Women's Tennis
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- granville@princeton.edu
- Alma Mater:
- Stanford '12
Through her first eight seasons, Granville has led Princeton to 117 dual-match wins, already making her the second-winningest coach in program history. During the shortened 2019-20 season, Granville guided the Tigers to their highest-ranking in school history and the highest ranking by a women's Ivy League team of No. 5 in February. Princeton overcame three top-20 opponents, including No. 6 Pepperdine on Feb. 9.
In the 2014 dual-match season and again in the 2019 season, Princeton won 19 matches, the second-most in program history after the 20 won by the 2010 team. In 2014, Granville guided Princeton to its first-ever NCAA tournament match victory, a 4-3 decision over No. 25 Arizona State to give Princeton its first victory over an ITA top-25 team since 2010. The Tigers then took No. 2 Alabama to the limit, coming within two third sets of knocking off the Crimson Tide on their home court with a place in the NCAA Round of 16 on the line. Five years later in 2019, Princeton again won an NCAA tournament match, defeating No. 27 Northwestern 4-1.
Beginning with the 2014 title, Princeton won five Ivy titles in a six-year span, all outright, in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019, the most successful six-year span in program history. The Tigers headed to Virginia for the 2015 NCAA tournament, taking South Carolina to the final match of their first-round contest, before facing Georgia Tech at South Carolina in the 2016 tournament and again taking Illinois to the final match at Texas Tech in the 2018 NCAA opener. Granville earned Ivy League Coach of the Year honors in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019, four of the first five years the award was given.
In her seven seasons, Granville has coached players to a total of 14 All-Ivy League singles and six All-Ivy doubles honors. Lindsay Graff '15 captured the program's third Ivy League Player of the Year honor after going 7-0 in Ivy League play and proceeding to knock off two ITA-ranked opponents during the team's NCAA tournament run.
Granville, who entered Stanford University with the Class of 2003, won the NCAA individual singles title as a freshman and sophomore, turned pro after her sophomore season and remained on the Women's Tennis Association tour until March 2010.
"I am honored to join the Princeton community and I am thrilled to have been selected as head tennis coach by [then-Director of Athletics] Gary Walters and the search committee," Granville said upon her hiring. "I hope to continue the winning tradition of Louise Gengler, Kathy Sell, Megan Bradley-Rose and all of my predecessors. I look forward to the challenge of competing in the Ivy League, as well as on the national level, each year. I want the players to enjoy competing and the camaraderie with their teammates while setting high standards for sportsmanship and academic excellence."
During her pro career, Granville reached the third round or better at the Australian Open, the U.S. Open, the French Open and Wimbledon. She twice reached the round of 16 at Wimbledon by defeating grand slam champions Mary Pierce and Martina Hingis. Granville also counts wins over 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, in a 2007 tournament in Memphis and in a 2002 tournament in La Cañada, Calif., and over 2015 U.S. Open champion Flavia Pennetta, in 2002 at Wimbledon and in 2003 in Luxembourg.
While a pro, Granville won nine International Tennis Federation titles and achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 28 in June 2003, winning 221 of her 381 career matches. In doubles play, Granville was ranked as high as No. 47 in 2007, winning two WTA and six ITF doubles titles while compiling a record of 100-87.
Following her 2010 retirement from professional tennis, Granville returned to Stanford to finish her education, completing her degree in history with the Class of 2012. She has stayed connected to professional tennis, serving as a radio commentator for the U.S. Open beginning in 2013.
As a collegian, Granville set the women's NCAA record for most consecutive singles victories at 58, which she still holds. Granville helped Stanford to the NCAA team title in 2001 and reached the NCAA doubles final that year while winning her second straight NCAA singles title. She was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Player of the Year in both of her collegiate seasons.
A native of Chicago, Granville prepped at The Latin School of Chicago, where she was the Illinois high school state singles champion in 1996.
Laura Granville at Princeton
| Year | School | Overall | Conference | Postseason |
| 2013 | Princeton | 12-7 | 4-3/4th Ivy | |
| 2014 | Princeton | 19-6 | 7-0/Ivy Champions | NCAA Round of 32 |
| 2015 | Princeton | 12-9 | 6-1/Ivy Champions | NCAA Round of 64 |
| 2016 | Princeton | 13-10 | 5-2/Ivy Champions | NCAA Round of 64 |
| 2017 | Princeton | 13-9 | 4-3/4th Ivy | |
| 2018 | Princeton | 19-4 | 7-0/Ivy Champions | NCAA Round of 64 |
| 2019 | Princeton | 19-5 | 7-0/Ivy Champions | NCAA Round of 32 |
| 2020 | Princeton | 10-3 | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Total at Princeton | 117-53 | 40-9 |
