Angela Mortimer, the former Wimbledon champion who claimed victory at the prestigious tournament in 1961, has died at the age of 93.
The tennis legend died during the early hours of Monday morning, according to an announcement from the All England Club.
"The All England Club is deeply saddened to learn of the death of our 1961 Ladies’ Singles Champion, Angela Mortimer Barrett MBE, who died in the early hours of Monday 25 August, aged 93," it was confirmed.
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Angela Mortimer has died at the age of 93
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Deborah Jevans CBE, Chair of the All England Club, also personally paid tribute to the departed champion.
"We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Angela Mortimer Barrett MBE, Wimbledon's oldest surviving Ladies' Singles Champion, at the age of 93," she stated.
Throughout her distinguished career, Mortimer secured three Grand Slam singles titles alongside one doubles championship.
Her achievements proved particularly remarkable given the substantial periods of adversity she encountered during her playing years.
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The Briton won Wimbledon in 1961
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Mortimer began her tennis journey relatively late, picking up a racquet for the first time at 14 years old and was initially rejected by renowned coach Arthur Roberts who deemed her too old and lacking talent.
Her career faced significant obstacles, including progressive hearing loss that would affect her throughout her playing years.
She remarkably turned this challenge into an advantage, crediting her deafness with enhanced concentration abilities and immunity to distracting sounds.
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Mortimer also battled severe illness, being diagnosed with Entomoebic Dysentry, requiring a gruelling three-week starvation treatment that left her extremely weakened and initially fearing she might never compete at elite level again.
Her breakthrough came with the 1955 French Championships victory, defeating Dorothy Knode in a final that stretched to 2-6, 7-5, 10-8.
The 1958 Australian Championships brought her second Grand Slam title with victory over Lorraine Coghlan.
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Angela Mortimer won three Singles Grand Slams
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Her 1961 Wimbledon triumph represented the pinnacle of her career, achieved despite tennis elbow that nearly prevented her participation.
In an all-British final against Christine Truman, Mortimer recovered from a 6-4, 4-3 deficit to win 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, finally claiming her life's ambition and becoming Britain's first champion since Dorothy Round in 1937.
Mortimer's legacy extends beyond her playing achievements. She received induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993, later joined by her husband, John Barrett, in 2014.
A sculpture honouring Mortimer stands at the All England Club's clubhouse entrance alongside other British women's champions.