Virginia Wade

Former world-class tennis player turned commentator, Virginia Wade is one of the most high profile names in British sporting history. Making her way to the top, and staying there for an unrivalled number of years, Virginia made the top two in the world for both single and doubles competitions. A Major title winner, and unbeatable star, Virginia’s experiences from the court make for a highly entertaining after-dinner talk when she is booked as an event speaker. Able to discuss the many highs, a few lows of her playing days, Virginia is a tennis legend who captivates audiences with her incredible career.

Claiming the honour of the only woman in British history to have won titles at all four Majors, Virginia is an undeniable stand out of the game, having won the Australian Open and Wimbledon in singles. Playing her prime years in the 70s and 80s, Virginia worked her way up to a ranking of number two in the world, and she remains the most recent woman representing Britain to have won a Major singles title, a testament to her talents on the court. One of Virginia’s most prestigious wins was watched by HRH Queen Elizabeth when she won the Wimbledon final in 1977 against Betty Stove, and the Queen was in attendance to mark the Silver Jubilee. In total, Virginia secured 55 single title wins in her career spanning 26 years.

Equally successful as a double’s player, Virginia was unstoppable with her partner Margaret Smith Court, with the pair winning four Majors together, including two US Opens, one Australian Open and the French Open. Virginia was known to dominate every court she played, and eventually gained the incredible rank of world number one in doubles. Throughout her career, Virginia set numerous records, not least the number of times she played Wimbledon, a feat still unmatched with 26 occasions.

Recognised with an OBE for her services to lawn tennis in 1986, Virginia was also inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, following her retirement. Since stepping away from the court, Virginia has remained a prominent figure in sports, being elected to the Wimbledon Committee and taking on the role of commentator for BBC tennis and Eurosport. Sought after to share her insights as a sports speaker, Virginia’s presentations at events captivate audiences as she explores how she reached peak performance and achieved such success in her career.