Kathy May
Updated: 12/20/2025, 3:03:08 PM Wikipedia source
Kathy May Fritz (born June 18, 1956) is an American former professional tennis player. She reached three Grand Slam quarterfinals, once at the US Open in 1978 and twice at the French Open in 1977 and 1978. She won seven WTA singles titles during her career, and achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 10 in 1977. She also competed under the names Kathy May Teacher after her marriage in 1979 to tennis player Brian Teacher, and Kathy May-Paben. Her son Taylor Fritz is also a professional tennis player, and he has reached the top 5 on the ATP Tour.
Infobox
Full name
Kathy May Fritz
Country (sports)
United States
Born
(1956-06-18) June 18, 1956 (age 69)Beverly Hills, California, USA
Height
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Plays
Right-handed
Career record
36–49
Career titles
4
Highest ranking
No. 10 (July 3, 1977)
French Open
2R (1977)
Wimbledon
3R (1974)
US Open
QF (1978, 1979)
Tables
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
Winner - Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
Winner - Legend
WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (7–0)
Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (7–0)
Winner - Legend
Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (7–0)
| Winner - Legend |
| Grand Slam tournaments (0–0) |
| WTA Tour Championships (0–0) |
| Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (7–0) |
Hard (3–0)
Hard (3–0)
Grass (1–0)
Grass (1–0)
Clay (3–0)
Clay (3–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
| Titles by surface |
| Hard (3–0) |
| Grass (1–0) |
| Clay (3–0) |
| Carpet (0–0) |
· WTA Tour finals › Singles: 7 (7–0)
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Outcome
Winner
No.
1.
Date
September 17, 1973
Tournament
Los Angeles
Opponent
Lea Antonoplis
Score
5–7, 6–1, 6–2
Ojai Tennis Tournament
Ojai Tennis Tournament
Outcome
Winner
No.
2.
Date
April 22, 1974
Tournament
Ojai Tennis Tournament
Opponent
Susan Hagey
Score
2–6, 6–0, 6–1
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Outcome
Winner
No.
3.
Date
May 6, 1974
Tournament
Los Angeles
Opponent
Lindsay Morse
Score
6–4, 7–6
Haverford
Haverford
Outcome
Winner
No.
4.
Date
August 19, 1974
Tournament
Haverford
Opponent
Barbara Jordan
Score
6–3, 7–5
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Outcome
Winner
No.
5.
Date
March 17, 1975
Tournament
Pensacola, Florida
Opponent
Ilana Kloss
Score
5–7, 6–4, 7–6
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
Outcome
Winner
No.
6.
Date
January 19, 1976
Tournament
Fort Myers, Florida
Opponent
Ann Kiyomura
Score
5–7, 6–3, 6–1
Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Outcome
Winner
No.
7.
Date
September 8, 1976
Tournament
Indianapolis
Opponent
Brigitte Cuypers
Score
6–4, 4–6, 6–2
| Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Winner | 1. | September 17, 1973 | Los Angeles | Hard | Lea Antonoplis | 5–7, 6–1, 6–2 |
| Winner | 2. | April 22, 1974 | Ojai Tennis Tournament | Hard | Susan Hagey | 2–6, 6–0, 6–1 |
| Winner | 3. | May 6, 1974 | Los Angeles | Hard | Lindsay Morse | 6–4, 7–6 |
| Winner | 4. | August 19, 1974 | Haverford | Grass | Barbara Jordan | 6–3, 7–5 |
| Winner | 5. | March 17, 1975 | Pensacola, Florida | Clay | Ilana Kloss | 5–7, 6–4, 7–6 |
| Winner | 6. | January 19, 1976 | Fort Myers, Florida | Clay | Ann Kiyomura | 5–7, 6–3, 6–1 |
| Winner | 7. | September 8, 1976 | Indianapolis | Clay | Brigitte Cuypers | 6–4, 4–6, 6–2 |
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
Winner - Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
Winner - Legend
WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (4–3)
Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (4–3)
Winner - Legend
Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (4–3)
| Winner - Legend |
| Grand Slam tournaments (0–0) |
| WTA Tour Championships (0–0) |
| Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (4–3) |
Hard (3–2)
Hard (3–2)
Grass (0–0)
Grass (0–0)
Clay (1–1)
Clay (1–1)
Carpet (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
| Titles by surface |
| Hard (3–2) |
| Grass (0–0) |
| Clay (1–1) |
| Carpet (0–0) |
· WTA Tour finals › Doubles: 7 (4–3)
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Outcome
Winner
No.
1.
Date
May 7, 1973
Tournament
Los Angeles
Partner
Marita Redondo
Opponents
Lindsay Morse Jean Nachand
Score
6–4, 6–0
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Outcome
Winner
No.
2.
Date
September 17, 1973
Tournament
Los Angeles
Partner
Marita Redondo
Opponents
Laurie Tenney Robin Tenney
Score
6–3, 7–5
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Outcome
Runner-up
No.
1.
Date
May 6, 1974
Tournament
Los Angeles
Partner
Maricaye Christenson
Opponents
Lea Antonoplis Susan Hagey
Score
6–3, 6–4
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Outcome
Winner
No.
3.
Date
July 8, 1974
Tournament
Raleigh, North Carolina
Partner
Rayni Fox
Opponents
Lindsay Morse JoAnne Russell
Score
5–7, 6–4, 6–2
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Outcome
Winner
No.
4.
Date
September 16, 1974
Tournament
Los Angeles
Partner
Susan Hagey
Opponents
Dodo Cheney Cynthia-Ann Thomas
Score
6–2, 6–4
South Orange
South Orange
Outcome
Runner-up
No.
2.
Date
August 18, 1975
Tournament
South Orange
Partner
Kathleen Harter
Opponents
Kristien Shaw Greer Stevens
Score
w/o
Tokyo
Tokyo
Outcome
Runner-up
No.
3.
Date
November 21, 1978
Tournament
Tokyo
Partner
Tracy Austin
Opponents
Martina Navratilova Betty Stöve
Score
6–4, 6–7, 3–6
| Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Winner | 1. | May 7, 1973 | Los Angeles | Hard | Marita Redondo | Lindsay Morse Jean Nachand | 6–4, 6–0 |
| Winner | 2. | September 17, 1973 | Los Angeles | Hard | Marita Redondo | Laurie Tenney Robin Tenney | 6–3, 7–5 |
| Runner-up | 1. | May 6, 1974 | Los Angeles | Hard | Maricaye Christenson | Lea Antonoplis Susan Hagey | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Winner | 3. | July 8, 1974 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Clay | Rayni Fox | Lindsay Morse JoAnne Russell | 5–7, 6–4, 6–2 |
| Winner | 4. | September 16, 1974 | Los Angeles | Hard | Susan Hagey | Dodo Cheney Cynthia-Ann Thomas | 6–2, 6–4 |
| Runner-up | 2. | August 18, 1975 | South Orange | Clay | Kathleen Harter | Kristien Shaw Greer Stevens | w/o |
| Runner-up | 3. | November 21, 1978 | Tokyo | Hard (i) | Tracy Austin | Martina Navratilova Betty Stöve | 6–4, 6–7, 3–6 |
Key · Grand Slam singles tournament timeline
| W | F | SF | QF | | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
· Grand Slam singles tournament timeline
Australian Open
Australian Open
Tournament
Australian Open
1973
A
1974
A
1975
A
1976
A
1977
A
1977
A
1978
A
1979
A
1980
A
Career SR
0 / 0
French Open
French Open
Tournament
French Open
1973
A
1974
A
1975
A
1976
3R
1977
QF
1977
QF
1978
2R
1979
A
1980
0 / 4
Wimbledon
Wimbledon
Tournament
Wimbledon
1973
A
1974
2R
1975
3R
1976
2R
1977
4R
1977
3R
1978
3R
1979
2R
1980
0 / 7
US Open
US Open
Tournament
US Open
1973
1R
1974
A
1975
3R
1976
2R
1977
1R
1977
QF
1978
4R
1979
2R
1980
0 / 7
SR
SR
Tournament
SR
1973
0 / 1
1974
0 / 1
1975
0 / 2
1976
0 / 3
1977
0 / 3
1977
0 / 3
1978
0 / 3
1979
0 / 2
1980
0 / 18
Year-end ranking
Year-end ranking
Tournament
Year-end ranking
1975
57
1976
19
1977
21
1977
15
1978
19
1979
130
| Tournament | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | Career SR | |
| Australian Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 |
| French Open | A | A | A | 3R | QF | QF | 2R | A | 0 / 4 | |
| Wimbledon | A | 2R | 3R | 2R | 4R | 3R | 3R | 2R | 0 / 7 | |
| US Open | 1R | A | 3R | 2R | 1R | QF | 4R | 2R | 0 / 7 | |
| SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 18 | |
| Year-end ranking | 57 | 19 | 21 | 15 | 19 | 130 | ||||
References
- USTA Player Records 1978
- 1978 Colgate Series Media Guide
- The Making of America's Next Great Tennis Talenthttp://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/08/the-making-of-americas-next-great-tennis-talent.html
- "The Australian Open Champion Who Almost Wasn't - Book Excerpt From 'The Greatest Jewish Tennis Players of All Time,'" Ahttp://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/11283
- Katherine May - Free Marriage & Vital Recordshttps://www.familytreenow.com/records/marriage/may/katherine
- World Tennishttps://books.google.com/books?id=FyAdAQAAMAAJ&q=%22kathy+may%22+%22don+paben%22
- "Dad at 19: A young tennis star turning heads, raising eyebrows," The Economic Times.http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/dad-at-19-a-young-tennis-star-turning-heads-raising-eyebrows/articleshow/57767450.cms
- Is Taylor Fritz The Next American Tennis Star?http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2015-10-20/20938.php
- "BNP Paribas Open: Taylor and Guy Fritz have come full circle, with the younger Fritz playing his best tennis"https://www.desertsun.com/story/sports/tennis/bnp/2023/03/03/bnp-paribas-open-taylor-fritz-returns-to-indian-wells-as-top-5-player/69928658007/
- Spokane Daily Chroniclehttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=H_tLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AfkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5847%2C843687