British tennis fans have been waiting a long time.
Virginia Wade, a six-time major champion across singles and doubles, is the one and only British champion in Eastbourne Open history.
In fact, no British player has advanced to the final of the men’s or women’s singles events since Wade won the title in 1975.
So, how did Wade secure her title at the south coast event?
Virginia Wade defeated Billie Jean King to win the Eastbourne Open
In 1974, Virginia Wade was defeated in the Eastbourne Open final by 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert.
Evert beat Wade 7-5, 6-4 before going on to win two more titles on the south coast of England.
Wade returned a year later and again reached the final.
On this occasion, Wade emerged victorious, beating tennis icon Billie Jean King 7–5, 4–6, 6–4.
“It would always be windy on finals day at Eastbourne,” Wade said in a 2005 interview with Brighton newspaper ‘The Argus.’
“That’s what it was like when I played Billie-Jean. It was a long difficult match and the ball was blown around.
“Billie-Jean was at the height of her powers, as was Chrissie when we played 12 months earlier. Billie-Jean was always tough on grass and the year I beat her she went on to win Wimbledon.
“The fact I beat her proved I was playing good tennis. It was the first year I felt I was ready to win Wimbledon.”
Wade reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals that year before losing a close match to eventual finalist Evonne Goolagong Cawley.
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“I went on to the quarter-finals at the All England Club in the following fortnight,” Wade continued.
“I was stopped by Evonne Cawley in an amazing match. Both of us played well and I lost 8-6 in the third set.
“She got the decisive break with an amazing passing shot. I remember coming off court thinking it just wasn’t my day and that I couldn’t have done any more.”
Virginia Wade’s Grand Slam titles
Wade’s first Grand Slam triumph took place at the 1968 US Open – just months after the dawn of the Open Era.
The British icon triumphed against Billie Jean King in the final, winning 6–4, 6–2
Wade won her second Grand Slam title at the 1972 Australian Open.
Ironically, the Briton defeated Evonne Goolagong 6-4, 6-4 in the final.
Five years later Wade defeated Betty Stöve 4–6, 6–3, 6–1 to win the Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles title.
Wade remains the last woman to win the singles event at SW19.
The British superstar also won four Grand Slam women’s doubles titles: the 1973 Australian Open, French Open, US Open, and the 1975 US Open.