Claim: Heather Watson plays tennis.

The Women 's Tennis Association -LRB- WTA -RRB- , founded in 1973 by Billie Jean King , is the principal organizing body of women 's professional tennis . It governs the WTA Tour which is the worldwide professional tennis tour for women . Its counterpart organization in the men 's professional game is the Association of Tennis Professionals -LRB- ATP -RRB- .   The Women 's Tennis Association was founded in the month of June 1973 , but traces its origins to the inaugural Virginia Slims tournament , arranged by Gladys Heldman , and held on 23 September 1970 at the Houston Racquet Club in Houston , Texas . Rosie Casals won this first event . The WTA 's corporate headquarters is in St. Petersburg , Florida , with its European headquarters in London and its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Beijing .