Olga Vasilyevna Morozova (; born 22 February 1949) is a Russian former professional tennis player. Competing for the Soviet Union, she was the runner-up in women's singles at the 1974 French Open and 1974 Wimbledon Championships, and the first Soviet player to win a major, in women's doubles at the 1974 French Open. Her ground-breaking playing career, combined with her distinguished coaching career, has led to Morozova being labelled the "Godmother of Russian tennis".
Career Morozova started playing tennis at the age of 10, with Nina Teplyakova as her first and career-long coach. By 16, Morozova had improved so quickly that she was invited to represent the USSR at Wimbledon in the girls singles.
Travelling internationally for the first time and playing on grass for the first time, Morozova won the 1965 Wimbledon Junior Girls' singles title.
Morozova would go on to become the first Soviet tennis player, male or female, to reach the singles final of any major tournament when she was the runner-up at the 1972 Italian Open. However, the peak of Morozova's career came during the summer of 1974 when she was the women's singles runner-up at both Wimbledon and the French Open, losing to Chris Evert on both occasions. At Wimbledon she shocked the defending champion Billie Jean King in straight sets in the quarterfinals, and then came back from a set down against Virginia Wade to win the semifinal 6–4 in the third. She rose to No. 3 in the world going into the US Open that year – the highest ranking she achieved in her career.
Morozova became the first Soviet tennis player, male or female, to win a major title when she teamed with Evert to win the women's doubles championship at the French Open in 1974. She was also the first Soviet player to lead her team to the Federation Cup semifinals in 1978 (and again in 1979). She and Alex Metreveli were the first USSR players to reach a Grand Slam tournament final when they teamed at Wimbledon in 1968, losing to Margaret Court and Ken Fletcher. In addition to winning the French Open doubles in 1974, Morozova finished runner-up at the 1975 Australian Open (teaming with Margaret Court), the 1975 French Open (with Julie Anthony) and the 1976 US Open (with Virginia Wade).
Morozova's playing career was cut short in 1977 because of the USSR's policy against allowing their athletes to compete with South Africans. At this point, she retired early from the professional tour. Morozova then began a coaching career. She became head coach of the Soviet Union ladies squad through the 1980s leading the Soviets to their first appearance in a Federation Cup Final (1988, losing to Czechoslovakia). Morozova also helped pioneer the creation of the Kremlin Cup.
In 1990, the LTA hired Morozova as head of girls tennis, based at the national performance centre in Bisham Abbey, UK. Morozova became a fixture in UK tennis for much of the 1990s. In December 1996, in a Russian interview, she noted a key difference in the approach to sport between the UK and Russia: "For them [the English], participation is considered more important than winning. They fancy Coubertin a lot. For us, Russians, it is still important to win". Andy Murray has subsequently mentioned that she coached him when he was "12, 13 years old".
In 2003, Morozova began working individually with notable players, including amongst others Elena Dementieva, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Sergiy Stakhovsky, Laura Robson and more recently Harriet Dart. Morozova has been widely credited as one of the few female coaches to work at the very highest levels of the tour.
In 1998, she was awarded the Sarah Palfrey Danzig Trophy for character, sportsmanship, manners, spirit of cooperation, and contribution to the growth of the game as well as the help she rendered to professional players and junior players.
In 2000, the Russian Tennis Federation awarded Morozova the honour of Russian Tennis Player of the Twentieth Century.
Morozova's husband is Viktor Roubanov (1971 champion of Moscow in singles), and he also was one of the first coaches of Anna Kournikova. He also coached Shirli-Ann Siddall during her first breakthrough — winning a match in the Wimbledon main draw — period.
Grand Slam finals Singles: 2 (2 runner-ups) ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss 1974 French Open Clay Chris Evert 1–6, 2–6Loss 1974 Wimbledon Grass Chris Evert 0–6, 4–6
Doubles: 4 (1 title, 3 runner-ups) ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1974 French Open Clay Chris Evert Gail Chanfreau Katja Ebbinghaus 6–4, 2–6, 6–1Loss 1975 Australian Open Grass Margaret Court Evonne Goolagong Peggy Michel 6–7, 6–7Loss 1975 French Open Clay Julie Anthony Chris Evert Martina Navratilova 3–6, 2–6Loss 1976 US Open Clay Virginia Wade Linky Boshoff Ilana Kloss 1–6, 4–6
Mixed doubles: 2 (2 runner-ups) ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss 1968 Wimbledon Grass Alex Metreveli Margaret Court Ken Fletcher 1–6, 12–14Loss 1970 Wimbledon Grass Alex Metreveli Rosemary Casals Ilie Năstase 3–6, 6–4, 7–9
WTA Tour finals Singles: 16 (8 titles, 8 runner-ups) ResultW/LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss 0–1 Jan 1971 Sydney, Australia Hard Margaret Court 2–6, 2–6Win 1–1 Feb 1971 Moscow, Soviet Union Carpet (i) Maria Kull 6–1, 7–5Win 2–1 Apr 1971 Buenos Aires, Argentina Clay Anna-Maria Nasuelli 6–0, 6–3Loss 2–2 Jan 1972 Adelaide, Australia Hard Evonne Goolagong 6–7(4–7), 3–6Loss 2–3 Jan 1972 Perth, Australia Hard Evonne Goolagong 2–6, 5–7Loss 2–4 Apr 1972 Rome, Italy Clay Linda Tuero 4–6, 3–6Win 3–4 Aug 1972 New Jersey, United States Grass Marina Kroschina 6–2, 6–7, 7–5Loss 3–5 Mar 1973 Akron, United States Hard Chris Evert 3–6, 4–6Win 4–5 Jun 1973 London, United Kingdom Grass Evonne Goolagong 6–2, 6–3Win 5–5 Apr 1974 Philadelphia, United States Hard (i) Billie Jean King 7–6, 6–1Loss 5–6 Jun 1974French Open Clay Chris Evert 1–6, 2–6Loss 5–7 Jul 1974Wimbledon Grass Chris Evert 0–6, 4–6Win 6–7 Dec 1974 Adelaide, Australia Grass Evonne Goolagong 7–6, 2–6, 6–2Loss 6–8 Dec 1974 Perth, Australia Hard Margaret Court 4–6, 5–7Win 7–8 Jan 1975 Moscow, Soviet Union Carpet (i) Yelena Granaturova 6–0, 1–6, 6–4Win 8–8 Jun 1976 Beckenham, UK Grass Marise Kruger 7–5, 2–6, 6–3
Doubles: 27 (16 titles, 11 runner-ups) ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentScoreWin 1. Jan 1971 Sydney, Australia Hard Margaret Court Helen Gourlay Kerry Harris 6–2, 6–0Loss 2. Feb 1971 Moscow, Soviet Union Carpet (i) Yelena Granaturova Eugenia Birioukova Marina Kroschina 6–7, 7–5, 5–7Win 3. Apr 1971 Buenos Aires, Argentina Clay Betty Stöve Beatriz Araujo Ines Roget 7–5, 6–1Loss 4. Jun 1971 Beckenham, UK Grass Zaiga Jansone Christine Truman Nell Truman 3–6, 7–9Win 5. Jan 1972 Adelaide, Australia Hard Evonne Goolagong Marilyn Tesch Kerry Hogarth 6–3, 6–0Loss 6. Jan 1972 Perth, Australia Hard Janet Young Evonne Goolagong Barbara Hawcroft 3–6, 0–6Win 7. Apr 1972 Rome, Italy Clay Lesley Hunt Gail Chanfreau Rosalba Vido 6–3, 6–4Win 8. Aug 1972 New Jersey, US Grass Marina Kroschina Carole Caldwell Patti Hogan 6–7, 6–2, 6–2Win 9. Mar 1973 Hingham, US Hard Marina Kroschina Evonne Goolagong Janet Young 6–2, 6–4Win 10. Jun 1973 Rome, Italy Clay Virginia Wade Martina Navratilova Renáta Tomanová 3–6, 6–2, 7–5Win 11. Jun 1973 Beckenham, UK Clay Marina Kroschina Jackie Fayter Peggy Michel 8–6, 6–3Loss 12. Mar 1974 Akron, US Hard Julie Heldman Rosie Casals Billie Jean King 2–6, 4–6Win 13. Apr 1974 St. Petersburg, US Hard Betty Stöve Chris Evert Evonne Goolagong 6–4, 6–2Win 14. Apr 1974 Hilton Head, US Hard Rosie Casals Karen Krantzcke Helen Gourlay 6–2, 6–1Win 15. May 1974 Rome, Italy Clay Chris Evert Helga Masthoff Heide Orth w/oWin 16. Jun 1974French Open Clay Chris Evert Gail Chanfreau Katja Ebbinghaus 6–4, 2–6, 6–1Win 17. Dec 1974 Perth, Australia Hard Martina Navratilova Lesley Hunt Kazuko Sawamatsu 6–1, 6–3Loss 18. Dec 1974 Sydney, Australia Hard Martina Navratilova Evonne Goolagong Peggy Michel 7–6, 4–6, 1–6Loss 19. Jan 1975Australian Open Grass Margaret Court Evonne Goolagong Peggy Michel 6–7, 6–7Loss 20. Feb 1975 Chicago, US Hard Margaret Court Chris Evert Martina Navratilova 2–6, 5–7Loss 21. Apr 1975 Amelia Island, US Hard Rosie Casals Evonne Goolagong Virginia Wade 6–4, 4–6, 2–6Loss 22. Jun 1975French Open Clay Julie Anthony Chris Evert Martina Navratilova 3–6, 2–6Win 23. Jun 1975 Eastbourne, UK Gras Julie Anthony Evonne Goolagong Peggy Michel 6–2, 6–4Win 24. Jan 1976 Washington, US Hard Virginia Wade Wendy Overton Mona Schallau 7–6, 6–2Win 25. Jan 1976 Chicago, US Hard Virginia Wade Evonne Goolagong Martina Navratilova 6–7(4–5), 6–4, 6–4Loss 26. Sep 1976US Open Clay Virginia Wade Linky Boshoff Ilana Kloss 1–6, 4–6Loss 27. Jun 1977 Beckenham, UK Grass Natasha Chmyreva Brigitte Cuypers Annette du Plooy 7–9, 4–6
ITF Circuit finals Singles: 30 (25–5) ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreWin 1. Jan 1967 Moscow, Soviet Union Hard (i) Anna Dmitrieva 9–7, 8–6Win 2. Sep 1967 Tbilisi, Soviet Union Hard (i) Anna Dmitrieva 7–5, 4–6, 6–1Win 3. Jan 1968 Moscow, Soviet Union Hard (i) Anna Dmitrieva 7–9, 6–1, 10–8Win 4. Aug 1968 Moscow, Soviet Union Hard Marina Chuvirina 6–1, 6–3Win 5. Feb 1969 Moscow, Soviet Union Hard (i) Betty Stöve 6–2, 6–2Loss 6. Mar 1969 Cairo, Egypt Clay Lea Pericoli 1–6, 2–6Loss 7. Mar 1969 Alexandria, Egypt Clay Nell Truman 3–6, 6–2, 3–6Win 8. Jan 1970 Moscow, Soviet Union Hard (i) Marina Chuvirina 6–3, 6–2Win 9. Feb 1970 Moscow, Soviet Union Hard (i) Anna Yeremeyeva 6–4, 6–2Loss 10. Feb 1970 Moscow, Soviet Union Hard (i) Helga Niessen 5–7, 6–2, 3–6Win 11. Mar 1970 Cairo, Egypt Clay Lea Pericoli 6–3, 3–6, 9–7Win 12. Mar 1970 Cairo, Egypt Clay Marcela Barochová 6–4, 6–0Loss 13. Jun 1970 Beckenham, United Kingdom Grass Patti Hogan 1–6, 3–6Win 14. Aug 1970 Moscow, Soviet Union Clay Tiiu Kivi 6–4, 6–4Win 15. Dec 1970 Adelaide, Australia Hard Kristien Shaw-Kemmer 6–4, 4–6, 9–7Win 16. Mar 1971 Cairo, Egypt Clay Lea Pericoli 7–5, 6–0Win 17. Jan 1972 Hobart, Australia Grass Mona Schallau 6–3, 6–3Win 18. Jan 1972 Perth, Australia Grass Janet Young 6–4, 6–2Win 19. Apr 1972 Tashkent, Soviet Union Hard Eugenia Birioukova 6–2, 6–0Win 20. Jun 1972 Beckenham, United Kingdom Grass Jill Cooper 6–4, 6–1Win 21. Aug 1972 Tallinn, Estonia Clay Zaiga Jansone 6–1, 6–0Loss 22. Aug 1972 Bucarest, Romania Clay Marina Kroschina 6–4, 2–6, 5–7Win 23. Aug 1972 Moscow, Soviet Union Clay Marina Kroschina 8–6, 6–2Win 24. Feb 1973 Baku, Soviet Union Hard (i) Marina Kroschina 6–1, 6–2Win 25. Mar 1973 Moscow, Soviet Union Hard (i) Galina Baksheeva 6–2, 6–3Win 26. Aug 1973 Pescara, Italy Clay Éva Szabó 6–0, 1–6, 9–7Win 27. Feb 1974 Salavat, Soviet Union Hard (i) Yelena Granaturova 6–4, 4–6, 6–2Win 28. Feb 1974 Moscow, Soviet Union Hard (i) Marina Kroschina 6–3, 6–1Win 29. Aug 1975 Tallinn, Estonia Clay Marina Kroschina 2–6, 7–6, 6–0Win 30. Aug 1979 Sopot, Poland Clay Hana Mandlíková 4–6, 7–6, 6–3
Doubles: 37 (27–10)