Patricia “Pat” Canning Todd (1922- )

     Pat Todd was born in San Francisco and her family lived next door to the local public tennis courts. When she was eight years old, she picked up her first racket. Within five years, she was travelling to tournaments around the country in the family’s model A Ford. Pat won every division she entered in the juniors and women’s Open in a Pacific Northwest tour of Portland, Tacoma, Seattle and Vancouver. She started travelling to play national tournaments on the East Coast when she was 16. In 1946, Pat and her family moved to La Jolla where her talent caught the eye of William Kellogg Sr., the owner of the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. He sponsored her play locally and nationally and she became one of the country’s top national players. However, World War II interrupted all competition in Europe through 1945. After the war, Pat went on the international tour. Her best results came at this time, as she won a total of four Grand Slam championships, singles at the French Championships in 1947, women’s doubles at the French and Wimbledon in 1948 and the mixed in the 1948 French. Todd also reached the French final in 1950.  She won the singles and mixed at the South American championships in 1947 and 1948. Pat captured the singles and doubles titles at the Asian Championships and the Championships of India. She was ranked in the world top ten from 1946 through 1952, with a career high of four, and ranked in the US top ten in 1942 and 1944 through 1952. Pat was a teaching pro at La Costa Resort & Spa from 1965 to 1985, teaching numerous celebrities. She continues to keep a keen interest in tennis at her daily spot at the Rancho Santa Fe Tennis Club.