Induction Year: 1983

 

Nancy Richey (born 1942) learned tennis from her teaching pro father, George, in San Angelo, Texas. She won the Australian Championships in 1967, the French Open in 1968 and captured four doubles titles at Wimbledon (1966), the French Open (1968) and the U.S. Nationals (1965, 1966). Richey was ranked in the World Top 10 eleven times between 1963 and 1975, reaching No. 2 in 1969. She was ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in 1964, 1965, 1968 and 1969. She played Wightman Cup for eight years (1962-1970) and her teams won all but one time. She also played for the U.S. Fed Cup teams in 1964, 1968 and 1969, with an impeccable 15-2 record and won with her team in 1969. Richey won the singles title at the U.S. Women’s Clay Court Championships a record six consecutive years, from 1963 through 1968. 

Richey was one of the “Original 9” women who in 1970 put their careers on the line to establish a women's professional tennis tour where women be given opportunities and prize money comparable to men. They each signed a one dollar contract to play in the first Virginia Slims tournament and set into motion a string of events that helped pave the way for generations of women both on and off the tennis court.  

Richey is the sister of fellow player Cliff Richey. They were the first brother-sister combination to be concurrently ranked in the USA Top Ten. They were ranked in the top three concurrently in 1965, 1967, 1969 and 1970.