Helen Jacobs
A dominant force in 1930s tennis, she dethroned her rival Helen Wills Moody to win Wimbledon and claimed nine major singles titles.
1908–1997 (age 89)·American tennis player·Birthday: August 6·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Helen Jacobs operated in the long shadow of Helen Wills Moody for much of her career, but her persistence forged a legacy of its own. With a powerful serve-and-volley game and fierce competitiveness, Jacobs reached the U.S. Championships final five times in the early 1930s, only to be thwarted repeatedly. Her breakthrough came at Wimbledon in 1936, where she finally defeated the seemingly invincible Moody, who retired from the match with a leg injury, handing Jacobs the title. That victory cemented her status as world number one. Jacobs won a total of nine Grand Slam singles titles and was a formidable doubles player. Beyond her athletic prowess, she was a trailblazer in personal style, famously wearing shorts on court at Wimbledon—a practical and bold move that challenged stuffy traditions. She later served as a commander in the U.S. Navy during World War II and authored several mystery novels, embodying a life of multifaceted achievement.
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.
Helen 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 Helen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1908
Helen'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
1988Turned 80
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1997Died at 89
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
Key Achievements
- Won the Wimbledon singles title in 1936, defeating her long-time rival Helen Wills Moody.
- Secured four consecutive U.S. National Championships singles titles from 1932 to 1935.
- Achieved a world No. 1 ranking in women's singles in 1936.
- Captured nine Grand Slam singles titles across Wimbledon, the U.S., and French championships.
Did You Know?
She was one of the first women to wear shorts instead of a skirt during competitive tennis matches.
She served as a commander in the United States Navy during World War II.
She wrote several mystery novels after retiring from competitive tennis.
Her rivalry with Helen Wills Moody was so prominent that it was chronicled in a book titled 'The Goddess and the American Girl.'
“I never conceded a point until the ball was called twice, not even to myself.”
