Australian tennis player
Elizabeth Smylie (née Sayers , born 11 April 1963), sometimes known as Liz Smylie , is a retired Australian tennis player. During her career, she won four Grand Slam titles, one in women's doubles and three in mixed doubles. She also won three singles titles and 36 doubles titles on the tour. Liz also taught junior tennis players at Smith's Tennis Center, North Curl Curl. Sydney in the early 1990's.
Career
Smylie turned professional in 1982.[ 2] She won the women's doubles title at Wimbledon in 1985 with Kathy Jordan .[ 3] 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 Federation Cup from 1984 to 1994, and won a bronze medal in women's doubles with Wendy Turnbull at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul .
Over her career, Smylie won three 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.[ 4] She was the long-time tournament director of the Australian Women's Hardcourts and also works as a sports television commentator. Her brother Mervyn Sayers played one first-class cricket game for Western Australia in 1979.
Grand Slam tournaments
Doubles: 5 (1 title, 4 runner-ups)
Mixed doubles: 8 (3 titles, 5 runner-ups)
Result
Year
Tournament
Surface
Partner
Opponents
Score
Win
1983
US Open
Hard
John Fitzgerald
Barbara Potter Ferdi Taygan
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Loss
1984
US Open
Hard
John Fitzgerald
Manuela Maleeva Tom Gullikson
2–6, 7–5, 6–4
Loss
1985
Wimbledon
Grass
John Fitzgerald
Martina Navratilova Paul McNamee
7–5, 4–6, 6–2
Loss
1985
US Open
Hard
John Fitzgerald
Martina Navratilova Heinz Günthardt
6–3, 6–4
Loss
1988
US Open
Hard
Patrick McEnroe
Jana Novotná Jim Pugh
7–5, 6–3
Loss
1990
Wimbledon
Grass
John Fitzgerald
Zina Garrison Rick Leach
7–5, 6–2
Win
1990
US Open
Hard
Todd Woodbridge
Natasha Zvereva Jim Pugh
6–4, 6–2
Win
1991
Wimbledon
Grass
John Fitzgerald
Natasha Zvereva Jim Pugh
7–6(7–4) , 6–2
Olympic Games
Doubles: 1 (bronze medal)
Smylie and Turnbull lost their semifinal match to Zina Garrison and Pam Shriver 6–7(5) , 4–6. In 1988, there was no bronze medal play-off match, both beaten semifinal pairs received bronze medals.[ 5] [ 6]
Other significant finals
Year-end championships
Doubles: 1 (title)
WTA Tour finals
Singles: 6 (3–3)
Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (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)
Finals by surface
Hard (2–2)
Grass (0–1)
Clay (1–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Doubles: 69 (36–33)
Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (1–4)
WTA 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)
Finals by surface
Hard (17–10)
Grass (5–12)
Clay (4–1)
Carpet (10–10)
Result
W/L
Date
Tournament
Surface
Partner
Opponents
Score
Loss
1.
Oct 1981
Kyoto
Hard
Kim Steinmetz
Nanette Schutte Marianne van der Torre
2–6, 4–6
Win
1.
Feb 1983
Ridgewood
Carpet (i)
Beverly Mould
Rosalyn Fairbank Susan Leo
7–6, 4–6, 7–5
Loss
2.
Jun 1983
Birmingham
Grass
Beverly Mould
Billie Jean King Sharon Walsh
2–6, 4–6
Loss
3.
Jul 1983
Newport
Grass
Barbara Jordan
Barbara Potter Pam Shriver
3–6, 1–6
Win
2.
Sep 1983
Kansas City
Hard
Sandy Collins
Chris O'Neil Brenda Remilton
7–5, 7–6
Loss
4.
Jan 1984
Indianapolis
Carpet (i)
Beverly Mould
Cláudia Monteiro Yvonne Vermaak
7–6(9–7) , 4–6, 5–7
Loss
5.
Mar 1984
Tokyo
Carpet (i)
Barbara Jordan
Ann Kiyomura Pam Shriver
3–6, 7–6(9–7) , 3–6
Loss
6.
Mar 1984
Dallas
Carpet (i)
Sandy Collins
Leslie Allen Anne White
4–6, 7–5, 2–6
Loss
7.
Jun 1984
Birmingham
Grass
Barbara Jordan
Leslie Allen Anne White
6–7(1–7) , 3–6
Win
3.
Aug 1984
Montreal
Hard
Kathy Jordan
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Hana Mandlíková
6–1, 6–2
Win
4.
Sep 1984
Deerfield Beach
Hard
Martina Navratilova
Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh
2–6, 6–2, 6–3
Win
5.
Oct 1984
Tampa
Hard
Carling Bassett
Mary-Lou Piatek Wendy White
6–4, 6–3
Loss
8.
Dec 1984
Tokyo
Carpet (i)
Catherine Tanvier
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková
4–6, 4–6
Win
6.
Jan 1985
Key Biscayne
Hard
Kathy Jordan
Svetlana Parkhomenko Larisa Savchenko
6–4, 7–6(7–2)
Win
7.
Jan 1985
Marco Island
Hard
Kathy Jordan
Camille Benjamin Bonnie Gadusek
6–3, 6–3
Loss
9.
Mar 1985
Princeton
Carpet (i)
Marcella Mesker
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver
5–7, 2–6
Win
8.
Apr 1985
Tokyo
Carpet (i)
Kathy Jordan
Betsy Nagelsen Anne White
4–6, 7–5, 6–2
Win
9.
May 1985
Sydney
Carpet (i)
Pam Shriver
Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh
7–5, 7–5
Win
10.
May 1985
Melbourne
Carpet (i)
Pam Shriver
Anne Hobbs Kathy Jordan
6–2, 5–7, 6–1
Loss
10.
Jun 1985
Eastbourne
Grass
Kathy Jordan
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver
5–7, 4–6
Win
11.
Jun 1985
Wimbledon
Grass
Kathy Jordan
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver
5–7, 6–3, 6–4
Loss
11.
Jul 1985
Newport
Grass
Pam Shriver
Chris Evert Wendy Turnbull
4–6, 6–7(2–7)
Win
12.
Aug 1985
Mahwah
Hard
Kathy Jordan
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková
7–6(8–6) , 6–3
Win
13.
Sep 1985
Chicago
Carpet (i)
Kathy Jordan
Elise Burgin JoAnne Russell
6–2, 6–2
Loss
12.
Dec 1985
Tokyo
Carpet (i)
Marcella Mesker
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková
0–6, 4–6
Win
14.
Jan 1986
Key Biscayne
Hard
Kathy Jordan
Betsy Nagelsen Barbara Potter
7–6(8–6) , 2–6, 6–2
Win
15.
Mar 1986
Princeton
Carpet (i)
Kathy Jordan
Hana Mandlíková Helena Suková
6–3, 7–5
Loss
13.
Mar 1986
Nashville
Carpet /u(
Kathy Jordan
Barbara Potter Pam Shriver
4–6, 3–6
Loss
14.
Jun 1986
Birmingham
Grass
Wendy Turnbull
Elise Burgin Rosalyn Fairbank
2–6, 4–6
Win
16.
Aug 1986
Mahwah
Hard
Betsy Nagelsen
Steffi Graf Helena Suková
7–6(7–4) , 6–3
Loss
15.
Dec 1986
Brisbane
Grass
Betsy Nagelsen
Hana Mandlíková Wendy Turnbull
4–6, 3–6
Win
17.
Jan 1987
Sydney
Grass
Betsy Nagelsen
Jenny Byrne Janine Thompson
6–7(5–7) , 7–5, 6–1
Loss
16.
Mar 1987
Piscataway
Carpet (i)
Betsy Nagelsen
Gigi Fernández Lori McNeil
1–6, 4–6
Win
18.
May 1987
Geneva
Clay
Betsy Nagelsen
Laura Gildemeister Catherine Tanvier
4–6, 6–4, 6–3
Loss
17.
Jun 1987
Eastbourne
Grass
Rosalyn Fairbank
Svetlana Parkhomenko Larisa Savchenko
6–7(6–8) , 6–4, 5–7
Loss
18.
Jun 1987
Wimbledon
Grass
Betsy Nagelsen
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková
5–7, 5–7
Loss
19.
Aug 1987
Mahwah
Hard
Anne Hobbs
Gigi Fernández Lori McNeil
3–6, 2–6
Loss
20.
Aug 1987
US Open
Hard
Kathy Jordan
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver
7–5, 4–6, 2–6
Win
19.
Jun 1988
Eastbourne
Grass
Eva Pfaff
Belinda Cordwell Dinky Van Rensburg
6–3, 7–6(8–6)
Loss
21.
Jan 1989
Sydney
Hard
Wendy Turnbull
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver
3–6, 3–6
Loss
22.
Jan 1989
Auckland
Hard
Janine Thompson
Patty Fendick Jill Hetherington
4–6, 4–6
Win
20.
Feb 1989
Wellington
Hard
Janine Thompson
Tracey Morton Heidi Sprung
7–6(7–3) , 6–1
Loss
23.
Feb 1989
Oklahoma City
Hard (i)
Elise Burgin
Lori McNeil Betsy Nagelsen
w/o
Win
21.
Apr 1989
Singapore
Hard
Belinda Cordwell
Ann Henricksson Beth Herr
6–7(6–8) , 6–2, 6–1
Win
22.
Apr 1989
Tokyo
Hard
Jill Hetherington
Ann Henricksson Beth Herr
6–1, 6–3
Win
23.
May 1989
Rome
Clay
Janine Thompson
Manon Bollegraf Mercedes Paz
6–4, 6–3
Win
24.
May 1989
Berlin
Clay
Janine Thompson
Lise Gregory Gretchen Magers
5–7, 6–3, 6–2
Loss
24.
Jul 1989
Newport
Grass
Wendy Turnbull
Gigi Fernández Lori McNeil
3–6, 6–7(5–7) , 5–7
Loss
25.
Sep 1989
Tokyo
Carpet
Wendy Turnbull
Gigi Fernández Robin White
2–6, 2–6
Win
25.
Jan 1990
Tokyo
Carpet (i)
Gigi Fernández
Jo-Anne Faull Rachel McQuillan
6–2, 6–2
Win
26.
Mar 1990
San Antonio
Hard
Kathy Jordan
Gigi Fernández Robin White
7–5, 7–5
Win
27.
Apr 1990
Tokyo
Hard
Kathy Jordan
Michelle Jaggard Hu Na
6–0, 3–6, 6–1
Loss
26.
May 1990
Strasbourg
Clay
Kathy Jordan
Nicole Provis Elna Reinach
1–6, 4–6
Loss
27.
Jun 1990
Wimbledon
Grass
Kathy Jordan
Jana Novotná Helena Suková
3–6, 4–6
Win
28.
Nov 1990
VS Championships
Carpet (i)
Kathy Jordan
Mercedes Paz Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
7–6(7–4) , 6–4
Win
29.
Jan 1991
Tokyo
Carpet (i)
Kathy Jordan
Mary Joe Fernández Robin White
4–6, 6–0, 6–3
Win
30.
May 1991
Geneva
Clay
Nicole Provis
Cathy Caverzasio Manuela Maleeva-Fragnière
6–1, 6–2
Win
31.
Jun 1991
Birmingham
Grass
Nicole Provis
Sandy Collins Elna Reinach
6–3, 6–4
Win
32.
Jan 1993
Sydney
Hard
Pam Shriver
Lori McNeil Rennae Stubbs
7–6(7–4) , 6–2
Loss
28.
Jan 1993
Australian Open
Hard
Pam Shriver
Gigi Fernández Natasha Zvereva
4–6, 3–6
Loss
29.
Jun 1993
Birmingham
Grass
Pam Shriver
Lori McNeil Martina Navratilova
3–6, 4–6
Win
33.
Jul 1993
Stratton Mountain
Hard
Helena Suková
Manuela Maleeva-Fragnière Mercedes Paz
6–1, 6–2
Loss
30.
Aug 1993
San Diego
Hard
Pam Shriver
Gigi Fernández Helena Suková
4–6, 3–6
Win
34.
Jan 1994
Tokyo
Carpet (i)
Pam Shriver
Manon Bollegraf Martina Navratilova
6–3, 3–6, 7–6(7–3)
Loss
31.
Feb 1994
Osaka
Carpet (i)
Pam Shriver
Larisa Neiland Rennae Stubbs
4–6, 7–6(7–2) , 5–7
Win
35.
Jul 1994
Stratton Mountain
Hard
Pam Shriver
Conchita Martínez Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
7–6(7–4) , 2–6, 7–5
Loss
32.
Aug 1994
Montreal
Hard
Pam Shriver
Meredith McGrath Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
6–2, 2–6, 4–6
Loss
33.
Aug 1994
Schenectady
Hard
Pam Shriver
Meredith McGrath Larisa Neiland
2–6, 2–6
Win
36.
Jun 1996
Birmingham
Grass
Linda Wild
Lori McNeil Nathalie Tauziat
6–3, 3–6, 6–1
Key
W
F
SF
QF
#R
RR
Q#
DNQ
A
NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
Singles
Doubles
Mixed doubles
References
External links