Sandra Birch
American tennis player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sandra Birch-Krusos (born September 3, 1969) is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She is a member of the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame.
| Full name | Sandra Birch-Krusos |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United States |
| Born | September 3, 1969 |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) [1] |
| Plays | Right-handed [1] |
| College | Stanford |
| Prize money | $30,201 |
| Singles | |
| Highest ranking | No. 187 (September 11, 1989) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| US Open | 1R (1989, 1991) |
| Doubles | |
| Highest ranking | No. 163 (September 11, 1989) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| US Open | 2R (1989) |
Biography
Birch, who was raised in Huntington Bay on Long Island, was runner-up to Natasha Zvereva in the girls' singles at the 1987 US Open.[2]
From 1988 to 1991, she played collegiate tennis for Stanford University and was a member of the championship winning teams in each of those four seasons. She was a two-time NCAA Division I singles champion. In 1989, she beat Jennifer Santrock to win her first singles championship, and she was runner-up in the doubles.[3] Her second championship was won in 1991 as a senior, over Lisa Albano in the final.[4] While at Stanford, she won the Honda Sports Award as the nation's best female tennis player in 1991.[5][6]
Both championship wins earned her a wildcard into the US Open main draw. She was beaten in the first round by Conchita Martínez in 1989 and Manuela Maleeva in 1991.[7]
While at Stanford, she competed in several WTA Tour professional tournaments, most notably the 1989 OTB Open held in Schenectady, where she was a singles quarterfinalist and runner-up in the doubles with Debbie Graham.[8]
WTA Tour finals
Doubles (0-1)
| Result | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Jul 1989 | Schenectady, U.S. | Category 1 | Hard |  Debbie Graham |
 Michelle Jaggard Hu Na |
3–6, 2–6 |
