Evert-Connors mania and beating BJK: Olga Morozova remembers Wimbledon 1974

Half a century after her run to the final, the Russian sharers what Wimbledon was like in 1974 and reveals how Chris Evert asked her advice

The Wimbledon ladies’ singles final in 1974 (Colorsport/SIPA)

Simon Cambers

July 13, 2024

This year marks 50 years since Olga Morozova made history by becoming the first woman from the then Soviet Union to make the Wimbledon final. A former junior Wimbledon champion, the 25-year-old had already made the mixed doubles final twice but reaching the final of the singles put her on an altogether different level.

That was the year when Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors were the darlings of the British tabloids, their engagement the talk of the town. Morozova had been beaten by Evert in the final of the French Open just a couple of weeks before and the pair made it all the way to the final again, where Evert once more ran out the winner, 6-0, 6-3.

In an exclusive interview, Morozova shares some of her memories of her run to the final and paints a unique picture of what Wimbledon was like half a century ago.

You reached the final in Eastbourne in the run-up?

Yes, I lost in the final to Chris Evert, again, three sets. But the interesting thing about Eastbourne is that Ted Tinling (the famous designer of tennis dresses) came to me. When Ted Tinling is coming to you, it makes you feel happy because you know it doesn’t matter what your ranking is, you have made it because your dress will be there, fitted for me. He decided it would be ballerina stuff, all these frills. So when he came and said do you want to play in my dresses, can I say no? Of course it was impossible.

1974 is also famous for the Evert-Connors engagement?

They had incredible press, reporters were following them around. But the funny thing was, the women, we travelled a lot together and Chris was asking me a lot of questions because I was already married. She was asking me: ‘how do you deal with the mother in law?’ “I was saying: ‘look, my mother in law is living in a different part of Moscow’. And she was like, no, but his mother blah blah blah. We were all discussing all of the girls things a lot, it was funny.

Tell me about your run to the final

In the first round I played Shirley Brasher, she had won the French Open (in 1957. Brasher was married to Chris Brasher, who was one of the pacemakers for Roger Bannister when he became the first man to run a mile in less than 4 minutes in 1954). The weather was horrible, we didn’t play again up to Saturday, I think, and then of course we played three matches a day, it was not easy.

Second match (against Wendy Paish of Australia) was difficult. I was seeded because I was in the final of the French Open and everybody was talking about me. I was also in the final of Eastbourne, Chris Evert again, three sets, then I’m winning sets 6-0 and then all crowds were around and all of the reporters around, so it was a lot of pressure. After that match I didn’t have any problems.

You beat Billie Jean King in the quarter-finals?

I think the best match I played was against Billie. I had beaten her in Philadelphia (earlier that year) but still. The thing is I always loved to play against Billie because she was similar to me, serve-volley, I think it was more creative stuff. I think I played my best match. It was on Court 1, the old court No 1.

And then you broke British hearts by beating Virginia Wade in the semis?

Yes. We were good friends. Because of the rain, we were in the dressing room for a very long time. And I think we were called about four or five times down to this little dressing room in the back. I can imagine that that would have put pressure on her. I knew with Virginia if she is on she will be difficult to beat but it could happen that it (her form) will stop. This was my hope. I remember very well, and all the girls afterwards said the same, I think it was on her serve when I actually passed her with a lob and it landed on the line. All the girls said that was the moment. And then I started to play a little bit better and I won.

Were you nervous before the final?

Yes. But I remember, it was difficult to call Russia, the Soviet Union, at that time, it was no mobiles and it was expensive. But finally somehow it was organised and then I’m calling my husband and I said: ‘I’m in the final’ and he said: ‘and what?’ ‘I said, my God I’m in the final of Wimbledon’. I don’t know, maybe he was surprised that I called, maybe something else, but he was actually so cool, like it was happening every day you know?

How was the final itself?

This was actually stupid of me. I said to myself, OK, which flowers are mine? Pink or orange? If this, I will win, if not, I won’t, and of course it was the opposite. But also I think I finally realised that I was in the final at Wimbledon. If you realise you’re in the final, then you know what happens…and I didn’t play my game. Maybe also because I had played quite well against Chris in Eastbourne, I thought maybe here I could do it, but it didn’t happen, she was too good. But to excuse myself, she had lost 6-0 (in the first set of the final to Billie Jean King) the year before, so it does happen. (Chris Evert won the 1974 final 6-0, 6-3).