Wimbledon has today appointed its first female Chair - but it's just one of the many historic leaps Debbie Jevans CBE has racked up in her career. 

At 62, the former player has not only enjoyed a successful tennis career which saw her power through 10 Grand Slam singles tournaments and face off the legendary Virginia Wade, but has fought for her place in the boys' clubs which ran the sports administration industry.

Her hard work and charisma landed the athlete with a series of accolades - and she has spent decades paving the way for other women in the industry.

Aged just 27, she became director of the Women's Game at the International Tennis Federation - and four years later in 1991, rose to General Secretary.

A dream role came along in 2003, when Debbie was the first woman in Olympic History to be appointed at her position - Director of Sport for an organising committee - for the 2012 games in London.

Following her success at the international event, she was then granted the revered chief executive position for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Tensions rose as Debbie was then understood to have received a six-figure pay-off from the RFU after walking less than six months before the Cup - and the fact that they were prepared to hand over around £150,000 suggests the Twickenham hierarchy were just as keen to part company with the boss as she was to leave them.

The pro has also worked with the English Football League and in a 2018 interview on the EFL's website, Debbie candidly opened up about her journey to success, admitting her frustrations that 'we are still having the same conversation that we were having in 1990'. 

'Personally when I first started my career, I didn't find it easy being one of the only women at a senior level within a sports organisation,' she added. 'However, it was something I became more comfortable with albeit not accepting of.'

She also proudly spoke of her achievements in helping pave the way for other women in the space; a path she has trekked  after playing tennis from 1979 to 1983, reaching as far as the fourth round of the tournament but being defeated by Virginia Wade. 

Debbie said that 50 per cent of her sport managers during her 2012 Olympics gig were woman, and she has always championed the inclusion of women on Boards to encourage 'better decision making'.

The spearheading sports pro has been tight-lipped when it comes to her public life - instead preferring to focus on the impact of her work - but did in 2014 inform the BBC that she was 'amicably divorced' from former Wimbledon referee Andrew Jarrett, who was her mixed doubles partner.

She was also reportedly still enjoyed playing doubles, lived in Chelsea (but was born in Essex) and at the time supported Leeds United.

Her Herculean efforts during the 2012 Olympics have been some of the most celebrated. 

According to the BBC, Debbie in her organising role managed some 20,000 staff, working with a budget of more than £160 million. Her responsibilities were a myriad, the outlet reports, including overseeing and delivering 'all aspects' of the events and keeping on top of the medical and anti-doping programmes.

'When I look back to the Olympics, what really made me happy was sitting in the stadium and just seeing how well everything went,' she admitted in an interview with the national news service.

Now Debbie is to become Wimbledon's Vice-Chair before taking over from the outgoing Ian Hewitt when he steps down after this summer's Championships.

She has won out in the race to succeed him over businessman Kevin Havelock and the decision was officially announced by Wimbledon this week.

She does not come in at an easy time for one of the country's most iconic institutions. 

The Club has still not resolved the issue of being deducted points for its banning of Russian and Belarussian players last summer, with the potential of it happening all over again.

There is also the complex planning permission they are trying to secure for the expansion into a neighbouring golf course, which has met with widespread opposition from the local community.

Ian Hewitt said: 'Debbie has a valuable combination of skills and experience gained over a long career in sport, both as a former professional tennis player and through a number of leadership roles within high-profile sports organisations as well as her many years of service on the Club Committee.

'This equips her well for the role and I look forward, as planned, to handing over as Chair after The Championships 2023 and wish Debbie all success as we continue with our ambitions.'