Pam Whytcross, a much-loved and respected WTA employee and former player, was honored with the Spirit of Tennis Award at the 2024 Australian Tennis Awards in Melbourne earlier this week.
The accolade, which counts Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Alicia Molik and Sam Stosur among recent recipients, recognizes an individual who personifies leadership, sportsmanship and goodwill while making a major contribution to the stature of tennis.
On the eve of Wimbledon in 1973, Whytcross was a wide-eyed 19-year-old amateur when she decided to attend a meeting called by Billie Jean King at London’s Gloucester Hotel. There, along with some 60 other players, she participated in the historic vote that saw the formation of the WTA.
So began a lifetime of contribution to the sport.
Turning pro in 1977, Whytcross reached the third round at Roland Garros, where eventual champion Mima Jausovec ended her run. The following year, at Wimbledon, she was the second-round opponent of Martina Navratilova, who went on to capture the first of her nine singles titles at the All England Club.
Whytcross would go on to enjoy her greatest successes in doubles, reaching the final of the Australian Open in 1978 with Japan’s Naoko Sato and collecting three titles in 1983, one at Kitzbühel and two in back-to-back weeks at Tokyo.
After retiring as a player in 1986, Whytcross launched her career as a tennis official and administrator across the sport’s biggest stages. Over the decades since then she has supported and inspired countless athletes and colleagues with her fair-minded and down-to-earth style.
“The amazing Pam Whytcross has quite literally dedicated her life to tennis,” said former World No.4 Stosur, who presented Whytcross with her award.
“She has been a tireless pillar of this sport for more than 50 years. Pam’s dedication, kindness and…