1970s / Timely Death of Bunny Ryan 1979

Elizabeth (Bunny) Ryan was an American tennis star who specialized in doubles. Shown here in a 1923 photo, Ryan won a combined total of 19 women's doubles and mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon from 1914 through 1934. She held the record for most Wimbledon titles until 1979. That year, Billie Jean King was attempting to win her 20th title. King was paired with Martina Navratilova in the women's doubles--and Navratilova was almost unbeatable at that time. King's 20th title was virtually assured--and this did not please 87-year-old Elizabeth Ryan one bit. Ryan constantly snubbed King whenever King tried to approach her. 'She [King] is trying to steal my record,' Ryan told friends. When NBC's Bud Collins tried to arrange an interview with King and Ryan together, Ryan staunchly refused. King and Navratilova did win the 1979 Wimbledon women's doubles title on July 7--but Ryan was not around to see it. It what can only be described as a timely death, Ryan collapsed on the Wimbledon grounds the day before and died.