Virginia Wade facts for kids
| Full name | Sarah Virginia Wade |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United Kingdom |
| Born | 10 July 1945 Bournemouth, England |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Turned pro | 1968 (amateur from 1962) |
| Retired | 1986 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $1,542,278 |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1989 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 839–329 |
| Career titles | 55 |
| Highest ranking | No. 2 (3 November 1975) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1972) |
| French Open | QF (1970, 1972) |
| Wimbledon | W (1977) |
| US Open | W (1968) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 42–48 |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (1973) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1973) |
| French Open | W (1973) |
| Wimbledon | F (1970) |
| US Open | W (1973, 1975) |
| Other doubles tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | W (1975) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| French Open | SF (1969, 1972) |
| Wimbledon | QF (1981) |
| US Open | QF (1969, 1985) |
Virginia Wade is a famous British tennis player. She was born on July 10, 1945. Virginia won three big tennis tournaments called Grand Slams in singles. She also won four Grand Slam titles in doubles.
Virginia Wade is the only British woman to have won all four Grand Slam tournaments. These are the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. She was ranked as high as No. 2 in the world for singles players. For doubles players, she was ranked No. 1 in the world.
She was the last British tennis player to win a major singles tournament until Andy Murray won the US Open in 2012. She was also the last British woman to win a major singles title until Emma Raducanu won the US Open in 2021. After she stopped playing tennis professionally, she worked as a coach. She also became a tennis commentator and analyst for TV channels like the BBC.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Virginia Wade was born in Bournemouth, England, on July 10, 1945. When she was one year old, her family moved to South Africa. This is where she first learned to play tennis.
When Virginia was 15, her family moved back to England. She went to Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School and Talbot Heath School. In 1961, she played on the tennis team for Wimbledon County Girls' Grammar School. She later studied math and physics at the University of Sussex. She graduated from university in 1966.
Virginia's Tennis Career
Virginia Wade's tennis career happened during a big change in tennis. This was when tennis went from being only for amateurs (people who didn't get paid) to the Open Era (when professional players could earn money).
In 1968, while still an amateur, she won the first open tennis event. This was the British Hard Court Open in Bournemouth. She chose not to take the prize money. Five months later, she became a professional player. She then won the women's singles championship at the first US Open. She beat Billie Jean King in the final.
Her second major singles championship was in 1972. She won the Australian Open by defeating Evonne Goolagong in the final. In 1973, she was given the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award for her contributions to tennis.
Winning Wimbledon in 1977
Virginia Wade won Wimbledon in 1977. This was a very special win because it was her 16th time playing at Wimbledon. She reached the final by beating the champion, Chris Evert. In the final match, she beat Betty Stöve. This win happened just nine days before her 32nd birthday.
The year 1977 was also important for other reasons. It was the 100th anniversary of the Wimbledon Championships. It was also the Silver Jubilee year for Elizabeth II, the Queen of England. The Queen attended the final match for the first time since 1962.
Doubles Success
Virginia Wade also won four major women's doubles championships. She won these titles with her partner, Margaret Smith Court. They won two at the US Open, one at the Australian Open, and one at the French Open. In 1983, at 37 years old, she won the Italian Open women's doubles championship. Her partner for this win was Virginia Ruzici.
Throughout her career, Virginia won 55 professional singles championships. She earned over $1.5 million in prize money. She was ranked among the world's top 10 players for 13 years, from 1967 to 1979. Her career lasted for 26 years. She stopped playing singles in 1985 and doubles in 1986. She played at Wimbledon 26 times, which is a record.
Life After Professional Tennis
Even while she was still playing, Virginia Wade started working as a reporter. Since 1981, she has reported on tennis events for the BBC. In 1982, she became the first woman to be chosen for the Wimbledon Committee. This committee helps run the famous tennis tournament.
In 1986, she was given another award, Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This was also for her great contributions to tennis.
In 1989, Virginia Wade was honored by being added to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. This is a special place that celebrates the greatest tennis players in history.
Major Tournament Wins
Virginia Wade won several important tournaments during her career.
Grand Slam Singles Titles
- 1968 US Open: She won on grass courts, beating Billie Jean King.
- 1972 Australian Open: She won on grass courts, beating Evonne Goolagong.
- 1977 Wimbledon: She won on grass courts, beating Betty Stöve.
Grand Slam Doubles Titles
Virginia won four Grand Slam doubles titles with Margaret Court.
- 1973 Australian Open
- 1973 French Open
- 1973 US Open
- 1975 US Open
She also won the 1975 Virginia Slims Championships in doubles with Margaret Court.
Personal Life
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Virginia Wade has never married and does not have children. She lives mostly in New York and in Chelsea, London.
In 1973, she posed for a sculptor named David Wynne. He created a large fountain called Girl with a Dolphin. It is 17 feet tall and is located near Tower Bridge in London.
See also
In Spanish: Virginia Wade para niños
- Performance timelines for all female tennis players who reached at least one Grand Slam final
