Rosie Casals "Rosebud"

Born:: September 16, 1948
Place of Birth:: San Francisco, California
United States
Citizenship:: United States
Induction Category:: Recent Player
Year of Induction:: 1996
Highest Ranking: World Singles Ranking: 3

As a pioneer of the women’s professional game, she signed a contract with promoter Gladys Heldman in 1970 and won the first tournament on the newly formed female circuit. Casals was always near the top of her profession in singles and was an outstanding doubles player who won 12 majors, taking five of them with long time partner Billie Jean King. A sprightly competitor who stood barely above 5’2” but built a large reputation for first-rate attacking play, she was enormously popular among her peers.