Maria Bueno was one of tennis' true stars throughout the 1950s and 1960s, with a total of 19 Grand Slam titles in her career.
The Brazilian began playing tennis at a very young age and showed a natural talent for the game as she won her first tournament at just 12 years of age without any formal training.

Maria Bueno joined the international circuit in 1958 and got off to a flying start with her first Grand Slam doubles title, capturing the Wimbledon women's crown alongside American Althea Gibson.

The following year she showed her strength as a singles competitor, returning to SW19 to take the title and then clinching the US Championship, thus becoming the first non-American woman to win both events in the same year.

She returned to Brazil as a national heroine following her unprecedented success and was honoured by the country's president with a ticker-tape parade through the streets of Sao Paulo.

The adulation she received at home was followed by even more success on her travels, going on to claim two more Wimbledon titles and three more US Championships.
Maria Bueno was also a singles finalist at the Australian and French Championships but was beaten on both occasions by Australian great Margaret Court.

She also reached at least the quarter-finals in each of the Grand Slams she played in, apart from Wimbledon in 1967, when an arm injury forced her out in round four.

As a doubles player Maria Bueno won 12 titles with 10 different partners, and became the first woman to win the women's doubles title at all four Grand Slams in 1960.