Francoise Durr - Darlene Hard win 1969 U.S. Open women's doubles.

In this very short clip (it's only one point), Darlene Hard is serving to Virginia Wade in the finals of the 1969 U.S. Open women's doubles final. Hard and Francoise Durr lost the first set at love to Wade and Margaret Court. When they finally won a game at 0-2 in the second set, the small but enthusiastic crowd applauded for a full minute. Durr and Hard smiled with slight embarassment; the smiles turned to huge grins as they took four games in a row and then clinched the second set 6-3. Hard was smashing and volleying beautifully and Durr was equally superb in drives and net attack. A tired Margaret Court failed to take the net often enough, and to the amazement and delight of the crowd, Hard and Durr won the the third set 6-4 to capture the women's doubles title.

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Sports

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• Darlene
• Hard
• Francoise
• Durr
• Forest
• Hills
• tennis

[tennis219]

@brakchi I just added more footage from the 1969 US Open women's doubles final - type in "1969 US Open Hard-Durr vs Court-Wade" and you should be able to find it

[stevebee92653]

In 1967 I went out to play tennis with my wife. Neither of us had played, but like a typical athlete from other sports, I thought I knew tennis. I was teaching her what I thought was really great stuff. A girl sitting on the bench watching us kept telling me I wasn't right about this and that. Turned out it was Darlene. Gad. Was I embarrassed. Former number one in the world. Ugh. My ego shrank to mouse size...The last lesson I gave my wife....She was a GREAT player.

[Ariamaluum]

That backhand was incredible.

[brakchi]

Along with Lenglen/Vlasto vs. Ryan/Browne 1926 this may be the most famous women's doubles match ever. Hard playing terrible a set and a half and then regaining her old greatness. Legendary.

[Alzapur]

i wish i could hear the entire interview with ashe. would also like to see the entire film.

[Ariamaluum]

Darlene Hard comes to back to win after 5 years away from the game. She works at USC.