Joy Tacon (born 2 June 1961) is a British former professional tennis player.

Joy Tacon
Country (sports)Hong Kong Hong Kong
 Great Britain
Born (1961-06-02) 2 June 1961 (age 62)
PlaysRight-handed
Singles
Highest rankingNo. 180 (June/July 1980)
Grand Slam singles results
Wimbledon1R (1985, 1986)
Doubles
Career titles5 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 161 (15 March 1987)
Grand Slam doubles results
Wimbledon2R (1985)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Wimbledon1R (1988)
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
Women's Tennis
Summer Universiade
Silver medal – second place 1985 Kobe Women's Doubles

Tacon was born in 1961 and is a graduate of Wycombe Abbey School. She attended the University of Houston on a tennis scholarship.[1] At the 1985 University Games in Kobe, she teamed up with Liz Jones to win a silver medal for Great Britain in doubles.[2]

A right-handed, Tacon competed on the professional tour from 1984 to 1988, reaching a career high ranking of 180 in the world. She twice received a wildcard into the singles main draw at Wimbledon and fell in the first round to seeded players both times, Kathy Jordan in 1985 and Hana Mandlíková in 1986.[3] Her best Wimbledon performance was a second round appearance in the women's doubles at the 1985 Wimbledon Championships losing to Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver. However, she also reached the first round in both the 1986 and 1988 Championships for doubles as well as qualifying and getting through to the first round in the mixed doubles with Mike Walker. They lost to Steffi Graf and Pavel Složil in that, the first, round of the 1988 Wimbledon Championships

After concluding her professional tennis career, Tacon set up the tennis programme at Putney High School, where she taught A-Level Economics (1990-1994). Additionally, she also set up the Young Enterprise scheme at Putney High, where it continues today.

From 1994-2003, she worked as the managing director of Merrill Legal Solutions where, she set up the company from a base of operations in Hong Kong to provide court reporting and technology for litigation lawyers. This company was subsequently expanded throughout Asia, Australia and Hong Kong. From 2003-2007 she worked as a consultant for the aforementioned company.

Furthermore, since 1992–present she has been the managing director of a private property company and recently (2019–present) started working with Yoke, a Mental Health and Wellbeing Consultancy for the Public and Private Sector.

ITF finals edit

Doubles: 12 (5–7) edit

Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1. 24 September 1984 Bol, Yugoslavia Clay   Martina Reinhardt   Miluše Dosedělová
  Karmen Škulj
3–6, 4–6
Win 1. 15 October 1984 Haifa, Israel Hard   Martina Reinhardt   Elizabeth Ekblom
  Marianne van der Torre
6–2, 7–5
Loss 2. 20 May 1985 Bath, United Kingdom Clay   Belinda Borneo   Elna Reinach
  Monica Reinach
3–6, 3–6
Win 2. 18 November 1985 Cheshire, United Kingdom Carpet   Belinda Borneo   Regina Rajchrtová
  Jana Novotná
6–2, 6–3
Loss 3. 19 April 1986 Cumberland, United Kingdom Hard   Monica Reinach   Jane Wood
  Belinda Borneo
4–6, 3–6
Win 3. 27 April 1986 Hatfield, United Kingdom Hard   Monica Reinach   Catrin Jexell
  Helena Olsson
6–1, 5–7, 6–3
Loss 4. 7 November 1986 Queens, United Kingdom Grass   Lorrayne Gracie   Sally Timms
  Katie Rickett
4–6, 3–6
Loss 5. 16 August 1987 Koksijde, Belgium Clay   Kathleen Schuurmans   Sabine Appelmans
  Caroline van Renterghem
7–6(2), 2–6, 6–7(3)
Loss 6. 9 November 1987 Eastbourne, United Kingdom Carpet   Pascale Etchemendy   Eugenia Maniokova
  Natalia Medvedeva
1–6, 1–6
Win 4. 23 April 1988 Queens, United Kingdom Clay   Anne Simpkin   Lesley O'Halloran
  Lone Vandborg
4–6, 6–2, 7–6
Win 5. 8 May 1988 Bournemouth, United Kingdom Clay   Anne Simpkin   Sally Godman
  Alexandra Niepel
6–3, 6–3
Loss 7. 15 May 1988 Bath, United Kingdom Clay   Anne Simpkin   Sally Godman
  Alexandra Niepel
3–6, 2–6

Personal life edit

Joy Tacon is sister of Christine Tacon

References edit

  1. ^ Houstonian Yearbook. 1984. p. 130.
  2. ^ "Italian whips heat in Games marathon". El Paso Times. 2 September 1985. p. 20.
  3. ^ "Tennis Results: $3 Million Wimbledon Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, June 24". United Press International. 24 June 1986.

External links edit