Billie Jean King (on the left) and Rosie Casals (on the right), only a fortnight after their pivotal meeting that led to the establishment of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), clinched the Wimbledon women’s doubles championship.
The room was under lock until the collective decision was made to revolutionize women’s tennis forever.
A towering figure among the players stood watch at the entrance as 60 female athletes congregated inside, awaiting the advent of a major development.
Ripples from the historical gathering at the Gloucester Hotel in London five decades ago, the one that ushered in the WTA, are still discernible today.
Within the last ten years, only four women have managed to make it into the top 50 of Forbes’ list of the most financially successful athletes. Intriguingly, all of them are tennis players.
This contrast starkly with the state of affairs on June 21, 1973, when, spearheaded by Billie Jean King, a number of women convened just before Wimbledon to merge the players from competing tours into one organization that would eventually become the inaugural truly international professional women’s sports tour.
Rosie Casals, King’s doubles partner and co-member of the ‘Original Nine’ who broke away to form their own tour in 1970, referred to it as a defining instant in women’s tennis in a conversation with Sport News Center.
She feels, however, that the significance of the event may not be fully grasped by today’s generation.
Casals, a nine-time Grand Slam women’s doubles champion, insisted that the current crop of players needs to do more than just watch films about their struggle, they need to understand their privilege.
Women’s tennis stands out as an unprecedented success, and the current generation needs to remember that it’s not just about playing the game and getting paid. Casals pointed out that the players don’t even handle their paychecks directly, those go to their agents.
Casals hopes to see players giving back more to the sport, helping sponsors and promoters when their support is needed.
She acknowledges that things have changed, drawing a comparison between older and younger generations trying to comprehend each other’s experiences.
The WTA’s establishment was a process, not just an event that happened in a few hours in a conference room.
Casals and her colleagues spent a year persuading players from competing tours of the benefits of uniting, using their own breakaway tour as evidence.
The ‘Original Nine’ took a risk in 1970 by creating their own circuit, which resulted in them being banned from Grand Slams, but the gamble paid off as they started to make substantial income and play in major arenas.
The key to their success was the close relationship with sponsors and the tour, an element Casals feels is lacking with today’s players.
She stressed the need for players to give back more and establish closer relationships with sponsors and promoters, who bear the financial risk of tournaments.
The women left the London hotel with King as the president of their new organization, a key move in the pursuit of equal prize money for women at Grand Slam events.
King, reflecting on that time, expressed how exciting and joyous it was to see their unity making a real impact.
The US Open in 1973 was the first Grand Slam to offer equal prize money to both men and women, with Wimbledon following suit in 2007.
Former British number one, Laura Robson, believes that without the WTA, the women’s game wouldn’t have survived.
She paid tribute to the ‘Original Nine’ for giving her generation a chance to have a career in tennis and continue to work towards further improvements.
Bian
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about WTA 50th anniversary
Who were the key figures in the formation of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)?
Billie Jean King and Rosie Casals were instrumental in the formation of the WTA. They were part of the ‘Original Nine’, a group of players who broke away to form their own tour in 1970, leading to the formation of the WTA.
What was the significant event that occurred at the Gloucester Hotel in London 50 years ago?
The significant event that occurred at the Gloucester Hotel in London 50 years ago was a meeting of female tennis players, led by Billie Jean King. This meeting led to the formation of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), which has had a significant impact on women’s tennis.
What change in women’s tennis does Rosie Casals want to see from today’s generation of players?
Rosie Casals wants to see more involvement from today’s generation of players. She believes they need to understand the history and struggles of women’s tennis, and give more back to the sport, helping sponsors and promoters when needed.
Which Grand Slam tournament was the first to offer equal prize money to both men and women?
The US Open, held in 1973, was the first Grand Slam tournament to offer equal prize money to both men and women.
What impact did the ‘Original Nine’ have on women’s tennis?
The ‘Original Nine’ revolutionized women’s tennis. They risked their careers to form their own circuit when they were dissatisfied with the state of women’s tennis. This move led to the formation of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and significantly increased earnings and recognition for female tennis players.
More about WTA 50th anniversary
- Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Official Website
- Billie Jean King’s Official Website
- History of the ‘Original Nine’
- History of Women’s Tennis
- Profile of Rosie Casals
6 comments
Reading this, i guess we forget how hard the older generation worked to get where we are today. Thank you ladies!
Rosie Casals point is so right. The young generation needs to understand the struggle and appreciate more.
Its crazy to think how far we’ve come. Four of the top 50 highest paid athletes are women tennis players..thats big!
I love how they stood up and formed their own tour. It’s an inspiring story for sure.
Billie Jean King is my hero. Equality in sports is so important, and she was a driving force behind it!
Wow, didn’t realize it’s been 50 years since WTA was formed. these ladies did so much for women’s tennis… respect!