Born: 17 August 1912 (Chapel Allerton, Leeds)
Died: 25 January 2001
Biography:
Margaret Croft Scriven-Vivian (née Scriven; 17 August 1912 – 25 January 2001) was a British tennis player and the first woman from that country to win the singles title at the French Championships in 1933. She also won the singles title at the 1934 French Championships, defeating Helen Jacobs in the final. She was ranked No. 5 in the world in 1933 and 1934.
Early Life:
Margaret Scriven was born on 18 August 1912 in Chapel Allerton, Leeds. She was born into a family of tennis enthusiasts, as her parents were club-level tennis players. Margaret’s love for the sport began at an early age, playing on holiday and entering local tournaments. She even had the advantage of having a tennis court at her family home, where she received coaching from both her father, Edgar Scriven, and her mother.
Career:
Margaret Scriven made her mark in tennis early in her career. In September 1929, she won the British Junior Championships held at Wimbledon, defeating Miss P. Burt in the final with a score of 6–1, 6–3. The following year, in June 1930, she made her debut at the Wimbledon Championships, though she was defeated in the first round by Miss K. le Messurier.
Undeterred, Scriven returned to Wimbledon in 1931, where she had a more successful run. She reached the quarter-finals but was ultimately beaten by the French player Simonne Mathieu in a closely fought match, with a final score of 1–6, 6–2, 7–5. Scriven continued to hone her skills and in 1932, she clinched the singles title at the British Covered Court Championships, held at the Queen’s Club.
In 1933, Scriven made history by becoming the first British woman to win the singles title at the French Championships. Although she was not selected to go with the official British touring party, Scriven independently traveled to Paris. She defeated top British players Mary Heeley and Betty Nuthall on her way to the final, where she ultimately triumphed over Simonne Mathieu. In addition to her singles victory, Scriven also emerged as the winner in the mixed doubles, partnered with Australian player Jack Crawford.
Later that year, Scriven represented Britain at the Wightman Cup held at Forest Hills, New York, although her team ended up on the losing side. She then participated in the US Championships, reaching the last 16 in the singles category before being eliminated by American player Josephine Cruickshank. Scriven also competed in the doubles and mixed doubles events, reaching the semi-finals of the mixed doubles alongside Jack Crawford.
In May 1934, Scriven returned to the French Championships as part of the official British team. She successfully defended her title by defeating Helen Jacobs of America in a nail-biting final, with a final score of 7–5, 4–6, 6–1. Notably, the final match started at the late time of 6.30 pm, and both players appealed against continuing due to poor visibility caused by inadequate lighting at the venue.
Scriven’s career as a tennis player spanned just a few years, but she left a lasting impact on the sport. Her victories at the French Championships and her notable performances in other prestigious tournaments helped elevate the status of British women’s tennis on the international stage.
Awards:
– Winner, French Championships singles title in 1933 and 1934