Evonne Goolagong
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| Country |  Australia |
|
|---|---|---|
| Residence | Australia | |
| Date of birth | 31 July 1951 | |
| Place of birth | Griffith, New South Wales, Australia | |
| Height | 5'6" (1.68 m) | |
| Weight | 130 lbs. (58.9 kg) | |
| Turned pro | 1969 | |
| Retired | 1983 | |
| Plays | Right-handed | |
| Career prize money | US$1,399,431 | |
| Int. Tennis HOF | 1988 (member page) | |
| Singles | ||
| Career record | 704–165 | |
| Career titles | 68 | |
| Highest ranking | 1 (April 26, 1976) | |
| Grand Slam results | ||
| Australian Open | W (1974, 1975, 1976, 1977(Dec.)) | |
| French Open | W (1971) | |
| Wimbledon | W (1971, 1980) | |
| US Open | F (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976) | |
| Doubles | ||
| Career record | 18–16 | |
| Career titles | 7 | |
| Highest ranking | - | |
| Last updated on: 4 February 2007. | ||
Evonne Fay Goolagong Cawley, AO, MBE (born 31 July 1951 in Griffith, New South Wales, Australia) is a former World No. 1 Australian female tennis player. She was one of the world's leading players in the 1970s and early 1980s, when she won 14 Grand Slam titles: seven in singles (four Australian Open, two Wimbledon and one French Open), six in women's doubles, and one in mixed doubles.
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[edit] Early life
She was born Evonne Goolagong but became known as Evonne Goolagong Cawley following her marriage to the British amateur tennis player Roger Cawley in 1975. She is one of eight children from an Australian Aboriginal family, being a member of the Wiradjuri people. She grew up in the small country town of Barellan, New South Wales. Her father, Kenny Goolagong, was an itinerant sheep shearer. Although Aboriginal people faced widespread discrimination in rural Australia at this time, Evonne was able to play tennis in Barellan from childhood thanks to a kindly resident, Bill Kurtzman, who saw her peering through the fence at the local courts and encouraged her to come in and play. In 1967, the proprietor of a tennis school in Sydney, Vic Edwards, tipped off by two of his assistants, traveled upcountry to take a look at the young Evonne and immediately saw her potential. He convinced her parents to allow Evonne to move to Sydney, where she attended Willoughby Girls High School. Here she completed her School Certificate in 1968 and was at the same time coached by Edwards, living in his household.
[edit] Life post tour
Goolagong spent some time as the touring pro at the Hilton Head Racquet Club in South Carolina before returning to Australia.[1]
Goolagong was a member of the Board of the Australian Sports Commission from 1995 to 1997 and since 1997 has held the position of Sports Ambassador to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. Goolagong was appointed captain of the Australian Fed Cup team in 2002. In 2003, she was winner for the Oceania region of the International Olympic Committee's 2003 Women and Sports Trophy. Goolagong also runs an annual "Goolagong National Development Camp", with the aim of facilitating Aboriginal children playing competitive tennis.[2]
[edit] Awards and recognition
Goolagong was awarded an MBE in 1972 and made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1982. In 1988, Goolagong was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
[edit] Personal life
Following her wedding to Roger Cawley in 1975, Goolagong settled in Naples, Florida. After living in the U.S. for eight years, the couple bought a home at Noosa Heads, Queensland, where they settled with their two children. Daughter Kelly (born 1977) helps run her tennis camps and son Morgan Cawley (born 1981) was a National Soccer League player.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official WTA profile
- International Tennis Hall of Fame profile
- Fed Cup record
- Sports Illustrated article
- Photograph from The Age
- Evonne Goolagong Cawley collection at the National Museum of Australia
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