The GB squad are into the finals for the second year running – a far cry from the early 2000s nadir
The turn of the millennium marked one of the most significant periods in women’s tennis. An audacious, charismatic generation had stormed the tour, usurping the old leaders and transforming the image of the sport. Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, Jennifer Capriati and Anna Kournikova often generated more attention and higher TV ratings than their male counterparts. Some transcended the sport as global superstars.
At the same time women’s tennis was thriving around the world, it had reached a grim nadir in the UK. For years, not a single woman reached the top 100. They competed almost exclusively on the lower-level ITF circuit, making fleeting cameos on the tour through wildcards at Wimbledon and during the grass season.
