Virginia Ruzici

Virginia Ruzici (born 31 January 1955) is a former professional tennis player from Romania.

She regularly featured in the Romania Fed Cup team throughout her career, and began playing for them in 1973, two years before turning professional.

Ruzici became a professional tennis player in 1975.

One of her main assets on court was her powerful forehand.

In the final, she beat 1977 French Open champion Mima Jaušovec 6–2, 6–2.

Ruzici remained in the world's top 20 from 1977 to 1983.

Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.

She won the 1978 French Open singles championship.

In a career spanning 12 years, Ruzici won 12 career singles titles, including one Grand Slam title, the 1978 French Open.

Ruzici also won the French Open doubles event with Jaušovec in 1978 and reached the mixed doubles final in 1978.

At Wimbledon 1978, Ruzici lost a notable match in the quarterfinal to the Australian Evonne Goolagong who was playing with an injured ankle.

Goolagong's injury led to her collapsing on court and her husband, Roger Cawley, came on to the court to aid his wife, technically defaulting the Australian from the match.

When Goolagong recovered, Ruzici agreed to continue the match, but lost 7–5, 6–3 and was praised for her sportsmanship.

She appeared in the French Open singles final in 1980, but lost in straight sets to Chris Evert.

It has been stated during TV commentaries that Ruzici's victory in 1980 at a tournament in Salt Lake City was watched by Richard Williams who was inspired by her triumph and prize money to teach his daughters Venus and Serena Williams to play tennis.

Ruzici was the manager of Romanian tennis player Simona Halep until 2022.