Valerie Ziegenfuss

Valerie Bradshaw (née Ziegenfuss, June 29, 1949) is an American former female professional tennis player. She started off as an amateur player at the beginning of the 1970s before turning professional.

She is most famous for being one of the so-called "Original 9" along with eight of her fellow players, who rebelled against the United States Tennis Association in 1970. Their actions brought about the creation of a new tennis tour, 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 the Virginia Slims of Oklahoma in 1972. She had far more success in doubles tournament, with twelve doubles final appearances, including six tournament victories.

She won a bronze medal in doubles in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City partnering with Jane Bartkowicz.

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 up $5,000 of her own money which would allow 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 their own tour, the Virginia Slims Circuit.