The US Open was the first Grand Slam to introduce the mixed doubles format in tennis. It was part of the inaugural edition of the US Open in 1887. Wimbledon followed and introduced mixed doubles only in 1913. Later, the Australian Open and the French Open introduced the format in 1922 and 1925 respectively.
Very few tournaments apart from the Grand Slams host mixed doubles events, the most notable among them being the Hopman Cup played annually in Australia and the Summer Olympic games (1912-1920 and most recently from the London 2012 games onwards).
1. Betty Stove and Frew Donald McMillan
Betty Stove, a Dutch player was born June 24,1945. Over the course of her career, she won 75 titles in doubles and mixed doubles. Of those titles, she won 10 Grand Slam doubles and mixed doubles titles, six were in mixed doubles. Her highest ranking in singles was number 5 while her highest ranking for doubles was number 1.
Frew Donald McMillan, a South African player born May 20,1942. Over the course, of his career, he played in 11 mixed doubles finals, winning five of them. McMillan's signature skills on the court were his two-handed skills on the court were his two-handed backhand and forehand.
Mixed doubles Team Wins:
Wimbledon: 1978 and 1981
US Open: 1977 and 1978
2. Margaret Osbourne DuPont and Neale Fraser
Margaret Osbourne DuPont, an American player, was born on March 4,1918. Over the course of her career, she won a total of 37 Grand Slam titles. Broken down, she won six singles titles, 21 doubles titles and 10 mixed doubles titles. She holds the record for most mixed doubles titles at the US Open.
Neale Fraser, an Australian player, was born October 3,1933. Fraser had the distinction of reaching number 1 in both singles and doubles. Over the course of his career, he won three Grand Slam singles titles, 11 Grand Slam doubles titles and five Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.
Mixed doubles team wins:
Wimbledon:1962
US Open:1958-60
3. Nancye Wynne Bolton and Colin Long
Nancye Wynne Bolton, an Australian player, was born on December 2,1916. Over the course of her career, she won 20 Grand Slam titles, of those, four were in mixed doubles.
Colin Long, an Australian player, was born on March 3,1918. Colin's love for the game of tennis was quite evident when while serving in the military, during a leave in Egypt, he played in their national tennis tournament.
Mixed doubles team wins:
Australian Open:1940,1946,1947 and 1948
Also Read | Best men's doubles tennis team of all time
4. Margaret Smith-Court and Marty Riessen
Margaret Smith-Court, an Australian player, was born on July 16,1942. Over the course of her career, she won 62 Grand Slam titles. Broken down, she won 24 singles, 19 doubles titles and 19 mixed doubles titles.
Marty Riessen, an American player was born December 4,1941. Over the course of his career, he won seven mixed doubles titles. Six of those titles were won with Smith-Court. In fact, he achieved his career Grand Slam partnering with her. His highest ranking was number 11 in singles and number 3 in doubles.
Mixed doubles team wins:
Australian Open:1969
French Open:1969
Wimbledon:1975
US Open:1969,1970 and 1972
5. Margaret Smith-Court and Ken Fletcher
Kenneth Norman Fletcher, an Australian player, was born June 15,1940. One of the most distinguished honours over Fletcher's career had to have been the only man to have won a Calendar Grand Slam in mixed doubles back in 1963. Fletcher was known as a larrikin because of his on court behaviour.
Mixed doubles team wins:
Australian Open:1963 and 1964
French Open:1963-65
Wimbledon:1963,1965,1966 and 1968
US Open:1963
Also Read | Best women's doubles tennis teams of all time
