Valerie Jean Bradshaw (née Ziegenfuss; June 29, 1949) is an American former professional tennis player. She started as an amateur player at the beginning of the 1970s, then turned professional.
She is most famous for being one of the Original 9 with eight of her fellow players, who rebelled against the United States Tennis Association in 1970. Their actions brought about the creation of the Virginia Slims Circuit, which was the basis for the WTA Tour.
During her career, she reached the fourth round at the French Open (in 1972) and the US Open on two occasions (1969 and 1975). She reached one singles final at the Virginia Slims of Oklahoma in 1972. After winning two rounds of qualifying, she defeated 5th seeded Helen Gourlay, No. 2 seed Francoise Durr, and Judy Dalton (seeded 6th) and then lost to Rosie Casals.
She had far more success in doubles tournaments, with 12 doubles final appearances, including six victories.
She won a bronze medal in doubles in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City with Jane Bartkowicz.
Early life Ziegenfuss was born and raised in San Diego, California.
Career review
Original 9 In 1970, the top women tennis players started to become frustrated at the lack of equality within tennis in terms of prize money on offer for male and female players. The publisher Gladys Heldman, founder of World Tennis magazine, offered $5,000 of her own money, which enabled the players to negotiate their own contracts. Ziegenfuss and the other players, including Billie Jean King and Rosie Casals, signed $1 contracts in the summer of 1970 and formed the Virginia Slims Circuit.
WTA Tour finals
Singles 1 Legend Grand Slam 0 WTA Championships 0 Tier I 0 Tier II 0 Tier III 0 Tier IV & V 0 Result No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent ScoreLoss 1. Feb 1972 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. Hard Rosie Casals 4–6, 1–6
Doubles 10 (6–4) Legend Grand Slam 0 WTA Championships 0 Tier I 0 Tier II 0 Tier III 0 Tier IV & V 0
Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents ScoreWin 1. May 1967 La Jolla, California, U.S. Hard Stephanie Grant Peaches Bartkowicz Sue Shrader 8–6, 9–7Loss 2. Oct 1968 Mexico City Olympics (Exhibition), Mexico Clay Peaches Bartkowicz Rosy Darmon Julie Heldman 0–6, 8–10Win 3. 1969 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. Hard Kerry Harris Emilie Burrer Pam Richmond 6–3, 9–7Win 4. Mar 1971 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Carpet Mary-Ann Eisel Peaches Bartkowicz Judy Tegart Dalton 2–6, 6–2, 6–3Win 5. Feb 1972 Washington, D.C., U.S. Carpet Wendy Overton Judy Tegart Dalton Françoise Dürr 7–5, 6–2Loss 6. Jun 1972 Hamburg, Germany Clay Wendy Overton Helga Masthoff Heide Orth 6–3, 6–2, 0–6Loss 7. Jan 1973 San Francisco, California, U.S. Hard Wendy Overton Margaret Court Lesley Hunt 1–6, 5–7Win 8. Nov 1976 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard Laura duPont Yvonne Vermaak Elizabeth Vlotman 6–1, 6–4Loss 9. Jan 1977 Washington, D.C., U.S. Carpet Kristien Shaw Martina Navratilova Betty Stöve 5–7, 2–6Win 10. Nov 1978 Buenos Aires, Argentina Clay Françoise Dürr Laura duPont Regina Maršíková 1–6, 6–4, 6–3
References
Notes The Original 9 featured Billie Jean King, Rosie Casals, Peaches Bartkowickz, Nancy Richey, Kerry Melville, Judy Dalton, Julie Heldman and Kristy Pigeon. The Virginia Slims Circuit was the name of the modern day circuit WTA circuit before the formation of the Women's Tennis Association in 1973. It became the WTA Tour in 1988.
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