"Stepping into a forehand or a jump shot from the Alice Marble Tennis Courts atop Russian Hill, with their panoramic views of San Francisco and unpredictable winds, is a dazzling experience. The legendary San Francisco athlete they're named after led an equally spectacular life, but one draped in mystery, even decades after her death. Separating the facts of her life from the myth, like tracking the ball in that wind, can be bewildering."
"Marble's story is still compelling enough that there have been two biographies written about her in the past six years, plus an optioned TV biopic linked to a "Game of Thrones" star. At the same time, she's virtually anonymous in the city where she was once an international celebrity. Julie Newbold leads a tour based on San Francisco's unconventional women that begins at the courts."
"There is much to know. While some off-court parts of her biography remain tough to pin down, Marble's impact on tennis and culture were undeniable. She first emerged from the modest public courts of Golden Gate Park to become a top player, and after a frightening collapse on the court forced her to take a yearlong break, she returned to dominate the women's game."
The Alice Marble Tennis Courts atop Russian Hill offer panoramic views and unpredictable winds that echo Marble's dazzling playing style. Marble rose from modest Golden Gate Park courts to become world No. 1 from 1936 to 1940 and swept all three 1939 Wimbledon titles within hours. A frightening on-court collapse led to a yearlong break before she returned to dominance. She transformed the sport with an aggressive, 'played like a man' approach, pioneered shorter dresses, sold a clothing line, and wrote a feature in early Wonder Woman issues. World War II curtailed further competition. Marble's life combines public fame, fashion and activism with lingering mystery and local obscurity.
Read at SFGATE
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