JUSTINA BRICKA

Tennis

Born: February 15, 1943; St. Louis, Missouri
Played For: Wightman Cup (1961), Ranked #5 in Women’s Tennis (1961), Seven Tournament Doubles Titles (1962), Second Place French Open Doubles (1962)

By Ed Wheatley

During the 1960s, St. Louis was known as the hub of American tennis greatness. While training and playing at the St. Louis Armory and other local courts, Justina played alongside tennis greats like Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, Butch Buchholz, Chuck McKinley, Carol Hanks Aucamp and Mary Ann Eisel Beattie.

There, our 2023 St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Justina Bricka, honed her tennis skills that soon made her one of the games finest players during the late 1950s and the early years of the 1960s. Collectively, the trio of Bricka, Eisel, and Hanks became known as the “Golden Girls” of American tennis.

Growing up in University City (University City Class of 1961), Justina distinguished herself on the region’s tennis courts. She soon became a regular in the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles Grand Slam tournaments between 1959 and 1965. She made her debut at the U.S. Open (then known as the U.S. Championships) at just 16 years of age when she was still a high school student.

In a stunning display of skill and determination, she defeated tennis icon Billie Jean Moffitt (King) in the first round. Justina was nationally ranked among the top 10 players in 1961, 1962, and 1964. Her best finish was in 1962 when she partnered with that year’s top-ranked women’s tennis player, Margaret Smith of Australia.

The duo reached the finals of the French Open but was relegated to runners-up by the South African team of Sandra Price and Renee Schuurman. In 1965, she reached the quarterfinals in singles at Wimbledon where she was ousted by eventual winner, Margaret Smith. Twice, Justina and her partner would reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon (1962 doubles and 1964 mixed doubles).

She would also reach the semifinals of the 1964 U.S. Open playing with fellow St. Louisan Carol Hanks with whom she won the National clay-court doubles title  with a victory over Billie Jean Moffitt and Karen Hantze. Justina also won the Irish National doubles title with Mary Ann Eisel in 1964.

In 1961, while ranked No. 5 in women’s tennis in the United States, Justina helped the United States regain the Wightman Cup in the 33rd edition of the annual women’s team tennis competition between the United States and Great Britain. The August 21st St. Louis Globe Democrat headline read: “Justina Bricka Clinches Wightman Cup for U.S.”

On a team that included Billy Jean Moffitt, it was Bricka who won the key match in a 6-1 United States upset triumph over Great Britain. More telling, is the fact that in that key match Justina defeated that year’s Wimbledon winner, Angela Mortimer, 10-8, 4-6, and 6-3. The Wightman Cup was an annual women’s team tennis competition contested between the United States and Great Britain from 1923 through 1989.

After retiring from the women’s tour, Justina became the head referee for the Women’s Pro Tour, then known as the Avon Tour.

She also never forgot her tennis roots in St. Louis. Justina became the first female head tennis professional in St. Louis at Triple A in Forest Park. In 1981, she assumed the role of head pro and manager at the prestigious new indoor tennis facility, Frontenac Racquet Club where she later became a co-owner. In 1990, Justina was inducted into the St. Louis Tennis Hall of Fame.