For Morozova, who was born in Moscow, the bonus is not particularly important.
“I’m from the Soviet Union. We’re not professionals, we’re amateurs. I’ve not only won money here but also went to our Federation in Wimbledon, anywhere else,” the 76-year-old said.
“They pay for my trip, for my coach, for anything I have.”
That will include transportation and accommodation.
“We arrived at the Queen by pipe,” she said. “We lived in the Earl’s Court at A B&B. It’s not a good B&B, I think the toilet and shower are three floors [apart]…You shared it with others, and it was normal for everyone at that time.
“For Wimbledon, we have a car – imagine coming out of the bed and breakfast, down the stairs, your Rolls Royce and the driver are waiting for you in white gloves, opening the door.”
Probably not Wimbledon, but the Queen is a prestigious event. Chris Evert and Margaret Court competed with Evonne Goolagong, a 24-year-old Morozova, who was directly dissatisfied in the final without serving.
This is a surprising result for most people, but not for Morozova.
“I remember playing well,” she said. “I felt the ball was good beforehand, I already knew Evanne and knew how to play her, and grass was my favorite surface.”
Since the prize check didn’t come to her pocket and there was no copy of the trophy to take away, the main benefit – prestige aside – rest assured, the decision to sow her for the first time for the Wimbledons was proven.
A few days before the computer ranking system, the expert group decided on the race seeds – making sure that top players won’t be early in the game.
“I was seeded eight people at Wimbledon and everyone was saying ‘Oh my god, why did she sow?’ But eventually I won the game and I actually felt good because now they know why I was seeded!”
Morozova’s serve and Volley match were perfect for Grass – she was the Wimbledon junior champion in 1965 and won several titles on the ground.
She reached the Wimbledon final in 1974, losing to Evert a few weeks after the French Open final to the Americans. But together they won the women’s doubles title at Roland Garros, making Morozova the first Russian to win a Grand Slam title.
