Turnbull turned professional in 1975. Her career high rankings were third in singles and fifth in doubles. She was ranked in the year-end world top 20 for ten consecutive years (1977 through 1986) and in the year-end world top 10 for eight consecutive years from 1977 to 1984. She was nicknamed "Rabbit" by her peers because of her foot speed around the court.
She was a 12-time runner-up in Grand Slam doubles events: eleven times in women's doubles and one time in mixed doubles. Nine of her eleven women's doubles losses were to teams that included Martina Navratilova.
Turnbull was a member of Australia's Fed Cup team from 1977 through 1988, compiling a 46–16 overall win–loss record (17–8 in singles and 29–8 in doubles). She was the captain or coach of the team from 1985 through 1993.
Outcome |
Year |
Championship |
Surface |
Partner |
Opponents |
Score |
Winner |
1978 |
Wimbledon |
Grass |
Kerry Melville Reid |
Mima Jaušovec
Virginia Ruzici |
4–6, 9–8(12–10), 6–3 |
Runner-up |
1978 |
US Open |
Hard |
Kerry Melville Reid |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
7–6, 6–4 |
Winner |
1979 |
French Open |
Clay |
Betty Stöve |
Françoise Dürr
Virginia Wade |
3–6, 7–5, 6–4 |
Runner-up |
1979 |
Wimbledon |
Grass |
Betty Stöve |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
5–7, 6–3, 6–2 |
Winner |
1979 |
US Open |
Hard |
Betty Stöve |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
7–5, 6–3 |
Runner-up |
1980 |
Wimbledon |
Grass |
Rosie Casals |
Kathy Jordan
Anne Smith |
4–6, 7–5, 6–1 |
Runner-up |
1981 |
US Open |
Hard |
Rosie Casals |
Kathy Jordan
Anne Smith |
6–3, 6–3 |
Runner-up |
1982 |
French Open |
Clay |
Rosie Casals |
Martina Navratilova
Anne Smith |
6–3, 6–4 |
Winner |
1982 |
US Open |
Hard |
Rosie Casals |
Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh |
6–4, 6–4 |
Runner-up |
1983 |
Wimbledon |
Grass |
Rosie Casals |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
6–2, 6–2 |
Runner-up |
1983 |
Australian Open |
Grass |
Anne Hobbs |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
6–4, 6–7, 6–2 |
Runner-up |
1984 |
US Open |
Hard |
Anne Hobbs |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
6–2, 6–4 |
Runner-up |
1986 |
Wimbledon |
Grass |
Hana Mandlíková |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
6–1, 6–3 |
Runner-up |
1986 |
US Open |
Hard |
Hana Mandlíková |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
6–4, 3–6, 6–3 |
Runner-up |
1988 |
Australian Open |
Hard |
Chris Evert |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
6–0, 7–5 |
Outcome |
No. |
Date |
Tournament |
Surface |
Partner |
Opponents |
Score |
Winner |
1. |
7 May 1973 |
Bournemouth |
Clay |
Patricia Coleman |
Evonne Goolagong
Janet Young |
7–5, 7–5 |
Winner |
2. |
6 January 1975 |
Auckland |
Grass |
Evonne Goolagong |
Laura duPont
Cecilia Martinez |
6–3, 4–6, 6–4 |
Runner-up |
1. |
23 February 1976 |
San Antonio |
Clay |
Patricia Bostrom |
Julie Anthony
Helen Gourlay |
0–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up |
2. |
17 May 1976 |
Hamburg |
Clay |
Laura duPont |
Linky Boshoff
Ilana Kloss |
6–4, 5–7, 1–6 |
Winner |
3. |
5 July 1976 |
Gstaad |
Clay |
Betsy Nagelsen |
Brigitte Cuypers
Annette Du Plooy |
6–4, 6–4 |
Runner-up |
3. |
9 August 1976 |
Indianapolis |
Clay |
Laura duPont |
Linky Boshoff
Ilana Kloss |
2–6, 3–6 |
Winner |
4. |
7 March 1977 |
Pensacola |
Clay |
Ann Kiyomura |
Carrie Meyer
Betsy Nagelsen |
6–1, 6–2 |
Winner |
5. |
17 October 1977 |
São Paulo |
Hard |
Kerry Melville Reid |
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve |
6–3, 5–7, 6–2 |
Runner-up |
4. |
2 January 1978 |
Washington |
Carpet (i) |
Betty Stöve |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
3–6, 5–7 |
Winner |
6. |
9 January 1978 |
Hollywood |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Françoise Dürr
Virginia Wade |
6–2, 6–4 |
Winner |
7. |
6 February 1978 |
Seattle |
Carpet (i) |
Kerry Melville Reid |
Patricia Bostrom
Marita Redondo |
6–2, 6–4 |
Runner-up |
5. |
20 February 1978 |
Detroit |
Carpet (i) |
Kerry Melville Reid |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
3–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up |
6. |
27 February 1978 |
Kansas City |
Carpet (i) |
Kerry Melville Reid |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
4–6, 4–6 |
Winner |
8. |
20 March 1978 |
Philadelphia |
Carpet (i) |
Kerry Melville Reid |
Françoise Dürr
Virginia Wade |
6–2, 7–5 |
Winner |
9. |
26 June 1978 |
Wimbledon |
Grass |
Kerry Melville Reid |
Mima Jaušovec
Virginia Ruzici |
4–6, 9–8(12–10), 6–3 |
Runner-up |
7. |
29 August 1978 |
US Open |
Hard |
Kerry Melville Reid |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
6–7, 4–6 |
Winner |
10. |
9 October 1978 |
Minneapolis |
Carpet (i) |
Kerry Melville Reid |
Lesley Hunt
Ilana Kloss |
6–3, 6–3 |
Runner-up |
8. |
6 November 1978 |
Clearwater |
Hard |
Kerry Melville Reid |
Martina Navratilova
Anne Smith |
6–7, 3–6 |
Runner-up |
9. |
14 November 1978 |
Palm Springs |
Hard |
Kerry Melville Reid |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
3–6, 4–6 |
Winner |
11. |
4 December 1978 |
Sydney |
Grass |
Kerry Melville Reid |
Judy Chaloner
Anne Hobbs |
6–2, 4–6, 6–2 |
Runner-up |
10. |
22 January 1979 |
Hollywood |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Tracy Austin
Betty Stöve |
2–6, 6–2, 2–6 |
Winner |
12. |
19 February 1979 |
Detroit |
Carpet (i) |
Betty Stöve |
Sue Barker
Ann Kiyomura |
6–4, 7–6(7–5) |
Winner |
13. |
12 March 1979 |
Boston |
Carpet (i) |
Kerry Melville Reid |
Sue Barker
Ann Kiyomura |
6–4, 6–2 |
Winner |
14. |
7 May 1979 |
Rome |
Clay |
Betty Stöve |
Evonne Goolagong
Kerry Melville Reid |
6–3, 6–4 |
Winner |
15. |
21 May 1979 |
Berlin |
Clay |
Rosie Casals |
Evonne Goolagong
Kerry Melville Reid |
6–2, 7–5 |
Winner |
16. |
28 May 1979 |
French Open |
Clay |
Betty Stöve |
Françoise Dürr
Virginia Wade |
2–6, 7–5, 6–4 |
Winner |
17. |
11 June 1979 |
Chichester |
Grass |
Greer Stevens |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
6–3, 1–6, 7–5 |
Winner |
18. |
18 June 1979 |
Eastbourne |
Grass |
Betty Stöve |
Ilana Kloss
Betty Ann Stuart |
6–2, 6–2 |
Runner-up |
11. |
25 June 1979 |
Wimbledon |
Grass |
Betty Stöve |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
7–5, 3–6, 2–6 |
Winner |
19. |
13 August 1979 |
Richmond |
Carpet (i) |
Betty Stöve |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
6–1, 6–4 |
Winner |
20. |
27 August 1979 |
US Open |
Hard |
Betty Stöve |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
7–5, 6–3 |
Winner |
21. |
24 September 1979 |
Atlanta |
Carpet (i) |
Betty Stöve |
Ann Kiyomura
Anne Smith |
6–2, 6–4 |
Runner-up |
12. |
1 October 1979 |
Minneapolis |
Carpet (i) |
Betty Stöve |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
4–6, 6–7 |
Winner |
22. |
8 October 1979 |
Phoenix |
Hard |
Betty Stöve |
Rosie Casals
Chris Evert-Lloyd |
6–4, 7–6 |
Winner |
23. |
29 October 1979 |
Stockholm |
Carpet (i) |
Betty Stöve |
Billie Jean King
Ilana Kloss |
7–5, 7–6 |
Runner-up |
13. |
5 November 1979 |
Filderstadt |
Carpet (i) |
Betty Stöve |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
3–6, 3–6 |
Winner |
24. |
26 November 1979 |
Melbourne |
Grass |
Billie Jean King |
Dianne Fromholtz
Anne Smith |
6–3, 6–3 |
Winner |
25. |
3 December 1979 |
Sydney |
Grass |
Billie Jean King |
Sue Barker
Pam Shriver |
7–5, 6–4 |
Winner |
26. |
28 January 1980 |
Seattle |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Greer Stevens
Virginia Wade |
6–4, 2–6, 7–5 |
Runner-up |
14. |
25 February 1980 |
Houston |
Carpet (i) |
Betty Stöve |
Billie Jean King
Ilana Kloss |
6–3, 1–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up |
15. |
3 March 1980 |
Dallas |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
6–4, 3–6, 3–6 |
Winner |
27. |
10 March 1980 |
Boston |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Billie Jean King
Ilana Kloss |
6–4, 7–6 |
Runner-up |
16. |
19 March 1980 |
Avon Championships |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
3–6, 6–4, 3–6 |
Runner-up |
17. |
9 June 1980 |
Chichester |
Grass |
Rosie Casals |
Pam Shriver
Betty Stöve |
4–6, 5–7 |
Runner-up |
18. |
23 June 1980 |
Wimbledon |
Grass |
Rosie Casals |
Kathy Jordan
Anne Smith |
6–4, 5–7, 1–6 |
Runner-up |
19. |
28 July 1980 |
San Diego |
Hard |
Rosie Casals |
Tracy Austin
Ann Kiyomura |
6–3, 4–6, 3–6 |
Winner |
28. |
3 November 1980 |
Hong Kong |
Clay |
Sharon Walsh |
Penny Johnson
Silvana Urroz |
6–1, 6–2 |
Runner-up |
20. |
1 December 1980 |
Sydney |
Grass |
Rosie Casals |
Pam Shriver
Betty Stöve |
1–6, 6–4, 4–6 |
Winner |
29. |
7 January 1981 |
Washington |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Candy Reynolds
Paula Smith |
6–3, 4–6, 7–6 |
Runner-up |
21. |
12 January 1981 |
Kansas City |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh |
2–6, 6–7(4–7) |
Winner |
30. |
2 February 1981 |
Detroit |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Hana Mandlíková
Betty Stöve |
6–4, 6–2 |
Winner |
31. |
9 February 1981 |
Oakland |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Martina Navratilova
Virginia Wade |
6–1, 6–4 |
Winner |
32. |
23 February 1981 |
Seattle |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Sue Barker
Ann Kiyomura |
6–1, 6–4 |
Winner |
33. |
6 April 1981 |
Hilton Head Island |
Clay |
Rosie Casals |
Mima Jaušovec
Pam Shriver |
7–5, 7–5 |
Runner-up |
22. |
27 April 1981 |
Orlando |
Clay |
Rosie Casals |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
1–6, 6–7(10–12) |
Winner |
34. |
24 August 1981 |
Mahwah |
Hard |
Rosie Casals |
Candy Reynolds
Betty Stöve |
6–2, 6–1 |
Runner-up |
23. |
31 August 1981 |
US Open |
Hard |
Rosie Casals |
Kathy Jordan
Anne Smith |
3–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up |
24. |
28 September 1981 |
Minneapolis |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
4–6, 5–7 |
Winner |
35. |
5 October 1981 |
Tampa |
Hard |
Rosie Casals |
Martina Navratilova
Renáta Tomanová |
6–3, 6–4 |
Runner-up |
25. |
14 December 1981 |
East Rutherford |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
3–6, 4–6 |
Winner |
36. |
18 January 1982 |
Seattle |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Kathy Jordan
Anne Smith |
7–5, 6–4 |
Runner-up |
26. |
25 January 1982 |
Chicago |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
5–7, 4–6 |
Runner-up |
27. |
1 February 1982 |
Detroit |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Leslie Allen
Mima Jaušovec |
4–6, 0–6 |
Runner-up |
28. |
15 March 1982 |
Boston |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Kathy Jordan
Anne Smith |
6–7, 6–2, 4–6 |
Winner |
37. |
3 April 1982 |
Palm Beach Gardens |
Clay |
Rosie Casals |
Evonne Goolagong
Betty Stöve |
6–1, 7–6 |
Winner |
38. |
26 April 1982 |
Orlando |
Clay |
Rosie Casals |
Kathy Jordan
Anne Smith |
6–3, 6–3 |
Runner-up |
29. |
24 May 1982 |
French Open |
Clay |
Rosie Casals |
Martina Navratilova
Anne Smith |
3–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up |
30. |
7 June 1982 |
Birmingham |
Grass |
Rosie Casals |
Jo Durie
Anne Hobbs |
3–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up |
31. |
23 August 1982 |
Mahwah |
Hard |
Rosie Casals |
Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh |
1–6, 4–6 |
Winner |
39. |
30 August 1982 |
US Open |
Hard |
Rosie Casals |
Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh |
6–4, 6–4 |
Winner |
40. |
27 September 1982 |
Philadelphia |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh |
3–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–4 |
Runner-up |
32. |
4 October 1982 |
Deerfield Beach |
Hard |
Rosie Casals |
Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh |
6–7(5–7), 6–7(3–7) |
Runner-up |
33. |
22 January 1983 |
Marco Island |
Clay |
Rosie Casals |
Andrea Jaeger
Mary-Lou Piatek |
5–7, 4–6 |
Runner-up |
34. |
21 February 1983 |
Oakland |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Eva Pfaff |
4–6, 6–4, 4–6 |
Runner-up |
35. |
7 March 1983 |
Dallas |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
3–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up |
36. |
25 April 1983 |
Atlanta |
Hard |
Rosie Casals |
Alycia Moulton
Sharon Walsh |
3–6, 6–7(1–7) |
Runner-up |
37. |
20 June 1983 |
Wimbledon |
Grass |
Rosie Casals |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
2–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up |
38. |
3 October 1983 |
Detroit |
Carpet (i) |
Rosie Casals |
Kathy Jordan
Barbara Potter |
4–6, 1–6 |
Winner |
41. |
14 November 1983 |
Brisbane |
Grass |
Anne Hobbs |
Pam Shriver
Sharon Walsh |
6–3, 6–4 |
Winner |
42. |
21 November 1983 |
Sydney |
Grass |
Anne Hobbs |
Hana Mandlíková
Helena Suková |
6–4, 6–3 |
Runner-up |
39. |
28 November 1983 |
Australian Open |
Grass |
Anne Hobbs |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
4–6, 7–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up |
40. |
23 April 1984 |
Orlando |
Clay |
Anne Hobbs |
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Hana Mandlíková |
0–6, 6–1, 3–6 |
Runner-up |
41. |
27 August 1984 |
US Open |
Hard |
Anne Hobbs |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
2–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up |
42. |
24 September 1984 |
New Orleans |
Hard |
Sharon Walsh |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
4–6, 1–6 |
Winner |
43. |
1 October 1984 |
Los Angeles |
Hard |
Chris Evert-Lloyd |
Bettina Bunge
Eva Pfaff |
6–2, 6–4 |
Runner-up |
43. |
19 November 1984 |
Sydney |
Grass |
Sharon Walsh |
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Helena Suková |
2–6, 6–7(4–7) |
Winner |
44. |
18 February 1985 |
Oakland |
Carpet (i) |
Hana Mandlíková |
Rosalyn Fairbank
Candy Reynolds |
4–6, 7–5, 6–1 |
Winner |
45. |
22 April 1985 |
San Diego |
Hard |
Candy Reynolds |
Rosalyn Fairbank
Susan Leo |
6–4, 6–0 |
Winner |
46. |
15 July 1985 |
Newport |
Grass |
Chris Evert-Lloyd |
Pam Shriver
Elizabeth Smylie |
6–4, 7–6(7–2) |
Runner-up |
44. |
29 July 1985 |
Los Angeles |
Hard |
Hana Mandlíková |
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Helena Suková |
4–6, 2–6 |
Winner |
47. |
23 September 1985 |
New Orleans |
Hard |
Chris Evert-Lloyd |
Mary-Lou Piatek
Anne White |
6–1, 6–2 |
Winner |
48. |
18 November 1985 |
Sydney |
Grass |
Hana Mandlíková |
Rosalyn Fairbank
Candy Reynolds |
3–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–4 |
Runner-up |
45. |
10 February 1986 |
Boca West |
Hard |
Chris Evert-Lloyd |
Pam Shriver
Helena Suková |
2–6, 3–6 |
Winner |
49. |
24 February 1986 |
Oakland |
Carpet (i) |
Hana Mandlíková |
Bonnie Gadusek
Helena Suková |
7–6(7–5), 6–1 |
Runner-up |
46. |
10 March 1986 |
Dallas |
Carpet (i) |
Hana Mandlíková |
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Helena Suková |
6–4, 5–7, 4–6 |
Winner |
50. |
17 March 1986 |
Virginia Slims Championships |
Carpet (i) |
Hana Mandlíková |
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Helena Suková |
6–4, 6–7(4–7), 6–3 |
Winner |
51. |
5 May 1986 |
Houston |
Clay |
Chris Evert-Lloyd |
Elise Burgin
JoAnne Russell |
6–2, 6–4 |
Runner-up |
47. |
9 June 1986 |
Birmingham |
Grass |
Elizabeth Smylie |
Elise Burgin
Rosalyn Fairbank |
2–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up |
48. |
23 June 1986 |
Wimbledon |
Grass |
Hana Mandlíková |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
1–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up |
49. |
25 August 1986 |
US Open |
Hard |
Hana Mandlíková |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
4–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
Winner |
52. |
29 December 1986 |
Brisbane |
Grass |
Hana Mandlíková |
Betsy Nagelsen
Elizabeth Smylie |
6–4, 6–3 |
Winner |
53. |
9 February 1987 |
San Francisco |
Carpet (i) |
Hana Mandlíková |
Zina Garrison
Gabriela Sabatini |
6–4, 7–6(7–4) |
Runner-up |
50. |
13 April 1987 |
Amelia Island |
Clay |
Hana Mandlíková |
Steffi Graf
Gabriela Sabatini |
6–3, 3–6, 7–5 |
Winner |
54. |
27 April 1987 |
Tampa |
Clay |
Chris Evert |
Elise Burgin
Rosalyn Fairbank |
6–4, 6–3 |
Runner-up |
51. |
11 January 1988 |
Australian Open |
Hard |
Chris Evert |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
0–6, 5–7 |
Runner-up |
52. |
9 January 1989 |
Sydney |
Hard |
Elizabeth Smylie |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
3–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up |
53. |
17 July 1989 |
Newport |
Grass |
Elizabeth Smylie |
Gigi Fernández
Lori McNeil |
3–6, 7–6(7–5), 5–7 |
Winner |
55. |
7 August 1989 |
Los Angeles |
Hard |
Martina Navratilova |
Mary Joe Fernández
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch |
5–2 ret. |
Runner-up |
54. |
15 September 1989 |
Tokyo |
Carpet (i) |
Elizabeth Smylie |
Gigi Fernández
Robin White |
2–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up |
55. |
5 March 1990 |
Boca Raton |
Hard |
Elise Burgin |
Jana Novotná
Helena Suková |
4–6, 2–6 |
(W) Won tournament; reached (F) final, (SF) semifinal, (QF) quarterfinal; (R#) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; competed at a (RR) round-robin stage; reached a (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent from tournament; or (NH) tournament not held.