1970 Wightman Cup

The 1970 Wightman Cup was played at Wimbledon, and one of the most dramatic Wightman Cup ties ever played. In the best-of-seven match format, the US and Great Britain were tied at 3-3, and the deciding match was suppose to pit Billie Jean King and Nancy Richey against Virginia Wade and Winnie Shaw. Richey, however, seriously injured her knee in a singles match against Wade earlier in the day and was unable to play the doubles. The only available substitute was Jane "Peaches" Bartkowicz (Mary Ann Eisel and Julie Heldman had already played at #2 doubles). Peaches was extremely nervous about playing with Billie Jean in the deciding match, especially since she was a singles player who rarely came to the net to volley. To ease her nerves, Billie Jean asked Peaches "would you like to stay back when I serve?" Peaches immediately felt better, and with Peaches hitting bullets from the baseline and lobbing, and Billie Jean poaching all over the net, the Americans won 7-5 6-8 6-2. In her second autobiography, Billie Jean wrote that this was the match that she was the most proud of.

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Sports

Tags:

• Billie
• Jean
• King
• Peaches
• Bartkowicz
• Virginia
• Wade
• Winnie
• Shaw