Tennis Legends - Ann Jones: Three-time Grand Slam champion from England's second city

A triple major champion in singles, Britain's Ann Jones is one of the finest tennis players the country has ever produced. Her Wimbledon triumph in 1969 over Billie Jean King was the highlight of a long career that yielded consistent success.

Born on October 17th 1938, in the Birmingham suburb of King's Heath, Ann Shirley Jones was born into a sporting family. Her father Adrian Haydon was an established table tennis player, ranked number one in England at his peak, competing in two World Championships.

When small, Jones was ambidextrous. Her parents then told her to choose one hand to focus on and young Ann chose her left. She quickly took up table tennis and became a wonderful exponent. Then, still known as Ann Haydon, her finest achievement in the sport turned out to be finishing as a losing finalist in the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles disciplines at the 1957 World Championships in Stockholm. She also lifted two English Open titles. Jones would pen a book on the sport called Tackle Table Tennis This Way.

Jones emerged victorious at consecutive editions of the British Junior Championships in 1954 and 1955. She also lifted the girls title at the 1956 Wimbledon Championships. Domestic success became routine for Jones from 1955 onwards. She picked up three titles in the UK this year, with her first materialising at the Norfolk Championships.

In 1956, Jones pocketed five titles across the UK. Among the collection was the Welsh Championships and the Worthing Open. A further five titles were amassed in 1957. This year saw Jones have her first significant impact in the Grand Slams. She reached the last four at the French Championships and a quarter-final at the US Championships.

Three titles in 1958 included the Sunderland and Durham Open Championships. Jones made it into a second major semi on home soil at Wimbledon and was a quarter-finalist at the French Championships. Three trophy lifts were undertaken by Jones in 1959. Her best Grand Slam run this year was a semi-final appearance at the US Championships.

1960 was the most prolific of Jones' career. She amassed a total of sixteen titles. Successes included the Pacific Southwest Championships and the Moroccan International Championships. Jones also made the last four at Wimbledon. At the fifth attempt, Jones prevailed in a major semi-final. Playing at the 1961 edition of Roland Garros, victory in the last four came via a three-set victory over Hungarian Zsuzsi Kormoczy.

The final saw Jones thrash Mexico’s Yola Ramirez 6-2, 6-1. It was one of nine titles pocketed by Jones during a campaign where she'd now firmly established herself as a world class force. Jones’ 1962 season turned into another trophy-laden campaign. A haul of twelve trophies were added to the CV.

She was a semi-finalist at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Her title defence in Paris ended at the hands of Aussie Lesley Turner. The 1963 campaign witnessed Jones return to a major final title match. Turner again proved too strong at Roland Garros. Jones followed this by making the final four at Wimbledon and the US Championships.

Jones matched her tally of twelve trophies from the previous term. Highlights included the London Hard Court Championships and the French Covered Court Championships.

Jones' title winning remained high in 1964 and 1965 but she suffered a relative downturn at the majors. The Brummie star failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals at any of the six majors she contested. Jones lost in the final eight at four of them.

The 1964 season saw Jones win seven tournaments. Amongst them was a victory at the Sutton Coldfield Hard Court Championships, only about a thirty minutes drive from her native King's Heath.

A further eight titles were harvested in 1965. This number included the Dutch Covered Court Championships and the British Hard Court Championships.

Despite a huge volume of titles, frustration was growing for Jones and her failure to add a second major title to her record. This all changed at the 1966 French Championships.

In the last four of the Paris major, Jones progressed in a classic match with Brazilian Maria Bueno, winning 4-6, 8-6, 6-3. The final was a much more routine affair for Jones, brushing aside the USA’s Nancy Richey in straight sets to become a multiple Grand Slam singles champion.

This major glory represented one of eight titles for Jones in 1966. Other trophy lifts came at events such as the Italian International Championships and the German Covered Court Championships.

The last three years of the 1960s developed into the apex of Jones' illustrious career. It was a period that saw her consistently reach major finals and win the greatest honour in the sport.

Jones' 1967 campaign featured numerous title successes. Her eleven titles this term included victories in Colombia, Venezuela and Curacao.

Defeats in Wimbledon and US Championships finals to King were disappointing but ultimately the first time she'd made it through to two major singles finals in the same year.

The 1968 season saw Jones come home with a trophy on seven occasions. Her first trophy was lifted in the amateur era but the remaining six ensued after the advent of Open Era tennis. Success in events with more competitive fields would've given Jones great satisfaction that she belonged against all comers.

At the majors, Jones was beaten in the last French Championships final of the amateur era by Richey. 1969 gave Jones the highlight of her career. Wimbledon is the pinnacle for many non-British players but for a Briton, it's the holy grail. She also became the first left-handed female winner of Wimbledon.

Seeded four, Jones beat the two best players of her generation to reign supreme at SW19. Having lost the opening set 12-10, in her semi with Margaret Court, she bagged the next two sets to reach her second Wimbledon final.

In the title match, King awaited. Jones once again battled back from a set down to leave the home crowd delighted. Herself, Virginia Wade and Andy Murray are the only British to experience Wimbledon singles glory in the Open Era. Wimbledon was part of nine trophies won by Jones in 1969.

The 1970s saw Jones operate a much reduced schedule and didn't feature in the Grand Slam singles events at all. She picked up eight titles in 1970, including the Chichester International and the New Zealand Open.

Two more trophy lifts occurred in 1971. Jones defeated King to claim the Caesar's Palace Pro Championships.

Jones didn't win another title until 1974 and then picked up a triumvirate of trophies in both 1975 and 1977. Her last tournament win came at the Midland Counties Championships. This meant Jones' final singles titles total was 136.

Jones made her first two Grand Slam doubles finals in 1960. She lost both of them with different partners. Playing with South African Renee Schuurman, they combined to best Court and Robyn Ebbern to win the 1963 French Championships.

Teaming up with France’s Francoise Durr later in her career, Jones lifted the 1968 French Championships alongside the local favourite. They repeated the feat in 1969 with the event now Open. The partnership were also beaten in the Wimbledon final that year. Also in 1969, Jones was triumphant in the mixed doubles at the French Open and Wimbledon. Her partner was Australian Fred Stolle.

Jones married a man 31 years her senior. She married Philip “Pip” Jones on 30 August 1962. He passed away in 1993. She had three children with him, the eldest Pippa, Michael and their youngest Christopher.

Jones is a supporter of West Bromwich Albion football club. She's recognised in the city of Birmingham with a pavement installation on the Walk of Stars. Nearly 50 public figures are recognised and Jones was awarded her installation in 2016. The main show court at the Edgbaston Priory Club is named the Ann Jones Court.

Her greatest year of 1969 was recognised when she was bestowed with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year gong. Following the end of her playing career, Jones soon transitioned into the commentary box. She was a regular fixture in the BBC commentary box at Wimbledon for over two decades. Jones appeared in the booth for a number of women's singles finals.

In 2023, Jones held the vice president role at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Since 2007, Jones became the first non-royal family member to present a trophy at Wimbledon. She does this for the mixed doubles. Jones goes down in the pantheon as a British sporting great. Only her and Virginia Wade have won three Grand Slams representing Britain in the women's game since World War Two.