On the 55th anniversary of the Original 9's signing of the first professional women's contract in 1970, we're sharing an insightful interview with one of women's tennis' early professional pioneers, Hall of Famer Ann Jones. With Chris Bowers, Jones discusses her career and the evolution of the sport. She recounts how she, along with a small group of players, fought for women's rights in tennis by establishing a professional circuit, and demanding better prize money. Jones views her off-court contributions as being just as significant as her on-court achievements, and her belief that the pressures on players haven't lessened, only evolved. Jones recalls competing against icons like Billie Jean King and Margaret Court during the transition to Open tennis. She shares her experience of playing both table tennis and lawn tennis, and the challenges of being a professional in the amateur era, and how she navigated the world of sports despite coming from a modest background.
