Olga Morozova
Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use dmy dates Template:Family name hatnote Template:Infobox tennis biography
Olga Vasilyevna Morozova (Template:Lang-rus; born 22 February 1949) is a Russian former professional tennis player. Competing for the Soviet Union, she was the runner-up in women's singles at the 1974 French Open and 1974 Wimbledon Championships, and the first Soviet player to win a major, in women's doubles at the 1974 French Open. Her ground-breaking playing career, combined with her distinguished coaching career, has led to Morozova being labelled the "Godmother of Russian tennis".Template:Cn
Career
Morozova started playing tennis at the age of 10, with Nina Teplyakova as her first and career-long coach. By 16, Morozova had improved so quickly that she was invited to represent the USSR at Wimbledon in the girls singles.
Travelling internationally for the first time and playing on grass for the first time, Morozova won the 1965 Wimbledon Junior Girls' singles title.
Morozova would go on to become the first Soviet tennis player, male or female, to reach the singles final of any major tournament when she was the runner-up at the 1972 Italian Open. However, the peak of Morozova's career came during the summer of 1974 when she was the women's singles runner-up at both Wimbledon and the French Open, losing to Chris Evert on both occasions. At Wimbledon she shocked the defending champion Billie Jean King in straight sets in the quarterfinals, and then came back from a set down against Virginia Wade to win the semifinal 6–4 in the third. She rose to No. 3 in the world going into the US Open that year – the highest ranking she achieved in her career.
Morozova became the first Soviet tennis player, male or female, to win a major title when she teamed with Evert to win the women's doubles championship at the French Open in 1974. She was also the first Soviet player to lead her team to the Federation Cup semifinals in 1978 (and again in 1979). She and Alex Metreveli were the first USSR players to reach a Grand Slam tournament final when they teamed at Wimbledon in 1968, losing to Margaret Court and Ken Fletcher. In addition to winning the French Open doubles in 1974, Morozova finished runner-up at the 1975 Australian Open (teaming with Margaret Court), the 1975 French Open (with Julie Anthony) and the 1976 US Open (with Virginia Wade).
Morozova's playing career was cut short in 1977 because of the USSR's policy against allowing their athletes to compete with South Africans. At this point, she retired early from the professional tour. Morozova then began a coaching career. She became head coach of the Soviet Union ladies squad through the 1980s leading the Soviets to their first appearance in a Federation Cup Final (1988, losing to Czechoslovakia). Morozova also helped pioneer the creation of the Kremlin Cup.
In 1990, the LTA hired Morozova as head of girls tennis, based at the national performance centre in Bisham Abbey, UK. Morozova became a fixture in UK tennis for much of the 1990s. In December 1996, in a Russian interview, she noted a key difference in the approach to sport between the UK and Russia: "For them [the English], participation is considered more important than winning. They fancy Coubertin a lot. For us, Russians, it is still important to win".<ref name="money">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Andy Murray has subsequently mentioned that she coached him when he was "12, 13 years old".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2003, Morozova began working individually with notable players, including amongst others Elena Dementieva, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Sergiy Stakhovsky, Laura Robson and more recently Harriet Dart. Morozova has been widely credited as one of the few female coaches to work at the very highest levels of the tour.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 1998, she was awarded the Sarah Palfrey Danzig Trophy for character, sportsmanship, manners, spirit of cooperation, and contribution to the growth of the game as well as the help she rendered to professional players and junior players.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2000, the Russian Tennis Federation awarded Morozova the honour of Russian Tennis Player of the Twentieth Century.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Morozova's husband is Viktor Roubanov (1971 champion of Moscow in singles), and he also was one of the first coaches of Anna Kournikova. He also coached Shirli-Ann Siddall during her first breakthrough — winning a match in the Wimbledon main draw — period.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Grand Slam finals
Singles: 2 (2 runner-ups)
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1974 | French Open | Clay | Template:Flagicon Chris Evert | 1–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 1974 | Wimbledon | Grass | Template:Flagicon Chris Evert | 0–6, 4–6 |
Doubles: 4 (1 title, 3 runner-ups)
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1974 | French Open | Clay | Template:Flagicon Chris Evert | Template:Flagicon Gail Chanfreau Template:Flagicon Katja Ebbinghaus |
6–4, 2–6, 6–1 |
| Loss | 1975 | Australian Open | Grass | Template:Flagicon Margaret Court | Template:Flagicon Evonne Goolagong Template:Flagicon Peggy Michel |
6–7, 6–7 |
| Loss | 1975 | French Open | Clay | Template:Flagicon Julie Anthony | Template:Flagicon Chris Evert Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova |
3–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 1976 | US Open | Clay | Template:Flagicon Virginia Wade | Template:Flagicon Linky Boshoff Template:Flagicon Ilana Kloss |
1–6, 4–6 |
Mixed doubles: 2 (2 runner-ups)
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1968 | Wimbledon | Grass | Template:Flagicon Alex Metreveli | Template:Flagicon Margaret Court Template:Flagicon Ken Fletcher |
1–6, 12–14 |
| Loss | 1970 | Wimbledon | Grass | Template:Flagicon Alex Metreveli | Template:Flagicon Rosemary Casals Template:Flagicon Ilie Năstase |
3–6, 6–4, 7–9 |
WTA Tour finals
Singles: 16 (8 titles, 8 runner-ups)
| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Jan 1971 | Sydney, Australia | Hard | Template:Flagicon Margaret Court | 2–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 1–1 | Feb 1971 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Maria Kull | 6–1, 7–5 |
| Win | 2–1 | Apr 1971 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay | Template:Flagicon Anna-Maria Nasuelli | 6–0, 6–3 |
| Loss | 2–2 | Jan 1972 | Adelaide, Australia | Hard | Template:Flagicon Evonne Goolagong | 6–7(4–7), 3–6 |
| Loss | 2–3 | Jan 1972 | Perth, Australia | Hard | Template:Flagicon Evonne Goolagong | 2–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 2–4 | Apr 1972 | Rome, Italy | Clay | Template:Flagicon Linda Tuero | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 3–4 | Aug 1972 | New Jersey, United States | Grass | Template:Flagicon Marina Kroschina | 6–2, 6–7, 7–5 |
| Loss | 3–5 | Mar 1973 | Akron, United States | Hard | Template:Flagicon Chris Evert | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 4–5 | Jun 1973 | London, United Kingdom | Grass | Template:Flagicon Evonne Goolagong | 6–2, 6–3 |
| Win | 5–5 | Apr 1974 | Philadelphia, United States | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Billie Jean King | 7–6, 6–1 |
| Loss | 5–6 | Jun 1974 | French Open | Clay | Template:Flagicon Chris Evert | 1–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 5–7 | Jul 1974 | Wimbledon | Grass | Template:Flagicon Chris Evert | 0–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 6–7 | Dec 1974 | Adelaide, Australia | Grass | Template:Flagicon Evonne Goolagong | 7–6, 2–6, 6–2 |
| Loss | 6–8 | Dec 1974 | Perth, Australia | Hard | Template:Flagicon Margaret Court | 4–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 7–8 | Jan 1975 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Carpet (i) | Template:Flagicon Yelena Granaturova | 6–0, 1–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 8–8 | Jun 1976 | Beckenham, UK | Grass | Template:Flagicon Marise Kruger | 7–5, 2–6, 6–3 |
Doubles: 27 (16 titles, 11 runner-ups)
ITF Circuit finals
Singles: 30 (25–5)
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1. | Jan 1967 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Anna Dmitrieva | 9–7, 8–6 |
| Win | 2. | Sep 1967 | Tbilisi, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Anna Dmitrieva | 7–5, 4–6, 6–1 |
| Win | 3. | Jan 1968 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Anna Dmitrieva | 7–9, 6–1, 10–8 |
| Win | 4. | Aug 1968 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard | Template:Flagicon Marina Chuvirina | 6–1, 6–3 |
| Win | 5. | Feb 1969 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Betty Stöve | 6–2, 6–2 |
| Loss | 6. | Mar 1969 | Cairo, Egypt | Clay | Template:Flagicon Lea Pericoli | 1–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 7. | Mar 1969 | Alexandria, Egypt | Clay | Template:Flagicon Nell Truman | 3–6, 6–2, 3–6 |
| Win | 8. | Jan 1970 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Marina Chuvirina | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 9. | Feb 1970 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Anna Yeremeyeva | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Loss | 10. | Feb 1970 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Helga Niessen | 5–7, 6–2, 3–6 |
| Win | 11. | Mar 1970 | Cairo, Egypt | Clay | Template:Flagicon Lea Pericoli | 6–3, 3–6, 9–7 |
| Win | 12. | Mar 1970 | Cairo, Egypt | Clay | Template:Flagicon Marcela Barochová | 6–4, 6–0 |
| Loss | 13. | Jun 1970 | Beckenham, United Kingdom | Grass | Template:Flagicon Patti Hogan | 1–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 14. | Aug 1970 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Clay | Template:Flagicon Tiiu Kivi | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 15. | Dec 1970 | Adelaide, Australia | Hard | Template:Flagicon Kristien Shaw-Kemmer | 6–4, 4–6, 9–7 |
| Win | 16. | Mar 1971 | Cairo, Egypt | Clay | Template:Flagicon Lea Pericoli | 7–5, 6–0 |
| Win | 17. | Jan 1972 | Hobart, Australia | Grass | Template:Flagicon Mona Schallau | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Win | 18. | Jan 1972 | Perth, Australia | Grass | Template:Flagicon Janet Young | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Win | 19. | Apr 1972 | Tashkent, Soviet Union | Hard | Template:Flagicon Eugenia Birioukova | 6–2, 6–0 |
| Win | 20. | Jun 1972 | Beckenham, United Kingdom | Grass | Template:Flagicon Jill Cooper | 6–4, 6–1 |
| Win | 21. | Aug 1972 | Tallinn, Estonia | Clay | Template:Flagicon Zaiga Jansone | 6–1, 6–0 |
| Loss | 22. | Aug 1972 | Bucarest, Romania | Clay | Template:Flagicon Marina Kroschina | 6–4, 2–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 23. | Aug 1972 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Clay | Template:Flagicon Marina Kroschina | 8–6, 6–2 |
| Win | 24. | Feb 1973 | Baku, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Marina Kroschina | 6–1, 6–2 |
| Win | 25. | Mar 1973 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Galina Baksheeva | 6–2, 6–3 |
| Win | 26. | Aug 1973 | Pescara, Italy | Clay | Template:Flagicon Éva Szabó | 6–0, 1–6, 9–7 |
| Win | 27. | Feb 1974 | Salavat, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Yelena Granaturova | 6–4, 4–6, 6–2 |
| Win | 28. | Feb 1974 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Marina Kroschina | 6–3, 6–1 |
| Win | 29. | Aug 1975 | Tallinn, Estonia | Clay | Template:Flagicon Marina Kroschina | 2–6, 7–6, 6–0 |
| Win | 30. | Aug 1979 | Sopot, Poland | Clay | Template:Flagicon Hana Mandlíková | 4–6, 7–6, 6–3 |
Doubles: 37 (27–10)
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1. | February 1967 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Tatiana Chalko | Template:Flagicon Galina Baksheeva Template:Flagicon Anna Dmitrieva |
2–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 2. | March 1967 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Tatiana Chalko | Template:Flagicon Galina Baksheeva Template:Flagicon Anna Dmitrieva |
3–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 3. | February 1968 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Rauza Islanova | Template:Flagicon Galina Baksheeva Template:Flagicon Anna Dmitrieva |
2–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 4. | July 1968 | Båstad, Sweden | Hard | Template:Flagicon Eva Lundqvist | Template:Flagicon Kathy Harter Template:Flagicon Julie Heldman |
6–2, 6–3 |
| Win | 5. | August 1968 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard | Template:Flagicon Marina Chuvirina | Template:Flagicon Kerry Harris Template:Flagicon Lesley Hunt |
6–0, 6–4 |
| Win | 6. | February 1969 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Zaiga Jansone | Template:Flagicon Tiiu Kivi Template:Flagicon Maria Kull |
6–4, 8–6 |
| Win | 7. | August 1969 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard | Template:Flagicon Zaiga Jansone | Template:Flagicon Galina Baksheeva Template:Flagicon Marina Chuvirina |
6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 8. | September 1969 | Turin, Italy | Hard | Template:Flagicon Zaiga Jansone | Template:Flagicon Marina Chuvirina Template:Flagicon Tiiu Kivi |
6–1, 4–6, 6–3 |
| Win | 9. | January 1970 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Zaiga Jansone | Template:Flagicon Rauza Islanova Template:Flagicon Eugenia Isopaitis |
6–2, 6–2 |
| Win | 10. | February 1970 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Zaiga Jansone | Template:Flagicon Tiiu Kivi Template:Flagicon Maria Kull |
6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 11. | February 1970 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Zaiga Jansone | Template:Flagicon Nell Truman Template:Flagicon Joyce Williams |
5–7, 5–7 |
| Win | 12. | August 1970 | Sofia, Bulgaria | Clay | Template:Flagicon Tiiu Kivi | Template:Flagicon Eugenia Isopaitis Template:Flagicon Marina Kroschina |
6–2, 6–1 |
| Win | 13. | August 1970 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Clay | Template:Flagicon Tiiu Kivi | Template:Flagicon Peggy Michel Template:Flagicon Valerie Ziegenfuss |
6–4, 6–3 |
| Win | 14. | January 1971 | Hobart, Australia | Grass | Template:Flagicon Patti Hogan | Template:Flagicon Brenda Kirk Template:Flagicon Laura Rossouw |
6–2, 6–0 |
| Loss | 15. | January 1972 | Hobart, Australia | Grass | Template:Flagicon Barbara Hawcroft | Template:Flagicon Mona Schallau Template:Flagicon Janet Young |
3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 16. | February 1972 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Zaiga Jansone | Template:Flagicon Eugenia Birioukova Template:Flagicon Marina Kroschina |
6–3, 5–7, 6–4 |
| Loss | 17. | April 1972 | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Clay | Template:Flagicon Helga Niessen Masthoff | Template:Flagicon Lucia Bassi Template:Flagicon Lea Pericoli |
4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 18. | April 1972 | Tashkent, Soviet Union | Hard | Template:Flagicon Zaiga Jansone | Template:Flagicon Eugenia Birioukova Template:Flagicon Marina Kroschina |
5–7, 6–3, 11–9 |
| Win | 19. | June 1972 | Beckenham, United Kingdom | Grass | Template:Flagicon Sharon Walsh | Template:Flagicon Laura DuPont Template:Flagicon Mona Schallau |
8–6, 6–1 |
| Win | 20. | August 1972 | Tallinn, Estonia | Clay | Template:Flagicon Zaiga Jansone | Template:Flagicon Galina Baksheeva Template:Flagicon Anna Yeremeyeva |
4–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| Win | 21. | August 1972 | Bucarest, Romania | Clay | Template:Flagicon Zaiga Jansone | Template:Flagicon Eugenia Birioukova Template:Flagicon Marina Kroschina |
6–1, 6–1 |
| Win | 22. | October 1972 | Donetsk, Soviet Union | Clay | Template:Flagicon Zaiga Jansone | Template:Flagicon Aleksandra Ivanova Template:Flagicon Eugenia Isopaitis |
6–3, 6–3 |
| Loss | 23. | January 1973 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Eugenia Isopaitis | Template:Flagicon Galina Baksheeva Template:Flagicon Marina Chuvirina |
3–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
| Win | 24. | January 1973 | Tallinn, Estonia | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Marina Chuvirina | Template:Flagicon Eugenia Birioukova Template:Flagicon Anna Yeremeyeva |
6–0, 7–5 |
| Win | 25. | February 1973 | Baku, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Zaiga Jansone | Template:Flagicon Galina Baksheeva Template:Flagicon Marina Chuvirina |
6–3, 6–1 |
| Win | 26. | July 1973 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Clay | Template:Flagicon Aleksandra Ivanova | Template:Flagicon Janet Young Template:Flagicon Evonne Goolagong |
2–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
| Win | 27. | August 1973 | Pescara, Italy | Clay | Template:Flagicon Zaiga Jansone | Template:Flagicon Eugenia Birioukova Template:Flagicon Marina Kroschina |
6–3, 3–6, 6–1 |
| Win | 28. | February 1974 | Salavat, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Eugenia Birioukova | Template:Flagicon Rauza Islanova Template:Flagicon Eugenia Isopaitis |
6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 29. | February 1974 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Eugenia Birioukova | Template:Flagicon Galina Baksheeva Template:Flagicon Marina Chuvirina |
5–7, 1–6 |
| Loss | 30. | June 1974 | Eastbourne, United Kingdom | Grass | Template:Flagicon Chris Evert | Template:Flagicon Helen Gourlay-Cawley Template:Flagicon Karen Krantzcke |
2–6, 0–6 |
| Win | 31. | August 1974 | Wrocław, Poland | Clay | Template:Flagicon Marina Kroschina | Template:Flagicon Natasha Chmyreva Template:Flagicon Yelena Granaturova |
6–2, 6–0 |
| Win | 32. | July 1975 | Tallinn, Estonia | Clay | Template:Flagicon Marina Kroschina | Template:Flagicon Natasha Chmyreva Template:Flagicon Marina Chuvirina |
6–1, 6–2 |
| Win | 33. | August 1975 | Vienna, Austria | Clay | Template:Flagicon Marina Kroschina | Template:Flagicon Martina Navratilova Template:Flagicon Renáta Tomanová |
4–6, 7–5, 6–4 |
| Win | 34. | August 1975 | Tallinn, Estonia | Clay | Template:Flagicon Marina Kroschina | Template:Flagicon Galina Baksheeva Template:Flagicon Lydia Zinkevich |
6–7, 6–4, 6–2 |
| Loss | 35. | November 1975 | Osaka, Japan | Hard (i) | Template:Flagicon Jeanne Evert | Template:Flagicon Françoise Dürr Template:Flagicon Rosie Casals |
3–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 36. | August 1976 | Přerov, Czechoslovakia | Clay | Template:Flagicon Marina Chuvirina | Template:Flagicon Galina Baksheeva Template:Flagicon Natasha Chmyreva |
6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 37. | August 1979 | Sopot, Soviet Union | Clay | Template:Flagicon Natasha Chmyreva | Template:Flagicon Eugenia Birioukova Template:Flagicon Natalia Borodina |
1–6, 6–0, 6–0 |
Junior Grand Slam finals
Girls' singles (1–0)
| Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1965 | Wimbledon | Grass | Template:Flagicon Raquel Giscafré | 6–3, 6–3 |
Grand Slam singles performance timeline
| Tournament | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | Career SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | QF | A | A | QF | A | 0 / 2 |
| French Open | A | 1R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 2R | QF | 2R | F | SF | A | 0 / 9 |
| Wimbledon | 1R | A | 1R | 4R | 2R | 3R | 4R | QF | F | QF | QF | 0 / 10 |
| US Open | A | A | A | A | 3R | A | QF | 3R | A | 2R | 3R | 0 / 5 |
| SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 26 |
| Template:Nowrap | 7 | 9 |
Bibliography
See also
References
External links
Template:Wimbledon girls' singles champions Template:French Open women's doubles champions Template:Russian Cup Female Tennis Player of the Year Template:Authority control
- 1949 births
- Living people
- Soviet female tennis players
- Tennis players from Moscow
- Russian tennis coaches
- Grand Slam (tennis) champions in women's doubles
- Grand Slam (tennis) champions in girls' singles
- Summer World University Games medalists in tennis
- Tennis commentators
- FISU World University Games gold medalists for the Soviet Union
- Wimbledon junior champions
- French Open junior champions
- French Open champions
- Medalists at the 1973 Summer Universiade