Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) is the governing body of the professional women’s tennis circuit. The origins of the WTA can be traced back to the “Original Nine”, a group of nine pioneering women’s tennis players who in 1973 decided to take a stand for equality in the sport by signing a landmark agreement with the US Tennis Association (USTA). This agreement established the Virginia Slims Tour and was the first step towards the creation of professional women’s tennis.
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The Original Nine
The “Original Nine” were nine female tennis players who came together in 1973 to break the gender barrier in professional tennis. They included Billie Jean King, Rosie Casals, Kerry Melville Reid, Nancy Richey, Peaches Bartkowicz, Judy Dalton, Kristy Pigeon, Valerie Ziegenfuss and Jane “Jenny” Yarborough.
Biographies
- Billie Jean King – King is one of the most iconic figures in the history of women’s tennis and is widely regarded as the leader of the “Original Nine”. She was the first female player to win a “Grand Slam” title and went on to become a leading voice in the fight for gender equality in the sport.
- Rosie Casals – Casals was an American professional tennis player who was ranked among the top 5 in the world for several years. She was a consistent performer on the court and a vocal advocate for women’s rights in the sport.
- Kerry Melville Reid – Reid was an Australian professional tennis player who achieved a career-high ranking of No. 8 in the world. She was a powerful and consistent player who was known for her aggressive baseline game.
- Nancy Richey – Richey was an American tennis player who was ranked No. 1 in the world in 1969. She was known for her powerful and precise groundstrokes and won two Grand Slam singles titles in her career.
- Peaches Bartkowicz – Bartkowicz was an American professional tennis player who was ranked in the top 10 in the world for several years. She was known for her hard-hitting style of play and was a consistent performer on the court.
- Judy Dalton – Dalton was an Australian professional tennis player who was ranked in the top 10 in the world for several years. She was known for her aggressive style of play and was a consistent performer on the court.
- Kristy Pigeon – Pigeon was an American professional tennis player who was ranked in the top 10 in the world for several years. She was known for her powerful and precise groundstrokes and was a consistent performer on the court.
- Valerie Ziegenfuss – Ziegenfuss was an American professional tennis player who was ranked in the top 10 in the world for several years. She was known for her powerful and precise groundstrokes and was a consistent performer on the court.
- Jane “Jenny” Yarborough – Yarborough was an American professional tennis player who was ranked in the top 10 in the world for several years. She was known for her powerful and precise groundstrokes and was a consistent performer on the court.
The Virginia Slims Tour
The “Original Nine” signed a landmark agreement with the USTA in 1973 to establish the Virginia Slims Tour. This agreement established the first professional women’s tennis circuit and was a major milestone in the history of the sport. The first event on the Virginia Slims Tour took place in Houston, Texas in 1974 and was won by Billie Jean King. The tour went on to become a major success and is now known as the WTA Tour.
The Fight for Equality
The “Original Nine” were instrumental in the fight for equality in the sport of tennis. In 1973, they staged a protest at the US Open to demand equal prize money for men and women. This protest was a major success and led to the US Open becoming the first Grand Slam tournament to award equal prize money to both men and women.
The “Original Nine” also helped pave the way for other female professional players to compete in the sport. In 1975, the WTA was formed and the first official rankings were released. This allowed female players to sign professional contracts and be recognized as professional athletes.
Legacy
The “Original Nine” are widely credited with revolutionizing the sport of tennis. They took a stand for equality in the sport and helped pave the way for the professionalization of women’s tennis. Their legacy lives on in the WTA Tour which continues to be the leading professional women’s tennis circuit in the world.
Conclusion
The “Original Nine” were a group of pioneering female tennis players who in 1973 took a stand for gender equality in the sport. They signed a landmark agreement with the USTA to create the first professional women’s tennis circuit, the Virginia Slims Tour, and their legacy lives on in the WTA Tour which is the leading professional women’s tennis circuit in the world. The “Original Nine” helped revolutionize the sport of tennis and their legacy will continue to be remembered for generations to come.