Janice Patricia "Jan" Lehane O'Neill OAM (née Lehane; born 9 July 1941) is a former Australian female tennis player. She was the first leading female player with a double-handed backhand.[1]

Jan Lehane

Full name	Janice Patricia Lehane-O'Neill
ITF name	Jan O'Neill
Country (sports)	Australia
Born	(1941-07-09) 9 July 1941 (age 81) Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia
Plays	Right-handed (double-handed backhand)
Singles
Highest ranking	No. 7 (1963)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	F (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963)
French Open	QF (1960, 1962, 1963, 1964)
Wimbledon	QF (1963)
US Open	QF (1960, 1961)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	F (1961, 1963)
French Open	SF (1960, 1961, 1962)
Wimbledon	F (1961)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open	W (1960, 1961)
French Open	SF (1961)
Wimbledon	4R (1960, 1962)
Team competitions
Fed Cup	F (1963)

She won the singles title at the New South Wales Championships in 1959 after a three-sets victory in the final against Mary Carter Reitano. In 1960, she successfully defended her title by winning the semifinal against world No. 1 ranked Maria Bueno and the final in straight sets against Margaret Smith.[2]

At the Australian Championships, Lehane reached the singles final four consecutive years (1960–1963) but lost to Margaret Smith each time. She had a similar experience in women's doubles, reaching the final twice (in 1961 with Mary Bevis Hawton and 1963 with Lesley Turner Bowrey) but losing each time to a team that included Smith (with Mary Carter Reitano in 1961 and Robyn Ebbern in 1963).[3] Lehane had more success in the mixed doubles, twice winning the title (in 1960 with Trevor Fancutt and 1961 with Bob Hewitt). However, Mike Sangster and Lehane lost the 1964 mixed doubles final to Smith and Ken Fletcher.

She had an operation on her right knee in January 1965 and did not play any of the Grand Slams that year.[4][5]

She was part of the Australian Fed Cup team that reached the final in 1963 and won all three of her singles rubbers.

According to Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail, O'Neill was ranked in the world top 10 in 1960, 1963, and 1964, reaching a career high of World No. 7 in 1963.[6]

Lehane married James John O'Neill on 19 February 1966.

In 2018, she was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame.[7]

On Australia Day 2019, Jan was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to tennis.

Grand Slam finals

Singles (4 runners-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1960	Australian Championships	Grass	Margaret Smith	5–7, 2–6
Loss	1961	Australian Championships	Grass	Margaret Smith	1–6, 4–6
Loss	1962	Australian Championships	Grass	Margaret Smith	0–6, 2–6
Loss	1963	Australian Championships	Grass	Margaret Smith	2–6, 2–6

Doubles: (3 runners-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponent	Score
Loss	1961	Australian Championships	Grass	Mary Hawton	Mary Carter Reitano Margaret Smith	4–6, 6–3, 5–7
Loss	1961	Wimbledon	Grass	Margaret Smith	Karen Hantze Susman Billie Jean Moffitt	3–6, 4–6
Loss	1963	Australian Championships	Grass	Lesley Turner	Robyn Ebbern Margaret Smith	1–6, 3–6

Mixed doubles (2 titles, 1 runner-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponent	Score
Win	1960	Australian Championships	Grass	Trevor Fancutt	Christine Truman Martin Mulligan	6–2, 7–5
Win	1961	Australian Championships	Grass	Bob Hewitt	Mary Carter Reitano John Pearce	9–7, 6–2
Loss	1964	Australian Championships	Grass	Mike Sangster	Margaret Smith Ken Fletcher	2–6, 3–6

Grand Slam singles tournament timeline

Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December. O'Neill participated only in the January edition.

See also

• Performance timelines for all female tennis players who reached at least one Grand Slam final

References

External links

• Jan Lehane at the Women's Tennis Association
• Jan Lehane at the International Tennis Federation
• Jan Lehane at the Billie Jean King Cup