Wendy Barlow (2003)

Wendy Barlow was renowned for her great mental toughness and big heart on the tennis court. She was involved with the Canadian national team program for seven years and won 12 national titles and many prestigious international matches in a short, but impressive career. She began playing at age 10 in the Victoria Parks program and won her age category that first year. Wendy stepped up her training and tournament play and went on to claim six national junior age titles in four years. When her father's pro hockey travels took the family to Phoenix, Wendy and sister Lori's training became an all-year activity. In her mid-teens she continued to win titles and began representing Canada on the junior international tour. At 16, and playing under-18, she was rated #3 in Canada. Wendy represented Canada in three Federation Cup matches against the world's best, and competed five years on the WTA pro tour. Possibly her biggest victories came in 1977, in qualifying for one of eight junior spots into Wimbledon and winning the Canadian women's doubles with Nicole Marois. Wendy realized a life-long dream by winning the Canadian National Championship and the #1 ranking in Canada in 1980. She was Victoria's Female Athlete-of-the-Year in 1978 and capped off her impressive tennis-playing career at the age of 20.