Women of
the Halls of Fame
May Godfray Sutton
Female Tennis Player
Born: September 25, 1886
Birthplace: Plymouth, England (but was a U.S. citizen from the age of
6)
Died: October 4, 1975
Handed: Right
Year Inducted: 1957
On September 25, 1886, May Godfray Sutton was born in Plymouth, England. When May was six, her family moved to California. At their new ranch home, her father created a concrete tennis court. May and her sisters benefited greatly from having this luxury, since all three eventually became phenomenal tennis players. Each sister was ranked in the top ten women players in the nation at least once during their careers. May proved herself as worthy of professional status when she went on to win the U.S. tennis title in 1904 against Bessie Moore. She also won Wilbledon in 1905 and 1907, taking the title from Dorothea Douglass both times.
In 1912, May married Tom Bundy, who was also a professional tennis player. That same year, Bundy won the U.S. doubles title with his partner, Maurice McLoughlin. The pair won the title the following two years as well. May and her husband had a daughter, Dorothy Cheney, who eventually went on to become a well-known tennis player as well. Most of May’s biggest accomplishments occurred in her younger years, but her career began to surge again in 1921, and she managed to earn the spot as the nation’s fourth best player. Four years later, she competed for and won the Wightman Cup. Later, in 1928, when May was 42, she earned the position as the fifth best player in the nation.
May was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1956. In addition to her many accomplishments as a player, she was famous for her unusually revealing choice of apparel while playing. She wore rolled-sleeves and a shorter skirt, which allowed spectators to view her bare elbows and ankles. This was considered shocking for the time, especially when she played in front of the conservative English crowds.
May passed away on October 4, 1975, at the age of 89. She had accumulated an impressive record throughout her lengthy career, proving that she was indeed one of the greats of the game.