Celebrating the Original 9 at the 2021 Legends Ball by BNP Paribas

Hours after the 2021 US Open women’s final that saw two new young WTA stars shine on tennis’ biggest stage, the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Legends Ball paid tribute to the nine brave women who pioneered women’s pro tennis and featured a special award presentation for their fearless leader, Gladys Heldman.

The Legends Ball presented by BNP Paribas serves as a vital fundraiser for the International Tennis Hall of Fame and supports the organization’s work to preserve and celebrate tennis history, so as to educate and inspire future generations. 

This year’s event paid special tribute to the 2021 Hall of Fame inductees, the Original 9 -- the brave women who signed $1 pro contracts in 1971 for the purpose of creating a women’s pro tour. The Original 9 were inducted into the Hall of Fame in July in the Contributor Category, in recognition of the tremendous impact their brave actions had on tennis, sports, and society as a whole. The Original 9 are comprised of Americans Billie Jean King, Rosie Casals, Kristy Pigeon, Valerie Ziegenfuss, Julie Heldman, Peaches Bartkowicz, and Nancy Richey and Australians Kerry Melville Reid and Judy Tegart Dalton.

Six of the nine attended the event, where they were welcomed to the stage with a standing ovation and took part in a Q & A, during which Billie Jean King reflected, “We weren't sure what would happen, but we were willing to give up everything for the future generations. And when you see Emma and Layla on the court today, you know it was all worth it.”

A host of tennis Hall of Famers took part in the celebration, including President Stan Smith and the legendary Rod Laver, as well as Mark Woodforde, Cliff Drysdale, Steve Flink, Donald Dell, and Pam Shriver, who led the room in a toast to the Original 9.

Shriver stated, “The word original also means distinctive and you are both original and distinctive in what you accomplish and what you did, not just for women's tennis, but for tennis.”

A highlight of the Legends Ball was the presentation of the Eugene L. Scott Award posthumously to Gladys Heldman, the publisher of World Tennis magazine. Heldman was a savvy businesswoman and gutsy entrepreneur who issued the first ever women’s tennis pro contracts when she signed the nine, and then helped them organize a wildly successful tennis circuit that led to today’s WTA Tour. 

"The word original also means distinctive and you are both original and distinctive in what you accomplish and what you did, not just for women's tennis, but for tennis."
- Hall of Famer Pam Shriver on the Original 9

The Hall of Fame presents the Scott Award regularly to an individual who embodies the namesake’s efforts to challenge tennis authority and encourage inclusive growth in the game and who had a significant impact on the tennis world.

Original 9 member Julie Heldman accepted the award, on her late mother’s behalf, stating, “My mother was brilliant, creative, and extremely hardworking. As a member of the Original 9, I can attest that we risked our careers in part, because we had faith that mom was in charge. She was the entrepreneur who set the groundwork for today's well-established WTA Tour. No one could deserve the Gene Scott Award more than Gladys. I thank you so much for bestowing this honor on my mother.”

The Legends Ball was emceed by Andrea Joyce of NBC Sports who remarked, “I have to say, I am totally in awe of all of you. I really believe that the impact that you made extends so much beyond the tennis court and beyond any sports arena, because for someone like me who grew up before Title IX, I would not have even been able to dream about having any kind of job in anything related to sports without the courage and without what you did. So from me, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

A silent auction of exclusive tennis experiences and more rounded out the special night in celebration of tennis and in support of an important cause.