May 12, 1979 – Women’s tennis star Chris Evert Lloyd had her amazing run of 125 matches won on clay courts come to an end. The streak lasted for over six years as Ms. Lloyd could not be beaten on the clay surface until Tracy Austin defeated her 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 at Foro Italico during the Italian Open.
At the time it was the longest string of victories ever recorded in tennis. Lloyd was admittedly tired after the over three-hour match when the 25-year-old succumbed to the teenager Austin in the final hard-fought set.
During her illustrious career, Evert won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network

Looking Back at Manchester United’s Last Premier League Title
Manchester United has won the English Premier League title or equivalent a record 20

The Dallas Cowboys in the 1970s: A Trip Down Memory Lane
After an embarrassing 54–13 loss to the Vikings in week five and a humiliating

The Future of Sports Betting
Many people still think of betting as something seedy and underground. However, times have

The Miami Dolphins in the 1970s: A Trip Down Memory Lane
With their new Head Coach, Don Shula leading the way, the 1970 Dolphins got

Edward “Butch” O’Hare: Capone, Cardinals, and a Chicago Legacy
This is one of those stories that you certainly can not make up: happiness,

The Oakland Raiders in the 1970s: A Trip Down Memory Lane
The 1970 Oakland Raiders dug themselves a hole by not registering a win until

Great Rookie Running Back Seasons During The 1970s
During the 1970s, there were several outstanding rookie running backs whose first year in

Super Bowl X: A Retrospective on the Thrilling Final Drive
We have finished reviewing the first 50 Super Bowls, and if you want to