Lauren Davis (born October 9, 1993) is an American former professional tennis player. Known for her aggressive backhand, speed, and clay-court strength, she won two singles titles on the WTA Tour and reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 26, in May 2017. She also won eight singles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit.
Davis was born on 9 October 1993 in Gates Mills, Ohio. She began playing tennis at age nine. Upon turning 16, she left her hometown for training at the Evert Tennis Academy. Davis' parents both work in the medical profession. Her mother is a nurse and still resides in Gates Mills, and her father, William Davis, a well known author of "Wheat Belly", is a cardiologist working in Wisconsin.
Davis reached a career-high ranking of No. 3 as a junior. She made her debut on the ITF Junior Circuit in September 2008 at the age of 14, via wildcard at the 2008 US Open, losing to Ajla Tomljanović.
She started 2009 season with a third-round appearance at the Grade-1 tournament in Carson, California, after which she won her first singles junior tournament, a Grade-3 International Grass Court Championships in Philadelphia, when she defeated Brooke Bolender in three sets. By the end of the 2009, she made a quarterfinal appearance at the US Open, won a Grade-1 Yucatán World Cup in Mérida on the hardcourt and made a third-round loss at the Orange Bowl.
In 2010, Davis reached one quarterfinal in the first four months, before reaching the final of the Easter Bowl, losing to Krista Hardebeck. She again lost a final, this time in the 51st Trofeo Bonfiglio to Beatrice Capra. In November 2010, she went on an 18-match winning streak, winning the Grade-1 tournaments Yucatán World Cup and the Eddie Herr youth tournament, as well as the Grade-A Orange Bowl event.
While still a junior, Davis won her first professional title on clay at a USTA tournament in Williamsburg, Virginia in 2010. She then went on a 27-match win streak, and won her second pro title in Puerto Rico. She ended her junior career with a third-round appearance at the 2011 Australian Open.
Davis was awarded a wildcard into the Australian Open, where she lost her first Grand Slam appearance against fifth-seeded Samantha Stosur in the first round. She officially turned professional in 2011 and won her first WTA Tour match in the Miami Open qualifying by beating Jill Craybas, in three sets. She then lost to Anastasiya Yakimova.
In the qualifying for the Charleston Open, Davis lost to Stéphanie Foretz. While waiting to give a post-match interview in a corporate booth, she was knocked unconscious when lighting equipment fell on her head. She suffered a concussion that kept her out of competition for months and left her suffering from occasional migraines for several months after that.
It was a windy day, and a whole big camera just blew onto my head. I didn't do anything physical for a long time. I didn't read anything. The only thing I could do was watch TV, eat and sleep. I had a headache, 24–7, that never went away. — Davis, on her injury
In October 2013, Davis filed a lawsuit against Production Design Associates and High Output, who had been hired by sponsors Dove to provide and install video and lighting equipment for the interview booths. Her complaint stated:
While plaintiff was waiting to be interviewed, a piece of lighting and video equipment selected, provided and installed by defendants fell and struck plaintiff in the head, knocking her unconscious. [Plaintiff] continues to suffer from serious, severe and painful head trauma and injuries including a concussion, post-concussion syndrome with its resulting emotional effects, and severe and long-term headaches. Plaintiff has required expensive and long term medical treatment including multiple emergency room visits, evaluation and treatment by specialists, diagnostic tests such as CT scans and MRI, prescription medications, and other treatments and will continue to require medical care in the future.
She sought actual and punitive damages for negligence and gross negligence.
2012–13: First major match win
At the 2012 Indian Wells Open, she defeated Petra Martić in the first round and then lost to Nadia Petrova in the round of 64. She then lost in the first round of the Miami Open to Vera Dushevina.
Davis made it through the qualifying rounds of the 2012 French Open, where she won her first major main-draw match against 30th seed Mona Barthel in straight sets. In the second round, she lost to fellow American Christina McHale, in straight sets.
Davis reached her second career quarterfinal at the 2013 Hobart International, where she lost to Sloane Stephens. In February 2013, she won the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Dow Classic title by defeating Alja Tomljanović in the final.
She replaced an injured Victoria Azarenka at the 2013 Miami Open, where she defeated Madison Keys in the second round. In the third round, she faced Alizé Cornet and lost in three sets. During the match, Davis was stung on the buttocks by a wasp in the third set. Though it caused her significant pain, Davis refused to blame her loss on it. The overwhelming heat affected Davis and Cornet as both players left the court in wheelchairs.
Davis then reached the quarterfinals of the Monterrey Open, where she lost to the eventual champion, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. She was knocked out in the first round of the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. Her furthest advance for the remainder of 2013 was a quarterfinal appearance at the Bell Challenge in September, where she lost to Lucie Šafářová.