December 9
Former American top 10 player Mardy Fish turns 31. Fish, currently ranked No. 27 in the world, peaked at No. 7 on August 15, 2011. The American has won six career singles titles and won the silver medal in men's singles at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Argentina's Gaston Gaudio, the 2004 French Open champion, turns 33. Gaudio was ranked as high as No. 5 in the world, reaching that level in 2005. Gaudio never reached beyond the third round of any other Grand Slam tournament, but while ranked No. 44 in the world, he beat four Top 15 players to win Roland Garros, including a dramatic 0-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 8-6 final victory over Guillermo Coria, his fellow Argentine.
December 11
Germany's Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, two time women's doubles Grand Slam champion, turns 49. She partnered with Helena Sukova to win the 1985 US Open crown and the 1987 Wimbledon's title. She teamed up with Steffi Graf to win the bronze medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics. She won 25 doubles titles overall and was ranked as high as No. 3 in the world. She won eight singles titles and was ranked as high as fourth, reaching the Australian Open semifinals three times and the French Open semifinals once.
December 12
Former world No. 1 Tracy Austin, a two-time US Open champion, turns 50. Austin won the US Open singlestitle in 1979 and 1981, and also took the Wimbledon mixed doubles crown in 1980. Chronic injuries to her back dramatically reduced her prime, despite the fact that she continued playing in the early 1990s. She was the youngest person ever inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, receiving the honor in 1992 at age 29.
December 14
American Stan Smith, who won seven Grand Slam titles (five doubles, two singles) in his Hall of Fame career, turns 66. Smith won the 1971 US Open title and the 1972 Wimbledon crown, finishing that year ranked No. 1 in the world. In men's doubles, he teamed with Robert Lutz to win the US Open title four times (1968, 1974, 1978, 1980) and the Australian Open title once (1970). Smith played in eight other doubles Grand Slam finals.