If
Gabriela Sabatini
was the most notable player in the history of Argentine tennis, and names like
Raquel Giscafré
and
Ivanna Madruga
had figured until some time before as other players with a firm presence in the international field, we would have to go back to another decade -the of the 60- when the great moment of
Norma Baylon
was lived and enjoyed
.
A
precursor
in every sense who, in addition to her results (she placed Argentine women's tennis in the foreground), also left the mark of her personality, her perseverance and, later, her fruitful task in all fields of this sport: teaching , leadership, arbitration, solidarity.
Norma, who turned 80 last November and is still fully active, received multiple recognitions from the tennis community, in our country and abroad.
But now it is the turn of one more: the publication of her
biography
of her, made together with
María Luz Marín
(former tennis player and notable tennis broadcaster) and edited by Al Arco.
The tennis career, and also the subsequent activity of Norma Baylon -she lived 25 years in Peru, returned to our country in the 90s and since then participated, directed and collaborated in multiple Argentine tennis programs- make up this work published by Al Arco and published by presents Tuesday at the Naval Center.
It has the prologue of one of the greatest players in the history of women's tennis worldwide, the American
Billie Jean King.
Norma Baylon's book, from Ediciones Al Arco.
Curiously, she was one of the rivals who most "disturbed" Norma's concentration in her time as a top tennis player... But Billie Jean, along with other names such as the Australian Margaret Smith and the Brazilian María Esther Bueno
remained
as
symbols
of women's tennis from the 60s, pointing directions for the new generations and generating the attraction of this sport, which would have a higher scale of growth ten years later with the irruption of professionalism and the Evert-Navratilova era, for
example
.
And Baylon came to be ranked 4th.
in the world in the 1966 season (the official WTA ranking did not yet exist and the rankings were official, those of British or American publications were generally accepted).
Baylon began as a player at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club from a very young age, she also represented Belgrano Athletic in her first interclubs.
She rose very quickly in national consideration and her consecration came in 1962 when she won the Republic Championship, beating the South African René Schuman (5th in the world) in the semifinals and in the decisive match -memorable- the Czech Helena Sukova, Wimbledon finalist.
Helena is the mother of Vera Sukova
, one of Sabatini's frequent rivals in later times...
Gabriela Sabatini and Norma Baylon in the Wimbledon box.
(Photo: Twitter Eduardo Puppo)
Baylon, who would win our maximum event in 1966 against another top like
Nancy Richey
, in addition to reaching two other finals, began her participation in international events from that moment.
She reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, Roland Garros and the United States Open in the singles, also up to the eighth in Australia, and was also a doubles finalist at the French Open with the German Inge Schultz, among the main
results
of she.
A singular, captivating personality.
An attack tennis (when few dared).
She distinguished with the Olimpia de Oro, being the first tennis player to achieve it.
She promotes sports for people with different disabilities as a vital element of integration.
She paved the way for many women in tennis.
Norma Baylon, the great lady
, now with one more recognition, well deserved.
look too
Madrid Masters 1000: Cachín achieved the best victory of his career against Tiafoe and is in the round of 16 for the first time
Madrid Masters 1000: Alcaraz separates Dimitrov and will collide with Zverev in the round of 16
