Stories
Biography
- Won eight Grand Slam titles from 21 finals… Two-time singles champion at Roland Garros (1961, 1966) and Wimbledon champion in 1969 (first left-handed woman to lift the trophy)… Three-time doubles champion at Roland Garros (1963, 1968-9), while two mixed doubles titles came at the Australian Open and US Open in 1969… Ranked as high as No.2 in the world in 1967 and 1969, according to esteemed arbiters Lance Tingay and Bud Collins… With introduction of Open Tennis in 1968, joined Billie Jean King, Rosie Casals and Francoise Dürr as part of promoter George McCall’s touring troupe of women pros… Retired from Grand Slam singles play after winning Wimbledon and played a reduced schedule from 1970, when she was hired as a guest analyst for the BBC… While expecting her first child, defeated King in final of Virginia Slims of Las Vegas in 1971 – husband Philip (Pip) Jones (m. 1962) was appointed first Tour Director of the nascent circuit… Couple had three children – Pippa, Michael and Christoper… Founding member of the WTA, present at London’s Gloucester Hotel when the organization was founded in June, 1973; was appointed a regional player representative for Europe… Played doubles sporadically until 1977… Having represented Great Britain in 18 Federation Cup ties, became team captain, also for the nation’s Wightman Cup side… Served as chairwoman of International Women's Tennis Council from late 1970s and subsequently worked for both the WTA and Lawn Tennis Association in various capacities… Inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985… Already a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), was elevated to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2014… Long-serving member of Wimbledon’s Committee of Management… In 2023, appointed as a vice president of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club… As a youngster, followed parents into elite table tennis and competed in five world championships in the 1950s; decided to focus on tennis when she was 19.
