VIRGINIA WADE

British born Virginia Wade has a very colorful portfolio of career wins and awards. Ms. Wade has won 3 Grand Slam singles titles including a win in 1968 at the US Open, (the first year of Open Tennis,) the Australian Open in 1972, and Wimbledon in 1977, (the Centenary Championships and the Queen's Jubilee).

In Virginia's tennis career she won a total of 55 singles titles on the WTA tour. She also won 4 Grand Slam doubles titles, the Australian, the French and the US Open in 1973 and 1975. With 839 matches won Virginia sat at No 4 on the Open era match list, while her highest world singles ranking was No 2 in 1975 and 1978, she ranked continuously in the world Top 10 from 1967- 1979 and was the British No 1 from 1972-1981. She represented Great Britain in the Federation Cup from 1967- 1983, making a record number of appearances. She also competed in the Wightman Cup from 1965-1985.

Virginia was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1989. She published an autobiography entitled Courting Triumph in 1978 and a historical book marking the 1984 Women's Centenary at Wimbledon; she was the first women elected to the Wimbledon Committee in 1982. She also represented the LTA and the ITF, and served on the board of the LTA's International and Professional Division board. Virginia is a commentator for the BBC and has worked for CBS, ESPN and the USA networks.

Ms. Wade graduated from the University of Sussex in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics, and was awarded an honorary PhD at Sussex in 1985. Other then tennis Virginia enjoys theatre, Opera and Classical music and resides in London and New York.