For Moscow-born Morozova, prize cash was not particularly related.
“I got here from the Soviet Union. We weren’t skilled, we had been amateurs. The cash which I received not solely right here however in Wimbledon, all over the place else, was going to our federation,” the 76-year-old mentioned.
“They paid for my journey, they paid for my coach, they paid for my no matter.”
That “no matter” would have included transport and lodging.
“We arrived at Queen’s by Tube,” she mentioned. “We had been staying in Earl’s Court docket in a B&B. It was not an excellent B&B, I believe the bogs and the showers had been three flooring [apart]… You shared with different folks, it was regular for everybody at the moment.
“For Wimbledon, we had a automotive – think about popping out of the B&B, down the steps and you’ve got the Rolls Royce with the driving force with white gloves ready for you and opening the door.”
It could not have been Wimbledon however Queen’s was a prestigious occasion. Chris Evert and Margaret Court docket had been within the area, together with Evonne Goolagong, whom a 24-year-old Morozova upset in straight units within the remaining with out dropping serve.
It was a shock end result to most, however to not Morozova.
“I bear in mind I performed nicely,” she mentioned. “Beforehand I used to be feeling the ball good and I already knew Evonne and knew the best way to play her, and grass was my very favorite floor.”
Because the prize cheque was not going to her pocket and there was no duplicate trophy to remove, the principle profit – status apart – was reduction that the choice to seed her for Wimbledon for the primary time had been vindicated.
Within the days earlier than the computerised rankings system, seedings – which guarantee high gamers don’t meet very early in a event – had been determined by panels of consultants.
“I used to be seeded eight at Wimbledon, and all people was saying ‘Oh, my God, why is she seeded?’ However lastly I received the event and I used to be really feeling fairly good as a result of now they know why I used to be seeded!”
Morozova’s serve-and-volley sport was nicely suited to grass – she was the Wimbledon junior champion in 1965 and received a number of titles on the floor.
She reached the Wimbledon remaining in 1974, dropping to Evert simply weeks after dropping the French Open remaining to the American. However collectively, they earned the ladies’s doubles title at Roland Garros, making Morozova the primary Russian to win a Grand Slam title.
