Dianne (Fromholtz) Balestrat

Left-handed Balestrat (nee Fromholtz) started playing tennis at the age of 7 and turned professional at 16. A Fed Cup player from 1974 to 1983, she held an outstanding win–loss record of 35-11.

At 19, she attained a world ranking of 5 on the WTA Tour before reaching her career high of number 4 in March, 1979.

She had three career wins over Evert and four over Navratilova, with other career wins over King (8-6 record), Turnbull, Goolagong Cawley, Court, Wade, Shriver, Barker, Gadusek, Sabatini and Lindqvist.

She was off the Tour between 1981 and 1982 due to a car accident. She retired at the 1981 US Open but after 15 months was eager to play again.

Without a ranking, she received two wildcards and struggled through 1984 in qualifying. However, she made it back through the ranks to make it back to world No.21 in 1986.

At Wimbledon 1987 she reached the quarterfinals, losing to Navratilova. In 2004 she won the Australian Open Mixed Doubles Legends’ event with Geoff Masters, and was a three-time finalist (1998, 1999, 2003) with Fred Stolle.

She married French businessman Claude Balestrat in 1983. Balestrat won 23 WTA singles titles and seven doubles titles.

Her highest ranking was No.4 in March 1979.

Career Highlights:

- Australian Open Singles Finalist (1977)

- Australian Open Doubles Champion (with Helen Gourlay-Cawley, 1977)

- 3-time Australian Hardcourt Champion (1973, 1975, 1979)

- Semifinalist of Avon Championships 1979

- Clairol Crown finalist, 1979

- Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Finalist (1980)

Representation:

Fed Cup 1974 – 1983

Awards:

- World Team Tennis – Most Valuable Player – 1976

- Voted Australia’s Best Left-Handed Female Player – 1980

- ITF Award for Services to Tennis – 1997

- Australian Sports Medal Award – 2000