Virginia Wade

Sarah Virginia Wade (born July 10 1945, in Bournemouth, England) is a former tennis player from the United Kingdom. During her career, she won three Grand Slam singles titles and five Grand Slam doubles titles. She is particularly remembered for winning the women's singles title at Wimbledon in the championship's Centenary year on June 30, 1977.

Related Topics:
July 10 - 1945 - Bournemouth - England - Tennis - United Kingdom - Grand Slam - Wimbledon - June 30 - 1977

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Wade was born in England in 1945. She learned to play tennis in South Africa, where her parents moved when she was one year old. When Virginia was 15, the family moved back to England and she went to Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School. She went on to read mathematics and physics at the University of Sussex, graduating in 1966.

Related Topics:
South Africa - Tunbridge Wells - University of Sussex - 1966

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Wade's tennis career spanned the end of the amateur era and the start of the open era. In 1968 she scored two notable firsts. As an amateur she won the inaugural tennis open competition ? the British Hard Court Open at Bournemouth. She turned down the US$720 first prize. Five months later she had become a professional and captured the women's singles title at the first US Open tournament (and prize-money of US$6,000). She beat Billie Jean King in the final in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.

Related Topics:
Open era - 1968 - US Open - Billie Jean King

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Wade's second Grand Slam singles title came in 1972 at the Australian Open. She defeated Evonne Goolagong in the final 6-4, 6-4.

Related Topics:
1972 - Australian Open - Evonne Goolagong

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Wade's most famous victory came at Wimbledon in 1977. It was the 17th year in which Wade had played at Wimbledon, and she made her her first appearance in the final by beating the defending-champion Chris Evert in the semi-finals 6-2, 4-6, 6-1. In the final, she faced Betty Stove. Not only was 1977 the 100-year anniversary of the founding of the Wimbledon Championships, but it was also the 25th year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, and the queen attended the championships for the first time in a quarter-century to watch the women's final. In a dramatic final, Wade beat Stove in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 to claim the title, nine days short of her 32nd birthday. Wade received the trophy from her queen and the delighted Centre Court crowd burst into a chorus of "For She's a Jolly Good Fellow!" to celebrate the British triumph.

Related Topics:
Chris Evert - Betty Stove - Queen Elizabeth II

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Wade also won five Grand Slam women's doubles title partnering Margaret Court ? three at the US Open, one at the Australian Open, and one at the French Open.

Related Topics:
Margaret Court - French Open

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Wade was coached by Jerry Teeguarden (father of the professional player Pam Teeguarden).

Related Topics:
Jerry Teeguarden - Pam Teeguarden

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Over her career, Wade won 55 professional singles titles amassed US$1,542,278 in career prize money. She was ranked in the world's top-10 continuously from 1967-1979. Her career spanned a total of 26 years. She finally retired in 1987.

Related Topics:
1967 - 1979 - 1987

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In 1982, Wade became the first woman to be elected to the Wimbledon Committee.

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Since retiring from tennis, Wade has commentated on tennis events for the BBC.

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In 1989, Wade was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

Related Topics:
1989 - International Tennis Hall of Fame - Newport, Rhode Island

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