The Early Career of Moscow-Born Tennis Star Morozova
Amateur Beginnings
Moscow-born tennis player, now 76 years old, Morozova reflects on her amateur career in the Soviet Union. For her, monetary earnings from competitions were secondary. “I came from the Soviet Union. We were not professional, we were amateurs,” she explained, noting that the funds she won were directed towards her sporting federation.
Morozova elaborated, “They paid for my trip, they paid for my coach, they paid for my whatever,” indicating how prize money was allocated for travel and accommodation, rather than personal gain.
Traveling to Competitions
Recalling her trips, Morozova said, “We arrived at Queen’s by Tube,” and mentioned the modest accommodations during her early career: “We were staying in Earl’s Court in a B&B. It was not a very good B&B… You shared with other people; it was normal for everyone at that time.”
However, the glamour of professional sport was highlighted during her Wimbledon experiences. “Imagine coming out of the B&B, down the stairs and you have the Rolls Royce with the driver with white gloves waiting for you,” she remarked.
Avenue of Triumph
Despite not being the primary focus, the Queen’s event was a significant milestone in her career. Competing against renowned players like Chris Evert and Evonne Goolagong, Morozova achieved an unexpected victory over Goolagong in the final, winning in straight sets and showcasing her prowess without losing serve.
“I remember I played well,” Morozova stated, recalling her confidence going into the match. She talked about her familiarity with Goolagong’s playing style and her preference for grass as a competitive surface.
Recognition at Wimbledon
The recognition she achieved from her victory extended beyond the immediate accolades, especially considering the context of seedings during that era. Morozova was controversially seeded eighth at Wimbledon—a rarity met with skepticism. “Everybody was saying ‘Oh, my God, why is she seeded?'” she recalled, but her success in the tournament validated those decisions.
“I was actually feeling quite good because now they know why I was seeded!” she expressed, celebrating the professional acknowledgment of her talent.
Acclaim on Grass
Her skills were particularly suited to the grass courts. Morozova had previously won the Wimbledon junior championship in 1965, and throughout her career, she amassed several titles on this surface. She reached the Wimbledon final in 1974, which came shortly after competing in and losing the French Open final to Evert.
Despite the defeats, her collaboration with Evert resulted in a women’s doubles title at Roland Garros, marking Morozova as the first Russian player to achieve a Grand Slam title.
