Rosie Casals

Rosie Casals is a retired tennis player, and a legend in women’s tennis. Her feisty nature and her enigmatic personality has earned her the nickname ‘Rosebud,’ an allusion to the character of the same name in the controversial motion picture, “Citizen Kane.” The nickname was perfectly appropriate, as Rosebud was every bit a controversial figure in tennis.

Rosebud was born in September 16, 1948 in San Francisco, California. A right-hander, Casals knew at an early age that tennis was her future. She skipped classes in high school to play the game in Golden Gate Park, barely graduating as a senior when she had to leave a month before school ended, to play at the Wimbledon.

Rosebud, second to Martina Navratilova, holds the record for the amazing number of participated tournaments. She played in 304 Singles tournaments from 1968 to 1982, winning 528 matches and losing 296. From 1968 to 1991, Citizen Casals competed in 381 Doubles tournaments, winning 112 titles and 856 matches. Her immense popularity was rooted on the fact that she was amazing on court, the kind of player who could incite the crowd to hoot and yell. Her spectacular play consisted of power, force and acrobatics, being able to hit the ball in the most impossible but amazing ways. In one event, she smashed the forehand shot of her opponent between her legs.

Casals was the protégé of Billie Jean King, another tennis legend, and together they were known as the indestructible tandem, on and off court. The emergence of the feminist movement in the 1970s prompted King and the other top players in women’s tennis to challenge the established male order. Casals and King paved the way for women players in having the same opportunities and publicity as the men did, making women’s tennis a serious sport and an explosive event to watch and anticipate.

Casals last competed with Navratilova in the Doubles category at the 1988 Oakland tournament. Her prize money amounted to $1,364,955, a distinctively fatter purse than when she last played on court in her golden time as Rosebud.