Celebrating 50 Years with The Original 9, Trailblazers of Women's Pro Tennis
Fifty years ago this year, nine brave women banded together to take a first-of-its kind stand against a growing disparity in prize money and playing opportunities for women in professional tennis. As a result of their courage, women’s professional tennis – as fans around the world enjoy it today – was launched on September 23, 1970 when the Original 9 stood with promoter Gladys Heldman in Houston and held aloft symbolic dollar bills notes.
The nine women were Americans Peaches Bartkowicz, Rosie Casals, Julie Heldman, Billie Jean King, Kristy Pigeon, Nancy Richey, Valerie Ziegenfuss, and Australians Judy Tegart Dalton and Kerry Melville Reid, and together with Heldman they were committed to creating a better future for female athletes.
The story of the Original 9's brave efforts and long-lasting impact is the subject of a new digital exhibit from the International Tennis Hall of Fame, entitled "We've Come a Long Way."
Faced with the threat of expulsion by the sport’s traditional governing bodies – which meant being stripped of their rankings and eligibility to compete at the Slams or on national teams – the Original 9 held their nerve, signing $1 contracts to play in Heldman’s alternative, non-sanctioned Virginia Slims Invitational. They were considered renegades, and their defiance of the tennis establishment was indeed revolutionary, but they were prepared to risk their careers to play on their own terms.
The Invitational was such a success that the title sponsor backed almost two dozen events across the US in 1971. The Original 9 and their colleagues working tirelessly to cultivate relationships with promoters and sponsors and market their league to the media and the public. They made women’s tennis an entertainment spectacle and created the blueprint for the way players engage with key stakeholders in the 21st century.
As the threatened penalties were shown to be ill-judged, the Original 9 recruited more and more players to the cause, building a momentum that would eventually lead to the formation of the WTA in 1973 and inspire the fight for equal prize money for decades to come.
Today, women's tennis thrives through the WTA as the world’s leading global sport for women. This success if built on the Original 9’s enduring vision that girls and women around the world deserve equality of opportunity, in tennis and in all walks of life.
Original 9 Member and Hall of Famer Billie Jean King commented, “In a time where defying the odds and having a voice is more important than ever, it’s extremely rewarding to see the impact the Original 9 made 50 years ago can still be felt around the world today. There were three things we wanted for future generations. First, that they would have a place to compete. Second, that they would be recognized for their accomplishments, not just their looks. And, finally, that they could make a living playing professional tennis. Today’s players are living our dream."
Earlier this week, it was announced that the Original 9 have been nominated for tennis' ultimate honor, induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Said King, "I was honored to stand with those eight women 50 years ago and am thrilled to see the Original 9 recognized by the International Tennis Hall of Fame now."
