Andrea Jaeger

Andrea Jaeger (/ˈjeɪɡər/ YAY-gər; born June 4, 1965) is an American former professional tennis player. She started her professional tennis career at the age of 14 and went on to win pro tennis tournaments while still competing in other junior tennis events.^[3][4] By the age of 16, she was the second ranked female professional tennis player in the world. She reached the singles finals at the French Open in 1982 and at Wimbledon in 1983. She also reached the singles semifinals at the Australian Open and the U.S. Open. During her career, she won 10 singles titles. In mixed doubles, she won the French Open with Jimmy Arias in 1981. She reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 2.

Andrea Jaeger

Jaeger in 2024
Country (sports)	United States
Residence	Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
Born	(1965-06-04) June 4, 1965 (age 59) Chicago, Illinois
Height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Turned pro	1980
Retired	1985
Plays	Right-handed (two handed-backhand)
Prize money	US$ 1,379,065[1]
Singles
Career record	260–85[1]
Career titles	10
Highest ranking	No. 2 (August 17, 1981)[2]
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	SF (1982)
French Open	F (1982)
Wimbledon	F (1983)
US Open	SF (1980, 1982)
Doubles
Career record	47–38[1]
Career titles	4
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	3R (1981, 1982)
French Open	QF (1982)
Wimbledon	3R (1981)
US Open	SF (1980)
Mixed doubles
Career titles	1
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
French Open	W (1981)
Wimbledon	1R (1980, 1983)

After sustaining a shoulder injury in 1984, Andrea Jaeger shifted her focus from professional tennis to humanitarian projects she had begun as a teenager. She committed her tennis earnings to developing programs that provide support to children with cancer and those in need. Now in its 39th year, her initiative offers financial assistance and various care services to affected children and their families. Nelson Mandela once visited to recognize the work of her foundation.

Early life

Andrea Jaeger was born on June 4, 1965 in Chicago.^[5] Her parents are Roland and Ilse Jaeger, are both deceased.^[6] Jaeger grew up in Skokie and Lincolnshire, Illinois.^[7]

Tennis career

While a student at Stevenson High School, Jaeger was the top-ranked player in the United States in the 18-and-under age group.^[8] She won 13 U.S. national junior titles, including the most prominent junior titles in tennis: the 1979 Orange Bowl and 1979 Boca Raton.^[9]

In 1980 (at the age of 15 years, 19 days), Jaeger became the youngest player ever to be seeded at Wimbledon,^[10] a record that was broken by Jennifer Capriati in 1990.^[11] After defeating former champion Virginia Wade, she became the youngest quarterfinalist in the history of the tournament.^[12] Later in the year, she became the youngest semifinalist in US Open history. By the age of 16, she had become the second ranked female professional tennis player in the world.^[6][13]

Jaeger became a household name on the front pages of news publications, notable magazines and appearances on TV. People Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Life Magazine visited her junior high and high school. One of her endorsement commercials featured Jaeger with Bjorn Borg and another with her Mom, highlighting a new way of viewing sports prodigies.^{[citation needed]}

At the French Open in 1982, Jaeger defeated Chris Evert in the semifinal 6–3, 6–1 but lost the final to Martina Navratilova. She then reached the semifinals of both the US Open and the Australian Open, losing both matches to Evert in straight sets.^[14] Jaeger and Evert met 10 times in all in 1982, with Jaeger winning three of the first five but losing the last five in a row.^[15][16]

At Wimbledon in 1983, Jaeger defeated six-time Wimbledon singles champion Billie Jean King 6–1, 6–1 in a semifinal on Centre Court, which was King's last career singles match at that tournament and her most lopsided singles defeat at Wimbledon.^[17][18] Jaeger then lost the final to Navratilova.^[19][20][21]

Jaeger won eight of the nine singles matches she played for the U.S. in Fed Cup. She also won two of the three Wightman Cup singles matches she played for the U.S., resulting in the U.S. winning Fed Cup and Wightman Cup trophies.^[22]

A major shoulder injury at the age of 19 ended Jaeger's career in 1985. Jaeger obtained a degree in theology and ministry training.^[23][24]

During her career, Jaeger won U.S. $1.4 million in prize money and had endorsement deals with clothing, racket, shoes, watch and fast food restaurants.^[1]

Philanthropy

Jaeger used her winnings from tennis to create the Silver Lining Foundation in 1990.^[25] The foundation's purpose was to provide long term care to children with cancer and children in need.^[26] Originally located in Aspen, Colorado, the organization transported groups of young cancer patients to Aspen for a week of support and activities, including horseback riding and whitewater rafting. The foundation also provided money for programs for children who could not travel. The first contributor was John McEnroe.^[27] Many high-profile celebrities were involved, including Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, David Robinson, Cindy Crawford, David Foster and Kevin Costner.^[28] The foundation was later renamed ‘Little Star Foundation’, paying tribute to Rhea Olsen, a teenager with cancer from Chicago. Olsen became best friends with Jaeger and became the first-ever paid employee of the Foundation. Jaeger helped Olsen for years before her death.^[29][30][31]

In 1996, Jaeger received the Samuel S. Beard Award for Greatest Public Service by an Individual 35 Years or Under, an award given annually by Jefferson Awards.^[32][33][34]

Jaeger's autobiography, First Service, was published in 2004. In the book, she discussed her teenage years as a tennis player and her focus on serving God. All proceeds from the book were donated to children's charities.^[35]

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, and recent hurricanes and other natural disasters Jaeger's Foundation provided food, medical, daily, educational and recreational supplies and support to help.^{[36][37][38][39]}

In April 2007, Jaeger and several former athletes, including Andre Agassi, Lance Armstrong, Tony Hawk, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and Muhammad Ali, appeared on the American morning television talk show Good Morning America to announce their formation of a charity called Athletes for Hope.^[40][41]

Jaeger's Little Star Foundation has a podcast called Little Star Light. Guests have included David Agus, Jill Bolte Taylor, Christine Brennan, Cindy Crawford, David Foster, Tony Hawk, Judy Jordan, Dallas Jenkins, Samina Khan, Nancy Lieberman, Patrick McEnroe, Anne Drysdale, Joe Moravsky, Brian Sharp, Michael Singer, Leslie Visser, Alice Walker, and Kurt Warner.^[42][43]

Major finals

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 2 runner-ups

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1982	French Open	Clay	Martina Navratilova	6–7(6–8), 1–6
Loss	1983	Wimbledon	Grass	Martina Navratilova	0–6, 3–6

Mixed doubles: 1 title

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Win	1981	French Open	Clay	Jimmy Arias	Betty Stöve Fred McNair	7–6, 6–4

Year-end championships finals

Singles: 1 runner-up

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1981	New York City	Carpet (i)	Martina Navratilova	3–6, 6–7(3–7)

WTA career finals

Singles: 36 (10–26)

Legend Grand Slam tournaments (0–2) WTA Tour Championships (0–1) Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (10–23)

Titles by surface Hard (3–7) Grass (1–3) Clay (2–9) Carpet (4–7)

Result	No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	1.	Jan 1980	Las Vegas, US	Hard (i)	Barbara Potter	7–6, 4–6, 6–1
Loss	1.	Mar 1980	Edmond, US	Clay	Regina Maršíková	2–6, 2–6
Win	2.	Jun 1980	Beckenham, England	Grass	Jo Durie	6–0, 6–1
Loss	2.	Aug, 1980	Indianapolis, US	Clay	Chris Evert-Lloyd	4–6, 3–6
Loss	3.	Aug 1980	Mahwah, US	Hard	Hana Mandlíková	7–6(7–0), 2–6, 2–6
Win	3.	Sep 1980	Las Vegas, US	Hard (i)	Hana Mandlíková	7–5, 4–6, 6–3
Loss	4.	Oct 1980	Deerfield Beach, US	Hard	Chris Evert-Lloyd	4–6, 1–6
Win	4.	Nov 1980	Tampa, US	Hard	Tracy Austin	w/o
Loss	5.	Jan 1981	Landover, US	Carpet (i)	Tracy Austin	2–6, 2–6
Win	5.	Jan 1981	Kansas City, US	Carpet (i)	Martina Navratilova	3–6, 6–3, 7–5
Win	6.	Feb 1981	Oakland, US	Carpet (i)	Virginia Wade	6–3, 6–1
Loss	6.	Mar 1981	Los Angeles, US	Carpet (i)	Martina Navratilova	4–6, 0–6
Loss	7.	Mar 1981	Avon Championships, US	Carpet (i)	Martina Navratilova	3–6, 6–7(3–7)
Loss	8.	Apr 1981	Orlando, US	Clay	Martina Navratilova	5–7, 3–6
Loss	9.	Jun 1981	Eastbourne, England	Grass	Tracy Austin	3–6, 4–6
Win	7.	Aug 1981	Indianapolis, US	Clay	Virginia Ruzici	6–1, 6–0
Loss	10.	Oct, 1981	Deerfield Beach, US	Hard	Chris Evert-Lloyd	6–4, 3–6, 0–6
Loss	11.	Nov 1981	Perth, Australia	Grass	Pam Shriver	1–6, 6–7
Loss	12.	Jan 1982	Seattle, US	Carpet (i)	Martina Navratilova	2–6, 0–6
Win	8.	Feb 1982	Detroit, US	Carpet (i)	Mima Jaušovec	2–6, 6–4, 6–2
Win	9.	Feb 1982	Oakland, US	Carpet (i)	Chris Evert-Lloyd	7–6(7–5), 6–4
Loss	13.	Apr 1982	Palm Beach Gardens, US	Clay	Chris Evert-Lloyd	1–6, 5–7
Loss	14.	Apr 1982	Hilton Head Island, US	Clay	Martina Navratilova	4–6, 2–6
Loss	15.	Apr 1982	Amelia Island, US	Clay	Chris Evert-Lloyd	3–6, 1–6
Loss	16.	May 1982	French Open	Clay	Martina Navratilova	6–7(6–8), 1–6
Loss	17.	Aug 1982	Montreal, Canada	Hard	Martina Navratilova	3–6, 5–7
Loss	18.	Oct 1982	Deerfield Beach, US	Hard	Chris Evert-Lloyd	1–6, 1–6
Loss	19.	Oct 1982	Tampa, US	Hard	Chris Evert-Lloyd	6–3, 1–6, 4–6
Loss	20.	Nov, 1982	Tokyo, Japan	Carpet (i)	Chris Evert-Lloyd	3–6, 2–6
Win	10.	Jan 1983	Marco Island, US	Clay	Hana Mandlíková	6–1, 6–3
Loss	21.	Jan 1983	Palm Beach Gardens, US	Clay	Chris Evert-Lloyd	3–6, 3–6
Loss	22.	Feb 1983	Chicago, US	Carpet (i)	Martina Navratilova	3–6, 2–6
Loss	23.	Apr 1983	Orlando, US	Clay	Martina Navratilova	1–6, 5–7
Loss	24.	Jun 1983	Wimbledon, England	Grass	Martina Navratilova	0–6, 3–6
Loss	25.	Sep 1983	Tokyo, Japan	Carpet (i)	Lisa Bonder	2–6, 7–5, 1–6
Loss	26.	Apr 1984	Johannesburg, South Africa	Hard (i)	Chris Evert-Lloyd	3–6, 0–6

Doubles: 6 (4–2)

Winner — Legend Grand Slam tournaments (0–0) WTA Tour Championships (0–0) Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (4–2)

Titles by surface Hard (3–0) Grass (0–0) Clay (1–2) Carpet (0–0)

Result	No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Win	1.	Aug 1980	Toronto, Canada	Hard	Regina Maršíková	Ann Kiyomura Betsy Nagelsen	6–1, 6–3
Win	2.	Oct 1980	Deerfield Beach, US	Hard	Regina Maršíková	Martina Navratilova Candy Reynolds	1–6, 6–1, 6–2
Win	3.	Jan 1983	Marco Island, US	Clay	Mary-Lou Piatek	Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull	7–5, 6–4
Loss	1.	Apr 1983	Hilton Head Island, US	Clay	Paula Smith	Martina Navratilova Candy Reynolds	2–6, 3–6
Win	4.	Aug 1983	Toronto, Canada	Hard	Anne Hobbs	Rosalyn Fairbank Candy Reynolds	6–4, 5–7, 7–5
Loss	2.	Jan 1984	Marco Island, US	Clay	Anne Hobbs	Hana Mandlíková Helena Suková	6–3, 2–6, 2–6

Grand Slam singles performance timeline

Key

W

F

SF

QF

#R

RR

Q#

DNQ

A

NH

(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Tournament	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	Career SR
Australian Open	A	A	QF	SF	A	A	A	0 / 2
French Open	A	1R	SF	F	SF	1R	2R	0 / 6
Wimbledon	A	QF	4R	4R	F	A	A	0 / 4
U.S. Open	2R	SF	2R	SF	QF	A	2R	0 / 6
SR	0 / 1	0 / 3	0 / 4	0 / 4	0 / 3	0 / 1	0 / 2	0 / 18
Year-end ranking	NR	7	4	3	3	42	NR

See also

• Performance timelines for all female tennis players who reached at least one Grand Slam final

References

1. Andrea Jaeger at the Women's Tennis Association
2. Andrea Jaeger at the International Tennis Federation
3. Bane, Vickie (November 18, 2006). "Tennis Star Andrea Jaeger's New Life as a Nun". people.com. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
4. Sons, Ray (1981). Andrea Jaeger, pro in ponytails. Chicago: Childrens Press. ISBN 0-516-04314-5. OCLC 7464580.
5. Monaco Jr, Samuel (December 3, 2015). The Art of a Virtuous Serve: Extraordinary Accounts of Faith and Service from a Tennis Perspective. Outskirts Press. ISBN 9781478763888 – via Google Books.
6. Deardorff, Julie (September 20, 1992). "JAEGERS FINDING PEACE OFF COURT". Chicago Tribune.
7. Herguth, Robert (March 8, 2018). "Former pro star Andrea Jaeger's faith 'way better than my tennis'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
8. Barry Lorge (August 31, 1980). "Jaeger, 15, Shrugs Off Early Stardom". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
9. "Andrea Jaeger | Player Stats & More – WTA Official". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
10. Tingay, Lance (1983). The Guinness Book of Tennis Facts & Feats. Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives. p. 41. ISBN 0-85112-289-2.
11. Grasso, John (September 16, 2011). Historical Dictionary of Tennis. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7237-0.
12. "The Daily News – June 1980". Archived from the original on May 8, 2006. Retrieved November 10, 2007.
13. Schiot, Molly (October 18, 2016). Game Changers: The Unsung Heroines of Sports History. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-5011-3709-9.
14. Saunders, Patrick (January 30, 2008). "Jaeger finds joy in serving others". The Denver Post. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
15. Sokolowski, Alexandre (April 10, 2022). "April 10, 1982: the day Chris Evert lost on clay for the third time in nine years". Tennis Majors. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
16. Lorge, Barry (March 30, 1981). "Navratilova Beats Jaeger for Avon Title". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
17. www.wimbledon.com https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/about/history/billiejean_king.html. Retrieved July 25, 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
18. "Andrea Jaeger Battles Back From Burnout". Los Angeles Times. September 15, 1985. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
19. "EXCLUSIVE: Jaeger's confession - I let Martina win the title". Evening Standard. April 13, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
20. New York Magazine. New York Media, LLC. March 29, 1982.
21. "Jaeger: I Lost '83 Final on Purpose". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
22. Tingay, Lance (1983). The Guinness book of tennis facts & feats. Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives. p. 203. ISBN 0-85112-289-2.
23. "Andrea Jaeger Out On Shoulder Injury". The New York Times. August 26, 1981. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
24. "SHE'S BURNED UP, NOT OUT". Chicago Tribune. May 2, 1985. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
25. "Andrea Jaeger & Little Star Foundation The MorningStar Journal December 2022 Feature!". agendabook.littlestar.org. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
26. "American Tennis Player Turned Nun Once Revealed How 'God' Decided Her Tennis Fate Through a Shoulder Injury -'I Know…'". EssentiallySports. December 22, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
27. Coffey, Wayne (December 29, 2006). "Sister Act II:Former tennis star Andrea Jaeger sports a new kind of habit". Billings Gazette. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
28. "50 Years, 50 Heroes: Andrea Jaeger, 1990". Tennis.com. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
29. "GUARDIAN ANGEL : Andrea Jaeger Still Gives Everything She Has, but Now She Gives It to Ailing Children". Los Angeles Times. August 18, 1996. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
30. "Little Star Foundation". Little Star. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
31. "Andrea Jaeger on Actionable Faith and Making a Positive Difference - Grit Daily News". November 14, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
32. "National Winners | public service awards | Jefferson Awards.org". Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
33. Richards, Renee (March 26, 2007). No Way Renee: The Second Half of My Notorious Life. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4165-3850-9.
34. "Where are they now? Andrea Jaeger". The Guardian. June 28, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
35. "Strength for Today". www.wwctu.org. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
36. Patrick Saunders (January 31, 2008). "Jaeger finds joy in serving others". The Denver Post. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
37. "Former tennis champ Andrea Jaeger goes to Newtown to offer comfort". The Denver Post. December 17, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
38. Futterman, Matthew (August 27, 2010). "Where Are They Now?". The Wall Street Journal.
39. Futterman, Matthew (August 30, 2010). "Jaeger's 20 Years of Good Deeds". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
40. "'Athletes for Hope' Unite for Charity". ABC News. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
41. "Athletes for Hope | The Intersection of Sports and Philanthropy". Athletes for Hope. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
42. "Andrea Jaeger a tennis prodigy-turned-philanthropist".
43. "About Little Star Light Podcast".

External links

• Andrea Jaeger at the Women's Tennis Association
• Andrea Jaeger at the International Tennis Federation
• Andrea Jaeger at the Billie Jean King Cup (archived)
• Andrea Jaeger at ESPN.com
• Andrea Jaeger at Olympedia
• Andrea Jaeger at Olympics.com
• Athletes for Hope

Awards
Preceded by Kathy Jordan	WTA Newcomer of the Year 1980	Succeeded by Kathy Rinaldi