Leand, Andrea

The teenage Andrea launched a successful tennis career in 1981, while a student at Princeton University, combining academic achievement with her athletic stardom. She turned professional in 1982, and was ranked in the world's top 20. Today, she is a highly regarded professional tennis writer (she writes for Tennis Week, and is considered by many to be the world's foremost authority on women's professional tennis).

Birth and Death Dates:
b. Jan. 18, 1964

Career Highlights:
In 1981, Leand won the Maureen Connolly Brinker Award, an honor presented to the 18-and-under girl player in the United States with the most outstanding full season performance. That year, Leand had burst upon the scene at age 17, reaching the junior semifinals at Wimbledon. She was ranked in the top ten among worldwide juniors, won Maccabiah titles in both singles and mixed doubles, and reached the round of 16 at the U.S. Open, where she defeated world No. 2 Andrea Jeager in a stunning upset. The following year, Leand turned professional and competed in all 4 Grand Slam events (she made it to the fourth round in both the French Open and U.S. Open), and was seeded No. 14 at Wimbledon. Andrea later returned to Princeton to complete her education. She won her sole singles title in 1984 and competed professionally until 1994 (although she only played three matches after 1991), before becoming a tennis writer.

Origin:
Baltimore, Maryland

Physical description:
5'11", 132 pounds
righthanded/two-handed backhand

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