This film is part of Free
British number ones compete for the Dewar Cup
From the collection of:
This is an early round tie in the Dewar Cup played in Torquay between Ann Jones and Virginia Wade sponsored by the sport-loving Scottish whisky company. The Dewar Cup Finals in 1970 were held at the Royal Albert Hall instead of the usual Crystal Palace. The Dewar Cup ran from 1965 to 1976 and offered prize money. Ann Jones reduced her playing schedule in 1970 and at the end of 1971 announced she was expecting her first child with businessman husband Philip Jones.
Jones became a tennis commentator and a vice president of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon. During her career, she won a total of seven Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles combined. Virginia Wade was the last British tennis player to have won a Grand Slam singles tournament until Andy Murray won the US Open in 2012. Wade won the women's championship at Wimbledon on 1 July 1977. In total she has won three Grand Slam singles titles and four Grand Slam doubles titles making her the only British woman to have won at all four Grand Slam tournaments of the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. Wade went on to coach and become a tennis commentator.
