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Evonne Goolagong Cawley Year end No. 1 ranking: 1971 If a local resident hadn't spotted Evonne Fay Goolagong peering through a fence at the local courts, it is unlikely that this native Aboriginal Australian, daughter of a farmer, would have had a chance to play. Goolagong was a natural, had great hands, reflexes and a carefree temperament, which resulted in the New South Wales girl winning two Wimbledon, one French and four Australian Championships.
She made the move to Sydney in 1967, aged just 13 and began to rise through the ranks, defeating fellow countrywoman Helen Gourlay, just before her 20th birthday in the 1971 French Open final. Barely a month later she beat her childhood idol Margaret Court in the Wimbledon final 6-4, 6-1. By losing in the Australian Open final, earlier in the year, she finished 1971 as the world's number one player. The London press nicknamed her the "Sunshine Supergirl" as she got to the Wimbledon final three more times losing to Billie Jean King in 1973 and 1975 and Chris Evert in 1976. By then she had married Englishman Roger Cawley and it was nine years after her first triumph that she was crowned champion again in 1980. Evert and Martina Navratilova were Goolagong's main rivals throughout the 1970s, but the Aborigine tasted victory against them in the 1974 (Evert) and 1975 (Navratilova) Australian Open finals, winning in 1976-77 as well. Evert once said about playing Goolagong: "The incredible thing about playing her is that if i hit a winner i would hear 'Good shot!' I kept saying to myself, 'Is this girl real?' She is." She won the U.S. Indoor title in 1973, but the U.S. Open proved her hoodoo, losing in four consecutive finals between 1973-76. Goolagong won the season ending Virginia Slims championship in 1974 and 1976, ending her career with 43 singles and nine doubles titles. When she retired in 1983, Goolagong had amassed $1,399,431 in prize money, leading Australia to three Federation Cup victories in 1971, 1973-74 and two finals in 1975-76. Grand Slam Record Australian Open Singles winner 1974-77;
Singles finalist 1971-73; Doubles winner 1971, 1974-77 Wimbledon Singles winner 1971, 1980; Singles finalist 1972, 1975-76; Doubles winner 1974; Doubles finalist 1971; Mixed finalist 1972 U.S. Championships Singles finalist 1973-76; Tournament Record (inc. Federation Cup) Italian Open Singles winner 1973; Doubles finalist 1979 Australian Federation Cup team member
1971-76, 1982; winning side 1971, 1973-74; losing side 1975-76
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