Madge Vosters

Unmatched in her will to win, Madge Vosters (1919-1999) combined grace and athleticism with unparalleled sportsmanship in a tennis career that spanned a lifetime. A nationally ranked junior player from Pennsylvania, Vosters went on to play three sports at Ursinus College — field hockey, basketball and tennis.

Possessing great accuracy and “a nearly unretrievable drop shot,” Vosters broke into the USTA Top 10 in 1942, impressing the crowds at Forest Hills with a beautifully fought match against Patricia Todd. In 1949, Vosters was awarded the prestigious USTA Service Bowl.

Vosters shared her love of the game with her family, and teamed with daughters Gretchen and Nina to win a record 26 national mother-daughter titles. A pioneering competitor on the USTA senior circuit, she dominated the national grass court championships throughout the 1980s. Further demonstrating her racket wizardry, she also won 14 national squash titles.

Celebrated for her tireless dedication to promoting tennis on all levels, particularly through the Delaware Foundation for Physical Education, Vosters is remembered as one of the games most gracious ambassadors.