Virginia Ruzici

Virginia Ruzici is a former professional tennis player from Romania. She was born on January 31, 1955, in Campia Turzii, Romania. Ruzici is best known for her success during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly her victory at the French Open.

Ruzici turned professional in 1975 and quickly established herself as one of Romania's top tennis players. She had a solid baseline game and was known for her strong groundstrokes and excellent footwork. Ruzici's breakthrough came in 1978 when she won the French Open, defeating Mima Jausovec in the final. This victory made her the first Romanian female player to win a Grand Slam singles title. Ruzici reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 8 in the world in 1979.

Throughout her career, Ruzici had a successful rivalry with Chris Evert, one of the dominant players of that era. She faced Evert several times in important matches, including the 1980 French Open final, where she finished as the runner-up. Ruzici also had notable wins over other top players, such as Martina Navratilova and Tracy Austin.

While Ruzici's success in singles was noteworthy, she was also a strong doubles player. She won several doubles titles throughout her career and reached the final of the French Open doubles event in 1981.

Ruzici represented Romania in numerous international competitions, including the Federation Cup (now known as the Billie Jean King Cup), where she played a crucial role in leading Romania to victory in 1973 and 1975.

After retiring from professional tennis in 1987, Ruzici remained involved in the sport as a coach and administrator. She served as the captain of the Romanian Fed Cup team and worked as the tournament director for the Bucharest Open, a WTA tournament.

Ruzici's contributions to Romanian tennis were recognized when she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993. She played a significant role in popularizing tennis in Romania and inspiring future generations of players.

Overall, Virginia Ruzici's career is characterized by her triumph at the French Open, her consistent performance on the professional circuit, and her enduring legacy as a trailblazer for Romanian tennis.