Charlotte "Chattie" Cooper's tennis career was marked by both exceptional skill and remarkable endurance, beginning at a young age and spanning decades. Born in 1870 in Ealing, Middlesex, England, she was introduced to tennis at the Ealing Lawn Tennis Club, where she quickly demonstrated a natural aptitude for the game. Coached by H. Lawrence and later by notable figures like Charles Martin and Harold Mahony, Cooper Sterry honed her craft, becoming a formidable competitor in the sport. By 1893, she had won her first senior singles title at Ilkley, signaling the start of a career that would see her become one of the most successful female tennis players of her time. Cooper's breakthrough came in 1895 when she won her first Wimbledon singles title, a feat she would replicate four more times over the next 13 years. The pinnacle of Cooper Sterry's career came in 1900 when she made history at the Paris Olympics. Competing in the first Games to include women, she became the first female Olympic tennis champion and the first individual female Olympic champion in any sport by winning the singles event. She further cemented her legacy by also winning the mixed doubles title with Reginald Doherty, showcasing her versatility and skill in different formats of the game. These Olympic victories were not just milestones in her career but also significant moments in the history of women's sports, as they symbolized the breaking of new ground for female athletes on the international stage. In addition to her Wimbledon and Olympic triumphs, Cooper's success extended to mixed doubles, where she won seven All-England titles, including five consecutive victories with Harold Mahony. Even after taking a seven-year hiatus to focus on her family, she returned to Wimbledon in 1908 and, at the age of 37, claimed her final singles title, making her the oldest women's singles champion in the tournament's history. Cooper's career was characterized by her aggressive style of play, particularly her use of the overhead serves and her prowess at the net. Her contributions to tennis were recognized long after she retired, culminating in her induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2013. Cooper's legacy as a pioneer in women's tennis remains enduring, as she not only set records but also paved the way for future generations of female athletes. Perhaps the greatest achievement of Cooper’s tennis career was the fact the majority of her successes were achieved after she was declared completely deaf at the age of 26. Her story makes her one of the most celebrated figures in the history of the sport.

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