Maria Bueno, the Brazilian tennis great who won seven grand slam titles in the 1950s and 1960s, has died after being treated for cancer at a Sao Paulo hospital. She was 78.
The elegant Bueno, South America's most successful player, shot to global fame when she claimed her maiden grand slam at Wimbledon in 1959 and her second at the U.S. Nationals two months later.
She successfully defended her Wimbledon crown the following year and claimed back-to-back U.S. Nationals titles in 1963-64.
She also reached the final of the 1964 French Championships and the 1965 Australian Championships but lost to Margaret Court at Roland Garros and retired hurt against the Australian great at Kooyong.
Bueno was also a prolific doubles player, claiming women's titles at all four of the grand slams from 1958-68 and a mixed doubles championship at Roland Garros in 1960.
The 9 de Julho Hospital said she had been admitted for "oncological treatment" and asked for privacy.
Winning seven singles, eleven doubles and one mixed-doubles event in Grand Slams during the 1950s and the 1960s, Bueno was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1978.
Maria later went on to become the first non-American woman to win the Wimbledon and the US Open in the same season. She was also the No. 1 ranked tennis player in the world in 1959, 1960, 1964 and 1966.
However, her career was hampered right at the start of the Open Era, when she suffered arm and leg injuries.
The Brazilian tennis legend was nicknamed the 'Tennis Ballerina' for the effortless grace she exhibited on court.
US Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon on Saturday offered their condolences to the family of the tennis legend.
"We send our condolences to the friends and loved ones of Maria Bueno, a four-time #USOpen singles and doubles champion. #RIP," the US Open said in it's official Twitter handle.
The officila handle of Australian Open tweeted, "Winner of 19 Grand Slam titles including #AusOpen doubles in 1960 and reaching the singles final in 1965."
"The All England Club is deeply saddened by the death of Maria Bueno, one of our most beloved champions," tweeted Wimbledon's handle, "Her humility, grace and inventive play captured hearts around the globe, no where more so than in her native Brazil where she is and will forever remain the pride of a nation."
(With Reuters and ANI Inputs)
