Academy Award-winning actress and dancer Ginger Rogers was a highly accomplished tennis player who took the sport seriously enough to compete at the highest level of American tennis. While best known for her legendary Hollywood dance partnerships, her athletic prowess extended far beyond the studio dance floors.
Her dedication culminated in playing in the mixed doubles draw at the 1950 U.S. National Championships (now known as the US Open) at Forest Hills. At 39 years old, she partnered with Frank Shields (the grandfather of actress Brooke Shields). Though they were eliminated in the first round, competing at a Grand Slam level cemented her status as a legitimate tennis player.
Her former assistant, Roberta Olden, told Fox News that Rogers was a very good tennis player who always beat her even though she was decades older than she was. Rogers initially played the sport alongside Hollywood legends such as Errol Flynn and Katharine Hepburn, but she was looking for a challenge, and she certainly got it at the tournament. Unfortunately, she and Shields lost to a much younger team. Rogers also competed in a celebrity tournament that took place in conjunction with the U.S. Open, but she and her partner lost before the final match.
Observers of her game frequently remarked that the same flawless footwork, balance, and timing that made her a transcendent dancer translates directly to her tennis style. She possessed a strong, competitive drive and continued to play well into her later years.
Rogers was highly influential in styling her own on-court looks, often opting for clean, tailored, and occasionally daring two-piece white ensembles that brought Hollywood elegance to the traditional tennis clubs of the mid-20th century.
you just don't know posed photos when you see 'em, do you ?
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