Angela Mortimer Barrett, the British tennis champion who won the 1961 Wimbledon ladies' singles title and overcame significant adversity throughout her career, has died at the age of 93. The All England Club announced her death on August 25, 2025.

Born in Plymouth, Devon, on April 21, 1932, Mortimer didn't begin playing tennis until she was 15. She learned the game with coach Arthur Roberts on the indoor court of the Palace Hotel at Torquay. Despite starting tennis relatively late, she was ready to compete in Grand Slam events by the age of 19.

Mortimer's career was marked by several challenges. Early on, she experienced hearing loss, which she later said helped her focus by shutting out distractions. She also battled illness, including an intestinal infection that caused her to lose a significant amount of weight and left her weakened between her Wimbledon triumphs.

Despite these obstacles, Mortimer achieved significant success. In 1955, she became the first British woman since 1937 to win a Grand Slam singles title, after winning the French Championships. She defeated Dorothy Knode of the U.S. in the final. Mortimer also won the Australian Championships three years later. In addition to her singles achievements, she won the Wimbledon ladies' doubles title in 1955 with partner Anne Shilcock.

Her most memorable victory came in 1961 at Wimbledon, where she defeated fellow Briton Christine Truman in the final. This win was particularly significant as it was the first all-British women's final at Wimbledon in 47 years. In total, Mortimer won three Grand Slam singles titles and one Grand Slam doubles title during her career. She also collected approximately 40 titles across various disciplines in the sport. She reached No. 1 in the world and spent most of the 1950s in the Top 10.

Mortimer was known for her wily baseline game and her preference for playing in shorts, even resisting the attempts of fashion designer Teddy Tinling to change her style. She was a member of the victorious Wightman Cup team in 1960 and later captained the squad from 1964 to 1970. She also served as captain of the British Fed Cup team for four years.

In 1967, Mortimer was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her contributions to lawn tennis. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2020, the women's 85 and over category of the annual ITF Seniors World Team Championships was renamed the Angela Mortimer Cup.

After retiring from professional tennis, Mortimer remained involved in the sport. She played her last tournament in 1962 at Torquay, defeating Ann Haydon Jones in the final. Her autobiography, "My Waiting Game," was published shortly after. She married John Barrett, a former British player, commentator, and author, in 1967. They are one of only two married couples in the Hall of Fame for their individual achievements, along with Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf.

The All England Club chair, Deborah Jevans, said that Mortimer would be remembered for her determination and extraordinary dedication, which saw her overcome significant challenges to rise to the top of tennis.

Angela Mortimer is survived by her husband, John Barrett, their son, Michael, daughter, Sarah Jane, and their families.