Sara Gomer

Like Clare Wood, Sara Gomer was coached at Eastbourne by Clay Iles in her early tennis-playing days. A former British number one, Gomer never won a national title but was runner-up three years in succession 1990-92.

Gomer’s best Grand Slam results were in reaching the third round of both the Australian and US Opens. She lost to fellow Briton Jo Durie at Melbourne in 1985, and to Monica Seles at New York in 1991. Gomer’s finest moment came at Aptos, California, in 1988 when she won her only WTA final, beating fourth seed Robin White of the USA to win the Northern California Open. Gomer, who was coached by Chris Bradnam at the time, became the first Briton to win on the Tour for three years and the last singles winner until Heather Watson won the Japan Women’s Open 24 years later. Gomer’s win in Aptos propelled her to a career high 46 on the WTA singles rankings.

In addition to her one WTA title, Gomer won twice on the ITF Circuit. She also appeared in the Wightman Cup four times between 1986-89 and lost all five singles and four doubles she played, including defeat three years in succession by Loris McNeil in the singles. The 1989 edition was the 61st and last Wightman Cup. Gomer appeared in the Federation Cup (now the Billie Jean Cup) in 1987-88 and 1992 and won all five doubles she played and had a 6/4 record in the singles.

Gomer competed in the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and after a ten-year career on the WTA Tour, retired from competitive tennis after the Barcelona Games. She turned to coaching Clearview Ladies of Brentwood in the National Indoor League, and also occasionally played for them.