You've Come a Long Way Baby(70's tennis)

Here's a bio of Julie Heldman. I've never seen any mention of her on the Boards, but she and her mom Gladys are certainly noteworthy in the history of Open women's tennis.

Julie Medalie Heldman personified the Virginia Slims Woman-bright, witty, adventurous, worldly, indomitable. She thrived on challenges-whether it was joining the Slims tour in mid-season after about with bronchitis, going up against Evonne Goolagong in a critical Bonne Bell Cup match, or hacking her way, unseeded, through the field at Forest Hills.

And she succeeded well enough to rank among the U.S. Tennis Association's Top Ten nine times, from 1963 through 1975, playing the kind of tournament schedules that turn legs and mind to jelly, and lesser players to seed.

Julie's rise to tennis stardom was not entirely unexpected. Her mother, Gladys Heldman, competed at the U.S. Championships at Forest Hills and
at Wimbledon, and began World Tennis Magazine in June, 1953. Under her sole control, the magazine became the world's largest tennis magazine, which she sold to CBS Publications in 1972. Gladys Heldman was responsible in large part for the beginning of modern women's professional tennis, obtaining the sponsor, Virginia Slims, organizing the tournaments, and galvanizing player support for the beginning years of the women's pro tour. She was inducted into the National Tennis Hall of Fame at Newport, Rhode Island.

Julie's father, Julius, a retired Vice President of Shell Oil Company, also excelled in tennis, winning the National 18-and- under Tennis
Championships in 1936. As both her parents were graduates of Stanford University, so did Julie attend their alma mater, majoring in History, and
becoming fluent in French and Spanish.

Julie's tennis career began at the age of eight, and her first big title came when she won the Canadian National 18-andunder Championship-she
was only twelve at the time. She later won the U.S. Junior Title in 1960 and 1963. Then she got serious. Ranked as high as #2 in the U.S. ('68-'69), and #5 in the world ('69&'74), Julie posted wins over Billie Jean King, Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Chris Evert, Martina Navratalova, Virginia Wade and Rosie Casals, amongst many others. She reached the Quarter Finals of Wimbledon in 1969, and the Semis of the French Open ('70), the Australian Open ('74), and the U.S. Open ('74), all during which time suffered three major setbacks due to injuries.

While healthy, however, Julie captured the Italian Open title in 1969, defeating Lesley Turner Bowery, Ann Jones and Kerry Melville. She then
went on to win three Gold Medals at the Maccabiah Games in 1969, in singles, doubles (with Marilyn Aschner), and mixed doubles (with Ed
Rubinofo. She also won gold, silver and bronze medals at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, when tennis was yet an exhibition sport.

After retiring from tennis in 1975, Julie parlayed her incisive mind and extensive knowledge of the game into a role as color commentator and
analyst for CBS at the U.S. Open in 1973, '74 and'75, even analyzing her own match against Billie Jean King during a rain delay. She then covered Wimbledon, the French and Italian Opens and several other events for NBC, working mainly with Bud Collins and Jim Simpson. Julie was the
first woman to broadcast men's tennis, at the Avis Challenge Cup in 1976.

In 1979, Julie entered UCLA Law School, where she was later selected Editor of the Law Review, and named Outstanding Graduate of the Class of 1981.

Julie's husband, Bernard Weiss, is the founder and president of USA Optical Distributors, Inc., an importer and wholesaler of eyeglass frames. Julie has given up her law practice to become Vice President of her husband's firm, leaving time for her to be with their baby of two years, Amy Rebecca.

When I read the title of this thread, I thought it was directed to my attention, now I see it's not so here is my contribution.

OLGA MOROZOVA

www.wslegends.com/legends_omorozova.jpg

DATE OF BIRTH
Tuesday, 22nd February 1949

PLACE OF BIRTH
U.S.S.R.

RECORD IN GRAND SLAMS
Australian: Quarterfinal 1972, 1975. French: Runner-up 1974. Semifinal 1975. Quarterfinal 1972. Wimbledon: Runner-up 1974. Quarterfinal 1973, 1975, 1976. U.S.: Quarterfinal 1972.

RECORD DURING: The early years. Three times a Grand Slam quarter-finalist


LAST 16. AUSTRALIAN OPEN 1972
GAIL LOVERA (CHANFREAU) beat JANET YOUNG 7-5, 4-6, 6-1
KERRY HARRIS beat WENDY TURNBULL 6-1, 7-6
VIRGINIA WADE beat JUDY HARRIS 6-1, 6-0
HELEN CAWLEY (GOURLAY) beat MARILYN TESCH 6-3, 7-6
OLGA MOROZOVA beat SALLY IRVINE 7-5, 4-6, 6-1
EVONNE CAWLEY (GOOLAGONG) beat JANINE WHYTE 6-3, 6-1
PATRICIA COLEMAN beat KAREN KRANTZCKE 7-6, 5-7, 6-1

QUARTERFINALS
KERRY HARRIS beat GAIL LOVERA (CHANFREAU) 6-3, 7-6
VIRGINIA WADE beat PATRICIA COLEMAN 6-2, 6-2
HELEN CAWLEY (GOURLAY) beat OLGA MOROZOVA 6-2, 6-1
EVONNE CAWLEY (GOOLAGONG) beat BARBARA HAWCROFT 6-1, 3-6, 6-1

SEMIFINALS
VIRGINIA WADE beat KERRY HARRIS 7-6, 2-6, 6-0
EVONNE CAWLEY (GOOLAGONG) beat HELEN CAWLEY (GOURLAY) 6-2, 7-6

FINAL
VIRGINIA WADE beat EVONNE CAWLEY (GOOLAGONG) 6-4, 6-4

LAST 16. U.S. OPEN 1972
CHRIS EVERT beat JULIE HELDMAN 6-1, 6-2
ROSIE CASALS beat FIORELLA BONICELLI 6-0, 6-4
MARGARET COURT beat LESLEY HUNT 6-2, 6-1
KERRY REID (MELVILLE) beat FRANCOISE DURR 1-6, 6-0, 6-2
VIRGINIA WADE beat BARBARA DOWNS 6-3, 6-2
BILLIE-JEAN KING beat SHARON WALSH 6-4, 6-4
PAM TEEGUARDEN beat EVONNE CAWLEY (GOOLAGONG) 7-5, 6-1
OLGA MOROZOVA beat BETTY STOVE 6-3, 7-5

QUARTERFINALS
CHRIS EVERT beat OLGA MOROZOVA 3-6, 6-3, 7-6
MARGARET COURT beat ROSIE CASALS 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
KERRY REID (MELVILLE) beat PAM TEEGUARDEN 6-0, 6-2
BILLIE-JEAN KING beat VIRGINIA WADE 6-2, 7-5

SEMIFINALS
KERRY REID (MELVILLE) beat CHRIS EVERT 6-4, 6-2
BILLIE-JEAN KING beat MARGARET COURT 6-4, 6-4

FINAL
BILLIE JEAN KING beat KERRY REID 6-3, 7-5

LAST 16. WIMBLEDON 1973
CHRIS EVERT beat JANET YOUNG 6-3, 3-6, 8-6
ROSIE CASALS beat KRISTIEN SHAW 6-3, 6-3
MARGARET COURT (SMITH) beat GLYNIS COLES 6-1, 6-4
KERRY REID (MELVILLE) beat PEGGY MICHEL 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
VIRGINIA WADE beat FRANCOISE DURR 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
BILLIE JEAN KING (MOFFITT) beat LESLEY HUNT 6-4, 5-7, 6-0
OLGA MOROZOVA beat INGRID BENTZER 7-5, 6-1
EVONNE CAWLEY beat PATRICIA HOGAN 6-0, 6-1

QUARTERFINALS
CHRIS EVERT beat ROSIE CASALS 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
MARGARET COURT (SMITH) beat OLGA MOROZOVA 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
BILLIE JEAN KING (MOFFITT) beat KERRY REID (MELVILLE) 9-8, 8-6
EVONNE CAWLEY beat VIRGINIA WADE 6-3, 6-3

SEMIFINALS
CHRIS EVERT beat MARGARET COURT (SMITH) beat 6-1, 1-6, 6-1
BILLIE JEAN KING (MOFFITT) beat EVONNE CAWLEY 6-3, 5-7, 6-3

FINAL
BILLIE JEAN KING (MOFFITT) beat CHRIS EVERT 6-0, 7-5

Rollo: THANKS for starting this GREAT THREAD. I will be more than happy to come and share memories of the golden days of womens tennis here with you guys, and to read your takes on some of the greats of the past. They were certainly great days in our sports history... you just have to look at the names to realise how many marvellous players competed in the 70s - King, Court, Evert, Goolagong, Wade, Navratilova, Morozova, Richey to name just a few.

Yes, it is a shame that CBS haven't kept the 72 USO QF between Evert and Morozova on tape. It would be a classic to keep for sure. I have their two GS Finals though but they were relatively lopsided encounters unfortunately.

Monica-Rules: You mentioned the great British players of the late 60s and then the 70s - in particular Anne Jones, Ginny Wade and Sue Barker. I have to say, that Anne Jones featured in one of the greatest matches that I have seen (not live, but on one of the tapes). In the 1969 Wimbledon SF she beat the legendary Margaret Court 10-12, 6-3, 6-2 in a classic encounter that is rarely ever mentioned. But I have to say, I think it was one of the greatest matches ever! Anne had to play her absolute best to beat Margaret that day and some of her shots were incredible, esp when it looked like Margaret had the winner. The rallies were exhausting and Anne just was not going to lose this one. If definately surpassed the quality of the Final which Anne also took in 3 sets (against Billie-Jean). Anne was also a world champion table tennis player, talk about versatile!

I think Ginny Wade's greatest match was her astonishing 3 set win over Chris Evert in the Wimbledon semis in 77, although I touched on that in another thread. Like the 69 SF, both girls were on the verge of exhaustion, but Ginny was not going to let this opportunity slip, and she truly gave this match everthing and beat Chris at her own game.... from the back of the court.

I don't know too much about King's relationship with Evert, but it seems to me she had more in common with Martina. They practiced together often as early as 1978, were doubles partners from that year, and of course were both more outspoken than Chris. Then later on BJK selflessly coached Martina on and off
while Navratilova broke or tried to break all her Wimbledon records.
King gave Martina fits on court early on because she could play mind games with a younger woman who idolized her. After 1980 though, King was too old to beat Martina.

The funny thing about Evert and King is how much they praise each other in their books while at the same time admitting they were just opposites in personality. Chrissie helped destroy two of King's projects, World Team Tennis and later a women's only US Open in 1981. King didn't seem bitter about it though, and Chris was very vocal in supporting King during her palimony trial.
Maybe the shared Catholic childhoods gave Evert and King some common bond?

Hi Roscoe

I have to agree with you about Evonne. You also have to remember that she won the 1976 Virginia Slims Championships Final against the World #1 of that year Chris Evert, was a finalist in the US Open for 4 successive years (73-76) and it took 3 sets to beat her in 3 of those, and was a finalist for 6 successive years at the Aussie Open.

Not only that, she was badly injured in 78 when she almost beat Navratilova in the Wimbledon Semis (did her ankle at 4-4 in the final set). There is a lot more I could rave on about Evonne but others are after the computer so I have to run. Suffice to say that not only was Evonne a wonderful champion, and one of the most graceful of all time (along with Bueno, Mandlikova, Lenglen and one or two others) but she is also a most endearing personality. Very humble and sweet.

Catch you back here soon.

PS: Great thread Rollo! Thanks for kick starting it!

Billie Jean King was/is Catholic? I thought I remember reading she was raised Episcopalian...

Billie Jean King definitely got along much better with Chris Evert than she did Martina Navratilova, especially till she began coaching Martina. She knew Chris years before she knew Martina. Billie Jean & Chris had a special relationship since they were both the most popular/well-known tennis players in the USA in the 70s and had a lot in common.

Billie Jean liked Martina - as did most players. She used to practice with both Martina & Chris. Even during Wimbledon 1978, when she was supposedly helping Martina with a few pointers etc., she was also helping Chris out during her practice sessions. Martina & Billie Jean played doubles together from 1978 to 1980.

After that doubles partnership ended, Billie Jean was very angry at Martina for a long time after that. In her 1982 autobiography, you can detect the animosity she still felt towards Martina when she wrote about her. What's funny was that, she thought the 80s would be Chris & Tracy & Hana & Andrea; and she wasn't sure if Martina would be able to get in the mix. LOL @ what happened afterwards...

During her last years on the tour (1982-83), Billie Jean & Chris played doubles together on a number of occasions. Eventually, Martina & she did reconcile. And she ended up coaching Martina, beginning in 1989 till her retirement in 1994. Billie Jean has credited Martina with helping her come to terms with her sexuality. Still, she says she can't afford to be very open about it, even today, because of her business commitments and any negative consequences that may arise b/c of this issue. Also, Martina has strongly supported Billie Jean's WTT over the years and also stepped in to coach the U.S. Fed Cup team when Billie Jean wanted to take a one-year break. They are very close now, just as Chris is with both of them.