Virginia Wade

(Sarah) Virginia Wade (born 1945) is a British tennis champion, latterly a television commentator.

Wade was born in Bournemouth, England, but brought up in South Africa. During her early career, she was generally regarded as the most talented female player the UK had produced for decades. In 1968, she fulfilled her early promise by winning the American Open. However, her unreliability, especially after the victory of Ann Jones at Wimbledon in 1969, resulted in her remaining only number two in the British rankings. Her career was considered virtually at an end by 1977 when, against the odds and urged on by the partisan crowd, she won through to the Ladies Singles Final at Wimbledon, where she defeated Betty Stove. As this was the Queen's Silver Jubilee year, it was regarded as a famous victory. Wade rounded off her playing career by captaining the British Wightman Cup team.