Virginia Wade

Virginia Wade is a legendary British tennis icon and one of the most recognisable names in the history of the sport. A former world-class tennis player, Virginia is the only British woman to have won titles at all four Grand Slam tournaments, a feat that remains unmatched to this day. With a professional career spanning more than two decades, she is a compelling keynote and after-dinner speaker, captivating audiences with stories of peak performance, resilience and sporting legacy. Virginia’s most famous moment came in 1977, when she won Wimbledon in front of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during the Silver Jubilee, making it one of the most iconic British sporting victories of all time.

Virginia’s early years were formative in both her personal development and sporting journey. Born in Bournemouth but raised in South Africa, she began playing tennis as a young child. When she returned to England at the age of 15, her dedication to the sport only grew. A bright academic talent as well, Virginia attended Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School and Talbot Heath School, before going on to study mathematics and physics at the University of Sussex, graduating in 1966. Her success was evident early on when she won the British Hard Court Open in 1968, the first open tennis competition of its kind.

Over the course of her outstanding career, Virginia achieved three Grand Slam singles titles - the US Open in 1968, the Australian Open in 1972, and the historic Wimbledon win in 1977. She also captured four Grand Slam doubles titles alongside her regular partner Margaret Court, and in 1973 alone, won the Australian Open, French Open and US Open doubles events. In recognition of her achievements, Virginia was appointedMember of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1973, Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1986, and most recently, Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2025 for services to lawn tennis and charity. She was also inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1989. Ranked as high as World No. 2 in singles and No. 1 in doubles, Virginia amassed 55 singles titles and competed at Wimbledon a record 26 times.

Since retiring, Virginia has remained a prominent voice in tennis, working as a BBC and Eurosport commentator and contributing her expertise to major broadcasts. She also became the first woman elected to the Wimbledon Committee in 1982, further cementing her influence on the sport beyond her playing days. As a keynote speaker, Virginia offers audiences rare insights into elite performance, women in sport, leadership, and how to build longevity in a high-pressure career. Her journey from a young girl learning tennis in South Africa to lifting trophies on the world’s greatest stages makes her one of the most inspiring voices on the speaking circuit today. Her presentations are both entertaining and deeply motivational, reminding audiences of the discipline, determination and character it takes to become a champion.