Barbara Knapp (29 March 1920 – 1978) was a British tennis player. She was also an England international in squash.

Barbara Knapp
Country (sports) United Kingdom
Born(1920-03-29)29 March 1920
Birmingham, England
Died1978 (aged 58)
Birmingham, England
Singles
Grand Slam singles results
Wimbledon3R (1952, 1954)
US Open1R (1950)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
Wimbledon2R (1951, 52, 56, 57, 58)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Wimbledon4R (1951)

Born and raised in Birmingham, Knapp attended King Edward VI High School for Girls and was most active on the tour during the 1950s. She made the singles third round at Wimbledon twice and was a finalist at the 1950 Canadian Championships.[1] At the 1950 U.S. National Championships she played a historic first round match against Althea Gibson, who became the first black player to feature at the tournament. She lost to Gibson in straight sets.[2]

Knapp, a physical education at Birmingham University, died in 1978 of a long illness.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Cameo: Miss Barbara Knapp". Birmingham Weekly Post. 9 July 1954.
  2. ^ "Althea Gibson Set To Tackle Champion". The Record. 29 August 1950.
  3. ^ "Tennis star dies". Birmingham Daily Post. 1 August 1978.