Tennis Legends - Virginia Wade: Triple Grand Slam champion who is the last British woman to win the Wimbledon singles

Great Britain's Virginia Wade is the greatest female player the country has produced. Her longevity was ground-breaking, and three Grand Slams is matched only by Ann Jones amongst British players post-War. Wade’s victory at Wimbledon in 1977 makes her the last British woman to win the women's singles at SW19.

Wade was born Sarah Virginia Wade on July 10th 1945 in Bournemouth. At the age of one, Wade’s parents took her to live in South Africa. They returned to Britain when Wade was 15 and she attended Tunbridge Grammar School for Girls. Wade graduated from the University of Sussex in 1966 with a degree in Mathematics and Physics.

Wade initially competed in the amateur era of tennis, picking up a few titles domestically and making regular appearances at Wimbledon and the US Championships.

On her sixth appearance at SW19, in 1967, Wade reached her first quarter-final. She'd previously reached the last eight of the US Open in 1966. After the advent of Open era tennis, in 1968, Wade remained an amateur at first. She was still good enough to win the maiden Open tennis event at the British Hard Court Championships in her native Bournemouth. She turned down the opportunity of prize money, taking expenses only.

Five months afterwards, now having accrued professional status, Wade emerged triumphant at the first US Open. A victory over the great Billie Jean King making it all the sweeter. Three other titles were amassed in 1968, including the Dewar Cup in London. Seven titles followed in the 1969 campaign, many of them on home shores. A quintet of titles were amassed in the 1970 season, including two trophy lifts in Germany.

Wade made it to consecutive US Open semis finals after her glory in New York. In 1970, Wade progressed to the final eight at Roland Garros for the first time.

1971 turned into one of the most productive campaigns Wade ever experienced. Nine titles were collected including the prestigious clay court title in Rome.

Wade started 1972 by lifting her second major singles crown. Taking on a home crowd behind Evonne Goolagong, Britain's Wade bested the popular Australian in straight sets.

Three further titles were added this season, and she made the last eight at all the remaining year's majors. Six titles represented another fine return from the British number one during the 1973 season. Most of these at home, but one trophy was a Stateside success in Dallas.

Wade lost out in the quarters of all the 1973 majors with the exception of Roland Garros.

Wade’s 1974 term yielded five titles. She also enjoyed her best ever run at Wimbledon, making it to the semi-finals.

A haul of six tournament victories maintained Wade’s high ratio of trophy lifts. The sextet included winning the second edition of the Eastbourne grass court tournament. She remains the only British winner of this pre-Wimbledon preparatory event.

The return of titles for Wade in 1976 sees her quantity of success drop off a little. She won two titles this year, one of which is the US Indoor Championships.

A semi-final run at Wimbledon, for the second time, is her best run in the majors this term. 1977 is a year etched in the annals of British sport as the year when Wade marked the Centenary edition of the Wimbledon Championships with an iconic victory in the women's singles. Wade advanced to her first Wimbledon singles final when coming through 6-1 in the third against top seed Chris Evert in the semi-finals. Hopes of an all-British final were dashed when Dutch star Betty Stove beat Sue Barker.

The women's final in those days was played on a Friday. This didn't lessen the sense of national occasion, especially as Queen Elizabeth the second was in attendance for her Silver Jubilee year. Wade’s victory over Stove cemented the summer of patriotic fervour.

It was one of three titles won by Wade this year, but it was victory at Wimbledon that would forever define her career. Wade's last singles titles were achieved in 1978. She won three titles and the last of these came in Florida.

Her Wimbledon defence saw Wade lose in the last four to Evert, 8-6, 6-2. This would be Wade's ninth and last Grand Slam singles semi-final. Wade reached the quarters at Wimbledon in 1979 and the last eight of the US Open.

Wade became a fading force in the 1980s. She added no further singles titles to her CV in this decade, and became a regular casualty in the early rounds of the majors she entered.

One exception to this was making it to the quarters of the 1983 Wimbledon Championships. Wade, unseeded, was eventually stopped by South African Yvonne Vermaak.

Wade's final appearance at the grasscourt major came in 1985. Her 24th consecutive appearance in the singles draw at Wimbledon.

The highest singles ranking achieved by Wade was number two. She finished inside the top ten for five seasons in a row (1975-79). The WTA Tour record her final singles titles haul at 78.

Wade enjoyed a hugely successful career in doubles alongside her singles exploits. The Bournemouth star partnered Margaret Court to win a quarter of women's doubles Grand Slams. She also featured in six other major finals.

The first Grand Slam doubles final for Wade came at the 1969 US Open, playing with Court. Wade would then lose her next three major doubles finals: 1970 French Open (with Francoise Durr), 1970 US Open (with Rosie Casals) and the 1972 US Open (with Court) Wade's duck ended when herself and Court claimed the 1973 Australian Open. They followed this with further success at the French Open and US Open. Only Wimbledon eluded them this year.

Wade and Court emerged victorious at the 1975 US Open, an edition that was played on clay, a contrast with the win on grass two years earlier. Partnering Soviet Olga Morozova, they were beaten in the 1976 French Open final. Three years later, teaming up with Durr again, they finished runners-up at Roland Garros.

Wade accumulated numerous doubles titles. The last coming at the 1983 Italian Open, in alliance with Romania’s Virginia Ruzici. Another big title was the WTA Tour Finals with Court in 1975. The longevity of Wade is most reflected by her appearing at 26 Wimbledon Championships. This remains for most appearances in the main draw. 24 participations in the singles draw and 26 times Wade played in the doubles competition.

There were no Grand Slams added in the mixed doubles discipline. Wade's best showings were semi-final appearances at the French Open in 1969 and 1972.

No player has been more successful in Fed Cup (now the Billie Jean King Cup) competition than Wade. She holds all of the nation's significant records in the premier women's team event. Wade finished with a singles record of 36-20 and 30-13 in doubles. The combined tally of 66-33 remains a British benchmark. She played a record number of ties (57) and most year played (17).

The British leader for much of that time, Wade formed part of squads that reached the final in 1967, 1971, 1972 and 1981. Wade is the only player to have featured in all four titles matches.

Following her retirement in 1986, Wade stayed involved with tennis for many years after. She was a long-time commentator. Her role with the BBC lasted for over two decades. Wade's role featured her calling several Wimbledon women's singles finals, often in tandem with John Barrett. She also used to work for Eurosport on the Grand Slams, and CBS in the USA.

While still an active player, in 1982, Wade became the first female to be elected to the Wimbledon Committee. Wade was made an OBE in 1986 and this was upgraded to a CBE in 2025.

The induction of Wade to the International Tennis Hall of Fame occurred in 1989. Wade has never had children and splits her time between New York and London. She's also never married. Channel 5, a UK television station has previously made a documentary about Wade's landmark Wimbledon victory in 1977. There's inevitably much made of this milestone turning fifty next year.

Emma Raducanu’s fairytale victory at the 2021 US Open is the only time a British woman has won a singles major since Wade's glory at Wimbledon. The wait for a British winner at SW19 only further embellishes the triumph of Wade. The Open Era has never seen a British woman reach Wade’s longevity at the top, volume of big victories or serve their country with greater distinction on the tennis court.