Dorothy Round
A graceful yet fierce British tennis champion who conquered Wimbledon with a blend of baseline grit and a famously powerful forehand.
1908–1982 (age 74)·British tennis player·Birthday: July 13·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Dorothy Round brought a quiet determination to the tennis courts of the 1930s, a period dominated by more flamboyant stars. Hailing from Dudley, her game was built on relentless consistency and a forehand drive considered one of the best in the women's game. She broke through at Wimbledon not with a single victory, but with two, claiming the singles title in 1934 and again in 1937, defeating Helen Jacobs in a tense final that cemented her legacy. Her success extended to Australia, where she won the 1935 championships. The war dramatically altered her path; she spent those years in North America, turning professional to coach, a rare move for a top amateur of her stature. While the post-war tennis scene had moved on, her contributions were remembered as those of a player whose strength and sportsmanship provided a sturdy backbone for British tennis between the wars.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Dorothy was born in 1908, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dorothy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1908
Dorothy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1908Born
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1913Started school
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Became a teenager
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1924Could drive
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1926Could vote
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1929Turned 21
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1938Turned 30
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1948Turned 40
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1958Turned 50
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1968Turned 60
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 70
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1982Died at 74
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
Key Achievements
- Won the Wimbledon ladies' singles championship twice, in 1934 and 1937.
- Captured the Australian Championships singles title in 1935.
- Won three Wimbledon mixed doubles titles, in 1934, 1935, and 1936 with different partners.
Did You Know?
She was a devout Christian who initially considered missionary work before focusing on tennis.
During World War II, she worked as a coach at the prestigious Sutton Place club in Toronto, Canada.
After her 1937 marriage, she played under the name Mrs. D.L. Little.
“I just kept the ball in play and waited for the other girl to make a mistake.”
