Ruth Sanders Cordes

Who was Ruth Sanders Cordes?

Ruth Sanders Cordes was a top-level American amateur tennis player.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, she graduated from Hughes Center High School and from the University of Cincinnati in 1912.

She started her tennis career at the age 22, when she was talked into entering the singles draw at the prestigious Tri-State Championship at Cincinnati by her brother. Completely unknown and having only the UC Championship to her credit, she stunned the tennis world by defeating Elizabeth Bunce, the 1911 National Indoor Doubles champion from New York City, 6–2, 6–3, in the singles final, and then beating defending two-time champion Marjorie Dodd, one of the top players in the Midwest, by the same score in the Challenge Round.

Later at the important Bi-State Tournament in Louisville, she defeated Louisville champion Mary Schreve Lyons, 6–0, 6–1, in the finals.

Thereafter, and throughout her distinguished career from 1913 through 1923, she won numerous titles, the most important of which were singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles at the 1917 National Clay Court Championship, and five singles titles at the storied international tennis tournament in her hometown, now known as the Cincinnati Masters & Women's Open. Those titles came in 1913, ‘14, ‘20, ‘22 & ’23. She also won a doubles title at Cincinnati and reached two doubles finals as well.