An ordinary wall unit in an Orlando apartment is anything but ordinary. Amongst the shelves are several trophies. Not simply commonplace trophies from finishing in 3rd place in youth sports. Not even high school championship trophies. Rather, in the unit, are several French Championship trophies right next to the circular Wimbledon platters. You may be thinking a tennis player with a last name such as King, Williams, or Navratilova currently spends time in Orlando. But no, sketched into the trophies is a name you may not recognize, a name that goes without notice, without attention, without decades of glory. Sketched across those trophies is the name SHIRLEY FRY-IRVIN.
Shirley Fry-Irvin was born in Akron, Ohio where her father instilled discipline in her at a very young age. While Shirley was young, she enjoyed swimming. Fry-Irvin explained how she learned to excel in the pool at a young age, “I was thrown in the lake at age 6 and my father decided I should swim in the winter time in Akron. He went to a local swim team when I was 10 and asked if I could join the swim team.” Fry-Irvin and her father spent a lot of time together as they had a unique bond: a drive to be successful in athletics. Shirley’s determination became apparent at the young age of just 10 when the swim coach said he would allow her to be on the swim team only if she could swim a mile in the pool. Despite being a young female, Fry-Irvin knew she was up to the test. “I simply got in the pool and swam a mile and was on the swim team for a couple of years”.
Fry-Irvin (Left) with Doris Hart Shirley Fry-Irvin was born in Akron, Ohio where her father instilled discipline in her at a very young age. While Shirley was young, she enjoyed swimming. Fry-Irvin explained how she learned to excel in the pool at a young age, “I was thrown in the lake at age 6 and my father decided I should swim in the winter time in Akron. He went to a local swim team when I was 10 and asked if I could join the swim team.” Fry-Irvin and her father spent a lot of time together as they had a unique bond: a drive to be successful in athletics. Shirley’s determination became apparent at the young age of just 10 when the swim coach said he would allow her to be on the swim team only if she could swim a mile in the pool. Despite being a young female, Fry-Irvin knew she was up to the test. “I simply got in the pool and swam a mile and was on the swim team for a couple of years”.
In her teens, Fry-Irvin developed a passion for badminton and tennis. She began to travel the world by herself in 1936 for tournaments. After having success at such a young age, Shirley came to the realization that she could thrive playing the sports she loved. “At 14, I was told that I would probably be the next badminton champion but they wouldn’t let me play in the women’s tournament because I was too young. At that point, I decided to turn my focus to tennis”, Fry-Irvin said. Little did she know at the time, her decision as a teenager would pay off in the future.
Fry-Irvin’s drive to be successful continued in college, when she decided to attend Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida to play tennis. While at Rollins, Shirley’s career launched. During her junior year at Rollins, Fry-Irvin qualified for the Wimbledon quarterfinals and French Championships final. Although she fell short of capturing her first major, Fry-Irvin drew the eyes of many as she advanced to the finals at such a young age. Still, Shirley’s drive to win pushed her to strive towards a trophy. Shirley still looks back at that match wishing she could have it back. “I should have won, but I didn’t”, she said. Little did Fry-Irvin realize at the time, she would have plenty of additional opportunities to bring home a major trophy.
Shirley quickly became a name to be reckoned with in the Grand Slam circuit. Fry-Irvin broke into the top 10 in the world rankings in 1946 and reached her first Grand Slam final in 1948 in both the singles and doubles French Championships. She teamed up with another young American superstar, Doris Hart, to create a doubles team that would dominate for years to come. Fry-Irvin considers herself blessed to have played on the same side of the net as Hart. “Her brother suggested that we may be good doubles partners. I was very lucky that she took me on as a doubles partner and we became very close friends.” Not only did their relationship grow off the court, but on the court, their games complimented each other as well. “I was her legs because she had knee problems. She was very tall and had a big reach but I could retrieve anything over her head”, Fry-Irvin said.
Hart and Fry-Irvin continued to improve as a duo and began winning multiple Grand Slam Championships. After winning their first Major title at the French Championships in 1950, the twosome went on to win the championships at the French, US, and Wimbledon Championships for the following 3 years on their way to 11 Grand Slam doubles titles in the 1950’s. In 1953, the friends lost a total of just 4 games throughout the Wimbledon doubles tournament. The teammates didn’t lose a game in the finals of the tournament against Maureen Connolly Brinker and Julie Sampson Haywood. Looking back on the tournament in 1953, Fry-Irvin calls it one of the highlights of her career. “We had one terrific run at Wimbledon when our last two matches of the tournament were love and love”. Despite the success in doubles, Shirley did not have the same good fortune in singles early in her career.
A Recent Gift From Wimbledon Fry-Irvin’s drive to be successful continued in college, when she decided to attend Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida to play tennis. While at Rollins, Shirley’s career launched. During her junior year at Rollins, Fry-Irvin qualified for the Wimbledon quarterfinals and French Championships final. Although she fell short of capturing her first major, Fry-Irvin drew the eyes of many as she advanced to the finals at such a young age. Still, Shirley’s drive to win pushed her to strive towards a trophy. Shirley still looks back at that match wishing she could have it back. “I should have won, but I didn’t”, she said. Little did Fry-Irvin realize at the time, she would have plenty of additional opportunities to bring home a major trophy.
Shirley quickly became a name to be reckoned with in the Grand Slam circuit. Fry-Irvin broke into the top 10 in the world rankings in 1946 and reached her first Grand Slam final in 1948 in both the singles and doubles French Championships. She teamed up with another young American superstar, Doris Hart, to create a doubles team that would dominate for years to come. Fry-Irvin considers herself blessed to have played on the same side of the net as Hart. “Her brother suggested that we may be good doubles partners. I was very lucky that she took me on as a doubles partner and we became very close friends.” Not only did their relationship grow off the court, but on the court, their games complimented each other as well. “I was her legs because she had knee problems. She was very tall and had a big reach but I could retrieve anything over her head”, Fry-Irvin said.
Hart and Fry-Irvin continued to improve as a duo and began winning multiple Grand Slam Championships. After winning their first Major title at the French Championships in 1950, the twosome went on to win the championships at the French, US, and Wimbledon Championships for the following 3 years on their way to 11 Grand Slam doubles titles in the 1950’s. In 1953, the friends lost a total of just 4 games throughout the Wimbledon doubles tournament. The teammates didn’t lose a game in the finals of the tournament against Maureen Connolly Brinker and Julie Sampson Haywood. Looking back on the tournament in 1953, Fry-Irvin calls it one of the highlights of her career. “We had one terrific run at Wimbledon when our last two matches of the tournament were love and love”. Despite the success in doubles, Shirley did not have the same good fortune in singles early in her career.
In 1951 Shirley Fry-Irvin won her first Grand Slam singles championship, defeating her friend Doris Hart in a thrilling 3 set match at the French Championships. Just 4 years later, Shirley decided to retire and begin working as a copy girl for the St. Petersburg Times. After just a short stint out of tennis, Fry-Irvin decided it was time to return to the game she loved in 1956 when she was invited to play in the Wightman Cup. “I was excited to get an invitation to play in the Wightman Cup, so I gave up my copy girl job. I would type for the secretary and editor and I was glad to leave and go back to tennis. I had nothing to lose.” The decision to return to tennis resulted in being one of the best decisions of her career. In 1956, Shirley Fry-Irvin won the Wimbledon singles championship for the first time in her career, beating Angela Buxton in straight sets. However, her success continued in the other majors, beating the top player in the world, Althea Gibson in both the U.S. Championships and Australian Championships to launch Shirley to the number one world ranking in 1956. Looking back on her comeback, Fry-Irvin insists that good fortune played a key role in her success. “I’m glad that I returned to tennis and was so lucky. There really is luck when playing”, she said. Her comeback proved worthy as she won the last 3 Grand Slam singles tournaments that she would play.
Looking back on her career, one of the more interesting time periods came during World War II. While American women such as Fry-Irvin were able to continue to play tennis, women from several other countries did not play during the war. Shirley had an eye opening experience as she traveled to London to play at Wimbledon just after the war had ended. “When we went over we always stayed at peoples homes. I remember staying at one person’s home and she had lost a leg in the war. “ Fry-Irvin insists that the people of London were incredibly hospitable after the war. The war, however, didn’t only impact her housing, but also the actual Wimbledon facilities. “Wimbledon still had damage from the wartime. A lot of seats were gone from the bombings”, Fry-Irvin explained.
Myself, Fry-Irvin, and Several of Her Trophies Looking back on her career, one of the more interesting time periods came during World War II. While American women such as Fry-Irvin were able to continue to play tennis, women from several other countries did not play during the war. Shirley had an eye opening experience as she traveled to London to play at Wimbledon just after the war had ended. “When we went over we always stayed at peoples homes. I remember staying at one person’s home and she had lost a leg in the war. “ Fry-Irvin insists that the people of London were incredibly hospitable after the war. The war, however, didn’t only impact her housing, but also the actual Wimbledon facilities. “Wimbledon still had damage from the wartime. A lot of seats were gone from the bombings”, Fry-Irvin explained.
Tennis has remained a part of Shirley Fry-Irvin’s life. Although a leg injury has prevented her from recently playing, she still enjoys watching the major tournaments. While watching the Grand Slams, Fry-Irvin cheers on the Americans. After watching the 2013 French Open, she explained her appreciation for Serena Williams’ dominance. “She is so muscular. I am surprised the girl (Sara Eranni) she played in the semifinals even got a game from her.” (Williams won that match 6-0, 6-1 before going on to win the championship). Although she enjoys watching all of the Grand Slams, Fry-Irvin is especially excited for June 24, the start of Wimbledon. It was no surprise when the 5-time Wimbledon champion described her favorite tournament to win. “It has to be Wimbledon, it’s the one that everyone wants to win.”
Despite all of the trophies that Fry-Irvin accumulated, her name does not evoke the attention that many other former top ranked tennis players have received. In 1970, Shirley was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, a long 13 years after she retired. Fry-Irvin was thrilled to join the Hall of Fame but was surprised by the amount of time it took. “I thought it was pretty late. It should have been long before 1970.” In spite of the frustration of the length of time to reach the Hall of Fame, Fry-Irvin was honored to share the moment with her family. “It was special. My children came to see me when I was inducted in Newport, Rhode Island”, Fry-Irvin said.
Back in her Orlando apartment, while looking at each trophy and telling stories about each tournament, Shirley Fry-Irvin explained that one trophy stood out from the rest: the 1945 USTA Sportsmanship Trophy Award. “I’ve told my son that the sportsmanship trophy means the most to me, so I gave him that trophy. I went out to enjoy the game and hope that the audience enjoyed the game”, Fry-Irvin said.
While Shirley Fry-Irvin may not be a well-known name in women’s tennis, her accomplishments speak for themselves. Her commitment, dedication, positive attitude, and love for the game prolonged her career in route to a career Grand Slam in both singles and doubles. As her trophies sit alone in her living room wall unit, one actuality is for certain; the name SHIRLEY FRY-IRVIN etched into those trophies will remain in tennis history forever.
Despite all of the trophies that Fry-Irvin accumulated, her name does not evoke the attention that many other former top ranked tennis players have received. In 1970, Shirley was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, a long 13 years after she retired. Fry-Irvin was thrilled to join the Hall of Fame but was surprised by the amount of time it took. “I thought it was pretty late. It should have been long before 1970.” In spite of the frustration of the length of time to reach the Hall of Fame, Fry-Irvin was honored to share the moment with her family. “It was special. My children came to see me when I was inducted in Newport, Rhode Island”, Fry-Irvin said.
Back in her Orlando apartment, while looking at each trophy and telling stories about each tournament, Shirley Fry-Irvin explained that one trophy stood out from the rest: the 1945 USTA Sportsmanship Trophy Award. “I’ve told my son that the sportsmanship trophy means the most to me, so I gave him that trophy. I went out to enjoy the game and hope that the audience enjoyed the game”, Fry-Irvin said.
While Shirley Fry-Irvin may not be a well-known name in women’s tennis, her accomplishments speak for themselves. Her commitment, dedication, positive attitude, and love for the game prolonged her career in route to a career Grand Slam in both singles and doubles. As her trophies sit alone in her living room wall unit, one actuality is for certain; the name SHIRLEY FRY-IRVIN etched into those trophies will remain in tennis history forever.