Ilana Kloss

Ilana Sheryl Kloss (born 22 March 1956) is a former professional tennis player, tennis coach, and the current commissioner of World TeamTennis, a position that she has held since 2001.

Tennis career

Kloss was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. Before turning professional, in 1972 she won the juniors singles title at Wimbledon. In 1974 she won US Open juniors singles title. She was the youngest No. 1 player in South African history. In 1973, she won the title in Cincinnati with Pat Walkden, defeating Evonne Goolagong and Janet Young in the final.

Kloss was ranked No. 1 in the world in doubles and No. 19 in singles in 1976. That year, she won doubles titles at the US Open, the Italian Open, the US Clay Courts, the German Open, the British Hard Courts Championship, and Hilton Head, as well as the mixed doubles title at the French Open.Linky Boshoff was her most frequent doubles partner. In 1977 she won the Canadian and German championships and the British clay court championship.

In 1999 Kloss won the US Open doubles and mixed doubles championship on the 35-and-over tour.