Sandra Birch

Sandra Birch-Krusos (born September 3, 1969) is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She is a member of the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame.

Sandra Birch
Full nameSandra Birch-Krusos
Country (sports) United States
Born (1969-09-03) September 3, 1969
Bolton, England [1]
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) [1]
PlaysRight-handed [1]
CollegeStanford
Prize money$30,201
Singles
Highest rankingNo. 187 (September 11, 1989)
Grand Slam Singles results
US Open1R (1989, 1991)
Doubles
Highest rankingNo. 163 (September 11, 1989)
Grand Slam Doubles results
US Open2R (1989)

Biography

Birch, who was raised in Huntington Bay on Long Island, was runner-up to Natasha Zvereva in the girls' singles at the 1987 US Open.[2]

From 1988 to 1991 she played collegiate tennis for Stanford and was a member of the Cardinal's championship winning teams in each of those four seasons. She was a two-time NCAA Division I singles champion. In 1989, when she beat Jennifer Santrock to win her first singles championship, she was also runner-up in the doubles.[3] Her second championship was won in 1991 as a senior, over Lisa Albano in the final.[4] While at Stanford, she won the Honda Sports Award as the nation's best female tennis player in 1991.[5][6]

Both championship wins earned her a wildcard into the US Open main draw. She was beaten in the first round on both occasions by seeded players, Conchita Martínez in 1989, then Manuela Maleeva in 1991.[7]

While at Stanford she also competed in several WTA Tour professional tournaments, most notably the 1989 OTB Open held in Schenectady, where she was a singles quarter-finalist and runner-up in the doubles partnering college teammate Debbie Graham.[8]

WTA Tour finals

Doubles (0-1)
Result    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss July, 1989 Schenectady, U.S. Category 1 Hard Debbie Graham Michelle Jaggard
Hu Na		 3–6, 2–6

References
  1. Bloch Shallouf, Renee; Reynolds, Robyn, eds. (1990). 1990 Women's International Tennis Association Media Guide. Miami: WITA. pp. 292–293.
  2. "Scoreboard". Poughkeepsie Journal. September 13, 1987. p. 4C. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  3. Dame, Mike (May 19, 1989). "Stanford's Birch Wins Singles Title". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  4. "Stanford's Birch Wins Second NCAA Title". Los Angeles Times. May 17, 1991. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  5. "Tennis". CWSA. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  6. "UT LADY VOL VILMARIE CASTELLVI RECEIVES HONDA SPORTS AWARD FOR TENNIS". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  7. "A Look Back at the U.S. Open". Long Island Tennis Magazine. July 1, 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  8. "ITF Tennis - Pro Circuit - Schenectady - 24 July - 30 July 1989". International Tennis Federation. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
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