994 Stratton Mountain Hard United States Pam Shriver Spain Conchita Martínez
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
7–6(7–4), 2–6, 7–5
Runner-up 32. 15 August 1994 Montreal Hard United States Pam Shriver United States Meredith McGrath
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
6–2, 2–6, 4–6
Runner-up 33. 22 August 1994 Schenectady Hard United States Pam Shriver United States Meredith McGrath
Latvia Larisa Neiland
2–6, 2–6
Winner 36. 10 June 1996 Birmingham Grass United States Linda Wild United States Lori McNeil
France Nathalie Tauziat
6–3, 3–6, 6–1

Grand Slam performance timeline

Singles

Tournament 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 Career SR
Australian Open 1R A 1R 2R 1R 2R NH QF 1R 1R 3R 3R A 1R 1R 0 / 12
French Open A A A 2R 1R A 1R 1R A 1R 1R 1R A 1R A 0 / 8
Wimbledon A 2R 1R 1R 4R 4R 3R 3R 1R 3R 1R 3R A 2R 1R 0 / 13
US Open A 1R A 1R 1R 1R 2R 2R A 2R 1R 1R A 1R A 0 / 10
SR 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 0 0 / 4 0 / 2 0 / 43
Year End Ranking 96 225 115 73 36 43 114 27 154 66 53 115 336 119 194

Women's doubles

Tournament 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Career DR
Australian Open QF 2R 1R 2R 1R 2R NH 1R SF QF 3R QF A F SF A 1R 1R 0 / 15
French Open A A 3R 2R SF A A QF A 1R 2R 2R A 2R 2R A 3R A 0 / 10
Wimbledon A A 1R 1R 2R W QF F QF 3R F 3R 1R SF QF A SF 1R 1 / 15
US Open A 1R 2R 3R 3R 2R QF F 1R 2R SF 2R 2R 3R 3R A 1R A 0 / 15
DR 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 1 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 0 0 / 4 0 / 2 1 / 55
Year End Ranking 13 7 8 8 20 12 10 14 54 9 13 NR 27 NR

Mixed doubles

Tournament 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Career XR
Australian Open NH NH NH NH 2R QF QF SF SF A QF 2R A 1R 1R 0 / 9
French Open 2R QF A A 1R A A 3R A A SF 2R A A A 0 / 6
Wimbledon A SF F QF QF SF 2R F W 2R 3R QF A 3R A 1 / 12
US Open W F F SF 2R F 2R W 2R 1R 2R 1R A 1R A 2 / 13
XR 1 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 3 1 / 4 1 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 0 0 / 3 0 / 1 3 / 40

External links

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