Described as both vivacious and pugnacious, Julie Heldman (b.1945) dueled her way to 22 professional titles and helped pioneer the women’s pro circuit. The daughter of junior champion Julius Heldman and World Tennis publisher Gladys Heldman, she grew up with tennis and won her first national title – the Canadian 18 and under singles – at age 12. While a student at Stanford in 1964 she reached the national collegiate singles and doubles finals.

Heldman enjoyed particular success in international team competition. She played on two championship Fed Cup teams and captured Most Valuable Player honors in Wightman and Bonne Bell Cup play, the latter secured with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Evonne Goolagong in 1974.

Equally talented outside of tennis, Heldman worked as a television commentator and journalist, and was named Law Graduate of the Year at UCLA in 1981. Julie and her husband are now running their own successful business.