| Country (sports) |  United States |
|---|---|
| Residence | San Francisco, California, USA |
| Born | (1960-08-15) 15 August 1960 (age 64) San Francisco, USA |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Turned pro | 1978 |
| Retired | 1994 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 238–263 |
| Career titles | 4 |
| Highest ranking | No. 19 (1 April 1985) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| French Open | 3R (1978) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1980, 1987) |
| US Open | 3R (1978, 1984) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 118–162 |
| Career titles | 5 |
| Highest ranking | No. 31 (6 April 1992) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| French Open | 2R (1988) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1989) |
| US Open | 3R (1980) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| French Open | 2R (1988) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (1976, 1989) |
| US Open | 3R (1978) |
Mareen "Peanut" Louie-Harper (born Mareen Louie; August 15, 1960) is a retired American tennis player, born in San Francisco, California to Ron and Alice Louie.
She was a top-ranked junior tennis player and professional tennis player on the WTA tour. She reached a career high singles ranking of 19 in the world in 1985 and doubles ranking of 31 in the world in 1992. She is currently the co-founder and program director of Harper for Kids, a youth character development program.
Professional tennis career
During her career, she won 14 USTA National Junior titles and was the #1 ranked 16-and-under (1976) and 12-and-under tennis player (1972) in the United States. Peanut was the Junior Wimbledon finalist in 1977 and a semifinalist in 1978. She was also the #1 ranked junior in NorCal in all age divisions (10, 12, 14, 16 & 18 & unders).
After a successful junior career, she turned pro in 1978. In her 16-year career, she won four singles titles and reached a career high ranking of No. 19 in the world (in 1985). She also won five doubles titles and reached a career high ranking of No. 31 in the world (in 1992). At the Grand Slams, her best results were reaching the round of 32 in singles and the round of 16 in doubles several times. Among her best wins were victories over Gabriela Sabatini, Zina Garrison, Mary Joe Fernández, Helena Suková, Wendy Turnbull, Stephanie Rehe and Andrea Jaeger.
Louie was honored with the WTA Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award in back-to-back years in 1985 and 1986 from the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). In 1986, she was also named Tennis magazine's Comeback Player of the Year. During her junior career, she was presented with the USTA Girls’ 18 National Championship Sportsmanship Award in 1977.
Personal life and post-tennis career
Her older sister, Marcie Louie, also played on the WTA Tour, and her sisters Cici and Marisa, and brother Ronnie, all played at the University of San Francisco. She, along with her siblings, trained on the tennis courts of Golden Gate Park. She was given the nickname "Peanut" by her father because she was the youngest of the five children.
She was inducted into the USTA Northern California Hall of Fame in 2000, the Multi-Ethnic Sports of Fame in 2017, the San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame in 2010, and the George Washington Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.
She married Tim Harper in 1986. They live in San Francisco and have two kids, Casey and Jared. Jared, who is a singer-songwriter, auditioned on Season 18 of The Voice
Charity work
In 2008, she co-founded Harper for Kids (HFK), a children's nonprofit organization, with her husband Tim Harper. HFK's youth character development program is based on John Wooden's Pyramid of Success and teaches youth essential character traits that can help them achieve their personal best in life. HFK helps schools incorporate the Pyramid of Success into their character education. Before starting Harper for Kids, Peanut collaborated with John Wooden on his children's book Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success (Perfection Learning), with co-author Steve Jamison.
Hall of Fame inductions
- Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame, 2017
- San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame, 2010
- USTA NorCal Hall of Fame, 2000
- George Washington High School Athletic Hall of Fame, 1991
Awards and honors
- The Chinese Historical Society of America, 1986 recipient
- Tennis magazine's Comeback Player of the Year, 1986 recipient
- WTA Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award, 1985 ad 1986
- USTA Girls’ 18 National Championship Sportsmanship Award
- OCA (Organization of Chinese Americans) East Bay Chapter
- Queen of Hearts Foundation, 2011 Honorary Chairperson
- OCA (Organization of Chinese Americans) San Mateo Chapter
WTA career finals
Singles (4 titles, 1 runner-up)
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | Sep 1978 | Avon Futures of Northern California, US | Hard | Ruta Gerulaitis
|
7–6, 6–2 |
| Win | 2–0 | Mar 1980 | Avon Futures of Columbus, US | Hard | Beth Norton
|
6–2, 6–3 |
| Loss | 2–1 | Dec 1980 | Tucson Open, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Tracy Austin
|
2–6, 0–6 |
| Win | 3–1 | Apr 1984 | Durban, South Africa | Hard |  Rene Uys
|
6–1, 6–4 |
| Win | 4–1 | Jan 1985 | Virginia Slims of Denver, US | Carpet (i) | Zina Garrison
|
6–4, 4–6, 6–4 |
Doubles (5 titles, 5 runner-ups)
| Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Mar 1979 | La Costa Tennis Classic | Hard | Marita Redondo
|
Marcie Louie  Regina Maršíková
|
6–2, 2–6, 6–4 |
| Win | Oct 1980 | Hit-Union Japan Open | Hard | Dana Gilbert
|
 Nerida Gregory Marie Pinterová
|
7–5, 7–6 |
| Loss | Mar 1981 | Avon Championships of Los Angeles | Hard | Marita Redondo
|
Susan Leo Kim Sands
|
6–1, 4–6, 6–1 |
| Win | Apr 1984 | Durban, South Africa | Hard | Anna-Maria Fernandez
|
 Cláudia Monteiro Beverly Mould
|
7–5, 5–7, 6–1 |
| Win | Jul 1984 | Virginia Slims of Newport | Grass | Anna-Maria Fernandez
|
Lea Antonopolis Beverly Mould
|
7–5, 7–6 |
| Loss | Sep 1987 | Virginia Slims of New Orleans | Carpet (i) | Heather Ludloff
|
Zina Garrison Lori McNeil
|
6–3, 6–3 |
| Win | Oct 1989 | Virginia Slims of Arizona | Hard | Penny Barg
|
Elise Burgin Rosalyn Fairbank
|
7–6, 7–6 |
| Loss | Aug 1990 | Virginia Slims of Albuquerque | Hard | Wendy White
|
Meredith McGrath Anne Smith
|
7–6, 6–4 |
| Loss | Aug 1991 | Virginia Slims of Albuquerque | Hard | Lise Gregory
|
Katrina Adams  Isabelle Demongeot
|
6–7, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Win | Oct 1991 | Virginia Slims of Arizona | Hard | Cammy MacGregor
|
Sandy Colins Elna Reinach
|
7–5, 3–6, 6–3 |
References
- Bostic, Stephanie, ed. (1979). USTA Player Records 1978. United States Tennis Association (USTA). p. 215.
- Profile, upi.com. Accessed April 5, 2024.
- "Peanut Louie Harper ITF Profile". Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- Bonk, Thomas (1991-03-03). "Peanut Bags Two Big Victories". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "Talented class of 10 set to join SF Prep Hall of Fame". Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ Berton, Justin (2009-08-20). "Peanut Louie Harper's new spin on sports: kids". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- Chapin, Dwight (2002-02-10). "WHERE ARE THEY NOW? / 'Peanut' Louie-Harper / This tennis nut made a name for herself on court". The San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 3, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- "USTA Northern California Hall of Fame". Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- "Watch". www.youtube.com/watch?v=um_of7NtSy0.
- "Harper for Kids". www.harperforkids.org.
External links
- Harper For Kids website
- Mareen Louie-Harper at the International Tennis Federation
- Peanut Harper at the Women's Tennis Association
- Peanut Harper at Wimbledon