# Barbara Potter

Barbara Potter (born October 22, 1961) is a former tennis player from the United States, who competed professionally on the WTA Tour between 1978 and 1989, winning six singles titles and 19 doubles titles. Her highest singles ranking was No. 7 in December 1982.

## Career

Potter started playing tennis when she was eight years old. After graduating from Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut in 1978 Potter elected to turn professional instead of accepting an offer of admission at Princeton. A left-hander, she reached the semifinals at the U.S. Open in 1981 as well as the quarterfinals at the Australian Open in 1984, and Wimbledon in 1982, 1983 and 1985. At the WTA Tour Championships, she reached the semifinals in singles in 1984 and was a runner-up in doubles with Sharon Walsh in 1981.
Potter reached a career high ranking of No. 7 in 1982 and that year won the singles titles at the Avon Championships of Cincinnati and the US Indoor Championships. She also played in three Grand Slam doubles finals, the 1982 US Open women's doubles with Sharon Walsh as well as the 1982 and 1983 US Open mixed doubles with Ferdi Taygan.
In 1986, Potter suffered two herniated disks in her back at a tournament in England and was forced off the tour several times. After a grueling exercise and fitness program, she successfully returned to the tour.
She was a member of the 1982 and 1984 U.S. Wightman Cup teams and the 1988 United States Fed Cup team. In 1989, she re-aggravated a persistent back condition at the beginning season when she was involved in an automobile accident. She retired in November 1989 due to deteriorating hip cartilage.
Potter currently resides in Harlem, Georgia.

## Major finals
### Grand Slam finals
#### Women's doubles (1 runner–up)

| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Loss | 1982 | US Open | Hard | Sharon Walsh | Kathy Jordan Anne Smith | 6–4, 6–4 |

#### Mixed doubles (2 runners-up)

| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Loss | 1982 | US Open | Hard | Ferdi Taygan | Anne Smith Kevin Curren | 6–7$^{(4–7)}$, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$ |
| Loss | 1983 | US Open | Hard | Ferdi Taygan | Elizabeth Sayers John Fitzgerald | 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |

### Year-End Championships finals
#### Doubles: (1 runner–up)

| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Loss | 1981 | New York City | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Martina Navrátilová Pam Shriver | 6–0, 7–6$^{(8–6)}$ |

## WTA career finals
### Singles: 14 (6–8)

* Winner — Legend
* Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
* WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
* Tier I (0–0)
* Tier II (0–0)
* Tier III (1–0)
* Tier IV (0–1)
* Tier V (0–1)
* Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (5–6)
* Titles by surface
* Hard (2–2)
* Grass (0–1)
* Clay (0–0)
* Carpet (4–5)
| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Win | 1. | Jan 1979 | Toronto | Carpet (i) | Bettina Bunge | 6–1, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1. | Jan 1980 | Las Vegas | Hard (i) | Andrea Jaeger | 6–7, 6–4, 1–6 |
| Loss | 2. | Feb 1981 | Seattle | Carpet (i) | Sylvia Hanika | 2–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 2. | Jan 1982 | Cincinnati | Carpet (i) | Bettina Bunge | 6–2, 7–6$^{(7–3)}$ |
| Loss | 3. | Feb 1982 | Kansas City | Carpet (i) | Martina Navratilova | 2–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 4. | Sep 1982 | Tokyo | Carpet (i) | Bettina Bunge | 6–7$^{(4–7)}$, 2–6 |
| Win | 3. | Sep 1982 | Philadelphia | Carpet (i) | Pam Shriver | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Loss | 5. | Feb 1984 | Chicago | Carpet (i) | Pam Shriver | 6–7$^{(4–7)}$, 6–2, 3–6 |
| Win | 4. | Aug 1985 | Monticello | Hard | Helen Kelesi | 4–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 5. | Feb 1987 | Wichita | Carpet (i) | Larisa Savchenko | 7–6$^{(8–6)}$, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$ |
| Loss | 6. | Mar 1987 | Washington | Carpet (i) | Hana Mandlíková | 4–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 7. | Jul 1988 | Newport | Grass | Lori McNeil | 4–6, 6–4, 3–6 |
| Win | 6. | Aug 1988 | Cincinnati | Hard | Helen Kelesi | 6–2, 6–2 |
| Loss | 8. | Feb 1989 | Wichita | Hard (i) | Amy Frazier | 6–4, 4–6, 0–6 |

### Doubles: 41 (19–22)

* Winner — Legend
* Grand Slam tournaments (0–1)
* WTA Tour Championships (0–1)
* Tier I (0–0)
* Tier II (0–0)
* Tier III (0–0)
* Tier IV (1–0)
* Tier V (0–0)
* Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (18–20)
* Titles by surface
* Hard (3–5)
* Grass (3–0)
* Clay (1–1)
* Carpet (12–16)
| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Loss | 1. | Aug 1978 | Mahwah | Hard | Pam Whytcross | Ilana Kloss Marise Kruger | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 1. | Jan 1980 | Las Vegas | Hard (i) | Kay McDaniel | Diane Desfor Barbara Jordan | 4–5, 7–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 2. | Sep 1980 | Atlanta | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Kathy Jordan Anne Smith | 6–3, 6–1 |
| Win | 3. | Dec 1980 | Tucson | Carpet (i) | Leslie Allen | Mary-Lou Piatek Wendy White | 7–6, 6–0 |
| Win | 4. | Jan 1981 | Kansas City | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull | 6–2, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$ |
| Loss | 2. | Jan 1981 | Chicago | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Martina Navrátilová Pam Shriver | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 5. | Mar 1981 | Boston | Carpet (Ii) | Sharon Walsh | JoAnne Russell Virginia Ruzici | 6–7, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Loss | 3. | Mar 1981 | Avon Championships | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Martina Navrátilová Pam Shriver | 0–6, 6–7$^{(6–8)}$ |
| Loss | 4. | May 1981 | Tokyo | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Sue Barker Ann Kiyomura | 5–7, 2–6 |
| Win | 6. | Oct 1981 | Brighton | Carpet (i) | Anne Smith | Mima Jaušovec Pam Shriver | 6–7, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 5. | Oct 1981 | Filderstadt | Carpet (i) | Anne Smith | Mima Jaušovec Martina Navrátilová | 4–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 7. | Nov 1981 | Perth | Grass | Sharon Walsh | Betsy Nagelsen Candy Reynolds | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Win | 8. | Feb 1982 | Kansas City | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Mary-Lou Piatek Anne Smith | 4–6, 6–2, 6–2 |
| Win | 9. | Feb 1982 | Oakland | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Kathy Jordan Pam Shriver | 6–1, 3–6, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$ |
| Loss | 6. | Mar 1982 | Los Angeles | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Kathy Jordan Anne Smith | 3–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 7. | Apr 1982 | Amelia Island | Clay | Sharon Walsh | Leslie Allen Mima Jaušovec | 1–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 8. | Aug 1982 | Montreal | Hard | Sharon Walsh | Martina Navratilova Candy Reynolds | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 10. | Aug 1982 | Mahwah | Hard | Sharon Walsh | Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull | 6–1, 6–4 |
| Loss | 9. | Aug 1982 | US Open | Hard | Sharon Walsh | Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 10. | Sep 1982 | Philadelphia | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull | 6–3, 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, 4–6 |
| Win | 11. | Oct 1982 | Deerfield Beach | Hard | Sharon Walsh | Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull | 7–6$^{(7–5)}$, 7–6$^{(7–3)}$ |
| Loss | 11. | Oct 1982 | Brighton | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver | 6–2, 5–7, 4–6 |
| Loss | 12. | Jan 1983 | Houston | Carpet (i) | Jo Durie | Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 12. | Jan 1983 | Palm Beach Garden | Clay | Sharon Walsh | Kathy Jordan Paula Smith | 6–4, 4–6, 6–2 |
| Win | 13. | Jul 1983 | Newport | Grass | Sharon Walsh | Barbara Jordan Elizabeth Sayers | 6–3, 6–1 |
| Loss | 13. | Sep 1983 | Richmond | Carpet (i) | Kathy Jordan | Rosalyn Fairbank Candy Reynolds | 7–6$^{(7–3)}$, 2–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 14. | Sep 1983 | Hartford | Carpet (i) | Kathy Jordan | Billie Jean King Sharon Walsh | 6–3, 3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 14. | Oct 1983 | Detroit | Carpet (i) | Kathy Jordan | Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull | 6–4, 6–1 |
| Win | 15. | Jan 1984 | Washington | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Leslie Allen Anne White | 6–1, 6–7$^{(7–9)}$, 6–2 |
| Loss | 15. | Jan 1984 | Houston | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Mima Jaušovec Anne White | 4–6, 6–3, 6–7$^{(4–7)}$ |
| Loss | 16. | Feb 1984 | Chicago | Carpet (i) | Pam Shriver | Billie Jean King Sharon Walsh | 7–5, 3–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 16. | Mar 1984 | Boston | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Andrea Leand Mary-Lou Piatek | 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 6–0 |
| Loss | 17. | Sep 1984 | Fort Lauderdale | Hard | Sharon Walsh | Martina Navratilova Elizabeth Sayers | 6–2, 2–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 18. | Oct 1984 | Brighton | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Alycia Moulton Paula Smith | 7–6, 3–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 17. | Mar 1985 | Dallas | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Marcella Mesker Pascale Paradis | 5–7, 6–4, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$ |
| Loss | 19. | May 1985 | Sydney | Carpet (i) | Sharon Walsh | Pam Shriver Elizabeth Smylie | 5–7, 5–7 |
| Loss | 20. | Oct 1985 | Brighton | Carpet (i) | Helena Suková | Lori McNeil Catherine Suire | 6–4, 6–7$^{(3–7)}$, 4–6 |
| Loss | 21. | Jan 1986 | Key Biscayne | Hard | Betsy Nagelsen | Kathy Jordan Elizabeth Smylie | 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, 6–2, 2–6 |
| Win | 18. | Mar 1986 | Nashville | Carpet (i) | Pam Shriver | Kathy Jordan Elizabeth Smylie | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Loss | 22. | Feb 1987 | Wichita | Carpet (i) | Wendy White | Svetlana Parkhomenko Larisa Savchenko | 2–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 19. | Jul 1988 | Newport | Grass | Rosalyn Fairbank | Gigi Fernández Lori McNeil | 6–4, 6–3 |

## Grand Slam performance timelines

Key :
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |

### Singles

| Tournament | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | Career SR |
| Australian Open | A | A | A | 2R | 3R | 3R | QF | 2R | NH | A | 4R | 1R | 0 / 7 |
| French Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 1 |
| Wimbledon | 2R | 1R | 3R | 4R | QF | QF | 4R | QF | A | 2R | 4R | A | 0 / 10 |
| U.S. Open | 2R | 3R | 3R | SF | 2R | 2R | 4R | 2R | A | 1R | 4R | A | 0 / 10 |
| SR | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 28 |
| Year End Ranking | 62 | 47 | 25 | 10 | 8 | 23 | 12 | 17 | 26 | 12 | 10 | 105 |

### Doubles

| Tournament | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | Career SR |
| Australian Open | A | A | A | QF | SF | SF | SF | SF | NH | A | SF | 1R | 0 / 7 |
| French Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 |
| Wimbledon | 2R | 2R | 1R | QF | 2R | SF | SF | QF | A | A | 2R | 2R | 0 / 10 |
| U.S. Open | A | A | A | 1R | F | A | QF | QF | A | 2R | 1R | A | 0 / 6 |
| SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 23 |
| Year End Ranking | | | | | | | 3 | 9 | 25 | 26 | 51 | 356 |