Elizabeth Smylie (née Sayers, born 11 April 1963), sometimes known as Liz Smylie, is a retired Australian tennis player. During her career, she won four Grand Slam titles, one in women's doubles and three in mixed doubles. She also won three singles titles and 36 doubles titles on the tour. Liz also taught junior tennis players at Smith's Tennis Center, North Curl Curl. Sydney in the early 1990's.

Elizabeth Smylie
Country (sports) Australia
Born (1963-04-11) 11 April 1963 (age 61)
Perth, Australia[1]
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Turned pro1982
Retired1997
PlaysRight-handed[1]
Prize money$1,615,247
Singles
Career record181–213
Career titles3
Highest rankingNo. 20 (14 September 1987)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenQF (1987)
French Open2R (1983)
Wimbledon4R (1984, 1985)
US Open2R (1986, 1987, 1989)
Doubles
Career record483–215
Career titles36
Highest rankingNo. 5 (28 March 1988)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenF (1993)
French OpenSF (1984)
WimbledonW (1985)
US OpenF (1987)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour FinalsW (1990)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian OpenSF (1990, 1991)
French OpenSF (1993)
WimbledonW (1991)
US OpenW (1983, 1990)
Medal record
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Seoul Doubles

Career

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Smylie turned professional in 1982.[2] She won the women's doubles title at Wimbledon in 1985 with Kathy Jordan.[3] In mixed doubles, she teamed with John Fitzgerald to win the 1983 US Open and 1991 Wimbledon titles and with Todd Woodbridge to win the 1990 US Open. She won the Virginia Slims Championships with Jordan in 1990. Her best Grand Slam performance in singles came at the Australian Open in 1987, when she reached the quarterfinals. Her highest ever singles ranking was World No. 20 and her highest in doubles was World No. 5.

She played Federation Cup from 1984 to 1994, and won a bronze medal in women's doubles with Wendy Turnbull at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

Over her career, Smylie won three singles titles and 36 doubles titles. She won the Western Australian Sports Star of the Year award in 1985 and the Comeback Player of the Year award in 1990 and 1993.

Personal life

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She is married to player-manager Peter Smylie and they have three children.[4] She was the long-time tournament director of the Australian Women's Hardcourts and also works as a sports television commentator. Her brother Mervyn Sayers played one first-class cricket game for Western Australia in 1979.

Grand Slam tournaments

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Doubles: 5 (1 title, 4 runner-ups)

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Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1985 Wimbledon Grass   Kathy Jordan   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
5–7, 6–3, 6–4
Loss 1987 Wimbledon Grass   Betsy Nagelsen   Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
  Helena Suková
7–5, 7–5
Loss 1987 US Open Hard   Kathy Jordan   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
5–7, 6–4, 6–2
Loss 1990 Wimbledon Grass   Kathy Jordan   Jana Novotná
  Helena Suková
6–3, 6–4
Loss 1993 Australian Open Hard   Pam Shriver   Gigi Fernández
  Natasha Zvereva
6–4, 6–3

Mixed doubles: 8 (3 titles, 5 runner-ups)

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Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1983 US Open Hard   John Fitzgerald   Barbara Potter
  Ferdi Taygan
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Loss 1984 US Open Hard   John Fitzgerald   Manuela Maleeva
  Tom Gullikson
2–6, 7–5, 6–4
Loss 1985 Wimbledon Grass   John Fitzgerald   Martina Navratilova
  Paul McNamee
7–5, 4–6, 6–2
Loss 1985 US Open Hard   John Fitzgerald   Martina Navratilova
  Heinz Günthardt
6–3, 6–4
Loss 1988 US Open Hard   Patrick McEnroe   Jana Novotná
  Jim Pugh
7–5, 6–3
Loss 1990 Wimbledon Grass   John Fitzgerald   Zina Garrison
  Rick Leach
7–5, 6–2
Win 1990 US Open Hard   Todd Woodbridge   Natasha Zvereva
  Jim Pugh
6–4, 6–2
Win 1991 Wimbledon Grass   John Fitzgerald   Natasha Zvereva
  Jim Pugh
7–6(7–4), 6–2

Olympic Games

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Doubles: 1 (bronze medal)

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Result Year Location Surface Partner Opponents Score
Bronze 1988 Seoul Hard   Wendy Turnbull Tied DNP

Smylie and Turnbull lost their semifinal match to Zina Garrison and Pam Shriver 6–7(5), 4–6. In 1988, there was no bronze medal play-off match, both beaten semifinal pairs received bronze medals.[5][6]

Other significant finals

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Year-end championships

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Doubles: 1 (title)

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Result Year Location Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1990 New York Carpet (i)   Kathy Jordan   Mercedes Paz
  Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
7–6(7–4), 6–4

WTA Tour finals

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Singles: 6 (3–3)

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Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
Tier I (0–0)
Tier II (0–0)
Tier III (0–0)
Tier IV (0–1)
Tier V (0–1)
Virginia Slims, Avon, other (3–1)
Finals by surface
Hard (2–2)
Grass (0–1)
Clay (1–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 1. Apr 1982 Sardinia Clay   Dana Gilbert 6–3, 6–0
Win 2. Sep 1983 Kansas City Hard   Anne Minter 6–3, 6–1
Loss 1. Nov 1984 Brisbane Grass   Helena Suková 4–6, 4–6
Win 3. Feb 1987 Oklahoma City Hard   Lori McNeil 4–6, 6–3, 7–5
Loss 2. Apr 1989 Tokyo Hard   Kumiko Okamoto 4–6, 2–6
Loss 3. Apr 1990 Tokyo Hard   Catarina Lindqvist 3–6, 2–6

Doubles: 69 (36–33)

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Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (1–4)
WTA Championships (1–0)
Tier I (2–1)
Tier II (7–1)
Tier III (2–3)
Tier IV (3–3)
Tier V (3–2)
Virginia Slims, Avon, other (17–19)
Finals by surface
Hard (17–10)
Grass (5–12)
Clay (4–1)
Carpet (10–10)
Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1. Oct 1981 Kyoto Hard   Kim Steinmetz   Nanette Schutte
  Marianne van der Torre
2–6, 4–6
Win 1. Feb 1983 Ridgewood Carpet (i)   Beverly Mould   Rosalyn Fairbank
  Susan Leo
7–6, 4–6, 7–5
Loss 2. Jun 1983 Birmingham Grass   Beverly Mould   Billie Jean King
  Sharon Walsh
2–6, 4–6
Loss 3. Jul 1983 Newport Grass   Barbara Jordan   Barbara Potter
  Pam Shriver
3–6, 1–6
Win 2. Sep 1983 Kansas City Hard   Sandy Collins   Chris O'Neil
  Brenda Remilton
7–5, 7–6
Loss 4. Jan 1984 Indianapolis Carpet (i)   Beverly Mould   Cláudia Monteiro
  Yvonne Vermaak
7–6(9–7), 4–6, 5–7
Loss 5. Mar 1984 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Barbara Jordan   Ann Kiyomura
  Pam Shriver
3–6, 7–6(9–7), 3–6
Loss 6. Mar 1984 Dallas Carpet (i)   Sandy Collins   Leslie Allen
  Anne White
4–6, 7–5, 2–6
Loss 7. Jun 1984 Birmingham Grass   Barbara Jordan   Leslie Allen
  Anne White
6–7(1–7), 3–6
Win 3. Aug 1984 Montreal Hard   Kathy Jordan   Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
  Hana Mandlíková
6–1, 6–2
Win 4. Sep 1984 Deerfield Beach Hard   Martina Navratilova   Barbara Potter
  Sharon Walsh
2–6, 6–2, 6–3
Win 5. Oct 1984 Tampa Hard   Carling Bassett   Mary-Lou Piatek
  Wendy White
6–4, 6–3
Loss 8. Dec 1984 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Catherine Tanvier   Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
  Helena Suková
4–6, 4–6
Win 6. Jan 1985 Key Biscayne Hard   Kathy Jordan   Svetlana Parkhomenko
  Larisa Savchenko
6–4, 7–6(7–2)
Win 7. Jan 1985 Marco Island Hard   Kathy Jordan   Camille Benjamin
  Bonnie Gadusek
6–3, 6–3
Loss 9. Mar 1985 Princeton Carpet (i)   Marcella Mesker   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
5–7, 2–6
Win 8. Apr 1985 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Kathy Jordan   Betsy Nagelsen
  Anne White
4–6, 7–5, 6–2
Win 9. May 1985 Sydney Carpet (i)   Pam Shriver   Barbara Potter
  Sharon Walsh
7–5, 7–5
Win 10. May 1985 Melbourne Carpet (i)   Pam Shriver   Anne Hobbs
  Kathy Jordan
6–2, 5–7, 6–1
Loss 10. Jun 1985 Eastbourne Grass   Kathy Jordan   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
5–7, 4–6
Win 11. Jun 1985 Wimbledon Grass   Kathy Jordan   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
5–7, 6–3, 6–4
Loss 11. Jul 1985 Newport Grass   Pam Shriver   Chris Evert
  Wendy Turnbull
4–6, 6–7(2–7)
Win 12. Aug 1985 Mahwah Hard   Kathy Jordan   Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
  Helena Suková
7–6(8–6), 6–3
Win 13. Sep 1985 Chicago Carpet (i)   Kathy Jordan   Elise Burgin
  JoAnne Russell
6–2, 6–2
Loss 12. Dec 1985 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Marcella Mesker   Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
  Helena Suková
0–6, 4–6
Win 14. Jan 1986 Key Biscayne Hard   Kathy Jordan   Betsy Nagelsen
  Barbara Potter
7–6(8–6), 2–6, 6–2
Win 15. Mar 1986 Princeton Carpet (i)   Kathy Jordan   Hana Mandlíková
  Helena Suková
6–3, 7–5
Loss 13. Mar 1986 Nashville Carpet /u(   Kathy Jordan   Barbara Potter
  Pam Shriver
4–6, 3–6
Loss 14. Jun 1986 Birmingham Grass   Wendy Turnbull   Elise Burgin
  Rosalyn Fairbank
2–6, 4–6
Win 16. Aug 1986 Mahwah Hard   Betsy Nagelsen   Steffi Graf
  Helena Suková
7–6(7–4), 6–3
Loss 15. Dec 1986 Brisbane Grass   Betsy Nagelsen   Hana Mandlíková
  Wendy Turnbull
4–6, 3–6
Win 17. Jan 1987 Sydney Grass   Betsy Nagelsen   Jenny Byrne
  Janine Thompson
6–7(5–7), 7–5, 6–1
Loss 16. Mar 1987 Piscataway Carpet (i)   Betsy Nagelsen   Gigi Fernández
  Lori McNeil
1–6, 4–6
Win 18. May 1987 Geneva Clay   Betsy Nagelsen   Laura Gildemeister
  Catherine Tanvier
4–6, 6–4, 6–3
Loss 17. Jun 1987 Eastbourne Grass   Rosalyn Fairbank   Svetlana Parkhomenko
  Larisa Savchenko
6–7(6–8), 6–4, 5–7
Loss 18. Jun 1987 Wimbledon Grass   Betsy Nagelsen   Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
  Helena Suková
5–7, 5–7
Loss 19. Aug 1987 Mahwah Hard   Anne Hobbs   Gigi Fernández
  Lori McNeil
3–6, 2–6
Loss 20. Aug 1987 US Open Hard   Kathy Jordan   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
7–5, 4–6, 2–6
Win 19. Jun 1988 Eastbourne Grass   Eva Pfaff   Belinda Cordwell
  Dinky Van Rensburg
6–3, 7–6(8–6)
Loss 21. Jan 1989 Sydney Hard   Wendy Turnbull   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
3–6, 3–6
Loss 22. Jan 1989 Auckland Hard   Janine Thompson   Patty Fendick
  Jill Hetherington
4–6, 4–6
Win 20. Feb 1989 Wellington Hard   Janine Thompson   Tracey Morton
  Heidi Sprung
7–6(7–3), 6–1
Loss 23. Feb 1989 Oklahoma City Hard (i)   Elise Burgin   Lori McNeil
  Betsy Nagelsen
w/o
Win 21. Apr 1989 Singapore Hard   Belinda Cordwell   Ann Henricksson
  Beth Herr
6–7(6–8), 6–2, 6–1
Win 22. Apr 1989 Tokyo Hard   Jill Hetherington   Ann Henricksson
  Beth Herr
6–1, 6–3
Win 23. May 1989 Rome Clay   Janine Thompson   Manon Bollegraf
  Mercedes Paz
6–4, 6–3
Win 24. May 1989 Berlin Clay   Janine Thompson   Lise Gregory
  Gretchen Magers
5–7, 6–3, 6–2
Loss 24. Jul 1989 Newport Grass   Wendy Turnbull   Gigi Fernández
  Lori McNeil
3–6, 6–7(5–7), 5–7
Loss 25. Sep 1989 Tokyo Carpet   Wendy Turnbull   Gigi Fernández
  Robin White
2–6, 2–6
Win 25. Jan 1990 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Gigi Fernández   Jo-Anne Faull
  Rachel McQuillan
6–2, 6–2
Win 26. Mar 1990 San Antonio Hard   Kathy Jordan   Gigi Fernández
  Robin White
7–5, 7–5
Win 27. Apr 1990 Tokyo Hard   Kathy Jordan   Michelle Jaggard
  Hu Na
6–0, 3–6, 6–1
Loss 26. May 1990 Strasbourg Clay   Kathy Jordan   Nicole Provis
  Elna Reinach
1–6, 4–6
Loss 27. Jun 1990 Wimbledon Grass   Kathy Jordan   Jana Novotná
  Helena Suková
3–6, 4–6
Win 28. Nov 1990 VS Championships Carpet (i)   Kathy Jordan   Mercedes Paz
  Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
7–6(7–4), 6–4
Win 29. Jan 1991 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Kathy Jordan   Mary Joe Fernández
  Robin White
4–6, 6–0, 6–3
Win 30. May 1991 Geneva Clay   Nicole Provis   Cathy Caverzasio
  Manuela Maleeva-Fragnière
6–1, 6–2
Win 31. Jun 1991 Birmingham Grass   Nicole Provis   Sandy Collins
  Elna Reinach
6–3, 6–4
Win 32. Jan 1993 Sydney Hard   Pam Shriver   Lori McNeil
  Rennae Stubbs
7–6(7–4), 6–2
Loss 28. Jan 1993 Australian Open Hard   Pam Shriver   Gigi Fernández
  Natasha Zvereva
4–6, 3–6
Loss 29. Jun 1993 Birmingham Grass   Pam Shriver   Lori McNeil
  Martina Navratilova
3–6, 4–6
Win 33. Jul 1993 Stratton Mountain Hard   Helena Suková   Manuela Maleeva-Fragnière
  Mercedes Paz
6–1, 6–2
Loss 30. Aug 1993 San Diego Hard   Pam Shriver   Gigi Fernández
  Helena Suková
4–6, 3–6
Win 34. Jan 1994 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Pam Shriver   Manon Bollegraf
  Martina Navratilova
6–3, 3–6, 7–6(7–3)
Loss 31. Feb 1994 Osaka Carpet (i)   Pam Shriver   Larisa Neiland
  Rennae Stubbs
4–6, 7–6(7–2), 5–7
Win 35. Jul 1994 Stratton Mountain Hard   Pam Shriver   Conchita Martínez
  Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
7–6(7–4), 2–6, 7–5
Loss 32. Aug 1994 Montreal Hard   Pam Shriver   Meredith McGrath
  Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
6–2, 2–6, 4–6
Loss 33. Aug 1994 Schenectady Hard   Pam Shriver   Meredith McGrath
  Larisa Neiland
2–6, 2–6
Win 36. Jun 1996 Birmingham Grass   Linda Wild   Lori McNeil
  Nathalie Tauziat
6–3, 3–6, 6–1

Grand Slam performance timelines

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Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Singles

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Tournament 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 Career SR
Australian Open 1R A 1R 2R 1R 2R NH QF 1R 1R 3R 3R A 1R 1R 0 / 12
French Open A A A 2R 1R A 1R 1R A 1R 1R 1R A 1R A 0 / 8
Wimbledon A 2R 1R 1R 4R 4R 3R 3R 1R 3R 1R 3R A 2R 1R 0 / 13
US Open A 1R A 1R 1R 1R 2R 2R A 2R 1R 1R A 1R A 0 / 10
SR 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 0 0 / 4 0 / 2 0 / 43
Year-end ranking 96 225 115 73 36 43 114 27 154 66 53 115 336 119 194

Doubles

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Tournament 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Career SR
Australian Open QF 2R 1R 2R 1R 2R NH 1R SF QF 3R QF A F SF A 1R 1R 0 / 15
French Open A A 3R 2R SF A A QF A 1R 2R 2R A 2R 2R A 3R A 0 / 10
Wimbledon A A 1R 1R 2R W QF F QF 3R F 3R 1R SF QF A SF 1R 1 / 15
US Open A 1R 2R 3R 3R 2R QF F 1R 2R SF 2R 2R 3R 3R A 1R A 0 / 15
SR 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 1 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 0 0 / 4 0 / 2 1 / 55
Year-end ranking 13 7 8 8 20 12 10 14 54 9 13 NR 27 NR
  • NR = not ranked

Mixed doubles

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Tournament 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Career SR
Australian Open NH NH NH NH 2R QF QF SF SF A QF 2R A 1R 1R 0 / 9
French Open 2R QF A A 1R A A 3R A A SF 2R A A A 0 / 6
Wimbledon A SF F QF QF SF 2R F W 2R 3R QF A 3R A 1 / 12
US Open W F F SF 2R F 2R W 2R 1R 2R 1R A 1R A 2 / 13
SR 1 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 3 1 / 4 1 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 0 0 / 3 0 / 1 3 / 40

References

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  1. ^ a b c John Barrett, ed. (1984). World of Tennis 1984 : The Official Yearbook of the International Tennis Federation. London: Willow Books. p. 339. ISBN 0002181223.
  2. ^ "Elizabeth (Sayers) Smylie". Tennis Australia. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Smylie doubles triumph". The Age. 8 July 1985. p. 27. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  4. ^ Pearce, Linda (15 January 2006). "The two of us". The Age. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Shriver, Garrison gain doubles final". South Florida Sun Sentinel. 28 September 1988. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  6. ^ Craig, Gabriel (1 October 1988). "Gold gives Mecir his biggest thrill". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
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