In Melbourne for the Australian Open and looking for a great way to kick of day one of the first Grand Slam of the year? Join us as we spend time talking to WTA tour founding 9 member, former world number 7 singles player, 9 time Grand Slam champion and 2 time Fed Cup winner Judy Dalton for breakfast at the Pullman hotel. Continuing our partnership with Kate Stone and the AUB Group, we take this very special opportunity to talk about diversity and inclusion and all things tennis.

Be part of the conversation with Sarah Stone CEO and Founder of the WTCA and Australian Tennis Champion Judy Dalton, as we discuss the importance of moving beyond bias to creating possibilities. Kate Stone is the AUB Group’s Head of People and Culture and will facilitate interactive breakfast session, focusing on the importance of bringing diversity to life through Inclusion.  “We kicked of our annual Australia Open breakfast in 2018 with one of Australia’s favorite athletes Casey Dellacqua,” Kate Stone said. “Starting the new year with an industry expert of Judy Dalton’s caliber will be a fantastic way to continue this incredibly important conversation,” she added.

Our special guest Judy (Tegart) Dalton had a remarkable career. She reached the final at Wimbledon in 1968, where she lost to Billie Jean King in two tight sets after defeating second-seeded Court in the quarterfinal and third-seeded Nancy Richey in the semifinal. She also reached the singles semifinals at Wimbledon in 1971 at the age of 33, losing to Court in three sets, and at the Australian Championships in 1968, losing to King in three sets. Her last appearance at a Grand Slam tournament was the 1977 Australian Open, where at the age of 40 she lost in the quarterfinals in straight sets to top-seeded and eventual champion Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

These days it is not uncommon to see a player hit their stride until their late 20’s but in Judy’s day it was quite unusual. In fact, she did not reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam singles tournament outside of Australia until she was 29 years of age. From Wimbledon in 1967 until the end of her career, she reached at least the quarterfinals in half of the Grand Slam singles tournaments she played (10 out of 20).

Judy was a member of the Australian Fed Cup team in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, and 1970. Her career won-loss record was 18–4, including 6–1 in singles and 12–3 in doubles. Australia won the Federation Cup in 1965 and 1970. As previously mentioned, Judy Dalton was one of the original “Virginia Slims 9”, the nine players who in 1971 joined the break-away Virginia Slims tour organized by Gladys Heldman.

“We are beyond excited to have Judy join us this year I have known Judy since I was a little kid growing up in the Australian tennis community. To have the chance to talk to her about all of the wonderful things she did for women and tennis is something I’m truly looking forward to,” Sarah Stone said.

A true legend of the tennis would it will be our great honor and privilege to bring Judy into the WTCA community for the first time on January 14, 2019.

REGISTER HERE: https://www.regonline.com.au/registration/Checkin.aspx?EventID=2547900