Tennis Racket Linda Wild Home
Swoosh As an amateur in 1989, Linda was the most successful collegiate player on the women's tour, winning 2 satellite events and finishing as runner up in a third.

In her first event as a pro, the 1990 Virginia Slims of Chicago, she defeated defending French Open Champion, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicaro (Current World Ranking #2), and reached the quarter finals.

In 1991, Linda reached the third round of both Wimbledonand the French Open. At Wimbledon, she defeated the 12th seed, Natalia Zvereva, (Current World Ranking #9) before having to withdraw due to injury. As a result of quarter-final appearances in Oaklandand Indianapolis, Wild finished 1991 with a world ranking of 41.

In 1992 at Eastbourne, (the Wimbledon warm up) she defeated tennis legend Martina Navratilova (Current World Ranking #4) in a thrilling three set match, before losing in the finals to Lori McNeil. In November, She reached the finals of the Virginia Slims of Indianapolis, defeating Katerina Maleeva.

Linda won her first major pro tournament in 1993. In July, she won Puerto Rico. Later in the year she won Sapporoand was runner up in Taipei. She finished 1993 ranked 45 in singles and doubles.

In 1994, she won two doubles events and was runner up again in Eastbourne, defeating top ten player Natalia Zvereva in the semi finals. At Wimbledon, Wild reached the third round, losing to Martina Navratilova. She continued her outstanding year in doubles by reaching the quarter-finals of Wimbledon. Linda finished 1994 with a career high ranking of 32.

Linda had three titles in 1995 and won the tour events in Nagoyaand Beijing. Earlier in the year, she won the doubles title in Prague with Amanda Coetzer.

In 1996, Linda reached the semi-finals of the Wimbledondoubles with tour veteran Liz Smylie and joined the prestigious “Last Eight” club at Wimbledon. In singles play, Wild won the tour event in Jakartaand upset Olympic Gold Medalist Lindsay Davenport to reach the Quarter-Finals of the 1996 US OPEN. Linda reached a career high ranking in singles of 23 and a career high in doubles of 17, making 1996 her best year ever as a pro.

Linda was also named to the 1996 Fed Cup Championship Team. In the semi-finals, she teamed with Lindsay Davenport to win the doubles match, and in the finals, with Mary Jo Fernandez to win the doubles point against Spain.
 
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