07/10/2026
Congratulations to Virginia Wade, who was honored with the title “Commander of the British Empire”, at the British residence in NYC yesterday. This award was bestowed upon her in recognition of her outstanding services to tennis and charity. Her legacy includes winning 55 singles titles, holding the unbroken record for 26 Wimbledon appearances, and becoming the only British woman to capture titles at all four Grand Slam majors. Wade first claimed major glory at the 1968 US Open. She then won the 1972 Australian Open and delivered a legendary, career-defining performance at Wimbledon in 1977, where she won the women’s singles title in the tournament’s centenary year in front of Queen Elizabeth II. Beyond her phenomenal playing record, Wade was a founding member of the Women’s Tennis Association and became the first woman elected to the Wimbledon Committee!! 👏🏻🏆💪🏼 I can also attest to the fact that Virginia is wonderfully warm, kind, and as gracious as you might expect from an icon of sport!! 🥰
