Personal

Began playing tennis at age 10...Coached by Angel Lopez...Married Willard Jackson September 21, 1989 (became engaged day before departure to 1989 Australian Open)...Both parents are deceased; youngest of seven children...Middle name is Lynna...Likes jogging and softball; played in high school (pitcher and shortstop)...Likes artwork, especially making her own painted T-shirts...Often makes appearances at schools to give motivational talks to youngsters; in 1988, founded the Zina Garrison Foundation to provide funds and support for the homeless, youth organizations, anti-drug groups and other charitable groups; started Zina Garrison All-Court Tennis program in summer of 1992 to give inner-city children the opportunity to build self-esteem and learn about themselves through tennis; after she retires, wants to open a homeless shelter and start junior tennis programs around Texas...Received a dog, Gizmo, on her birthday at the 1995 WTA Tour Championships.

Career Highlights

SINGLES
Winner (14): 1995 - Birmingham; 1993 - Oklahoma City, Budapest; 1992 - Oklahoma City; 1990 - Birmingham; 1989 - Oakland, Chicago, Newport; 1987 - Sydney, San Francisco; 1986 - Indianapolis; 1985 - Amelia Island, European Indoors; 1984 - European Indoors.

DOUBLES
Winner (20): 1994 - Birmingham (w/Neiland); 1993 - Chicago (w/K. Adams), Oklahoma City (w/Fendick), Zurich (w/Navratilova); 1991 - Miami (w/MJ Fernandez); 1990 - Washington, DC (w/Navratilova), San Diego (w/Fendick), Filderstadt (w/MJ Fernandez); 1989 - Houston (w/K. Adams), Tokyo [Pan Pacific] (w/K. Adams), Eastbourne (w/K. Adams); 1988 - Tokyo Doubles Championships (w/K. Adams), Boca Raton (w/K. Adams), Houston (w/K. Adams), Amelia Island (w/Pfaff), Olympics (w/Shriver); 1987 - Canadian Open (w/McNeil), New Orleans (w/McNeil); 1986 - Canadian Open (w/Sabatini), Indianapolis (w/McNeil).

MIXED DOUBLES
Winner (3): 1990 - Wimbledon (w/Leach); 1988 - Wimbledon (w/Stewart); 1987 - Australian Open (w/Stewart).

ADDITIONAL
United States Fed Cup Team 1984-87, 1989-91, 1994. United States Wightman Cup Team 1987-88. United States Olympic Team 1988, 1992.

Career in Review

ò Considered ret. at end of 1995 season but decided against it with advice from Billie Jean King; played a limited WTA Tour schedule in 1996; participated on the Virginia Slims Legends Tour; retired in 1997
ò Won 14th career singles title at 1995 Birmingham; d. McNeil in final
ò Upset world No. 9 Davenport in 2r of 1995 US Open and went on to reach 4r before l. to No. 4 seed C. Martinez 76 75
ò Unseeded, reached SF at 1995 Philadelphia; upset No. 3 seed Pierce in 2r, Pierce's opening match (had 1r bye) ò Won 500th match, only 12th woman to reach that mark, with 1r win against Jenny Byrne at 1993 Oklahoma City; went on to win title in both singles and doubles, her first singles-doubles sweep since 1986 ò Qualified for and competed in season-ending singles championships 12 consecutive times from 1983-1993 (includes two in 1986); has also qualified five times in doubles ò Earned $15,609 playing for 1995 WORLD TEAMTENNIS runner-up Atlanta Thunder; earned $22,798 as member of 1994 Newport Beach Dukes; teamed with Larisa Neiland, finished season in first place for women s doubles; earned $7,017 in 1993 season ò At 1990 Wimbledon, defeated Seles 36 63 97 and Graf 63 36 64 back-to-back to reach final; l. to Navratilova 64 61; became first black female to reach final of a Grand Slam event since Althea Gibson won Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958; signed three major endorsements after appearance, with Reebok (clothes and shoes), Yonex racquets and Bike Athletic Company (compression performance shorts) ò D. Evert 76(1) 62 in 1989 US Open QF in what was Evert's last career match on the tour ò Won European Indoors title in Zurich in Nov. 1984, becoming the first black woman to win a major event since Les. Allen won Detroit in February 1981; defended title in 1985 by d. Mandlikova ò Has other career wins over C. Martinez and MJ Fernandez ò Learned tennis in John Wilkerson's public parks program in Houston, Texas, USA; first drew attention in 1978 by reaching final of US National 14s (d. Pam Casale and Susan Mascarin) and last 16 of US 14s Clay Courts ò Made first appearance on rankings in 1982 at No. 29 ò Was first black female to be ranked No. 1 in Texas region