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83K views 196 replies 17 participants last post by  charlesdfriesen 
#1 · (Edited)
Please e-mail or private message any results I'm missing, or post them in the "Grand Slam Results" thread, and I'll give credit and post them here. Any feedback regarding unusual events, match points, incomplete names, etc. are also welcome.


Many thanks to my Aussie specialists Andrew Tas, Louloubelle, and Gee Tee (who provided many hard to find names) for all of their hard work.

Enjoy.
 
#2 · (Edited)
Early Years

From 1905 until 1926 the Aussie was known as the Australasian-with New Zealand hosting some years. The women didn't get a national title until 1922. Before 1922 the most prestigious event for women was the New South Wales Open. An early winner, Rose Payten, was very famous. Because of the long distances involved she only journeyed out of Australia once to compete.

Below is the list of men only Australasian championships. Women competed in some of these events as state championships held concurrently with the men's national title. Evidence for an early women's Australasian title is totally lacking other than foreign sources, which probably confused the state title for a national one.

1905-Melbourne, Nov 21 to 26.
1906-New Zealand, Christchurch, on Boxing Day. Final on Dec 31.
1907-Brisbane. August(ALT lists it as September)
1908-Sydney. American Fred Alexander in OZ for Davis Cup.
1909-Perth. October
1910-Adelaide, March 15-19
1911-Melbourne-The Argus reports on final.
1912-New Zealand, Hastings, North Island. No Aussies.
1913-Perth. November.
1914-Melbourne.
1915-Brisbane
World War one suspends event until 1919.
1919-(played in Sydney in late January of 1920!).
1920-Adelaide. March.
1921-Perth
################
 
#3 · (Edited)
1922 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dates: December 1-9
Site: White City, (Rushcutter's Bay) Sydney.
Surface: Grass

---------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=15)

1st Round

Mall Molesworth d. Annie Gray 7-5 6-3
Marjorie Mountain d. Cora Stevens 6-4 6-3
Syd Carr d. Mrs Rock 6-2 1-6 8-6
Gwen Utz d. Esme Doddemeade 6-4 6-2

Esna Boyd d. Floris St.George 6-4 6-1
Jessie Watson d. Mrs M. Grant 6-3 6-2
Sylvia Lance d. Lorna Bull 6-3 6-1
Mary Elliott-bye

Quarterfinals

Molesworth d. Mountain 6-4 6-4
Utz d. Carr default
Boyd d. Watson 6-3 6-2
Lance d. Elliot 6-1 6-2

Semifinals

Boyd d. Lance 6-4 10-8
Molesworth d. Utz 6-2 6-3

Final

Mall Molesworth d. Esna Boyd 6-3 10-8

Mrs Molesworth-1st Aussie ladies champion



-------------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=9)

Preliminary Round

Annie Gray/Nellie Lloyd d. Lorna Bull/Mary Elliott 6-4 6-3

Quarterfinals

Esna Boyd/Marjorie Mountain d. Mrs Docker/Marjorie Schultze 6-1 6-4
Mall Molesworth/Jessie Watson d. Syd Carr/Esme Doddemeade 7-5 4-6 6-3
Irene Forbes-Smith/Sylvia Lance d. Gray/Lloyd 5-7 13-11 6-2
Floris St.George/Gwen Utz d. Daisy Garland/D. Menzies 6-3 6-2

Semifinals

Boyd/Mountain d. Molesworth/Watson 7-5 6-3
St.George/Utz d. Forbes-Smith/Lance default

Final

Esna Boyd/Marjorie Mountain d. Floris St.George/Gwen Utz 1-6 6-4 7-5

-------------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=15)

1st Round

Gwen Utz/Harold Utz-bye
Sylvia Lance/Stewart Henderson d. Mary Elliott/Jack Clemenger 6-0 6-0
Marjorie Mountain/Rupert Wertheim d. Lorna Bull/Keith Poulton 3-6 6-4 6-3
Hazel Webber/Arthur Yencken d. Minnie Goodman/Bruce Dive 6-0 9-7

Esna Boyd/John Hawks d. Syd Carr/Dudley Bullough 6-4 6-0
Mall Molesworth/Leslie Baker d. Millie Mitchell/Prosper Sandral 6-1 7-5
Jessie Watson/Edward Jordan d. Grace Paterson/William Sheehan 6-4 6-3
Annie Gray/Percy Lane d. Floris St. George/Frank Peach 8-6 5-7 10-8

Quarterfinals

Utz/Utz d. Lance/Henderson default
Mountain/Wertheim d. Webber/Yencken 6-0 6-2
Boyd/Hawkes d. Molesworth/Baker 6-2 5-7 6-2
Watson/Jordan d. Gray/Love ????? (probable default)

Semifinals

Utz/Utz d. Mountain/Wertheim 6-3 6-3
Boyd/Hawkes d. Watson/Jordan 6-3 6-3

Final

Esna Boyd/Jack Hawkes d. Gwen Utz/Harold Utz 6-1 6-1

-------------------------------------------------

Draw notes and resolves:

The official site does not have the complete draw for any of the five events. It also lists our 2 missing Mixed QF results as byes, clearly an oversight. It also has an incorrect doubles semifinal result. All results stemming from The Australian site should thus be double-checked.

Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th washed out and tournament didn't finish until Saturday 9th December. The backup in play explains the defaults in the doubles events.

The Sydney Morning Herald, in its Dec 9 edition, indicated that Miss Lance had to default in the women's doubles and the mixed with her partner Henderson. The reason given was her departure for New Zealand. Note that the Grand Slam book and official Aussie sites have a score for this semi. However, unless these scores can be verified in another source (such as a newspaper) the default in the semis of the doubles is the likely score.

Match points saved:

1R Doubles: Irene Forbes-Smith/Sylvia Lance d. Gray/Lloyd 5-7 13-11 6-2 (saved at least 1 mp in the 2nd set. Other sources mention "several" match points)

Missing full names for:

Mrs Docker. Possibly=Mrs Keith Brougham Docker of Strathfield
Mrs M. Grant
Miss D Menzies (Who is not 'Peg'. Miss AG 'Peg' Menzies was a junior NSW player in the 1930s)
Mrs Rock. Listed as Mrs in newspapers. Or a Miss? "I suspect Miss ROCK (1922) is a Sydney University (circa 1918) tennis player." (Per Gee Tee)

Notes on Names:

Some sources list Gladys Paterson (rather than Grace Paterson). The SMH uses Patterson and Paterson. GeeTee writes that the 1922 entrant here is Gladys Paterson, daughter of "Banjo" Paterson, the famous writer of "Waltzing Matilda." Other newspaper sources thrughout 1922 back this up.

Mrs GB Stevens is most likely Mrs George B Stevens (nee Cora Smith) but this is not verifiable at this time.

The official site has Lorna Utz. It is wrong. It is Gwen (Gwendolyn). There were two Utz's. Lorna Utz (nee Bull-listed in the 1922 singles draw) was maried to Leslie Utz in 1924. Gwen (nee Chiplin) was married to her mixed partner H. S. "Barney" Utz. This is the pair that traveled to England and played Wimbledon in 1925. Major thanks go out to GeeTee for pointing this out.

Jack Clemenger is also listed as John in some sources.
Wilfred Bruce Dive went by his middle name.
-------------------------------------------------

Sources:

GeeTee (who deserves major thanks for many identities uncovered here)
Andrew Tas
The Grand Slam Record Book

Trove Australian Newspapers online, especially the Sydney Morning Herald and Adelaide Advertiser.

LAWN TENNIS NOTES. - AUSTRALAIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS. - The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946) - 9 Dec 1922

-------------------------------------------------

Summary

Molesworth's variety, power and precision stood her in good stead during the tournament. She defeated Utz who was a crafty tactician, but her courtcraft failed against Molesworth's power and versatility. Boyd survived in the other semi despite being 2-4 down in each set against Lance. In the final Molesworth played the bigger points better as Boyd had several set points at 7-6 in the 2nd set. According to the Adelaide Advertiser "The final of the ladies singles...was throughly enjoyed by all. The rallies were long and frequent, and the quality high class. Miss Molesworth's service and backhand were superior to those of Miss Boyd." Boyd excelled in crosscourt forehands, but Mall's crosscourt backhand winners were more frequent.

Gray and Lloyd held a match point in the ladies QF with Forbes-Smith and Lance. Lance then had to default in the next match (and the mixed) to go to New Zealand.

The doubles final was most exciting. The NSW pair of St George/Utz led 4-3. The next game, with Utz serving, had spectators in a fever pitch, as deuce was called 16 times. Boyd/Molesworth won the key game and the minutes later the title. "Mrs Utz played the game of her life", while Mall set up Boyd at net with her great returns. Boyd was noticeably tired from the singles final.

5,000 came on finals day. Earlier week figures were between 2 and 3,000.
 
#4 · (Edited)
1923 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dates: Saturday August 11th - Saturday August 18th
Site: Milton Courts, in suburb of Auchenflower, Brisbane, Australia
Surface: Grass

---------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=13)

1st Round

Mall Molesworth-bye
Alice Bell-bye
Sylvia Lance d. Mrs Docker 6-3 6-1
Emily Roe d. Keyden Irving 6-2 10-8

Margaret Haymen d. Beryl Turner 6-2 7-5
Jessie Watson d. Floris St George 10-8 6-1
Millie Mitchell d. Beryl Rosser 6-3 6-4
Esna Boyd-bye

Quarterfinals

Molesworth d. Bell 6-2 6-1
Lance d. Roe 6-0 6-4
Haymen d. Watson 7-5 8-6
Boyd d. Mitchell 6-1 6-3

Semifinals

Molesworth d. Lance 3-6 6-4 8-6
Boyd d. Haymen 6-2 6-2

Final

Mall Molesworth d. Esna Boyd 6-1 7-5

Esna Boyd-finalist for the 2nd year in a row




Doubles (Draw=9)

Preliminary Round

Emily Roe/Margaret Haymen d. Jessie Watson/Floris St George 3-6 6-4 6-1

Quarterfinals

Florence Jackson/W. Kelly d. Marjorie Byram/Dorothy Hawthorn 6-0 7-5
Mall Molesworth/Beryl Turner d. Corinne Gould/Keyden Irving 6-1 6-3
Esna Boyd/Sylvia Lance d Phyllis Briggs/Beryl Rosser 6-2 6-1
Roe/Haymen d. Mrs Docker/Millie Mitchell 6-4 6-4

Semifinals

Molesworth/Turner d. Jackson/Kelly default
Boyd/Lance d. Roe/Haymen 6-2 7-5

Final

Esna Boyd/Sylvia Lance d. Mall Molesworth/Beryl Turner 6-1 6-4

-------------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=13)

1st Round

Sylvia Lance/Horrie Rice d. Mrs Parkinson/Vincent Swayne 6-4 6-0
Floris St. George/Lisle Terrey-bye
Esna Boyd/Pat O'Hara Wood d. Winifred Kelly/Walter Harold Smith 6-4 6-3
Keyden Irving/Fitzroy Cory-bye

Mall Molesworth/Bert St. John d Emily Roe/Alf Thurlow 6-4 6-1
Mrs Docker/Harold Illingworth-bye
Millicent Mitchell/Edward Jordan d Beryl Turner/Leonard Thulow 7-5 6-4
Jessie Watson/Dudley Bullough d Margaret Haymen/Dick North 4-6 6-3 6-1

Quarterfinals

Lance/Rice d. St George/Terry 10-8 6-2
Boyd/O'Hara Wood d. Irving/Cory 6-4 6-2
Molesworth/St. John d. Docker/Illingworth 6-3 6-1
Mitchell/Jordan d. Watson/Bullough 7-5 6-4

Semifinals

Lance/Rice d. Boyd/O'Hara Wood 6-4 6-4
Molesworth/St. John d. Mitchell/Jordan 7-5 6-3

Final

Sylvia Lance/Horrie Rice d. Mall Molesworth/Bert St John 2-6 6-4 6-4

-------------------------------------------------

Draw notes:

Missing full names for:

Mrs Docker
W. Kelly
Mrs Parkinson

Miss Haymen, Mrs Jackson and Miss Kelly all hail from Queensland.

Mrs JL Briggs=nee Phyllis Moxon
Margaret Haymen (see note below for Roe)

*GeeTee notes that Miss W Kelly probably equals Winifred "Winnie" Kelly.

*Emily Dawson Roe (nee Haymen) married Arthur Stanley Roe on 22 January 1917. The official site incorrectly uses "Rose". Aussie papers list Mrs Roe as Mrs AS Roe. Judith (born by 1928), the only daughter of Dr and Mrs A.S. Roe, was married in 1948 to Eric Russell. The 3 Haymen daughters were the children of M. G. (Montague Granville) Haymen (died 1941), director of a Queenland Bank. Margaret Haymen (who wed Charles Clark (1902-1965) on 12 December 1928) and Nell Hayman (married to Englishman Timothy Patrick Honnor on 11 July 1937). Emily is our "Mrs Roe" in this draw.

Mrs H Turner=nee Beryl Spowers

AL North=Dr Allan Lindsay "Dick" North.

-------------------------------------------------

Sources:

Andrew Tas
Gee Tee

A Brisbane Courier report on the final: 20 Aug 1923 - LAWN TENNIS. - Trove

24 Aug 1923 - WAS HE RUDE? - Trove [On how atrocious the umpire was to Boyd]

Other days reports:
18 Aug 1923 - QUEENSLANDERS SCORE. - Trove [The semifinals]
17 Aug 1923 - TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS. - Trove [The Mixed doubles final]
16 Aug 1923 - TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS. - Trove
15 Aug 1923 - TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS. - Trove
14 Aug 1923 - THE CHAMPIONSHIPS. - Trove
13 Aug 1923 - CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS. - Trove [600 came to see play on day 1]

-------------------------------------------------

Summary

Mall Molesworth is the favorite to defend her title from the day she arrives by mail train until finals day; though her defense is not without thrills. Unlike most players it is on the backhand that Mall is considered most deadly. By contrast her forehand and volleys often let her down this week.

Sylvia Lance was by far the best doubles player among the women, annexing the doubles and mixed titles. "She repeatedly scored with hard smashes" wrote the Courier in describing one of her doubles matches. She won several volleying duals in the mixed final over the male Bert St John. Lance's mixed partner Horrie Rice was 51 years of age, with finalist St John no spring chicken at 44.

Sylvia was part of the most exciting encounter of the week in the semis vs Molesworth, where she had a match point.Lance's volleying won the first set 6-3 and her backhand was standing up well. Molesworth switched attack in the 2nd set to Lance's stronger wing, the forehand, which broke up Lance's rhythm. Winning the 2nd set 6-4 and streaking to 5-2, Lance made a final stand to reach match point at 6-5 40-30. On this point she played a near perfect drop shot, in which Molesworth charged in, just reached the ball on spooned it over for a clear winner. Lance's chance was gone, and Molesworth won the 3rd 8-6. The last set saw 20 deuces.

Her finals opponent was again Boyd who recovered from a 1st set 1-6 beating to lead 3-1 40-30. But an appalling line call against Boyd demoralised her and Molesworth shot to 5-3. Despite a last desperate effort to retrieve the deficit, Boyd lost 6-1 7-5. The Brisbane Courier report indicates Boyd usually erred by hitting into the net.

The umpiring was so awful that the crowd frequently tried to influence decisions. When Boyd quietly asked about the controversial call she thought may have raised chalk the umpire told her. "Everybody could see the ball was out by inches." The crowd gave Esna loud and sympathetic applause when the match was over.
 
#5 · (Edited)
1924 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dates: January 19-30
Site: Albert Park, Melbourne
Surface: Grass

---------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw= 22)

1st round

Sylvia Lance [3] d. Mavis McIver 6-2 6-1
Flora Rowe d. Mollie Muirhead 6-1 6-0
Marjorie Todd [8] d. Frances Hoddle-Wrigley 6-3 6-3
Vera de Bavay-bye
Kath Le Messurier [6] -bye
Minnie Richardson-bye
Vera Howett (GB)-bye
Mall Molesworth [1] -bye

Esna Boyd [2] d. Nell Thyne default
E. Johnson d. Lily Addison [5] default
Gwen Hack d. Jessie Salter 6-3 7-5
Jessie Simpson-bye
Daphne Akhurst [4] -bye
Ursula Bere-bye
Jean Ferguson-bye
Violet Mather-bye

2nd Round

Lance d. Rowe 6-3 6-2
Todd d. Bavay 6-1 6-1
Le Messurier d. Richardson 6-3 6-1
Molesworth d. Howett default

Boyd d. Johnson 6-1 6-1
Simpson d. Hack 6-3 6-8 6-4
Akhurst d. Bere 4-6 7-5 6-0
Mather d. Ferguson 6-2 10-8

Quarterfinals

Lance d. Todd 1-6 6-4 6-1
Le Messurier d. Molesworth 7-9 6-3 8-6
Boyd d. Simpson 6-1 6-1
Akhurst d. Mather 6-1 6-4

Semifinals

Lance d. Le Messurier 6-2 6-2
Boyd d. Akhurst 6-1 6-4

Final

Sylvia Lance d. Esna Boyd 6-3 3-6 6-4

Champion Sylvia Lance




-------------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=16)

1st Round

Daphne Akhurst/Sylvia Lance [1] d. Kathleen Roberts/Jessie Salter 6-1 6-1
Minnie Richardson/Jessie Simpson d. Lily Addison/Dorothy Hope 6-3 6-4
Mall Molesworth/Dot Rendall [3] d. M. Farnsworth/Betty Morton 6-4 6-1
Youtha Anthony/Frances Hoddle Wrigley d. Nancy Grant/Hester Phillimore (GB) default

Esna Boyd/Gertrude Todd [2] d. Violet Mather/Marjorie Mountain 61 6-2
Louie Boddington/Nell Thyne d. Ruby Mercer/Isabel Wade 6-3 6-1
Kath Le Messurier/Meryl O'Hara Wood [4] d. Vera de Bavay/Ursula Bere 6-2 6-1
Gwen Hack/Flora Rowe d. Mrs G.B. Goodes/Helen Outhwaite 6-8 8-6 7-5

Quarterfinals

Akhurst/Lance [1] d. Richardson/Simpson 6-3 6-2
Molesworth/Rendall [3] d. Anthony/Hoddle Wrigley 6-3 6-2
Boyd/Todd [2] d. Boddington/Thyne 9-7 6-3
Le Messurier/O'Hara Wood [4] d. Hack/Rowe 6-2 6-1

Semifinals

Akhurst/Lance [1] d. Molesworth/Rendall [3] 6-3 6-1
Le Messurier/O'Hara Wood [4] d. Boyd/Todd [2] 6-4 6-3

Final

Daphne Akhurst/Sylvia Lance [1] d. Kath Le Messurier/Meryl O'Hara Wood [4] 7-5 6-2

-------------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=16)

1st Round

Daphne Akhurst/Jack Willard [4] d. Flora Rowe/Frank Drews 6-2 6-4
Mall Molesworth/Norman Roberts d. Hester Phillimore (GB)/Noel Heath 6-4 6-2
Dorothy Hope/Bob Schlesinger d. Meryl O'Hara Wood/Pat O'Hara Wood [1] 3-6 6-2 6-4
Minnie Richardson/Colin Newton d. Gwen Hack/Clive Fitts 6-2 1-6 6-4

Sylvia Lance/Ian McInnes [2] d. Vera de Bavay/Rupert Wertheim 7-5 6-1
Kath Le Messurier/Walter Harold Smith d. Quentin Winter-Irving/Basil Henty 6-2 3-6 9-7
Marjorie Todd/Jack Clemenger d Ursula Bere/Alex Sandral 6-3 4-6 6-1
Esna Boyd/Gar Hone [3] d Mavis McIver/Timothy Fitchett 6-2 7-5

Quarterfinals

Akhurst/Williard [4]d Molesworth/Roberts 6-3 6-0
Hope/Schlesinger d Richardson/Newton 4-6 6-2 6-3
Lance/McInnes [2] d Messurier/Smith 6-0 6-3
Boyd/Hone [3] d Todd/Clemenger 6-3 6-3

Semifinals

Akhurst/Willard [4] d. Hope/Schlesinger 7-5 6-2
Boyd/Hone [3] d. Lance/McInnes [2] 6-1 6-4

Final

Daphne Akhurst/Jack Willard [4] d. Esna Boyd/Gar Hone [3] 6-3 6-4

-------------------------------------------------

Draw Notes:

Rain on the last few days delayed the event-it concluded on Wednesday, January 30.

The first year seeding was used.

Meryl O'Hara Wood was the #7 seed in singles but not in draw. Did she default before the event started? Note the default of #5 seed Addison, presumably after the draw was already made.

Jean Ferguson plays for the Brighton Club
Nancy Grant (and not Mrs M. Grant) was Hester Phillimore's partner in doubles.
Adela Gwendoline Hack went by "Gwen"
Mrs Dorothy Agnes Hope is the sister of Richard (Bob) Schlesinger. She wed Rodney Hope on 18 August 1921 in South Yarra.
Vera Howett listed as Miss V.M. Howett.
Betty Morton=Miss I. Morton.
Mrs JS Simpson= nee Miss Jessie Graham Keltie of Tasmania.
Nell Thyne listed as HM Thyne
Mrs J Todd= nee Marjorie Mountain, Md to a Mr J Todd in November 1923.

Missing full names for:

Miss M. Farnsworth, who partners with Miss Morton regularly, was until recently a member of the Grace Park Club.
Mrs G. B. Goodes. Another variant is Mrs Goode. She is also called Miss Goodes in a couple of sources.
E. Johnson

-------------------------------------------------

Sources:

GeeTee
The Melbourne Argus

Thanks to AustinRunner and Louloubelle for added information.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/140747961?searchTerm=hester%20phillimore%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&searchLimits=exactPhrase|||anyWords|||notWords|||requestHandler|||dateFrom=1923-08-01|||dateTo=1924-09-30|||sortby [This article confirms several player names]

Discussion thread on event results at:
1924 Australian Draw - TennisForum.com

-------------------------------------------------

Summary:

Molesworth was the favorite again this year but fell in the quarters to Kath Le Messurier 9-7 3-6 6-8. This match was different to the usual women's matches of this time as both women drove fiercely from beginning to end. Le Mesurier who had improved greatly over the last 12 months led in every set. Molesworth pegged her back from 3-5 to win the first. Le Messurier's off-backhand caused problems for Molesworth, jamming her on the backhand side, to give her the second set and two match points at 5-2 in the 3rd. Molesworth hit her away back to 5-5 but Le Messurier steadied to win 8-6.

A young 20 y/o Daphne Akhurst won her quarterfinal with one reporter getting quite carried away:
"Miss Akhurst an artist to her fingertips, belied her delicate Victorian that suggested she had slipped out of one of Jane Austen's novels by sifting cayenne pepper shots from a never-failing supply.

Sylvia Lance recovered from a bad start to beat the Victorian Mrs. Todd 16 64 61 and Boyd beat Simpson to complete the semi lineups. Boyd carried this form to beat Akhurst by pinning the Sydney youngster against the backnetting with the depth and power of her forehand, the most feared shot in Australian women's tennis. Lance defeated Le Mesurier 6-2 6-2 by adapting her to the soft court by slicing and chopping, in which the lack of pace told against le Mesurier who handled Molesworth's power the round before."

Lance looked to be in full control against Boyd when she led 6-3 3-0 and 40-15, but Boyd struggled back to duece and then after 6 more dueces took the game and the next 5 to win the set. This effort took its toll and Lance gained a slight advantage at the start of the 3rd and held on to 6-4.

It was a tense and interesting contest, but the same reporter who found Akhurst such a delight was not that impressed:
"As a spectacle the match fell short of realising the requirements of championshipof the tonic quality which, reinforced by vigour, carries the hallmark of high distinction. Both were over-cautious and bent on making a success of the engagement in an entirely unbrilliant way. There was some evidence of the artistic quality that appeals to the doctrinaire or dilettante but too much harmless hitting of the mercerised near silk quality to provide the exciting interest associated with an inspiriting contest."

We have this great summary thanks to Louloubelle

..and From AustinRunner comes interesting instructions from the organizers of the 1924 Australasian Championships:

"The first Australasian championship meeting to be held under the new conditions in Melbourne from January 19 to January 28* will comprise seven events only - the singles, doubles, and mixed, women's singles and doubles, and junior (boys) singles and doubles; each event carrying with it for 12 months the title of championship of Australasia. The principle conditions are as follows:-
(1) Entries must be made on the prescribed form; and when entrance fees are payable they must accompany all entries. Any holder of a championship of the previous year, if wishing to compete, must enter and play through.
(2) No entry will be accepted from any player residing in Australia unless such player be a member of a club affiliated to a State Association or a member of such association.
(3) The committee reserves the right to refuse the entry of any player, or to determine if such player is not eligible to enter, or has not the necessary ability to compete, and shall not be required to give a reason.
(4) In all events the draw will be seeded by the committee in accordance with the rules.
(5) Play shall be continuous from the first service till the match be concluded, provided that after the third set - or when women take part, the second set - either player is entitled to a rest which shall not exceed 10 minutes.
(6) Entries for all events will close at 5 p.m. on Saturday evening January 5 with the secretary of the L.T.A.V., Mr. J. F. Koch, at the club house, Glenferrie Road, Kooyong.

There appears to exist in the mind of many players doubt as to who is eligible to enter. Owing to its being a championship meeting pure and simple, it is certainly not intended to accept entries from anyone who may come along; otherwise the events, or the preliminary rounds in them, would become a farce. It is intended to receive entries from all A grade players of both sexes, and possibly from the best of the B grade, and from any promising juniors, the committee finally determining who are eligible. Should any entries be refused on account of the players not being considered of sufficient standard to compete, the entrance fees will be refunded."
 
#6 · (Edited)
1925 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dates: January 24-30
Site: White City, Sydney
Surface: Grass

---------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=26)

1st Round


Daphne Akhurst [2]-bye
Muff Wilson d. Adeline Wilkens 6-2 5-7 6-4
Louie Bickerton d. Mrs M Grant 7-5 6-0
Jessie Watson d. Grace Paterson 9-7 7-5
Pattie Meaney d. Kath Le Messurier [4] 4-6 6-4 9-7
D Mackie d. Coral Buttsworth default
Minnie Richardson [6]-bye
Mrs G.B. Stevens- bye

Marjorie Cox [5] d. Ula Valkenburg 6-2 6-0
Flora Cameron d. Doris Smith 6-2 6-4
Esna Boyd [3] d. Floris St. George 6-2 6-0
Dorothy Weston d. R White 6-1 6-2
Margaret Knoblanche d. Elizabeth Cox default
Edith Freudenstein-bye
Iris Woodd-bye
Sylvia Harper [1]-bye

2nd Round


Akhurst [2] d. Wilson 6-4 4-6 6-2
Watson d. Bickerton 6-4 5-7 6-3
Meaney d. Mackie 6-4 5-7 6-3
Richardson [6] d. Stevens 6-4 8-6

Cox [5] d. Cameron 6-3 6-8 6-2
Boyd [3] d. Weston 6-1 6-3
Knoblanche d. Freudenstein 6-2 6-4
Harper [1] d. Wood 6-1 6-1

Quarterfinals

Akhurst [2] d. Watson 6-1 6-4
Richardson [6] d. Meaney 6-4 1-6 6-2
Boyd [3] d. Cox [5] 4-6 6-0 9-7
Harper [1] d. Knoblanche 6-1 6-1

Semifinals

Akhurst [2] d. Richardson [6] 6-1 6-2
Boyd [3] d. Harper [1] 6-2 6-3

Final

Daphne Akhurst [2] d. Esna Boyd [3] 1-6 8-6 6-4

The best Aussie women traveled abroad in 1925



-------------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=19)

1st Round

Anna Doyle/Phyllis Lester d. Mrs Evans/Margaret Knoblanche 6-2 6-4
Mrs Docker/Jessie Watson d. Mary Cooling/Mrs G.B. Stevens 6-2 6-2
Muff Wilson/Iris Woodd d. D. Mackie/Ula Valkenburg 6-2 6-8 6-4

2nd Round

Daphne Akhurst/Sylvia Harper [1] d. Doyle/Lester 6-4 6-1
Edith Butcherine/Dot Weston d. ???? default
Louie Bickerton/Grace Paterson d. Gwen Waterhouse/R. White 6-2 9-7
Marjorie Cox/Floris St. George [3] d. Minnie Richardson/Adeline Wilkens 6-3 6-1

Esna Boyd/Kath Le Messurier [2] d. Minnie Goodman/Nion Kenyon 6-3 6-4
Mrs Harper/M Holt d. Coral Buttsworth/O'Connor default
Pattie Meaney/Millie Mitchell [4] d. Flora Cameron/Nancy Fitzhardinge 7-5 7-9 6-3
Docker/Watson d. Wilson/Wood 6-3 9-7

Quarterfinals

Akhurst/Harper [1] d. Butcherine/Weston 6-2 6-1
Cox/St. George [3] d. Bickerton/Paterson 6-4 6-4
Boyd/Le Messurier [2] d. Harper/Holt 6-3 6-2
Meaney/Mitchell [4] d. Docker/Watson 6-4 6-2

Semifinals

Akhurst/Harper [1] d. Cox/St. George [3] 7-5 6-3
Boyd/Le Messurier [2] d. Meaney/Mitchell [4] 6-4 8-6

Final

Daphne Akhurst/Sylvia Harper [1] d. Esna Boyd/Kath Le Messurier [2] 6-4 6-3

-------------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=16)

1st Round

Daphne Akhurst/John Willard [1] d. Phyllis Lester/Norman McDougall 8-6 6-3
Pattie Meaney/Aubrey Willard d. Ula Valkenburg/Walter Medcalf 6-4 6-2
Esna Boyd/Gar Hone [3] d. R. White/Frank Blaxland 6-4 6-1
Louie Bickerton/Frank Peach d. Grace Paterson/Henry Marsh 7-5 6-3

Kath Le Messurier/Les Baker [4] d. Muff Wilson/Bob Spencer 6-1 12-10
Flora Cameron/George Crouch d. Dot Weston/Henry Morris Smith 6-3 6-3
Marjorie Cox/Rupert Wertheim d. Minnie Richardson/Robert Berriman 6-2 4-6 6-2
Sylvia Harper/Bob Schlesinger [2] d. Floris St. George/Francis Kalms 6-2 6-4

Quarterfinals

Akhurst/Willard [1] d. Meaney/Willard 8-6 7-5
Boyd/Hone [3] d. Bickerton/Peach 6-2 6-4
Le Messurier/Baker [4] d. Cameron/Crouch 6-3 6-3
Harper/Schlesinger [2] d. Cox/Wertheim 6-1 6-4

Semifinals

Akhurst/Willard [1] d. Boyd/Hone [3] 6-3 3-6 6-2
Harper/Schlesinger [2] d. Le Messurier/Baker [4] 6-4 6-3

Final

Daphne Akhurst/John Willard [1] d. Sylvia Harper/Bob Schlesinger [2] 6-4 6-4

-------------------------------------------------

Draw notes:

Elizabeth Cox=Mrs T.H. Cox, mother of Marjorie Cox.

Sylvia Lance has married since last year's event, She is now Mrs RR Harper.
Iris D Woodd is a correct spelling. Per GeeTee is not a typo.

As late as the quarterfinal of the ladies doubles Dot Weston was listed as being without a partner. The Sydney Herald has "Dot Weston and partner". This goes a good way towards explaining the lack of match in the 2R.


Missing full names for:

Mrs Evans
Mrs M. Grant
Mrs Harper (The Mrs Harper who partners M Holt in the doubles is not Sylvia Lance Harper, who partners Akhurst. Posibly Mrs R. Harper)
Miss M. Holt (member of Illawarra Club with Mrs Harper.
D. Mackie (also played in schoolgirl's event)
Miss O' Connor
Mrs G.B. Stevens
Miss R. White

-------------------------------------------------

Summary:

Akhurst won her 1st Australasian title at the age of 21. She struggled past Wilson in an early round, a rival from her school days but her fitness, speed around the court, hard and low hitting as well as willingness to attack the net earned her an easy passage to the final after that. Esne Boyd struggled in her quarterfinal against Marjorie Cox (later to become Mrs. Jack Crawford) falling behind 3-5 in the 3rd, but winning the final set 9-7. Boyd then handled Sylvia Harper's (Lance) cut shots with ease in the semis, 6-2 6-3 to face Akhurst in the final.

Boyd's game plan was clear from the first point, to attack at all costs. She did it brilliantly in the first set, hitting deep to the corners and coming to the net to smash away Akhurst's lobs. 6-1 to Boyd. She relaxed ever so slightly in the 2nd and Akhurst's superior strength, technique and in the end of a close set, her temperament gave her an 8-6 advantage to level the match.

A tiring Boyd fought hard to reach 4-1 in the decider, but Akhurst steadied and took the final five games.

In an early round match Meaney upset Le Messurier. Kath recovered from 1-4 down in the final set and had a match point, but Meaney's ball, carried by the wind, hit smack on the line.

Notes courtesy of Louloubelle
-------------------------------------------------

Sources:

Gee Tee
Sydney Morning Herald

Discussion thread on event results at:
1925 Australian Draw - TennisForum.com
 
#7 · (Edited)
1926

1926 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dates: January 24-30
Site: Rushcutter's Bay, Sydney
Surface: Grass

---------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=18)

1st Round

Vera Mathias d. Margaret Officer 6-3 6-4
Minnie Richardson d. Joyce Lillecrapp 6-2 6-3

2nd Round

Daphne Akhurst [1] d. Dot Weston 6-4 6-3
Kath Le Messurier [6] d. Margaret Taylor 6-1 6-4
Marjorie Cox [4] d. Alison Hooper 6-1 6-1
Richardson [7] d. Mathias 6-3 6-2

Esna Boyd [2] d. Nell Hamilton 6-0 6-2
Meryl O'Hara Wood [5] d. Edna Lawrence 6-0 7-5
Sylvia Harper [3] d. Lorna Bollen 6-1 6-2
Beryl Turner [8] d. Anna Menz 6-3 6-4

Quarterfinals

Akhurst [1] d. Le Messurier [6] 7-5 6-2
Cox [4] d. Richardson [7] 6-2 6-2
Boyd [2] d. O' Hara Wood [5] 6-1 7-5
Harper [3] d. Turner [8] 6-1 6-4

Semifinals

Akhurst [1] d. Cox [4] 6-1 6-3
Boyd [2] d. Harper [3] 6-4 4-6 6-3

Final

Daphne Akhurst [1] d. Esna Boyd [2] 6-1 6-3

----------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=13)

1st Round

Esna Boyd/Meryl O'Hara Wood [1]-bye
Nell Hamilton/Edna Lawrence d. Jean Laughton/Lois Laughton 6-3 6-2
Sylvia Harper/Minnie Richardson [3] d. Mrs Menzies/Agnes Ridgway 6-1 6-1
Alison Hooper/Beryl Turner d. Vera Mathias/Flora Rowe 4-6 6-2 6-0

Kath Le Messurier/Dot Weston [4]-bye
Molly Finlayson/Mary Laidlaw-bye
Margaret Officer/Margaret Taylor d. Jocelyn Bowman/Joyce Lillecrapp 8-6 9-7
Daphne Akhurst/Marjorie Cox [2] d. Lorna Bollen/Anna Menz 6-1 6-3

Quarterfinals

Boyd/O'Hara Wood [1] d. Hamilton/Lawrence 0-6 6-2 6-0
Harper/Richardson [3] d. Hooper/Turner 6-4 6-3
Messurier/Weston [4] d. Finlayson/Landlaw 6-1 6-4
Akhurst/Cox [2] d. Officer/Taylor 6-4 6-3

Semifinals

Boyd/O'Hara Wood [1] d. Harper/Richardson [3] 4-6 8-6 6-2
Akhurst/Cox [2] d. Le Messurier/Weston [4] 7-5 6-1

Final

Esna Boyd/Meryl O'Hara Wood [1] d. Daphne Akhurst/Marjorie Cox [2] 6-3 6-8 8-6

----------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=19)

1st Round


Margaret Officer/Rice Gemmell d. Dot Weston/Ernest Rowe [8] 6-2 8-6
Lorna Bollen/Jack Crawford d. Anna Menz/Don Mellish 6-4 3-6 6-2
Daphne Akhurst/Jack Willard [1] d. Nell Hamilton/Ray Hone 7-5 7-5

2nd Round


Esna Boyd/Jack Hawkes [2] d Edna Lawrence/Alan Treloar 6-3 6-0
Kath Le Messurier/Bob Schlesinger [6] d Margaret Taylor/Ken Berriman 6-4 6-4
Sylvia Harper/Gar Hone [4] d Jocelyn Bowman/John Sherwood 6-3 6-0
Bollen/Crawford d Officer/Gemmell 6-4 3-6 6-2

Akhurst/Willard [1] d Minnie Richardson/Colin Newton 6-3 6-1
Marjorie Cox/Rupert Wertheim d Constance Halloran/Bob Fotheringham 6-2 6-2
Meryl O'Hara Wood/Pat O'Hara Wood [3] d. Joyce Lillecrapp/Harry Hopman 6-1 6-3
Alison Hooper/Gar Moon d. Vera Mathias/Norman Peach [7] 6-4 6-4

Quarterfinals

Boyd/Hawkes [2] d Le Messurier/Schlesinger [6] 7-5 6-2
Harper/Hone [4] d Bollen/Crawford 6-4 6-4
Akhurst/Willard [1] d Cox/Wertheim [5] 7-9 6-3 6-3
O'Hara Wood/O'Hara Wood [3] d Hooper/Moon 6-0 6-0

Semifinals

Boyd/Hawkes [2] d Harper/Hone [4] 6-2 5-7 6-4
Akhurst/Willard [1] d O'Hara Wood/O'Hara Wood [3] 7-5 6-4

Final

Esna Boyd /Jack Hawkes [2] d. Daphne Akhurst/Jack Willard [1] 6-1 6-4

----------------------------------------------

Draw notes:

Mrs W. T. Rowe=Flora Rowe (nee Dailey)
Margaret Taylor listed as ML Taylor.
Beryl Turner (nee Spower)=Mrs H Turner of Queensland

----------------------------------------------

Summary:

Akhurst dominated the Australasian titles in Adelaide. Shaking off a persistent knee injury suffered during her overseas tour, Akhurst won the title without dropping a set. There was an air of finality about the whole championships, with Akhurst thumping Boyd 6-1 6-3. The last game of the final epitomised the women's singles as a whole. Akhurst won it to love and served a centre-line ace on the final point.

Most summary notes courtesy of Louloubelle

----------------------------------------------

Sources :

GeeTee
Melbourne Sun

Discussion thread on event results at:
https://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=448801
 
#8 · (Edited)
1927

Dates: January 22 to 31.
Site: Kooyong, Melbourne
Surface: Grass

---------------------------------------------

SINGLES (Draw=21)

1st Round

Esna Boyd [1]-bye
Ruth Stephens-bye
Dot Bellamy-bye
Keyden Irving-bye
Louie Bickerton[4]-bye
Gladys Toyne [5] d. G. Hopkins 6-1 6-1
Frances Hoddle-Wrigley d. Floris St. George 8-6 6-2
Kath Le Messurier [7] d. Ursula Bere 6-1 6-1

Marjorie Cox [6]-bye
Youtha Anthony-bye
Mavis McKay-bye
Sylvia Harper[3]-bye
Minnie Richardson [8]-bye
Beryl Turner-bye
Dorothy Weston d. Vera de Bavay 6-3 6-2.
Daphne Akhurst[2] d. B. Parsons 6-2 6-1

2nd Round

Boyd[1] d. Stephens 6-0 6-2
Bellamy d. Irving 7-5 6-1
Bickerton[4] d. Toyne [5] 6-3 6-3
Le Messurier [7] d. Hoddle-Wrigley 9-7 6-3

Cox [6] d. Anthony 2-6 6-3 6-3
Harper[3] d. Mckay 6-0 6-0
Turner d. Richardson [8] 6-4 6-3
Weston d. Akhurst[2] default

Quarterfinals

Boyd [1] d. Bellamy 6-2 6-3
Bickerton [4] d. Le Messurier[7] 6-4 4-6 6-2
Harper [3] d. Cox [6] 1-6 6-3 6-3
Turner d.Weston 6-4 6-0

Semifinals

Boyd [1] d. Bickerton [4] 6-3 6-1
Harper [3] d. Turner 6-2 6-0

Final

Esna Boyd [1] d. Sylvia Harper [3] 5-7 6-1 6-2

---------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=13)

1st Round

Louie Bickerton/Meryl O'Hara Wood [2]-bye
Keyden Irving/Beryl Turner d. Vera de Bavay/Ursula Bere 9-7 6-3
Marjorie Cox/Floris St. George d. Ruby Mercer/K. Westmorland 6-4 6-4
Mavis McKay/Gladys Toyne [3] d. Mrs Rose/G. Hopkins 6-2 6-1

Esna Boyd/Sylvia Harper [1] d. Mrs. Newton Wood/Pauline Spencer Parsons 6-2 6-2
Youtha Anthony/Annie Gray d. Frances Hoddle-Wrigley/Minnie Richardson 6-2 6-2
Dot Bellany/Ruth Stephens-bye
Kath Le Messurier/Dot Weston [4]-bye

Quarterfinals

Bickerton/Wood [2] d. Irving/Turner 6-2 6-1
Cox/St. George d. Mckay/Toyne [3] 6-4 6-4
Boyd/Harper[ 1] d. Anthony/Gray 6-3 8-6
Le Messurier/Weston [4] d. Bellamy/Stephens 6-3 6-3

Semifinals

Bickerton/O'Hara Wood [2] d. Cox/St. George 6-1 5-7 6-4
Boyd/Harper [1] d. Le Messurier/Weston [4] 6-2 6-3

Final

Esna Bickerton/Meryl O'Hara Wood [2] d. Esna Boyd/Sylvia Harper [1] 6-3 6-3

----------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw= 22)

1st Round

Dot Weston/Ray Hone d Mildred McDougall/Rice Gemmell 6-3 6-3
Mrs H.V. Mckay/Thomas Robinson d Frances Hoddle-Wrigley/Harold Jacoby 6-3 6-3
Marjorie Cox/Jack Crawford d Keyden Irving/Harold Wilson 2-6 6-1 6-2

Esna Boyd/John Hawkes [1] d Lily Addison/GN Roberts 6-1 6-2
Vera de Bavay/Rodney Heath d. Minnie Richardson/D'arcy Mullamphy 6-8 6-2 6-4
Beryl Turner/Gar Moon d Ruth Stephens/Harry Hopman 4-6 6-2 6-2

2nd Round

Youtha Anthony/Jack Willard [2] d Dot Bellamy/Cecil Lamb 6-2 6-4
Miss Nell Webb/Spencer Millear d Floris St. George/RL Shepherd 1-6 6-4 6-4
Weston/Hone d. Louie Bickerton/Bob Schlesinger [4] 7-5 2-6 7-5
Cox/Crawford d. Mavis McKay/Robinson 6-2 2-6 6-3

Boyd/Hawkes [1] d Bavay/Heath 6-4 6-1
Gladys Toyne/Stanley Lum d Turner/Moon 6-4 15-13
Kath Le Messurier/WR James d Flora Rowe/Ronald Ford 6-4 6-3
Sylvia Harper/Rupert Werheim d Ursula Bere/Ernest Yencken 6-4 6-1


Quarterfinals

Anthony/Willard [2] d Webb/Millear default
Cox/Crawford d Weston/Hone 6-1 6-2
Boyd/Hawkes [1] d Toyne/Lum 8-6 6-4
Harper/Wertheim [3] d Le Messurier/James 6-4 6-4

Semifinals

Anthony/Willard [2] d Cox/Drawford 6-4 6-4
Boyd/Hawkes [1] d Harper/Wertheim [3] 4-6 6-2 6-4

Final

Esna Boyd/John Hawkes [1] d Youtha Anthony/Jack Willard [2] 6-1 6-3

----------------------------------------------

Draw Notes:

Ursula Bere usually listed as MU Bere.

Miss Hopkins was from Victoria.

Miss McDougall (in doubles draw) was from Western Australia

Minnie Richardson listed as MU Richardson

Per Andrew Tas. "There was a B Parsons playing in Melbourne and country Victoria from 1924 to 1928. The local newspapers of the time also have B Parsons listed.". Thus it seems very doubtful that this player equal Pauline Spencer-Parsons.

Daphne Akhurst's default in singles altered the doubles draws. Seeds were kept the same-with O'Hara Wood taking her place in the doubles and Youtha Anthony replacing Akhurst in the mixed.

Newspapers refer to Lum as SG (Stanley Gordon) Lum-giving no indication he is of Chinese heritage. His Chinese name was Pao-hua Lum, and he later played Davis Cup for China.

---------------------------------------------

Summary:

The first year at Kooyong and the first year it was called the Australian. Before 1927 it was officially the Australasian. Akhurst's early default paves the way for Boyd to finally win after 5 straight defeats in the final.

It was only right that 1927 should be Esna Boyd's year. The Australian women's titles had been held five times, and five times Boyd had been runner-up. She had one piece of luck along the way to the 1927 title, Daphne Akhurst was forced through illness to forfeit to Dorothy Weston in an early round. Even though Boyd had beaten Akhurst in the New South Wales final that year 3-6 6-4 6-3 (after Akhurst had lead a set and 4-2) it made Boyd's chances of capturing her first Australasian title that greater.

Boyd had an easy run to the final defeating Dot Bellamy and Louie Bickerton to face Sylvia Harper in the final. Harpers run wasn't as easy. She recovered from a slow start to defeat Marjorie Cox 1-6 6-3 6-3 in the quarter finals but her spin and guile was too much for Queenslander Mrs. Turner (who defeated Weston) in the semis.

Boyd began the final against Harper in an unusually tentative and defensive frame of mind. In the first set she allowed Harper to dictate terms which meant that Harper was cutting and chopping away until an opportune moment occurred to advance to the net where she made many winners with her safe and secure volleys. After seeing the first set slip away Boyd realised that she had to hit out, or face certain defeat. Hit out she did utilising her flat hard forehand and superior court movement to defeat her South Yarra teammate quite easily in the end 5-7 6-1 6-2.

4,000 witnessed the Saturday women's final. Other finals, including the men's singles and mixed, were held on Monday.

Pictures from the Melbourne Argus depict spectators on outside courts sitting on the grass upon low hills adjoining the courts.

---------------------------------------------

Sources:

Melbourne Argus
 
#160 ·
Re: 1927

Draw Notes:

Ursula Bere usually listed as MU Bere.
Miss Hopkins was from Victoria.
Miss McDougall (in doubles draw) was from Western Australia
Minnie Richardson listed as MU Richardson
Pauline Spencer-Parsons is listed as B Parsons on the official Aussie website.

Daphne Akhurst's default in singles altered the doubles draws. Seeds were kept the same-with O'Hara Wood taking her place in the doubles and Youtha Anthony replacing Akhurst in the mixed.


Melbourne Argus
There was a B Parsons playing in Melbourne and country Victoria from 1924 to 1928. The local newspapers of the time also have B Parsons listed.
 
#9 · (Edited)
1928

Dates: (Saturday) January 21 to (Monday) January 30.
Site: Rushcutter's Bay, Sydney
Surface: Grass

---------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=19)

1st Round

Kath Le Messurier d. Edith Freudenstein 6-0 6-0
Sylvia Harper [4] d. Floris Conway 6-4 6-1
Iris Luckie d. Grace Paterson 10-8 9-11 6-3

2nd Round

Daphne Akhurst [2] d. Nell Lloyd 6-1 6-2
Dorothy Weston d. Gwen Waterhouse 6-3 6-4
Meryl O'Hara-Wood d. Coral Buttsworth 6-1 6-2
Le Messurier d. Harper [4] 1-6 6-3 6-3

Esna Boyd [1] d. Marjorie Cox 7-5 6-2
Mall Molesworth d. Luckie ???? (Default??)
Louie Bickerton [3] d. Birdy Bond 6-3 6-2
Pattie Meaney d. Dorothy Dingle 6-1 6-2

Quarterfinals

Akhurst [2] d. Weston 6-1 6-2
O'Hara-Wood d. Le Mesurier 1-6 6-4 6-2
Boyd [1] d. Molesworth 7-5 6-2
Bickerton [3] d. Meaney 4-6 6-1 6-1

Semifinals

Akhurst [2] d. O'Hara-Wood 6-2 7-5
Boyd [1] d. Bickerton [3] 6-2 6-3

Final

Daphne Akhurst [2] d. Esna Boyd [1] 7-5 6-2

--------------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=14)

1st Round

Daphne Akhurst-Esna Boyd [1]-bye
Coral Buttsworth/Mall Molesworth d. Nellie Lloyd/Lorna Utz 6-4 6-2
Dorothy Dingle/Gwen Waterhouse d. Mrs E Dyer/Daisy Waddington 6-1 6-3
Marjorie Cox/Sylvia Harper [3] d. Birdy Bond/Iris Luckie 6-0 8-6

Louie Bickerton/Meryl O'Hara-Wood [2] d Millie Membrey/Grace Paterson default
Mrs Bolton*/Edith Freudenstein d. Mrs F Harper/Miss K Hayes default
Floris Conway/Pattie Meaney d. Eileen Rischbieth*/Flora Rowe 6-0 6-0
Kath Le Messurier/Dot Weston [4]-bye

Quarterfinals

Akhurst/Boyd [1] d. Buttsworth/Molesworth 6-1 6-2
Cox/Harper [3] d. Dingle/Waterhouse 6-1 6-2
Bickerton/O'Hara-Wood [2] d. Bolton/Freudenstein 6-2 6-0
Le Messurier/Weston [4] d. Conway/Meaney 8-6 8-6

Semifinals

Akhurst/Boyd [1] d. Cox/Harper [3] 6-4 2-6 6-3
Le Messurier/Weston [4] d. Bickerton/O'Hara-Wood [2] 6-4 0-6 6-2

Final

Daphne Akhurst/Esna Boyd [1] d. Kath Le Messurier/Dot Weston [4] 6-3 6-1

---------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=20)

1st Round

Birdie Bond/VE Page d Grace Paterson/JM Bailey 6-2 6-4
Sylvia Harper/Toto Brugnon (Frn) [3] d Floris Conway/Rupert Conway 4-6 7-5 6-2

Esna Boyd/Jack Hawkes [1] d Louie Bickerton/Willard 6-0 6-0
Dorothy Bickerton/Jack Willard d Dorothy Dingle/L Thurlow 11-13 7-5 6-3

Second Round

Daphne Akhurst/Jean Borotra (Frn) [2] d K Hayes/ CJ Ward 6-2 6-0
Dot Weston/WF Medcalfe d Lorna Utz/Dr Darby 2-6 6-2 6-4
Kath Le Messurier/Norman Peach d Marjorie Cox/Gar Moon 1-6 6-3 6-4
Harper/Brugnon [3] d Bond/Page 6-2 6-4

Louie Bickerton/Christian Boussus (Frn) [4] d Dot Weston/Norman Peach 6-3 8-6
Mrs F Harper/EM Dunn d Flora Rowe/RF Ford 6-1 6-0
Pattie Meaney/Frank Kalms d Mall Molesworth/Ronald Cummings 6-2 6-4
Boyd/Hawkes [1] d Gweyth Waterhouse/GR Williams 6-2 6-4

Quarterfinals

Akhurst/Borotra [2] d Weston/Medcalfe 6-1 6-1
Harper/Brugnon [3] d Le Messurier/Peach 6-4 6-4
Bickerton/Boussus [4] d F Harper/Dunn 6-3 6-2
Boyd/Hawkes [1] d Kalms/Meaney 7-5 4-6 6-3

Semifinals

Akhurst/Borotra [2] d Harper/Brugnon [3] 6-0 3-6 6-3
Boyd/Hawkes [1] d Bickerton/Boussus [4] 6-1 8-6

Final

Daphne Akhurst/Jean Borotra (Frn) [2] d Esna Boyd/Jack Hawkes [1] default

---------------------------------------------

Draw Notes:

Mrs Bolton also listed as Mrs Boulton
Birdie Bond=Mrs E Bond
Floris Conway = Floris St-George (Mrs Roland Conway)
Some papers list Mrs Rischbieth nee Eileen Beresford ) as Rischbith.
Mrs O Waddington=nee Millie Mitchell.

Molesworth, Messurier, Weston and Bond were nominated by their states but apparently not seeded. There were 8 men's seeds in contrast to four women's seeds.

---------------------------------------------

Summary:

The women had the courts to themselves until late in the first week because of the arrival of the French Davis Cup team. Thus when the women's singles fial was held on the 27th the men were still early in their event.

Akhurst's return to the Australian titles emphasized the gap between her and the other Australian women players. With Boyd being superior to the other women she easily made the finals again, however lost the final to Akhurst 5-7 2-6. It was actually a keen contest until 2-all in the second, when the strain began to tell and Boyd's game fell away dramatically. The local paper reported that Akhurst "repeatedly returned serve across court for an outright winner". Akhurst completed her second triple crown, taking the doubles with Boyd and the mixed with Jean Borotra, who also won three titles that year.

A controversy occurred in the semis when O'Hara-Wood was footfaulted several times. Many felt it was unfair to enforce this rule (apparently not called previously) at such an important stage in the event.

Most notes courtesy of Louloubelle

Thanks to Austinrunner for confirming the identity of Mrs. Harper.

---------------------------------------------

Sources:

The Sydney Herald and the official Australian Open website.
 
#10 · (Edited)
1929

Dates: January 19-26
Venue: Adelaide, Australia
Surface: Grass

---------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=17)

1st Round

Gwen Griffiths d Vera Mathias 4-6 6-4 6-3

2nd Round

Daphne Akhurst [1] d Lorna Bollen 6-0 6-3
Meryl O'Hara-Wood [5] d Joyce Lillecrappe 6-3 6-2
Sylvia Harper [4] d Edna Lawrence 6-1 6-2
Mall Molesworth [6] d Griffiths 6-3 6-0

Louie Bickerton [2] d Anna Menz 6-0 6-1
Kath Le Messurier [7] d Syd Hocking 6-2 6-2
Marjorie Cox [3] d Dot Weston 6-3 6-4
Emily Hood d Birdie Bond [8] 11-9 7-5

Quarterfinals

Akhurst [1] d. O'Hara-Wood [5] 6-4 6-3
Harper [4] d. Molesworth [6] 6-1 6-4
Bickerton [2] d. Le Messurier [7] 6-0 8-6
Cox [3] d. Hood 6-0 6-1

Semifinals

Akhurst [1] d Harper [4] 6-3 6-1
Bickerton [2] d Cox [3] 6-1 6-3

Final

Daphne Akhurst [1] d Louie Bickerton [2] 6-1 5-7 6-2

-----------------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=12)


1st Round

Sylvia Harper/Meryl O'Hara Wood [2]-bye
Edna Lawrence/Flora Rowe-bye
Kath Le Messurier/Dot Weston [3] d. Eileen Rischbeith/Roma Wadey 6-4 6-0
Birdie Bond/Syd Hocking d. Gwen Griffiths/Vera Mathias 4-6 6-4 6-4

Daphne Akhurst/Louie Bickerton [1] d. Joyce Lillecrapp/Katherine Wemyss 6-2 6-0
Lorna Bollen/Anna Menz d. Bertha Kay/Margaret Taylor 3-6 6-2 6-4
Emily Hood/Mall Molesworth [4]-bye
Edna Collinson/Joyce Hone-bye

Quarterfinals

Harper/O'Hara Wood [2] d. Lawrence/Rowe 6-0 6-1
Le Messurier/Weston [3] d. Bond/Hocking 6-4 6-8 6-4
Akhurst/Bickerton [1] d. Bollen/Menz 6-3 6-2
Hood/Molesworth [4] d. Collinson/Hone 6-0 6-1

Semifinals

Harper/O'Hara Wood [2] d. Le Messurier/Weston [3] 7-5 6-2
Akhurst/Bickerton [1] d. Hood/Molesworth [4] 6-2 6-2

Final

Daphne Akhurst/Louie Bickerton [1] d. Sylvia Harper/Meryl O'Hara Wood [2] 6-2 3-6 6-2

-----------------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=16)

1st Round

Marjorie Cox/Jack Crawford [1] d Emily Hood/Colin Cropper 6-1 6-4
Nancy Day/Peter Hooper d Birdie Bond/V Page default
Mall Molesworth/Colin Gregory (GB)[4] d Kath Le Messurier/Don Turnbull default
Louie Bickerton/Rupert Wertheim d Edna Lawrence/Ray Hone 6-2 8-6

Meryl O'Hara Wood/ Pat O'Hara Wood [2] d. Syd Hocking/Lyall Reynolds 6-0 6-3
Sylvia Harper/Ian Collins (GB) d. Vera Mathias/Cliff Harvey 6-0 6-4
Daphne Akhurst/Gar Moon [3] d Dot Weston/Ron Hone 6-3 6-1
Lorna Bollen/D'arcy Mullamphy d. Gwen Griffiths/James Black 8-6 3-6 8-6

Quarterfinals

Cox/Crawford [1] d Day/Hooper 6-4 6-0
Bickerton/Wertheim d Molesworth/Gregory [4] 6-2 6-3
O'Hara Wood/O'Hara Wood [2] d Harper/Collins 6-3 2-6 6-2
Akhurst/Moon [3] d Bollen/Mullamphy 6-3 6-4

Semifinals

Cox/Crawford [1] d Bickerton/Wertheim 6-2 6-2
Akhurst/Moon [3] d O'Hara Wood/ M O'Hara Wood [2] 7-5 6-2

Final

Daphne Akhurst/Gar Moon [3] d. Marjorie Cox/Jack Crawford [1] 6-0 7-5

-----------------------------------------------------

Draw notes:

Mrs E Day=Mrs Eric Day, nee Nancy Webb.

Ian G Collins (GB)
J Colin Gregory (GB)
FR 'Ray' Hone (mixed with Edna Lawrence)
RB 'Ron' Hone (mixed with Dot Weston)
Peter Hooper (SA)
D'arcy Mullamphy died of a gunshot wound in October of 1929. It is very likely it was self-inflicted.
William "Lyall" Reynolds (WA)

-----------------------------------------------------

Summary:
During 1928 Akhurst stamped herself as one of the premier players in women's tennis. Despite a lack of any regular competition internationally she travelled overseas to reach the quarters at the French. She then had a great run at Wimbledon to reach the semis, defeating Helen Jacobs 8-6 in the 3rd on the way. She met Spanish star Lily de Alvarez on one of her magical days and was beaten. At the end of 1928 she was rated by high ranking tennis authorities the no. 3 player in the world.She captured her 4th Australian title in 1929 defeating good friend and doubles partner Louie Bickerton in a final described as a 'rare treat'.

Bickerton had been in good form all week beating Le Mesurier and Cox to reach her first final. Akhurst breezed in the final also without the loss of a set.

The final was a match of long baseline rallies, but not of the sort of slow, safe play which sometimes characterised women's matches of the era. Both players hit out for the lines and, knowing each others games intimately, the level of anticipation was very high. Akhurst eventually triumphed 6-1 5-7 6-2, and fittingly the two women teamed up for the women's title. She teamed up with Gar Moon of Australia to win her third triple crown.

-----------------------------------------------------

Sources:

Results courtesy of Andrew Tas
Summary courtesy of Louloubelle
GeeTee's help has been invaluable.
 
#11 · (Edited)
1930

Dates: Janaury 18-25
Venue: Kooyong, Melbourne
Surface: Grass

-----------------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=20)

1st Round

Daphne Akhurst[1]-bye
Mollie McGrath-bye
Youtha Anthony-bye
Katherine LeMessurier[5]-bye
Marjorie Cox[4]-bye
Peter Smith-bye
Birdie Bond d. Kathleen Commins 6-3 6-2
Emily Hood [7] d. Nell Hall 12-10 1-6 6-3

Louise Bickerton[2] d. Mollie Muirhead 6-2 6-0
Alison Hattersley d. K Murdoch 4-6 12-10 6-3
Ursula Price-bye
Gladys Toyne[8]-bye
Sylvia Harper[3]-bye
Dorothy Weston-bye
Frances Hoddle-Wrigley-bye
Mall Molesworth[6]-bye

2nd Round

Akhurst[1] d. McGrath 6-1 6-2
LeMessurier[5] d. Anthony 6-2 6-2
Cox[4] d. P.Smith 9-7 6-0
Hood[7] d. Bond 6-4 6-4

Bickerton[2] d. Hattersley 6-3 6-3
Toyne d. Price 6-3 7-5
Harper[3] d. Weston 6-3 6-0
Molesworth[6] d. Hoddle-Wrigley 6-4 6-0

Quarterfinals

Akhurst[1] d. Le Messurier[5] 6-1 3-6 6-4
Hood[7] d. Cox[4] 7-5 6-4
Bickerton[2] d. Toyne 6-4 7-5
Harper[3] d. Molesworth[6] 6-4 3-6 6-2

Semifinals

Akhurst[1] d. Hood[7] 6-0 6-2
Harper[3] d. Bickerton[2] 6-3 8-6

Final

Daphne Akhurst[1] d. Sylvia Harper[3] 10-8 2-6 7-5

-----------------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=11)

1st Round

Daphne Akhurst/Louie Bickerton[1]-bye
Youtha Anthony/Helen Gray-bye
Frances Hoddle-Wrigley/Gladys Toyne bye
Emily Hood/Mall Molesworth[3] d. Vera De Bavay/Ursula Price 6-1 6-4

Marjorie Cox/Sylvia Harper[2] d. Kathleen Commins/Alison Hattersley 6-4 6-2
K Murdoch/Joan Pett d. Mollie McGrath/Peter Smith 6-1 6-3
Birdie Bond/Mollie Muirhead-bye
Kath Le Messurier/Dot Weston[4]-bye

Quarterfinals

Akhurst/Bickerton[1] d. Anthony/Gray 6-3 6-0
Hood/Molesworth[3] d. Hoddle-Wrigley/Toyne 11-9 6-1
Cox/Harper(AUS)[2] d. Murdoch/Pett 6-3 7-5
Le Messurier/D.Weston[4] d. Bond/Muirhead 8-6 6-4

Semifinals

Hood/Molesworth[3] d. Akhurst/Bickerton[1] 6-4 7-9 6-4
Cox/Harper[2] d. Le Messurier/Weston[4] 8-6 6-1

Final

Emily Hood/Mall Molesworth[3] d. Marjorie Cox/Sylvia Harper[2] 6-3 0-6 7-5

-----------------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=21)

1st Round

Louie Bickerton/Jack Willard[1]-bye
Mollie Muirhead/C Buckley-bye
Peter Smith/W Halliday-bye
Emily Hood/Norman Peach-bye
Sylvia Harper/Jack Hawkes-bye
Gladys Toyne/Harry Hassett d Vera de Bavay/Thomas Robinson 6-3 6-2
Nell Hall/Harry Hopman d. Frances Hoddle-Wrigley/Horace Crebbin 6-2 6-3
Kathleen Commins/Frank Peach d. Kath Le Messurier/Don Turnbull[4] 2-6 6-3 6-3

Daphne Akhurst/Gar Moon[3] d. Jean Wilson/Ray Hone 6-2 6-2
Dot Weston/Ernest Rowe d. Mary Derham/Cliff Sproule 1-6 6-4 9-7
Birdie Bond/A Knight-bye
K Murdoch/Jack Clemenger-bye
Marjorie Cox/Jack Crawford-bye
Edna Collinson/G Payne-bye
Mollie McGrath/Ronald-bye
Mall Molesworth/John Grinstead [2]-bye

2nd Round

Bickerton/Willard [1] d Muirhead/Buckley 6-0 6-2
Hood/N Peach d Smith/Halliday 6-4 6-2
Harper/Hawkes d Toyne/Hassett 9-11 6-1 7-5
Hall/Hopman d Commins/F Peach 6-2 6-3

Akhurst/Moon[3] d. Weston/Rowe 9-7 1-6 6-4
Murdovh/Clemenger d. Bond/Knight default
Cox/Crawford d. Collinson/Payne 6-1 6-4
Molesworth/Grinstead [2] d. McGrath/Ford 6-2 6-4

Quarterfinals

Bickerton/Willard [1] d. Hood/Peach 6-4 3-6 6-2
Hopman/Hall d. Harper/Hawkes 6-3 6-2
Akhurst/Moon[3] d. Murdoch/Clemenger default
Cox/Crawford d. Molesworth/Grinstead[2] 6-1 6-4

Semifinals

Hall/Hopman d. Bickerton/Willard[1] 6-2 11-13 6-2
Cox/Crawford d. Akhurst/Moon[3] 12-10 5-7 6-4

Final

Nell Hall/Harry Hopman d. Marjorie Cox/Jack Crawford 11-9 3-6 6-3

-----------------------------------------------------

Draw notes:

Mrs H Gray =nee Helen Margaret Outhwaite. She wed Alastair Cameron Gray.
Mrs A Price=nee Ursula Bere. She went abroad in 1930 and entered Wimbledon.

-----------------------------------------------------

Summary (courtesy of Louloubelle)

Before the 1930 titles Akhurst announced that she would be marrying shortly and would confine her championship tennis in the future to doubles events. Kath Le Mesurier gave her such a hard match in the quarters that Akhurst shook hands after winning 6-1 3-6 6-4 and collapsed to the ground in exhaustion.

Akhurst's opponent in the final, Sylvia Harper - victor over Mall Molesworth and Louie Bickerton - was now in the veteran class and not in the same league as Akhurst, but she extended her to the limit on this occasion. The first set saw Akhurst assaulting Harper's backhand, but it wasn't until the 18th game that the tactic bore fruit. Harper then switched to a more aggressive brand of tennis which gathered her the 2nd set 6-2 and took her to 4-0 in the 3rd. Always a good player in a crisis, Akhurst increased the tempo of the game, hit out for the lines and, with Harper tiring and losing her length, took the final set 7-5. The 38 game match remains the longest Australian women's final on record.

She married Roy Cozens in February 1930 and, true to her word, played no more major singles events. She died suddenly in early 1933, leaving her husband and 6 month old son. The whole of the tennis world mourned the passing of one of it's most attractive, popular and successful players, at the young age of 29.

Akhurst's best friend Louie Bickerton would marry Cozens after Daphne's death.

Love was in the air during the mixed doubles-both pairs of finalists would later go on to wed each other.

-----------------------------------------------------

Sources:

Andrew Tas provided the results
Summary courtesy of Louloubelle
 
#168 ·
Re: 1930

Dates: Janaury 18-25
Venue: Kooyong, Melbourne
Surface: Grass

DOUBLES (Draw=11)

1st Round

Youtha Anthony/H Gray-bye

Quarterfinals

Akhurst/Bickerton[1] d. Anthony/Gray 6-3 6-0

Sources: Andrew Tas provided the results
I don't know why I didn't have this before but H Gray is actually Mrs. H Gray who was Helen Margaret Outhwaite. She also played in the 1930 doubles.
 
#12 · (Edited)
1931 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dates: February 27-March 8
Venue: Rushcutter's Bay, Sydney
Surface: Grass

-------------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=32)

1st Round

Coral Buttsworth [4] d. Dot Bellamy 6-1 6-3
Vera Selwyn d. Katherine Coleman 6-2 6-2
Frances Hoddle-Wrigley d. Mall Molesworth 7-9 6-1 7-5
Muff Wilson d. Mary Derham 6-1 6-4
Sylvia Harper [2] d. Ruth Tann 3-6 6-1 6-3
Floris Conway d. Jean Wilson3-6 6-1 6-3
Pattie Meaney d. Sadie Moon 6-4 6-1
Birdie Bond d. Emily Westacott 6-4 5-7 8-6

Marjorie Crawford [1] d. Betty Ward 6-0 6-0
Dorothy Dingle d. Edna Gardyne 6-0 6-2
Joan Hartigan d. Ula Valkenburg 7-5 6-4
Dot Weston d. Phyllis Lester default
Kath Le Messurier d. Helen McTaggett 6-3 7-5
E. Darvall d. Enid Williams 6-3 7-5
Gwen Utz d. Youtha Anthony 6-1 1-6 6-3
Louie Bickerton [3] d. Nell Hall 6-2 2-6 6-3

2nd Round

Buttsworth [4] d. Selwyn 6-3 6-1
Hoddle-Wrigley d. Wilson 6-3 7-9 6-4
Sylvia Harper [2] d. Conway 6-1 6-0
Meaney d. Bond 6-8 7-5 7-5

Crawford [1] d. Dingle 6-0 6-3
Hartigan d. Weston 6-3 6-8 6-2
Le Messurier d. Darvall 6-1 6-0
Bickerton [3] d. Utz 7-5 6-4

Quarterfinals

Buttsworth [4] d. Hoddle-Wrigley 6-1 6-2
Harper [2] d. Meaney 6-1 6-2
Crawford [1] d. Hartigan 6-4 4-6 6-4
Le Messurier d. Bickerton [3] 6-1 6-3

Semifinals

Buttsworth [4] d. Harper [2] 0-6 6-4 retired (pulled leg muscle)
Crawford [1] d. Le Messurier 3-6 6-2 7-5

Final

Coral Buttsworth [4] d. Marjorie Crawford [1] 1-6 6-3 6-4

-------------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=21)

1st Round

Mall Molesworth/Emily Westacott [4]-bye
Helen McTaggett/Vera Selwyn-bye
Mary Derham/Ruth Tann-bye
Katherine Coleman/Sadie Moon-bye
Birdie Bond/Phyllis Lester-bye
Dot Bellamy/Mary Edgar-bye
Youtha Anthony/Frances Hoddle Wrigley d. Gwen Cassidy/Hazel Grassick 0-6 7-5 6-4
Louie Bickerton/Daphne Cozens [2] d. Dorothy Anderson/Nancy Chitty 6-3 6-0

Nellie Lloyd/Gwen Utz d. E. Darvall/G. Tunney 6-2 6-1
A.V. Scott/Gwen Stevenson d. Betty Ward/Jean Wilson 7-5 2-6 10-8
Miss I. Burns/Alison Hattersley d. Edna Gardyne/Pattie Meaney 6-4 6-4
Dorothy Diggle/Ula Valkenburg [3]-bye
Kath Le Messurier/Dot Weston-bye
Floris Conway/Muff Wilson-bye
Coral Buttsworth/Nell Hall-bye
Marjorie Crawford/Sylvia Harper [1] -bye

2nd Round

Moleworth/Westacott [4] d. McTaggett/Selwyn 6-4 4-6 6-4
Derham/Tann d. Coleman/Moon 6-2 9-7
Bond/Lester d. Bellamy/Edgar 6-3 6-4
Bickerton/Cozens [2] d. Anthony/Hoddle Wrigley 6-2 6-2

Lloyd/Utz d. Scott/Stevenson 6-0 6-0
Diggle/Valkenburg [3] d. Burns/Hattersley 6-4 6-4
Le Messurier/Weston d. Conway/M.Wilson 6-3 6-2
Crawford/Harper [1] d. Buttsworth/Hall 6-2 6-3

Quarterfinals

Moleworth/Westacott [4] d. Tann/Derham default
Bickerton/Cozens [2] d. Bond/Lester 9-7 6-3
Lloyd/Utz d. Diggle/Valkenburg [3] 4-6 6-4 7-5
Crawford/Harper [1] d. Le Messurier/Weston 6-2 4-6 6-3

Semifinals

Bickerton/Cozens [2] d. Moleworth/Westacott [4] 2-6 7-5 7-5
Lloyd/Utz d. Crawford/Harper [1] default

Final

Louie Bickerton/Daphne Cozens [2] d. Nellie Lloyd/Gwen Utz 6-2 6-4

-------------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=24)

1st Round

Nell Hall/Harry Hopman [2]-bye
Joan Hartigan/Cliff Sproule-bye
Flo Francisco/Edwards-bye
Mall Molesworth/Ronald Cummings-bye
Emily Westacott/Aubrey Willard d. Ruth Tann/Harry Hassett 6-3 7-5
Birdie Bond/Allan Knight d. Youtha Anthony/Willis Teague 2-6 6-3 6-2
Dot Weston/Shepherd d. Mary Derham/Reg Ewin 6-3 7-5
Sylvia Harper/Gar Moon [3] d. Gwen Utz/Norman Peach 6-1 6-4

Marjorie Crawford/Jack Crawford [1] d. Jean Wilson/Ronald Thomas 6-3 6-0
Barbara Bolger/James Fitzgerald d. unknown/Leonard Schwartz default
Kath Le Messurier/Don Turnbull d. Frances Hoddle-Wrigley/William Walker 6-2 4-6 6-4
Pattie Meaney/Paul Haege d. Muff Wilson/John McCausland 9-7 6-0
Louie Bickerton/Jim Willard [4]-bye
Betty Ward/Ted Budrodeen-bye
Mrs L. Baker/T O' Connor-bye
Ula Valkenberg/Charles Donahue-bye

2nd Round

Hall/Hopman [2] d Hartigan/Sproule 5-7 10-8 6-4
Molesworth/Cummings d Francisco/Edwards 6-2 7-5
Westacott/Willard d Bond/Knight 6-1 7-5
Harper/Moon [3] d Weston/Shepherd 6-4 6-2

Crawford/Crawford [1] d Bolger/Fitzgerald default
Le Messurier/Turnbull d Meaney/Haege 3-6 6-4 6-4
Bickerton/J Willard [4] d Ward/Budrodean 6-2 7-5
Valkenberg/Donahue d Baker/O'Connor default

Quarterfinals

Hall/Hopman [2] d Molesworth/Cummings 7-5 4-6 6-4
Westacott/A Willard d Harper/Moon [3] 4-6 9-7 retired
Crawford/Crawford [1] d. Le Messurier/Turnbull 1-6 6-3 6-1
Valkenberg/Donahue d. Bickerton/J Willard [4] 3-6 6-1 8-6

Semifinals

Westacott/A Willard d Hall/Hopman [2] 8-10 6-2 7-5
Crawford/Crawford [1] d Valkenberg/Donohue 3-6 6-1 6-3

Final

Marjorie Crawford/Jack Crawford [1] d. Emily Westacott/Aubrey Willard 7-5 6-4

---------------------------------------------------

Draw Notes:

Missing full name for:

Mrs L. Baker
Miss I. Burns
Miss E. Darvall (the only name missing in the singles draw) is from Sydney and is Catholic
A.V. Scott
Miss G. Tunney is from Sydney and is and is Catholic.

Mr Edwards
Mr. T. O' Connor
Mr (Geoff or Ronald) Thomas

Notes on names:

Coral Buttsworth went by the nickname "Corrie"
Mrs Cassidy=nee Gwen Waterhouse, who married Jack E Cassidy in 1928
Miss Katherine Coleman was from Queensland
Cozens=married name of Akhurst
Crawford=married name of Marjorie Cox.
Hood=maiden name of Westacott
Ruth Tann=Mrs Clifford Tann (nee Stephens)
Gwen Utz=Mrs HS Utz

Willis E Teague was from Victoria.
William Walker=W. B. (William Bruce) Walker

Seeds for Junior events:

Singles

01 Emily Westacott
02 Joan Hartigan
03 L Crawford
04 Flo Francisco

Doubles

01 Westacott/Moon
02 Hartigan/Bloomfield
03 Chitty/Anderson
04 Scott/Stevenson

---------------------------------------------------

Summary:

Corrie Buttsworth was a surprising winner in 1931. She seemed to arrive at the top of Australian women's tennis out of nowhere, being the only dual Australian winner never to have won a state singles title anywhere.

A strong thick-set woman from Sydney, she was addicted to chopping the ball, the drop shot being magnificent and was extremely quick around the court. She was one of those rare players who preferred to manoeuvre opponents out of position by running them up and back on the court rather from side to side.

Coming into the 1931 championships in Sydney her prospects did not look that good. She had only reached the quarterfinals of the Victorian the previous month. The sentimental favorite was Marjorie Cox, now Mrs. Jack Crawford who during the 1920's had won the championships of Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales but the Australian had always eluded her. With Akhurst retired from singles, Boyd in Scotland and Harper past her prime, it was thought that the No. 1 spot was hers for the taking.

However Crawford looked rather vulnerable in the quarterfinals against junior sensation Joan Hartigan. Her greater experinece was the key in a 6-4 4-6 6-4 victory. She was given no respite in the semis, with Kath Le Mesurier leading 3-1 in the 3rd set and holding nine points for 4-1. Even so Le Mesurier reached 5-2 before Crawford finally wore her down 3-6 6-2 7-5.

The other semi between Buttsworth and Sylvia Harper was equally dramatic. Harper attacked the net most effectively in the first set, cutting of Buttsworth's rising sliced shots to take it 6-0. But Harper, now 35 years of age, was unable to maintain the full vigour of her attack. At 4-5 in the 2nd set and set point to Buttsworth, Harper charged in after a drop-shot, pulled a muscle in her leg and was unable to continue the match. The scoreline to Buttsworth read 0-6 6-4 forfeit.

In the final Buttsworth nullified Crawford's driving strength by enticing her to the net with short drives and then either passing her cross-court or tossing back over her head. Crawford could not find the answer, although she pulled back from 1-5 in the 3rd and saved a match point at 3-5 before Buttsworth ran out the winner at 1-6 6-3 6-4.

Summary courtesy of Louloubelle.

---------------------------------------------------

Sources:

Sydney Morning Herald.

Seeds courtesy of Gee Tee
 
#13 · (Edited)
1932 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dates: February 6-13
Venue: Memorial Drive, Adelaide
Surface: Grass

---------------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=17)

1st Round

Edna Lawrence d. Roma Wadey 6-2 6-2

2nd Round

Jean Wilson d. Esna Robertson [1] default
Dorothy Weston d. Mollie McGrath 4-6 6-4 6-2
Coral Buttsworth [3] d. Gwen Griffiths 6-3 6-1
Meryl O'Hara-Wood d Lawrence 6-2 6-2

Marjorie Crawford [2] d. Gwen Stevenson 6-1 6-2
Kath Le Messurier d. Dorothy Anderson 6-3 6-0
Frances Hoddle-Wrigley [4] d. Edna Collison 6-2 6-2
Emily Westacott d. Betty Ward 4-6 6-3 6-1

Quarterfinals

Weston d. Wilson 6-1 6-0
Buttsworth [3] d. O'Hara-Wood 6-1 6-3
Le Messurier d. Crawford [2] 6-2 6-4
Westacott d. Hoddle-Wrigley [4] 6-4 7-5

Semifinals

Buttsworth [3] d. Weston 6-1 6-1
Le Messurier d. Westacott 10-8 7-5

Final

Corral Buttsworth [3] d. Kath Le Messurier 9-7 6-4

Mrs Buttsworth



---------------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=11)

1st Round

Meryl O'Hara Wood/Nancy Lewis-bye
Betty Ward/Jean Wilson-bye
Mollie McGrath/Edna Lawrence d. Dorothy Anderson/Gwen Stevenson 7-5 2-6 6-2
Kath Le Messurier/Dot Weston [4] d. Flo Francisco/Joyce Williams 6-4 6-0

Emily Westacott/Frances Hoddle Wrigley [3] d. Roma Wadey/Joyce Lillecrapp 6-3 6-2
Gwen Griffiths/Christobel Finlayson-bye
Truda Cox/Edna Collison-bye
Corral Buttsworth/Marjorie Crawford [2]-bye

Quarterfinals

O'Hara Wood/Lewis d. Ward/Wilson 6-2 6-4
Le Messurier/Weston [4] d. McGrath/Lawrence 6-4 6-3
Westacott/Hoddle Wrigley [3] d. Griffiths/Finlayson 6-2 6-2
Buttsworth/Crawford [2] d. Cox/Collison 4-6 6-3 6-2

Semifinals

Le Messurier/Weston [4] d. O'Hara Wood/Lewis 6-2 8-10 6-3
Buttsworth/Crawford [2] d. Westacott/Hoddle Wrigley[3] 6-4 6-3

Final

Corral Buttsworth/Marjorie Crawford [2] d. Kath Le Messurier/Dot Weston [4] 6-2 6-2

---------------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=20)

1st Round

Marjorie Crawford/Jack Crawford [1] d. Dot Stevenson/Reg Ewin 6-2 6-3
Joyce Williams/Gar Hone d. Joyce Lillecrapp/Robert Barbour 6-4 6-3
Nancy Lewis/Aubrey Willard d. Emily Westacott/Gar Moon 8-9 7-9 6-3
Gwen Griffiths/Jack Hawkes d. Dorothy Anderson/Cliff Sproule 6-4 1-6 6-3

2nd Round

Edna Lawrence/Ron Hone d. Frances Hoddle Wrigley/Ryosuki Nunoi (Jap) 8-6 6-3
Corral Buttsworth/Charles Donohue [4] d. Flo Francisco/Ronald Cummings 4-6 8-6 6-2
Kath Le Messurier/Don Turnbull d. Truda Cox/Allan Knight 6-1 6-4
Crawford/Crawford [1] d. Williams/G Hone 6-2 6-1

Lewis/Willard d. Griffiths/Hawkes 4-6 6-4 7-5
Meryl O'Hara Wood/Jiro Satoh (Jap) [3] d. Dot Weston/Ernest Rowe 6-2 6-0
Mollie McGrath/Cliff Harvey d. Christobel Finlayson/RL Shephard 6-2 6-1
Gwen Stevenson/Bert Tonkin d. Edna Collison/Takeichi Harada (Jap) 2-6 6-4 6-4

Quarterfinals

Buttsworth/Donohue [4] d. Lawrence/R Hone 6-4 7-5
Crawford/Crawford [1] d. Le Messurier/Turnbull default (Turnbull ill)
O'Hara Wood/Satoh [3] d. Lewis/Willard 6-3 6-2
Stevenson/Tonkin d. McGrath/Harvey 6-4 4-6 7-5

Semifinals

Crawford/Crawford [1] d. Buttsworth/Donohue [4] 6-3 6-2
O'Hara Wood/Satoh [3] d. Stevenson/Tonkin 6-2 4-6 6-2

Final

Marjorie Crawford/Jack Crawford [1] d. Meryl O'Hard Wood/Jiro Satoh [3] 6-8 8-6 6-3

---------------------------------------------------

Draw notes:

Esna Boyd Robertson withdraws when her mother dies on the eve of the event. This means redoing some parts of the draw, as she was originally slated to partner Meryl O’Hara Wood in the doubles as the #1 seeds and #3 seed with Harada in the mixed. Junior Nancy Lewis plays with Wood in doubles and Edna Collinson partners Harada.

Missing full name for:


No one. All names are complete.

Notes on others in draw:

Dorothy Anderson=Miss D. J. Anderson of Victoria. The initials stand for Dorothy Jesmond.
Truda Cox from Victoria
Christobel Finlayson is captain of the Hyde Park Tennis team.
The Melbourne Argus confirms the name for Joyce Lillecrapp (there is no "e" on the end)
The Mail renders McGrath’s first name as “Molly” rather than “Mollie”.
Stevenson and Tonkin juniors from Victoria
Joyce Williams was a junior from NSW.
Jean Wilson from South Australia

RRB Barbour=Robert Barbour
AW Knight=Allan Walton Knight.

---------------------------------------------------

Sources:

The Adelaide Mail, The Melbourne Argus, and The Sydney Morning Herald. The Mercury (Hobart) provided original draw in the draw order.

Gee Tee provided the seeds.

---------------------------------------------------

Summary:

Esna Boyd Robertson withdraws when her mother dies on the eve of the event. This opens up the women's draw.

Buttsworth was able to rededicate herself to tennis some 18 months ago when her six year old daughter Margaret came of age to attend school. Corrie’s lobs scored at times, but her real killer was a chop shot off the backhand that often just cleared the net and died.

Girl champion Nancy Lewis, aged 18, is a second year medical student at Melbourne University. The Mail notes that she is “tall, slim, and particularly retiring. She has an almost limitless number of strokes….She has played tennis as long as she can remember.” Lewis reaches the doubles semifinal but is not in the singles.

Coral Buttsworth was unable to consolidate her newly acquired status during the rest of 1931 losing many matches but was still ranked no. 2 in Australia. Returning in 1932 she defeated veteran Meryl O'Hara Wood and Dorothy Weston to reach the final to face Kath Le Mesurier. Le Mesurier turned the tables on Marjorie Crawford from last year, beating her in the quarters and holding out up-and-coming Emily Westacott.

Le Mesurier, cheered on by the partisan crowd, led 4-1 40-0 in the first set, but the heavily chopped shots of Buttsworth, barely raising on grass, were beginning to cause her consternation. Moreover Le Mesurier was covering a lot of territory, running in for the drop shot, back for the lob. It was a tight contest, but Buttsworth prevailed 9-7 6-4

5,000 attend the finals. Police are needed to control the overflow of spectators. In fact record attendance all week is dampened only by rain on a couple of days.

On the social scene all three of the visiting Japanese loved to dance. At one party several female players joined in, Mrs Crawford dancing “the blues” with Satoh.
 
#14 · (Edited)
1933 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dates: January 21-29
Venue: Kooyong, Melbourne
Surface: Grass

---------------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=29)

1st Round

Joan Hartigan [1]-bye
Truda Cox d. Mrs Newton 6-4 6-3
Mall Molesworth [7] d. Mollie Muirhead 6-2 6-2
Gladys Toyne d. May Blick 6-4 6-2
Frances Hoddle-Wrigley [5] d. Peter Smith 6-1 6-3
Kath Woodward d Joyce Williams 6-1 3-6 6-2
Marjorie Crawford [4] d. Dot Stevenson 6-3 2-6 9-7
Birdie Bond d. Midge Van Ryn (US) 6-4 3-6 6-3

Coral Buttsworth [2] d. May Hardcastle 6-2 6-3
Youtha Anthony d. Ailsa Carcary 6-4 6-2
Nell Hall [6] d. Nancy Chitty 6-3 6-3
Mary Derham d. Dot Weston 6-3 6-4
Emily Westacott [3] d. Jean Glover 6-2 6-0
Gwen Griffiths d. Mollie McGrath 6-3 7-5
Nancy Lewis [8]-bye
Dot Bellamy-bye

2nd Round

Hartigan [1] d. Cox 6-1 8-6
Molesworth [7] d Toyne 4-6 6-1 6-4
Hoddle-Wrigley [5] d. Woodward 6-4 6-4
Bond d. Crawford [4] default

Buttsworth [2] d. Anthony 6-2 6-0
Hall [6] d. Derham 6-3 8-6
Westacott [3] d. Griffiths 6-2 6-3
Lewis [8] d. Bellamy 6-2 4-6 6-0

Quarterfinals

Hartigan [1] d. Molesworth [7] 4-6 8-6 9-7
Hoddle-Wrigley [5] d. Bond 3-6 8-6 6-4
Buttsworth [2] d. Hall [6] 6-4 6-2
Westacott [3] d. Lewis [8] 6-3 6-4

Semifinals

Hartigan [1] d. Hoddle-Wrigley [7] 4-6 6-0 6-4
Buttsworth [2] d. Westacott [3] 9-7 3-6 6-3

Final

Joan Hartigan [1] d Coral Buttsworth [2] 6-4 6-3

---------------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=19)

1st Round

Meryl O'Hara Wood/Gladys Toyne [2]-bye
H. Halford/Mrs Newton-bye
Mary Derham/Kath Woodward-bye
Mollie McGrath/Peter Smith-bye
Mall Molesworth/Emily Westacott [3]-bye
C. Barnes/Rosemary Rees-bye
Nell Hall/Frances Hoddle-Wrigley [6] d. Amy Lewis/Nancy Lewis 7-9 8-6 6-3
Youtha Anthony/Nancy Chitty d. Doris Mauger/Shirley Whittaker 7-5 6-4

Corral Buttsworth/Marjorie Crawford [1] d. Dot Stevenson/Gwen Stevenson 6-1 6-4
Gwen Griffiths/Dot Weston-bye
Joan Hartigan/Midge Van Ryn (US) [5]-bye
Ailsa Carcary/Jean Glover-bye
Dot Bellamy/Mollie Muirhead-bye
May Hardcastle/Joyce Williams bye
May Blick/Truda Cox [7]-bye
Birdie Bond/Kitty McGough-bye

2nd Round

O'Hara Wood/Toyne [2] d. Halford/Newton 6-0 6-4
Derham/Woodward d. McGrath/Smith 6-1 6-4
Molesworth/Westacott [3] d. Barnes/Rees 6-3 6-3
Hall/Hoddle Wrigley [6] d. Anthony/Chitty 7-5 6-3

Buttsworth/Crawford [1] d. Griffiths/Weston 6-8 6-3 6-2
Hartigan/Van Ryn [5] d. Carcary/Glover 6-2 6-4
Bellamy/Muirhead d. Hardcastle/Williams 6-2 7-5
Blick/Cox [7] d. Bond/McGough 6-4 7-5

Quarterfinals

Derham/Woodward d. O'Hara Wood/Toyne [2] 6-4 8-10 6-4
Molesworth/Westacott [3] d. Hall/Hoddle Wrigley [6] 6-2 6-2
Hartigan/Van Ryn [5] d. Buttsworth/Crawford [1] 6-8 6-4 6-2
Blick/Cox [7] d. Bellamy/Muirhead 6-3 3-6 6-4

Semifinals

Molesworth/Westacott [3] d. Derham/Woodward 6-0 6-2
Hartigan/Van Ryn [5] d. Blick/Cox [7] 6-2 7-5

Final

Mall Molesworth/Emily Westacott [3] d. Joan Hartigan/Midge Van Ryn [5] 6-3 6-3

---------------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=20)

1st Round

Marjorie Crawford/Jack Crawford [1]-bye
Ailsa Carcary/Colin McKenzie-bye
Kath Woodward/Harry Hassett-bye
Mollie McGrath/Reg Ewin-bye
Joan Hartigan/Gar Moon [4]-bye
Nancy Chitty/Eric Freak-bye
Birdie Bond/Dudley Frankenberg d. Peter Smith/Thomas Robinson 6-1 6-4
Emily Westacott/William Ryan d. Gladys Toyne/Allan Knight 6-2 6-3

Midge Van Ryan (US)/Ellsworth Vines (US) [2] d. Jean Glover/Basil Fitchett 6-1 6-4
Meryl O'Hara Wood/Bob Schlesinger d. Gwen Stevenson/Bert Tonkin 6-4 4-6 6-2
Gwen Griffiths/Len Schwartz-bye
Frances Hoodle-Wrigley/Horace Crebbin-bye
Nell Hall/Harry Hopman [3]-bye
Dot Bellamy/Neil Ennis-bye
Dot Weston/Don Turnbull-bye
May Hardcastle/Ronald Cummings-bye

2nd Round

Crawford/Crawford [1] d. Carcary/McKenzie 6-2 6-1
Woodward/Hassett d. McGrath/Ewin 3-6 6-3 6-2
Hartigan/Moon [4] d. Chitty/Freak 6-0 6-3
Bond/Frankenberg d. Westacott/Ryan 6-3 6-4

Van Ryn/Vines [2] d. O'Hara Wood/Schlesinger 6-2 6-2
Griffiths/Schwartz d. Hoodle-Wrigley/Crebbin 6-1 3-6 6-1
Hall/Hopman [3] d. Bellamy/Ellis 6-1 6-3
Weston/Turnbull d. Hardcastle/Cummings 7-5 6-4

Quarterfinals

Crawford/Crawford [1] d. Woodward/Hassett 6-3 4-6 6-3
Bond/Frankenberg d. Hartigan/Moon [4] 4-6 11-9 6-2
van Ryn/Vines [2] d. Griffiths/Schwartz 6-0 6-1
Hall/Hopman [3] d. Weston/Turnbull 8-6 9-7

Semifinals

Crawford/Crawford [1] d Bond/Frankenberg 6-3 6-3
Van Ryn/Vines [2] d Hall/Hopman [3] 6-2 4-6 6-4

Final

Marjorie Crawford/Jack Crawford [1] d Midge Van Ryn/Ellsworth Vines [2] 3-6 7-5 13-11


Mrs Crawford in 1933



---------------------------------------------------

Draw notes:

Mary Derham (later Mrs Richardson)
Mrs James Leslie McGough=nee "Kitty" Drummond.

Eric Freak was a young male junior from South Australia. His life was cut short in 1934 when the 18-year-old Freak died from a ruptured appendix

Missing #4 and #8 seeds for the ladies doubles. Mrs Harper (an injured leg) and Joan Hartigan's withdrawals are doubtless connected to the mysterious missing seeds.

Missing Full Names for:

C. Barnes
Miss H. Halford-who also partnered Mrs Newton in a 1930 Glen Iris tournament.
Mrs Newton is from the Glen Iris Club in Victoria. Phyllis Newton is in the juniors, but as she is from Tasmania she has no connection to Mrs Newton.

---------------------------------------------------

Summary (courtesy of Louloubelle)

20 year old Joan Hartigan won the Australian title in 1933. Suffering from a leg strain she nearly was forced to withdraw from the tournament which featured many great matches.

Marjory Crawford was extended to 6-3 2-6 9-7 by Victorian junior Dot Stevenson who led 5-2 in the 3rd but played too safe in the final stages. Veteran Mall Molesworth prevailed against Gladys Toyne and defending champion Corrie Buttsworth showed she would be in contention again, demolishing Youtha Anthony 6-2 6-0. Tasmanian Mrs. Bond used lobs and passing shots to defeat American Midge Van Ryn 6-4 3-6 6-3 to then be given a walkover by Crawford to reach the quarter finals. Hartigan scrapped by veteran Mall Molesworth 4-6 8-6 9-7 a match featuring a host of clean winners from both players.
Hartigan seemed nervous in her semi against Hoddle-Wrigley and lost the first set 4-6. However her forehand started to find its mark and she settled down for a 4-6 6-0 6-4 victory. Emily Westacott was a losing semifinalist for a 3rd year in a row. Faced with a heavy court and a softballing opponent, Westacott's power game was nullified and she lost 9-7 3-6 6-3.

Hartigan encountered stiff resistance in the final, but her power of her forehand was enough to deny Buttsworth's craftiness and patience, 6-4 6-3.

---------------------------------------------------

Sources:

The seeding comes from the official Australian Open website.
 
#15 · (Edited)
1934 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dates: January 18-27
Venue: Rushcutter Bay, Sydney
Surface: Grass

---------------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=32)

1st Round

Joan Hartigan [1] d. Truda Cox 6-0 8-6
Erla Corrigan d. Eileen Corbett 8-6 6-3
Ivy Purdy d. Dorothy Dingle default (injured thumb in a splint)
Ula Valkenburg [8] d. Gwen Stevenson 6-2 6-2
Alison Hattersley d. Nancy Chitty [4] 6-8 9-7 6-4
May Blick d. Beth Peach 6-3 6-2
Helen McTaggett d. Nancy Lewis 6-4 8-6
Louie Bickerton [6] d. Dot Bellamy 6-1 6-3

Mall Molesworth [2] d. Mary Chapman 6-0 6-2
Miss P O' Connor d. Kath Commins 6-2 6-3
Nell Hall [5] d. Peg Menzies 6-1 6-2
Joyce Williams d. Cherie Bubb 6-2 6-1
Muff Wilson d. Dot Stevenson 7-5 6-3
Kath Le Messurier [7] d. Nina Vickery 6-4 7-9 6-3
Nancy Lewis d. Vera Selwin 6-1 6-8 6-1
Emily Westacott [3] d. Gwen Utz 6-3 6-3

2nd Round

Hartigan [1] d. Corrigan 6-3 6-1
Valkenburg [8] d. Purdy 6-2 6-4
Hattersley d. Blick 13-11 6-4
Bickerton [6] d. McTaggett 6-2 6-0

Molesworth [2] d O' Connor 6-3 6-4
Hall [5] d. Williams default
Wilson d. Le Messurier [7] 6-1 6-1
Westacott [3] d. Lewis 8-6 7-5

Quarterfinals

Hartigan [1] d. Valkenburg [8] 6-1 6-4
Bickerton [6] d. Hattersley 6-3 6-1
Molesworth [2] d. Hall [5] 6-4 6-1
Wilson d. Westacott [3] 2-6 10-8 6-3

Semifinals

Hartigan [1] d Bickerton [6] 6-1 6-3
Molesworth [2] d Wilson 7-5 6-4

Final

Joan Hartigan [1] d. Mall Molesworth [2] 6-1 6-4




---------------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=15)

1st Round

Mall Molesworth/Emily Westacott [1] d. Sylvia Harper/Helen McTaggett [Q] 6-2 7-5
Gwen Cassidy/Muff Wilson d. partner/Gwen Utz default
Nancy Chitty/Nancy Lewis [4] d. Edna Collison/Joyce Hone [Q] 6-2 7-5
Dot Stevenson/Gwen Stevenson d. Edna Gardyne/Kath Le Messurier 1-6 8-6 7-5

Joan Hartigan/Ula Valkenburg [2] d. Peg Menzies/Miss P O'Connor [Q] 6-1 6-4
Dot Bellamy/Sylvia Harper d. Floris Conway/Marjorie Crawford 7-5 6-4
Louie Bickerton/Nell Hall [3] d. Thelma Coyne/Agnes Tosch [Q] 6-4 6-2
Alison Hattersley/Vera Selwyn d. May Blick/Truda Cox 6-3 2-6 6-3

Quarterfinals

Molesworth/Westacott [1] d Cassidy/Wilson 6-2 6-3
Chitty/Lewis [4] d Stevenson/Stevenson 6-3 7-5
Hartigan/Valkenburg [2] d Bellamy/Harper 6-2 6-4
Bickerton/Hall [3] d Hattersley/Selwin 6-2 8-6

Semifinals

Molesworth/Westacott [1] d. Chitty/Lewis [4] 6-4 6-3
Hartigan/Valkenburg [2] d. Bickerton/Hall [3] 6-3 6-1

Final

Mall Molesworth/Emily Westacott [1] d. Joan Hartigan/Ula Valkenburg [2] 6-8 6-4 6-4

------------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=19)

1st Round

Nell Hall/Harry Hopman [1]-bye
Vera Selwin/R. C. Smith default-bye
Kath Le Messurier/Don Turnbull-bye
Gwen Stevenson/Charles Angus (NZ)-bye
Emily Westacott/Roy Dunlop [4]-bye
Mary Chapman/Len Schwartz-bye
Sylvia Harper/Gar Hone d. Eileen Corbett/George Kendall 6-2 6-4
Truda Cox/David Thompson d. Nancy Chitty/Allan Knight 6-1 6-4

Mall Molesworth/Hughie Goodwin d. Mary Storey/Harry Austin 6-4 6-2
Gwen Utz/Norman Peach-bye
Edna Gardyne/Joe Rodgers-bye
Alison Hattersley/Aubrey Willard [3]-bye
Nancy Lewis/Reg Erwin-bye
Nina Vickery/Bruce Moore-bye
Dot Bellamy/Jack Clemenger-bye
Joan Hartigan/Gar Moon [2]-bye

2nd Round

Hall/Hopman [1] d. Selwin/default
Le Messurier/Turnbull d. Stevenson/Angus default
Westacott/Dunlop [4] d. Chapman/Schwartz 6-4 6-4
Cox/Thompson d. Harper/Hone3-6 6-3 6-2

Utz/Peach d. Molesworth/Goodwin 6-2 6-3
Hattersley/Willard [3] d. Gardyne/Rodgers 6-3 6-3
Lewis/Erwin d. Vickery/Moore 6-4 8-6
Hartigan/Moon [2] d. Bellamy/Clemenger 6-2 6-2

Quarterfinals

Hall/Hopman [1] d. Le Messurier/Turnbull 6-2 6-3
Westacott/Dunlop [4] d. Cox/Thompson 6-1 7-5
Hattersley/Willard [3] d. Utz/Peach 6-1 6-2
Hartigan/Moon [2] d. Lewis/Erwin 6-1 8-6

Semifinals

Westacott/Dunlop [4] d. Hall/Hopman 6-1 6-3
Hartigan/Moon [2] d. Hattersley/Willard 13-11 8-6

Final

Joan Hartigan/Gar Moon [2] d. Emily Westacott/Roy Dunlop [4] 6-3 6-4

---------------------------------------------------

Draw notes:

Marjorie Crawford=Mrs J. Crawford
Nell Hall = the maiden name of Nell Hopman.
Nancy Lewis=Miss A. T. Lewis
Eileen Corbet=Mrs M. C. Corbett (Mrs Maxwell Campbell Corbett)
Elizabeth McTaggett = Mrs RE McTaggett, nee Elizabeth Sloane
Beth Peach listed as E. Peach. Her full name was Elizabeth Peach
Ivy Purdy

Harry Austin=H. B. Austin from Riverina
Joe Rodgers=J. Rodgers. GeeTee also has the name "Jim".

Miss full names for
:

Miss P. O' Connor represents the Ground Members' Club in Sydney.

Mr R. S. Smith

---------------------------------------------------

Sources:

The Argus provides the draw in exact draw order:
13 Jan 1934 - LAWN TENNIS - Trove

[The Sydney Morning Herald handicaps the field]
18 Jan 1934 - LAWN TENNIS. - Trove

25 Jan 1934 - GREAT ASSEMBLY OF TENNIS STARS IN SYDNEY - Trove

[A photo of Hartigan in action]
29 Jan 1934 - TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS. - Trove
---------------------------------------------------

Summary:

Mall Molesworth, age 39, made a stunning run to the final. In the final she was unable to beat her 21 year old opponent, but she won the doubles crown. She is the oldest singles finalist and doubles champ on record in Oz.

Hartigan's defence in Sydney was not as arduous as the year before. She showed how much her game had improved under the coaching of Jim Willard, reaching the final without dropping a set. In the other half of the draw, New South Wales country champion Muff Wilson defeated Westacott 2-6 10-8 6-3, with Westacott being too fearless on her drives going for a clean winner on every shot. Muff survived a match point in moving on. Wilson found Molesworth a different proposition in the semifinal. The former champion broke up Wilson's game by mixing short chips and deep drives to win 6-4 7-5. If she had tried this tactic against Hartigan in the final she might have had more success than she did by trying to outhit and out-run someone so much younger. It was 11 years since Molesworth's first national final, and she could not keep the pace with her stronger and more mobile opponent, going down 1-6, 4-6.

2,500 came for the quarterfinals.

[Summary courtesy of Louloubelle]
 
#196 ·
1934 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dates: January 18-27
Venue: Rushcutter Bay, Sydney
Surface: Grass

---------------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=32)

1st Round

Joan Hartigan [1] d. Truda Cox 6-0 8-6
Erla Corrigan d. Eileen Corbett 8-6 6-3
Ivy Purdy d. Dorothy Dingle default (injured thumb in a splint)
Ula Valkenburg [8] d. Gwen Stevenson 6-2 6-2
Alison Hattersley d. Nancy Chitty [4] 6-8 9-7 6-4
May Blick d. Beth Peach 6-3 6-2
Helen McTaggett d. Nancy Lewis 6-4 8-6
Louie Bickerton [6] d. Dot Bellamy 6-1 6-3

Mall Molesworth [2] d. Mary Chapman 6-0 6-2
Miss P O' Connor d. Kath Commins 6-2 6-3
Nell Hall [5] d. Peg Menzies 6-1 6-2
Joyce Williams d. Cherie Bubb 6-2 6-1
Muff Wilson d. Dot Stevenson 7-5 6-3
Kath Le Messurier [7] d. Nina Vickery 6-4 7-9 6-3
Nancy Lewis d. Vera Selwin 6-1 6-8 6-1
Emily Westacott [3] d. Gwen Utz 6-3 6-3



Draw notes:

Marjorie Crawford=Mrs J. Crawford
Nell Hall = the maiden name of Nell Hopman.
Nancy Lewis=Miss A. T. Lewis
Eileen Corbet=Mrs M. C. Corbett (Mrs Maxwell Campbell Corbett)
Elizabeth McTaggett = Mrs RE McTaggett, nee Elizabeth Sloane
The 13 Jan 1934 source lists the first Lewis in the draw as Miss A.T. Lewis (vs McTaggett) and the second Lewis as N. Lewis (vs Selwin). Clearly they can't both be the same Nancy Lewis. Is it the same name for two different players? I suspect the first Lewis should be corrected. And which Nancy Lewis is in the 1933 draw?

I'm not understanding the description of Elizabeth McTaggett in the draw notes, since the listing (here and 1931) is for Helen McTaggett.
 
#16 · (Edited)
1935

Dates: January 1-14
Venue: Kooyong, Melbourne (some early matches held on the Albert Ground)
Surface: Grass

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=32)

1st Round

Dorothy Round (GB) [1] d Dot Stevenson 6-2 6-3
Doris Mauger d Kath Le Messurier 6-1 6-4
May Blick [7] d Sadie Berryman 6-2 4-6 8-6
Mall Molesworth d Lorna Dickens 6-2 6-2
Emily Westacott [3] d. Truda Cox 6-3 6-0
Dot Bellamy d Dot Greenwood 6-1 6-2
Evelyn Dearman (GB) [5] d Edna Harry 6-1 6-2
Nancye Wynne d Doreen Malcolm (SA) 6-1 6-2

Nancy Lyle (GB) [4] d Gwyn Stevenson 6-0 6-0
Shirley Whittaker d Thora Chittick 6-3 15-13
Louie Bickerton [6] d Alma Cox 6-4 6-3
Kath Woodward d Birdy Bond 4-6 7-5 8-6
Nell Hopman [8] d Frances Hoddle-Wrigley 6-2 6-3
Dot Weston d Thelma Coyne 6-2 6-3
Nancy Chitty d Rosemary Rees 6-4 6-1
Joan Walters d Amy Lewis 6-3 8-6

2nd Round

Round [1] d. Mauger 6-2 6-2
Blick [7] d. Molesworth 6-4 4-6 7-5
Westacott [3] d. Bellamy 6-4 6-2
Dearman [5] d. Wynne 6-3 6-2

Lyle [4] d. Whittaker 6-0 6-2
Bickerton [6] d. Woodward 6-4 6-4
Hopman [8] d. Weston 11-9 6-3
Walters d Chitty 7-5 6-4

Quarterfinals

Round [1] d. Blick [7] 6-4 6-0
Westacott [3] d. Dearman [5] 9-7 7-5
Lyle [4] d. Bickerton [6] 6-2 8-6
Hopman [8] d. Walters 4-6 6-1 6-3

Semifinals

Round [1] d. Westacott [3] 6-4 6-2
Lyle [4] d. Hopman [8] 6-1 7-5

Final

Dorothy Round [1] d. Nancy Lyle [4] 1-6 6-1 6-3

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Junior Girls

FI: Thelma Coyne d Nancy Wynne 6-4 6-2

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=15)

1st Round

Evelyn Dearman (GB)/Nancy Lyle (GB) [2] d. Thora Chittick/Dot Greenwood 6-1 6-3
Frances Hoddle-Wrigley/Rosemary Rees d. Birdie Bond/Miranda Richardson 6-4 5-7 8-6
Dot Stevenson/Gwyn Stevenson d. Kath Le Messurier/Dot Weston 6-2 6-8 6-1
Mall Molesworth/Emily Westacott [3] d. Doris Mauger/Shirley Whittaker 4-6 6-2 6-4

Louie Bickerton/Nell Hopman [4] d. Truda Cox/Gladys Toyne 6-1 6-4
Dot Bellamy/Sylvia Harper d. Edna Harry/Agnes Scott 7-5 1-6 6-3
Nancy Chitty/Doreen Malcolm (SA) d. May Blick/Kath Woodward 6-2 6-0
Thelma Coyne/Dorothy Round [1] d Margery Carnie/Alma Cox 6-4 4-6 6-2

Quarterfinals

Dearman/Lyle [2] d. Hoddle Wrigley/Rees 6-1 6-3
Molesworth/Westacott [3] d. Stevenson/Stevenson 6-3 6-3
Bickerton/Hopman [4] d. Bellamy/Harper 6-1 6-3
Coyne/Round [1] d. Chitty/Malcolm 6-2 6-0

Semifinals

Dearman/Lyle [2] d. Molesworth/Westacott [3] 6-4 6-4
Bickerton/Hopman [4] d. Coyne/Round [1] 6-2 6-4

Final

Evelyn Dearman/Nancy Lyle [2] d. Louie Bickerton/Nell Hopman [4] 6-3 6-4*

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=24)

1st Round


Dorothy Round (GB)/Fred Perry (GB) [1]-bye
Mall Molesworth/John Grinstad-bye
Emily Westacott/Ronald Cummings [8]-bye
Kath Le Messurier/Don Turnbull-bye
Evelyn Dearman (GB)/Enrique Maier (Sp) [4] d Dot Weston/Allan Knight 6-4 6-2
Birdie Bond/Vernon Kirby (SA) d Miranda Richardson/James Derham 6-3 6-4
Shirley Whittaker/Gar Moon [5]* d Truda Cox/Jack Harper 4-6 6-2 6-3
Sylvia Harper/Giogio de Stefani (Ity) d Nina Vickery/J Davidson default

Nell Hopman/Hary Hopman [2] d Doris Mauger/Timonthy Fitchett 7-5 6-2
Kath Woodward/Roderick Menzel (Cz) d Thora Chittick/William Ryan 6-3 6-3
Louie Bickerton/Christian Boussus (Fra) [7] d C McRae/Robert Vroland 6-1 6-3
May Blick/Jack Clemenger d Rosemary Rees/Colin McKenzie 4-6 6-2 6-2
Nancy Lyle (GB)/Adrian Quist [3]-bye
Gwyn Stevenson/Bert Tonkin-bye
Doreen Malcolm (SA)/Roy Malcolm (SA)-bye
Dot Bellamy/Toto Brugnon (Fra) [6]-bye

Second Round

Round/Perry [1] d Molesworth/Grinstead 6-3 6-3
Westacott/Cummings d Le Messurier/Cummings 3-6 6-4 6-3
Bond/Kirby d Dearman/Maier [4] 6-4 7-5
Whittaker/Moon [5] d Harper/Stefani 5-7 10-8 6-4

Woodward/Menzel d Hopman/Hopman [2] 6-3 6-2
Bickerton/Boussus [7] d Blick/Clemenger 6-2 6-4
Lyle/Quist [3] d G Stevenson/Tonkin 8-6 7-5
Malcolm/Malcolm d Bellamy/Brugnon [6] 6-4 8-6

Quarterfinals

Round/Perry [1] d Westacott/Cummings [8] 6-3 6-1
Bond/Kirby d Whittaker/Moon [5] 6-3 6-4
Bickerton/Boussus [7] d Woodward/Menzel 6-3 7-5
Lyle/Quist [3] d Malcolm/Malcolm 6-0 6-1

Semifinals

Round/Perry [1] d Bond/Kirby 4-6 6-4 6-3
Bickerton/Boussus [7] d Lyle/Quist [3] 6-4 11-9

Final

Dorothy Round/Fred Perry [1] d Louie Bickerton/Christian Boussus [7] 6-1 3-6 6-3

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Draw notes:

#2 seed Joan Hartigan withdrew due to flu. Originally slated to play doubles with Dorothy Round, her place in doubles is taken by Thelma Coyne. Joan Walters takes her spot in singles.

Margery Carnie=Mrs R H Carnie
Alma Cox=AC Cox
Doreen Malcolm of South Africa was married to fellow player Roy Malcolm

Allan Walter Knight was an engineer from Tasmania.

The doubles final was halted by darkness at one set apiece. The next day (Monday) it was restarted from scratch, the British pair winning in straights.

The #5 seeding for Whittaker/Moon is an educated guess. All the other mixed seedings have been confirmed. The Melbourne Argus lists only 4 seeds for the mixed, but the Aussie web site has seeds to #8.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Summary:

Round becomes the first foreigner to walk away with the Aussie women's crown. The Wimbledon champ waltzed through until the final, in which she had to recover after dropping the first set. At 3-4 in the third Lyle had a chance at 0-40, but Round won 5 straight points and soon won.

Westacott had upset the British Dearman with her fearsome forehand, but it wasn't enough vs. Round in the semis.

It was a minor miracle the event was held at all. One week before, torrential rain had left Kooyong under 30 feet of water. The courts were deemed soggy but playable.

Dorothy Round came to Australia as the reigning Wimbledon champion having defeated Helen Jacobs in a memorable final when at 3 all in the third set, she had staked everything on an all out attack which carried her to victory. Australian fans saw a highly gifted all-court player. Her sweeping ground shots were hit flat and hard, her backhand being the stronger side and had fine touch for volleys and the dropshot. A Sunday school teacher and devoutly religious, she always refused to play on Sundays, a fact which caused French and American officials to undertake a bit of rescheduling when she was playing in their countries. It was not a problem in Australia, which did not yet condone public sport on the Sabbath.

Round won the championships of Victoria, New South Wales and came into the national titles in Melbourne a firm favorite, especially as the defending champion Joan Hartigan was absent through illness.

Round encountered graceful local girl May Blick in the quarterfinals, winning 6-4 6-0, her tardy start attributed by the press to Round's "weekend by the sea which had taken her mind off tennis". Also in the quarters, Nancy Lyle, another of the visiting British girls (daughter of British parliamentarian Sir Leonard Lyle, who had been a successful tournament player) was too good for Louie Bickerton 6-2 8-6. Bickerton had tried to out-drive Lyle in the first set before coming to the realization that Lyle, like Round, thrived on pace. She softballed her in the second set and reached set point at 5-4 before Lyle steadied to come through in straight sets.

Emily Westacott salvaged some honor for Australia by flummoxing another British girl Evelyn Dearman with her curling kicking serve to win 9-7 7-5. The Age reporter who covered the match commended Westacott for her "unorthodox joyous wallops" and added that the crowd cheered her to the end because they love "a gallant swatter".

Nell Hopman did her best in the semifinals against Lyle to wear down and frustrate the English girl with consistency. But Lyle held too great an edge in power and placement, though she did fall into Hopman's game of interminable backhand to backhand rallies in the second set, before scoring 6-1 7-5.

Westacott was plainly overawed by Round, not hitting out with her usual abandon. She did manage, however, to lead 4-2 in the first set before Round increased the length, speed and placement of her ground shots. The score of 6-4 6-2 accurately reflected the difference between the players on the day.

In the final, Round once again got off to a slow start, spraying her shots, moving sluggishly and experiencing difficulties with her ball toss on service. Lyle, at the peak of her form, took the first set 6-1. By the second set Round's much vaunted fitness was standing her good stead in the excessive heat, and she was winning almost all the vital points. At 3-all in the third set, Round showed her quality by overcoming a love-40 deficit on service. Lyle battled the match right out, but Round became the first foreign woman to win the Australian singles title 1-6 6-1 6-3.

Note that Mrs E Bond, md at least as far back as 1928, was a multiple winner of the Tasmanian Chmps

Summary Notes courtesy of Louloubelle and Rollo

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Sources:

The official Australian open website

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/149586151 (provided some key missing names)
 
#17 · (Edited)
1936

Dates: January 20 to 27
Venue: Adelaide
Surface: Grass

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=24)

1st Round

Joan Hartigan [2] d Jean Wilson 6-2 9-7
Kath Woodward d. Betty Ward 6-2 6-3
Gwen Griffiths [7] d. Edna Collison 6-1 6-2
Truda Cox d. Yutha Thiemeyer 6-3 6-3
May Blick [5]-bye
Birdie Bond-bye
Joan Walters-bye
Dot Stevenson[4]-bye

Nell Hopman [3] d. Edie Niemeyer 6-4 6-0
Kath Le Messurier d. Mary Carter 6-0 6-1
Nancye Wynne [6] d. Pearl Stern 6-0 6-1
Dot Weston d. Ruby Skinner 6-2 6-2
May Hardcastle [8]-bye
Sadie Berryman-bye
Gwyn Stevenson-bye
Thelma Coyne [1]-bye

2nd Round

Hartigan [2] d Woodward 6-1 6-4
Griffiths [7] d Cox 6-3 4-6 6-3
Blick [5] d Bond 10-8 7-5
Walters d D Stevenson [4] 6-4 7-5

Hopman [3] d Le Messurier 6-2 6-3
Wynne [6] d Weston 6-0 4-6 7-5
Hardcastle [8] d Berryman 7-5 6-4
Coyne [1] d G Stevenson 6-1 6-2

Quarterfinals

Hartigan [2] d. Griffiths [7] 6-1 6-4
Blick [5] d. Walters 5-7 6-1 6-1
Wynne [6] d. Hopman [3] 3-6 6-3 6-4
Coyne [1] d. Hardcastle [8] 6-2 8-6

Semifinals

Hartigan [2] d. Blick [5] 7-5 6-3
Wynne [6] d. Coyne [1] 1-6 7-5 7-5

Final
Joan Hartigan [2] d. Nancye Wynne [6] 6-4 6-4

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=12)

1st Round

Joan Walters/Dot Weston[4]-bye
Dot Stevenson/Gwyn Stevenson-bye
Birdie Bond/Gwen O'Halloran d. Cherie Bubb/June Colless 6-2 4-6 6-3
Thelma Coyne/Nancye Wynne [2] d. Betty Ward/Jean Wilson 6-3 6-4

May Blick/Kath Woodward [3] d. May Hardcastle/Pearl Stern 6-2 4-6 7-5
Sadie Berryman/Truda Cox d. Gwen Griffiths/Kath Le Messurier 6-4 4-6 6-1
Mary Carter/Muff Wilson-bye
Joan Hartigan/Nell Hopman [1]-bye

Quarterfinals

Stevenson/Stevenson d. Walters/Weston [4] 6-3 6-0
Coyne/Wynne [2] d. Bond/O'Halloran 6-3 6-3
Blick/Woodward [3] d. Berryman/Cox 6-3 6-2
Hartigan/Hopman [1] d. Carter/Wilson default

Semifinals

Coyne/Wynne [2] d. Stevenson/Stevenson 6-4 8-6
Blick/Woodward [3] d. Hartigan/Hopman [1] 6-2 6-4

Final

Thelma Coyne/Nancye Wynne [2] d. May Blick/Kath Woodward [3] 6-2 6-4

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=14)


1st Round

Joan Hartigan/Gar Moon [2] d. Kath Le Messurier/Rupert Shephard 6-4 6-3
Birdie Bond/Gar Hone d Dot Stevenson/Ray Hone 2-6 6-4 8-6
Kath Woodward/Chum Stephen-bye
May Blick/Abel Kay d. Joan Walters/Don Turnbull [3] 6-2 6-1

Gwen Griffiths/Len Schwartz [4] d. May Hardcastle/John Grinstead 6-1 7-5
Nancye Wynne/Les Hancock d Dot Weston/Stan Gifford 6-3 8-10 6-4
Gwyn Stevenson/Cliff Harvey d. Truda Cox/Alfred Chave 7-5 6-3
Nell Hopman/Harry Hopman [1]-bye


Quarterfinals

Hartigan/Moon [2] d Bond/Hone 6-2 6-1
Blick/Kay d Woodward/Stephen 6-2 6-2
Griffiths/Schwartz [4] d Wynne/Hancock 11-9 8-6
Hopman/Hopman [1] d. Stevenson/Harvey 6-3 6-4

Semifinals

Blick/Kay d. Hartigan/Moon [2] 7-5 6-2
Hopman/Hopman [1] d. Griffiths/Schwartz [4] 4-6 6-0 6-2

Final

Nell Hopman/Harry Hopman [1] d. May Blick/Abel Kay 6-2 6-0

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Draw Notes:

All names are complete.

Chum Stephen=WF Stephen

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Summary:

Hartigan's overseas experience (she was rated in the world's top 10 for 1935) was too much for her competition. Oddly, Hartigan was "discovered" by Herbert Edwards, the father of the very Vic Edwards who guided Evonne Goolagong to stardom.

Encouraged by another successful overseas tour in which she reached the Wimbledon semifinals by defeating titleholder Dorothy Round finally losing to Helen Wills Moody, Hartigan continued her domination of the Australian women's game. However the arrival of Nancye Wynne and Thelma Coyne pre-figured the end of her reign. Wynne and Coyne fought out a grueling semifinal. Wynne trailed 1-6 2-5 and survived four match points from 1-6 2-5 before getting out of jail 1-6 7-5 7-5. In the final analysis it was the high percentage of first serves in play which saved the day for Wynne.

Hartigan scored in straight sets over May Blick in the other semi.

High expectations were held for the final, but the inexperienced Wynne succumbed to nerves. Her forehand failed her; Hartigan's as usual did not. Hartigan found that keeping the ball in play and waiting for Wynne to fall into error sufficed to ensure a 6-4 6-4 victory.

Notes courtesy of louloubelle and Rollo

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Sources:
Early results courtesy of Andrew Tas.
Thanks to GeeTee for providing many names.

Full list of seeds came from the Mercury:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/30071782?searchTerm=adelaide%20tennis&searchLimits=exactPhrase|||anyWords|||notWords|||l-textSearchScope=*ignore*%7C*ignore*|||fromdd=09|||frommm=01|||fromyyyy=1936|||todd=10|||tomm=01|||toyyyy=1936|||l-word=*ignore*%7C*ignore*|||sortby
 
#18 · (Edited)
1937

Dates: January 22-30
Venue: Rushcutter Bay, White City, Sydney
Surface: Grass

-----------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=31)

1st Round

Nancye Wynne [2]-bye
Peggy Menzies d Dr Ella Hunt 8-6 6-1
Sadie Berryman d. Pearl Stern default
Gwen O'Halloran [7] d. Marjorie Moran 6-2 6-2
Thelma Coyne [3] d. Gwen Farrell 6-1 6-1
Gwen Stevenson d. Muriel Wilson 3-6 9-7 6-4
Vera Selwin d. Beth Peach 6-1 6-1
May Hardcastle [8] d. Mary Carter 6-2 6-0

Emily Westacott [5] d. Dorothy Dingle 9-7 6-4
Olive Stebbing d. Alison Hattersley 9-7 6-4
Margaret Wilson d. Thelma Rice 7-5 4-6 6-3
Nell Hopman [4] d. Nina Vickery 6-1 6-0
Dot Stevenson [6] d. Connie Coate 6-0 9-7
Ida Webb d. Edna McColl 7-9 6-1 6-2
May Blick d Lavina Singleton default
Joan Hartigan [1] d. M Graham 7-5 6-3

2nd Round

Wynne [2] d. Menzies 6-0 6-4
Berryman d. O'Halloran [7] 6-4 6-1
Coyne [3] d. Stevenson 6-2 6-1
Selwin d. Hardcastle [8] 4-6 6-4 6-4

Westacott [5] d. Stebbing 6-2 6-1
Wilson d. Hopman [4] 6-4 10-8
Stevenson [6] d. Webb 6-4 7-5
Hartigan [1] d. Blick 6-2 6-1

Quarterfinals

Wynne [2] d. Berryman 6-0 6-1
Coyne [3] d. Selwin 6-1 6-1
Westacott [5] d. Wilson 7-5 8-6
Stevenson [6] d. Hartigan [1] 4-6 6-3 6-4

Semifinals

Wynne [2] d. Coyne [3] 7-5 4-6 6-4
Westacott [5] d. Stevenson [6] 3-6 8-6 9-7

Final

Nancye Wynne d. Emily Westacott [5] 6-3 5-7 6-4

-----------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=14)

1st Round

Thelma Coyne/Nancye Wynne [1]-bye
May Hardcastle/Peggy Menzies d. Connie Coate/Gwen Farrell 6-3 7-5
Thelma Rice/Olive Stebbing d. Dot Stevenson/Gwen Stevenson 0-6 6-1 6-4
Alison Hattersley/Vera Selwyn [4] d. Lavina Singleton/Pearl Stern 6-4 6-2

May Blick/Joan Hartigan [3] d. Edna McColl/Nina Vickery 6-4 6-2
Sylvia Harper/K Woodward d. Joan Lipscomb/Marjorie Moran 6-2 6-2
Dorothy Dingle/Muriel Wilson d. Helen Bowker/Beth Peach 6-3 2-6 6-0
Nell Hopman/Emily Westacott [2]-bye

Quarterfinals

Coyne/Wynne [1] d. Hardcastle/Menzies 6-3 6-4
Hattersley/Selwyn [4] d. Rice/Stebbing 6-4 6-4
Blick/Hartigan [3] d. Harper/Woodward 9-7 6-1
Hopman/Westacott [2] d. Dingle/Wilson 6-0 8-6

Semifinals

Coyne/Wynne [1] d. Hattersley/Selwyn [4] 6-4 3-6 6-3
Hopman/Westacott [2] d. Blick/Hartigan [3] 6-4 6-3

Final

Thelma Coyne/Nancye Wynne [1] d. Nell Hopman/Emily Westacott [2] 7-5 6-4

-----------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=14)

1st Round

Dot Stevenson/Don Turnbull [2]-bye
Emily Westacott/Jim Gilchrist d. Kath Woodward/Chum Stephen 6-3 6-2
Joan Hartigan/Arthur Huxley [4] d. May Hardcastle/Vince Kelly 7-5 6-4
Thelma Rice/Howard Lewis d. Alison Hattersley/Les Hancock 6-4 8-6

May Blick/Neil Turvey d. Connie Coate/Norman Brimson 6-1 6-4
Nancye Wynne/Gar Moon [3] d. Peggy Menzies/Max Bonner 2-6 6-2 6-3
Gwen O'Halloran/Len Schwartz d. Vera Selwyn/Fred Bennett 6-3 1-6 7-5
Nell Hopman/Harry Hopman [1]-bye

Quarterfinals

Stevenson/Turnbull [2] d Westacott/Gilchrist 2-6 6-0 6-1
Rice/Lewis d Hartigan/Huxley [4] 3-6 6-4 6-4
Wynne/Moon [3] d Blick/Turvey 6-1 6-2
Hopman/Hopman [1] d O'Halloran/Schwartz 6-2 6-4

Semifinals

Stevenson/Turnbull [2] d Rice/Lewis 6-3 6-3
Hopman/Hopman [1] d Wynne/Moon [3] 3-6 6-3 6-4

Final

Nell Hopman/Harry Hopman [1] d. Dot Stevenson/Don Turnbull [2] 3-6 6-3 6-2

-----------------------------------------------

Draw notes:

Thanks to GeeTee for pointing out that this was Margaret Wilson-not "Muff" Wilson.

William F Stephen went by the nickname "Chum"

Missing Names:

Miss M Graham is the only name missing . She was from NSW.

-----------------------------------------------

Summary:

Endless hours hitting balls on top of a Melbourne city building finally resulted in a national title for "Nonchalant Nancy".

No woman obtained greater dominance in Australian women's tennis in the pre-Margaret Smith years than Victoria's Nancye Bolton (nee Wynne). She was only 19 when she won her first Australian title in Sydney. Her weapons were a flat and hard first serve, a solid backhand, volleys and smash, however her wristy forehand was what lost or won her matches. She could disguise this shot crosscourt or down the line, but what she had in disguise she lost in consistency.

Defending champion Jean Hartigan "lost" her forehand in her quarterfinal against the dependable all-court game of Dot Stevenson to lose 4-6 6-3 6-4. Wynne thrashed a disinterested Sadie Berryman 6-0 6-1 and 18 year old Thelma Coyne beat Vera Selwin almost as badly 6-1 6-1. Emily Westacott completed the final quarterfinal match with a tight 7-5 8-6 win over Margaret Wilson who had upset Nell Hopman.

The head to head between Wynne and Coyne was 2 all. In retrospect this semifinal encounter between the two women who would dominate the local scene for years to come was pivotal for both their careers. It was a gargantuan struggle with the crucial game being the tenth of the 1st set, Coyne leading 5-4. Deuce was called 12 times. Seven times Coyne held set point, but couldn't clinch it. Wynne held on finally and won a desperately tight match 7-5 4-6 6-4. Wynne hit 38 outright winners and this time on always held a margin of superiority over Coyne.
It was another heartbreaker for Thelma, who lost last year's semi after having 4 match balls.

The other semi was just as tight with Westacott prevailing over Stevenson 3-6 8-6 9-7. In the first set Stevenson played inspired tennis, running down Westacott's deepest drives and tossing so deeply that when Westacott advanced to the net she was led to uncustomary errors on her smash. But as the match progressed a subtle shift of fortunes improved with the practice, while Stevenson wilted ever so slightly after so much scrambling and retrieving.

Anything might have happened in the final. Both players could be world-beaters one minute, 2nd raters the next. In fact it was a match of errors, but never dull, as the scores were so close. Westacott's experience enabled her to reach 4-2 in the third set, but it was Wynne who managed to rid her game of errors when it mattered most, and she won the first of her six Australian titles 6-3 5-7 6-4. All in all it was nip and tuck, and only Wynne's fighting qualities carried her through. Nancy recalls that afterward, "We had a rip-roaring party. Everyone got silly on lemonade and we didn't get to bed until 2 in the morning". Her coach and mentor Leo Guiney guided the best Aussie before Margaret Court from the age of 17 to 35. She never knew another coach.


Notes courtesy of Louloubelle and Rollo.

-----------------------------------------------

Sources:

Thanks to Andrew Tas for results

Seeds courtesy of Gee Tee from the Sydney Morning Herald 12 January 1937
 
#19 · (Edited)
1938

Dates: January 21-31
Venue: Memorial Drive, Adelaide
Surface: Grass

-----------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw of 24)

1st Round

Dodo Bundy(US) [1]-bye
Joan Walters-bye
May Hardcastle [8]-bye
May Blick-bye
Nell Hopman [6] d. Pearl Stern 6-1 6-2
Doris Mauger d. Connie Coate 6-1 0-6 6-4
Thelma Coyne [3] d. Val Woods 6-2 6-0
Gwen O'Halloran-bye

Dot Stevenson [5] -bye
Emily Westacott-bye
Joan Hartigan [4]-bye
Nancy Chitty-bye
Nancye Wynne [2] d. Dot Weston 6-2 6-1
Nina Vickery d. Bird Bond 6-2 6-0
Dorothy Workman (US) [7] d. Gwyn Stevenson 6-1 6-3
Margaret Wilson d. Ruby Skinner 9-7 6-3

2nd Round

Bundy [1] d. Walters 6-3 8-6
Hardcastle [8] d. Blick default
Hopman [6] d. Mauger 6-2 6-1
Coyne [3] d. O'Halloran 6-3 6-4

Stevenson [5] d. Westacott 6-4 4-6 6-3
Hartigan [4] d. Chitty 7-5 6-2
Wynne [2] d. Vickery 6-4 6-3
Workman [7] d Wilson 6-2 6-1

Quarterfinals

Bundy [1] d. Hardcastle [8] 6-3 6-4
Hopman [6] d. Coyne [3] 6-4 6-2
Stevenson [5] d. Hartigan [4] 6-3 1-6 6-1
Wynne [2] d. Workman [7] 6-4 6-3

Semifinals

Bundy [1] d. Hopman [6] 6-2 6-3
Stevenson [5] d. Wynne [2] 6-3 6-3

Final

Dodo Bundy [1] d. Dot Stevenson [5] 6-3 6-2

-----------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=13)

1st Round

Nancye Bolton/Thelma Coyne [2]-bye
Birdie Bond/Nina Vickery d. Nancy Chitty/Truda Cox 6-1 4-6 6-2
Nell Hopman/Dot Stevenson [3] d. Joan Walters/Dot Weston 7-5 6-2
May Hardcastle/Gwen O'Halloran d. Ruby Skinner/Val Woods 6-3 6-2

Dodo Bundy(US)/Dorothy Workman (US) [1] d. Doris Mauger/Gwyn Stevenson 6-1 8-6
Connie Coate/Kath Woodward d. Dorn McGill/Eileen McGill 6-0 6-1
Joan Hartigan/Emily Westacott [4]-bye
Jean Davies/Margaret Wilson-bye

Quarterfinals

Bolton/Coyne [2] d. Bond/Vickery 6-3 6-2
Hardcastle/O'Halloran d. Hopman/Stevenson [3] 6-3 6-4
Bundy/Workman [1] d. Coate/Woodward 6-1 6-4
Hartigan/Westacott [4] d. Davies/Wilson 6-1 3-6 6-2

Semifinals

Bolton/Coyne [2] d. Hardcastle/O'Halloran 6-2 6-1
Bundy/Workman [1] d. Hartigan/Westacott [4] 7-5 6-8 6-4

Final

Nancye Bolton/Thelma Coyne [2] d. Dodo Bundy/Dorothy Workman [1] 9-7 6-4

Officials lent doubles winners Coyne (left) and Wynne (right) this car to use for the duration of the event



-----------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=23)

1st Round

Dodo Bundy (US)/Don Budge (US) [1]-bye
Truda Cox/Tom Warhurst-bye
Nina Vickery/Max Bonnor-bye
Margaret Wilson/John Bromwich [7]-bye
Thelma Coyne/Jack Crawford [3] d Gwyn Stevenson/Lionel Brodie 6-0 7-5
May Hardcastle/Alfred Chave d Nancy Chitty/Frank Walsh 3-6 6-3 6-2
Jean Davies/Les Hancock d Joan Walters/Cliff Harvey 6-4 1-6 7-5
Dot Stevenson/Don Turnbull [5] d Dot Weston/Fred Bennett 6-0 4-6 6-1

Nell Hopman/Harry Hopman [2] d. Eileen McGill/Jimmy McGill 6-1 6-0
Nancye Wynne/Colin Long-bye
Connie Coate/George Holland d. Birdie Bond/Harold Whillians 7-5 6-1
Emily Westacott/Gar Moon [8] d. Val Woods/Anthony Maggs 6-4 6-4
Dorothy Workman (US)/Gene Mako (US)[4]-bye
Kath Woodward/Jack Clemenger-bye
Gwen O'Halloran/Len Schwartz-bye
Joan Hartigan/Arthur Huxley [6]-bye

2nd Round

Bundy/Budge [1] d Cox/Warhurst 6-2 6-2
Wilson/Bromwich [7] d Vickery/Bonnor 6-1 8-6
Coyne/Crawford [3] d Hardcastle/Chave 6-0 6-3
Stevenson/Turnbull [5] d Davies/Hancock 6-3 7-5

Hopman/Hopman [2] d Coate/Holland 6-3 6-2
Wynne/Long d Westacott/Moon [8] 15-13 6-3
Workman/Mako [4] d Woodward/Clemenger 6-2 6-1
Hartigan/Huxley [6] d O'Halloran/Schwartz 3-6 9-7 6-2

Quarterfinals

Wilson/Bromwich [7] d Bundy/Budge [1] 6-0 6-2
Coyne/Crawford [3] d Stevenson/Turnbull [5] 3-6 6-4 6-2
Wynne/Long d Hopman/Hopman [2] 6-3 6-2
Workman/Mako [4] d Hartigan/Huxley [6] 6-4 6-2

Semifinals

Wilson/Bromwich [7] d Coyne/Crawford [3] 5-7 6-4 6-4
Wynne/Long d Workman/Mako [4] 6-2 6-3

Final

Margaret Wilson/John Bromwich [7] d. Nancye Wynne/Colin Long 6-3 6-2

-----------------------------------------------

Draw Notes

Mrs Cecil Davies (md 1937)=nee Jean Wilson. Margaret Wilson is her doubles partner here. Are they relatives?

-----------------------------------------------

Summary

No player was more bred in the purple for achievements on a tennis court than the 1938 winner Dorothy "Dodo" Bundy of USA. Her father was Tom Bundy, a former US Davis Cup player and US doubles winner and her mother was May Sutton a dual Wimbledon winner. If this wasn't enough, John Doeg, the US Champion of 1930 was her first cousin.

Invited to tour Australia with doubles partner Dorothy "Do" Workman, Dodo and Do entered the 1938 championships with confidence having tournaments in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne behind them.

Hardcastle had no opposition until QF as Blick withdrew (so recieved bye) before tournament started as couldn't make the trip to Adelaide.

South Australian Joan Waters gave Bundy a solid 6-3 8-6 workout in an early round,even having a set point. This early contest was the closest Bundy was streched. The steadiness of Queenslander May Hardcastle lacked the punch and variety to trouble Bundy in the quarterfinals. In the other quarterfinals, Nell Hopman beat the unusually error-prone Thelma Coyne 6-4 6-2, Dot Stevenson broke down Joan Hartigan's weapon the forehand to win 6-3 1-6 6-1 and Nancye Wynne broke through Workman's serve/volley game 6-4 6-3.

Wynne seemed strangely casual and out-of-sorts, almost indifferent in her semi-final against Stevenson. As a result Stevenson scored an unexpected 6-3 6-3 victory. As she did against Hardcastle, Bundy handled the baseline consistency of another opponent, beating Nell Hopman 6-2 6-3.

Unfortunately Stevenson was unable to cope with the mental stress of facing Bundy in such a big match. Her fluency of stroke-making deserted her and only on the odd occasion did her trepidation subside sufficiently for her to display her talents. Bundy scored a simple 6-3 6-3 victory.
It was left to Thelma Coyne and Nancye Wynne to salvage something for Australia by winning the doubles final 9-7 6-4. The match was not, if we can believe a contempory newspaper account, awfully exciting.

Miss Bundy's style seemed dried up at the source, and Miss Workman usually fleet of foot and telling at the net – was kept hovering indeterminately by occassional lobs at, or near, the baseline. The American girls lost through lack of enterprise, the Australians won in spite of theirs. The same reporter declared that the end of the match was greeted with ironical cheers from a bored gallery. But such reaction was the exception to Bundy's tour – her gregarious personality and effervescent tennis made her a popular and worthy champion.

It proved to be Bundy's lone grand slam title. She's since made up for the lack of any others though, as she still plays and wins national titles in the 21st century! As of 2002. she has over 300 USTA titles.

Notes courtesy of louloubelle.

Thanks to Andrew Tas for results and AustinRunner for the seeds

-----------------------------------------------

Sources:

The draw and seeds
http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del...=dorothy+bundy
 
#20 · (Edited)
1939

Dates: January 20-28
Venue: Kooyong, Melbourne, Australia
Surface: Grass

-----------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=22)

1st Round

Emily Westacott [6]-bye
Margaret Wilson-bye
Connie Coate-bye
Nancye Wynne [1]-bye
Joan Hartigan [4]-bye
Edie Niemeyer d. Edith Tough (US) 6-0 6-4
Sadie Berryman [8] d. Audrey Lewin 6-3 6-3
Birdie Bond d. Dr Ella Hunt 6-1 3-6 6-3

Nell Hopman [3]-bye
Hazel Elliget-bye
May Hardcastle [7]-bye
Gwen O'Halloran-bye
Thelma Coyne [2] d. Joyce Lack 6-1 6-0
Pearl Stern d. Nancy Chitty 6-0 7-5
May Blick-bye
Dot Stevenson [5] d. Mavis Kerr (NZ) 6-0 6-0

2nd Round

Westacott [6] d. Wilson 8-6 6-3
Coate d. Wynne [1] 1-6 6-3 6-2
Hartigan [4] d. Niemeyer 6-2 6-1
Berryman [8] d. Bond 6-4 6-0

Hopman [3] d. Elliget 6-2 6-2
Hardcastle [7] d. O'Halloran 6-1 6-2
Coyne [2] d. Stern 6-2 6-4
Blick d. Stevenson [5] 4-6 6-4 6-4

Quarterfinals

Westacott [6] d. Coate 6-4 6-2
Hartigan [4] d. Berryman [8] 6-1 6-4
Hopman [3] d.Hardcastle [7] 6-3 6-3
Coyne [2] d. Blick 1-6 6-4 6-1

Semifinals

Westacott [6] d. Hartigan [4] 6-2 6-3
Hopman [3] d. Coyne [2] 6-3 6-4

Final

Emily Westacott [4] d. Nell Hopman [3] 6-1 6-2

-----------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=13)

1st Round

Nell Hopman/Dot Stevenson [2]-bye
Nancy Chitty/Connie Coate d. Dorn McGill/Eileen McGill default
May Hardcastle/Emily Westacott [4] d. Thora Geddes/Joan Pett 6-2 4-6 6-2
Sadie Berryman/Gwen O'Halloran d. Birdie Bond/Hazel Elliget 15-13 9-7

Thelma Coyne/Nancye Wynne [1] d. Dr Ella Hunt/Elaine Lovett 6-0 6-1
Joan Hartigan/Edie Niemeyer d. Audrey Lewin/Edith Tough (US) 6-3 6-2
May Blick/Margaret Wilson [3]-bye
Doris Mauger/Gwen Stevenson-bye

Quarterfinals

Hopman/D Stevenson [2] d. Chitty/Coate 6-1 6-4
Hardcastle/Westacott [4] d. Berryman/O'Halloran 6-3 6-8 6-1
Coyne/Wynne [1] d. Hartigan/Niemeyer 6-4 1-6 6-1
Blick/Wilson [3] d. Mauger/G Stevenson 6-4 3-6 6-3

Semifinals

Hardcastle/Westacott [4] d. Hopman/D Stevenson [2] 6-2 6-4
Coyne/Wynne [1] d. Blick/Wilson [3] 6-0 6-3

Final

Thelma Coyne/Nancye Wynne [1] d. May Hardcastle/Emily Westacott [4] 7-5 6-4

-----------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=16)

1st Round

Margaret Wilson/John Bromwich [1] d May Hardcastle/Max Bonner 6-4 6-2
May Blick/George Holland d. Gwen O'Halloran/Les Hancock 2-6 6-4 8-6
Nancye Wynne/Colin Long [4] d Joan Hartigan/Bert Tonkin 6-2 5-7 6-2
Sadie Berryman/Gar Moon d. Birdie Bond/Norman Wasley 6-2 6-4

Nell Hopman/Harry Hopman [2] d. Edie Niemeyer/Geoff Wilkinson 6-2 6-3
Dot Stevenson/Don Turnbull d. Thora Geddes/Jack Clemenger 6-4 6-4
Nancy Chitty/Lionel Brodie d. Thelma Coyne/Len Schwartz [3] 2-6 6-3 9-7
Emily Westacott/Jim Gilchrist d. Edith Tough (US)/Viv McGrath 6-4 6-2

Quarterfinals

Wilson/Bromwich [1] d Blick/Holland 6-4 7-5
Wynne/Long [4] d Berryman/Moon 6-4 7-9 6-2
Hopman/Hopman [2] d D Stevenson/Turnbull 7-5 6-4
Westacott/Gilchrist d Chitty/Brodie 6-2 6-2

Semifinals

Wilson/Bromwich [1] d. Wynne/Long [4] 6-4 0-6 7-5
Hopman/Hopman [2] d. Westacott/Gilchrist 6-1 3-6 6-1

Final

Nell Hopman/Harry Hopman [2] d. Margaret Wilson/John Bromwich [1] 6-8 6-2 6-3

---------------------------------------------

Draw notes: --(thanks to Gee Tee for providing us with invaluable information here)

Sadie Berryman later married South Australia player Max Newcombe.
Mrs Hazrel Elliget= nee Hazel Cocking
Thora Geddes=Mrs T Geddes (nee Chittick)
Dorn McGill (QLD) (Mrs Ted Fogarty from 1946)-McGill played doubles here with her mother, Mrs JF McGill
Edith Tough (B Tough) is 'former junior tennis champion of New Jersey, New York State and Southern California'

There are no missing first names in the draw.

-----------------------------------------------

Summary:

Dorothy Bundy admired Westacott's play, and said she'd be a sensation in America. The phrase used to describe Westacott's play was "She smote and spared not." Westacott's best shot was her inside-out forehand, with a Western grip, "which she hit harder and more accurately than anyone in Australian tennis, male or female". She had a superb kick serve, and a good backhand drive. Her overhead was "devastating", and reputed to be "as severe as Gerald Patterson's".

However, she was inconsistent. And, unfortunately, she never had the opportunity to play overseas.

Everybody agreed that the most exciting and dynamic Australian player of the 1930's was Emily Westacott. Her aim to hit the cover off the ball, aim for the lines and to play tennis like a man, when women players outside of the US tended to take their feminity on court with them, made her a crowd delight. In the Australian 1930 girls' final, the crowds nearly left the stands empty during the concurrent mens final of Harry Hopman vs. Gar Moon to watch Em play! When Dorothy Bundy saw her play she expressed unbounded admiration and said that Westacott would be a sensation in America. Unforunately she never had the opportunity to play overseas, unforunately, she had as many off-days as on days. Not that she was ever disconcerted, she had the endearing habit of laughing at her own mistakes.

Armed with a fearsome western off-forehand, superb kicking serve, solid backhand and a devasting overhead, Westacott as usual went into the championships underplayed. With Queensland tennis season concluding in September and Westacott rarely coming south before the championships, she always was at a disadvantage.

The critics conceded it was anybody's event that year. Wynne and Coyne had returned from their overseas tour down on form. Therefore no one was too surprised when Connie Coate def. Wynne 1-6 6-3 6-2. Wynne looked jaded and in need of a lengthy spell from the game.

In the quarterfinals Westacott stopped Coate's run, used the drop-shot as well as her cracking drives to win 6-4 6-2. Joan Hartigan was back to her early 1930's form defeating Sadie Berryman 6-1 6-4. Nell Hopman won the baseline duel over May Hardcastle. May Blick who had already defeated last year's finalist Dot Stevenson almost added the scalp of Thelma Coyne. Blick took the first set with a daring net attack and a series of put-away volleys which brought loud applause from the gallery. At 4-all in the second set, with victory in sight, a vital line call went against the highly-strung Blick, and the match was gone. 1-6 6-4 6-1 to Coyne.

In the semifinals people saw a new side to Westacott. Sensing that this might be her year, she did something she rarely did, toned down the aggression of her game. Battling a treacherous wind, Westacott played within her limits whereas her opponent Hartigan had tremendous trouble with her high ball toss and backhand. Westacott won through to her second final, 6-2 6-3.

Nell Hopman was a frustrating opponent for someone like Thelma Coyne. Coyne knew at her best she could handle Hopman comfortably. Just an iota below her best however, and Hopman would steal the match from her. Sometimes the worry of it all could take the edge off Coyne's game. Hopman, as consistent as ever, and using her topspin lob to good effect, repeated her previous year's quarterfinal win 6-3 6-4.

What promised to be a classic encounter between the adventurous and the dour, the attacker and defender, the flamboyant and the predictable turned into a massacre. Time and time again Westacott ran Hopman out of court and then belted a clean winner into the vacant space. Hopman endeavoured to keep the ball deep but Westacott hit winners everywhere. Hopman chased everything hoping the storm would pass but it only intensified. Westacott won the Australian title, without dropping a set, 6-1 6-2.

-----------------------------------------------

Sources:

Thanks to Andrew Tas for results and seeds
 
#21 · (Edited)
1940

Dates: January 19-29
Venue: Lawn Tennis Ground, Rushcutter Bay, Sydney
Surface: Grass

---------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=19)

1st Round

Gwen O'Halloran [7] d. M. Manzie 6-0 6-0
Alison Hattersley [6] d. Mary Chapman 6-1 6-2
Edie Niemeyer d. Mrs K. Gosbell 6-2 6-4

2nd Round

Nancye Wynne [1] d. Betty Griffiths 6-0 6-0
O'Halloran [7] d. Olive Stebbing 6-1 9-7
Joan Hartigan [5] d. Meg Brooker 6-1 6-2
May Hardcastle [4] d. Audrey Lewin 6-2 18-16

Thelma Coyne [2] d. Joan Burke 6-0 6-1
Connie Coate [8] d. Joyce Lack 6-2 6-8 6-3
Nell Hopman [3] d. Joan Clarke 6-0 6-1
Hattersley [6] d. Niemeyer 6-1 4-6 8-6

Quarterfinals

Wynne [1] d. O'Halloran [7] 6-0 6-3
Hartigan [5] d. Hardcastle [4] 6-2 6-3
Coyne [2] d. Coate [8] 6-1 6-3
Hopman [3] d. Hattersley [6] 6-3 6-4

Semifinals

Wynne [1] d. Hartigan [5] 6-0 3-6 6-1
Coyne [2] d. Hopman [3] 6-4 2-6 6-3

Final

Nancye Wynne[1] d. Thelma Coyne [2] 5-7 6-4 6-0

---------------------------------------------

Junior Girls Final: Joyce Wood d G. Fischer 6-2 6-1

---------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=11)

1st Round

May Hardcastle/Nell Hopman [2]-bye
Rosemary Rees/Kath Woodward-bye
Joan Hartigan/Edie Niemeyer [4] d. Mary Chapman/Pearl Searl 6-1 6-3
Doris Mauger/Gwen O'Halloran d. Clare Proctor/Thelma Rice default

Nancye Bolton/Thelma Coyne [1] d. Joan Clark/Joyce Lack default
Vivienne Berg/Dorothy Jenkins-bye
Alison Hattersley/Olive Stebbing [3]-bye
Connie Coate/Audrey Lewin-bye

Quarterfinals

Rees/Woodward d. Hardcastle/Hopman [2] 9-7 3-6 6-4
Hartigan/Niemeyer [4] d. Mauger/O'Halloran 7-5 6-2
Bolton/Coyne [1] d. Berg/Jenkins unknown default
Hattersley/Stebbing [3] d. Coate/Lewin 6-2 6-1

Semifinals

Hartigan/Niemeyer [4] d. Rees/Woodward 7-5 6-4
Bolton/Coyne [1] d. Hattersley/Stebbing [3] 6-2 6-3

Final

Nancye Bolton/Thelma Coyne [1] d. Joan Hartigan/Edie Niemeyer [4] 7-5 6-2

---------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=16)

1st Round

Joan Hartigan/Viv McGrath [2] d. Alison Hattersley/Les Hancock 6-4 6-4
Olive Stebbing/Jim Gilchrist d. Rosemary Rees/Max Newcombe 6-4 6-2
Nancye Wynne/Colin Long [4] d. Gwen O'Halloran/Fred Bennett 6-1 6-3
Edie Niemeyer/Bill Sidwell d. Kath Woodward/Max Bonner 6-3 6-4

Nell Hopman/Harry Hopman [1] d. Clare Proctor/Ronald Cummings 6-2 6-4
Mary Chapman/Don Turnbull d. Connie Coate/Harold Whillians 6-2 6-3
Audrey Lewin/Roy Felan d. Thelma Rice/Arthur Huxley default
May Hardcastle/John Bromwich d. Joan Clark/Robert Henry default

Quarterfinals

Hartigan/McGrath [2] d. Stebbing/Gilchrist 6-3 6-2
Wynne/Long [4] d. Niemeyer/Sidwell 6-3 6-3
Hopman/Hopman [1] d. Chapman/Turnbull 6-4 6-2
Hardcastle/Bromwich d. Lewin/Felan 6-2 4-6 6-1

Semifinals

Wynne/Long [4] d. Hartigan/McGrath [2] 4-6 6-4 6-3
Hopman/Hopman [1] d. Hardcastle/Bromwich 9-7 5-7 6-2

Final

Nancye Wynne/Colin Long [4] d. Nell Hopman/Harry Hopman [1] 7-5 2-6 6-4

---------------------------------------------

Draw notes:

Mrs K. Gosbell "a Sydney hardcourt representative".
M. Manzie (NSW)--junior

GeeTee mentions Mary Matters, but here name is not in the draw.
---------------------------------------------

Summary:

The absence of defending champ Emily Westacott weakened the field. She intended on competing but was ill several weeks leading up to the event.

Controversy began before the event, as some lack entries were rejected, while Nancye Wynne's late entry was accepted. Charges flew in the press about "irregularites". Most of the tempest involved male players, but as a star Wynne was drug into the furor, which went on for almost a week prior to the championships. As a "drawing card" many felt Wynne got favorable treatment.

Two early round matchups: #4 seed May Hardcastle being extended by Audrey Lewin 6-2 18-16. The 34 game set may be a record for the Aussie in women's play. In te second round Edie Niemeyer led #6 seed Hattersley 5-0 in the third. With victory in sight she choked-eventally losing 8-6. Edie failed to capitalize on at least 4 match points.

Thus all 8 seeds reached quarters. Supposedly, there were "no surprises" other than Hartigan defeating Hardcastle. Hattersley narrowly survived Niemeyer and her deadly forehand, drawing up from 0-5 down in the third (and 4 match points at 2-5) to stage a brilliant comeback.

Thelma Coyne who always had trouble with Nell Hopman scrapped through in a see-sawing semifinal 6-4 2-6 6-3. Wynne, except for a lapse of concentration in the second set, hit with great pace and accuracy to defeat Hartigan 6-0 3-6 6-1.

The final was played in excessive heat and humidity. Numerous fans were seen in sunglasses-a new vogue. According to the Sydney Herald Nancye started with "a flood of errors." Coyne won the first set 7-5, after having to leave the court for a few minutes at 5-4. She reached 3-0 in the 2nd and seemed set for victory, but her stamina began to fail her. Wynne pulled up to 3 all; Coyne went to 4-3, but that was final effort. Wynne lifted her play against her flagging opponent and took the last nine games to win 5-7 6-4 6-0.

Wynne got in trouble for "slugging" a ball into the galleryin anger, which happened to land near the Governor of New South Wales. The President of the LTAA rebuked her, and said that if the team about to tour New Zealand had been an official one, she'd have been debarred. Nancye said she had meant no harm, but the Brisbane Courier declared she had hit her racquet on the ground many times in frustration and once kicked a ball 50 feet after losing a point.

In doubles Rees and Woodward hit a "purple patch" to oust the #2 seeds.

---------------------------------------------

Sources:

The Sydney Morning Herald
Thanks to Andrew Tas for the results and Austinrunner for the seeding.

[Article on the late entry controversy]
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/141818772

[On Nancye's angry moments in the final]
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/40871672
 
#23 · (Edited)
1946

Dates: January 19-29
Venue: Memorial Drive, Adelaide
Surface: Grass

---------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=23)

1st Round

Nell Hopman [2]-bye
Mary Bevis-bye
Alison Hattersley [6]-bye
Marie Toomey-bye
Thelma Long [3] d Sybil Sheidow 6-2 6-1
Edie Niemeyer d Josephine Spehr-Jones 6-1 6-3
Joyce Fitch [8] d Marjorie Stevens 6-2 6-2
Joyce Traeger d Dot Moran 6-2 6-3

Nancye Bolton [1] d Doreen Cock 6-1 6-1
Clare Proctor d Val Pellew 6-2 6-3
Dulcie Whittaker [7] d Barbara Cane 6-0 6-1
Pat Jones-bye
Joan Hartigan [4]-bye
Dorn McGill-bye
Connie Wilson [5]-bye
Gwen Thiele-bye

2nd Round

Hopman [2] d Bevis 6-4 6-4
Toomey d Hattersley [6] 5-7 7-5 6-3
Long[3] d Niemeyer 6-1 6-3
Fitch[8] d Traeger 6-0 6-1

Bolton [1] d Proctor 6-2 6-2
Whittaker [7] d Jones 6-2 6-4
Hartigan [4] d McGill 4-6 6-4 6-2
Wilson [5] d Thiele 6-4 6-4

Quarterfinals

Toomey d. Hopman [2] 6-2 4-6 6-3
Fitch [8] d. Long [3] 6-2 6-4
Bolton [1] d. Whittaker [7] 6-2 6-2
Wilson [5] d. Hartigan [4] 6-2 8-6

Semifinals

Fitch [8] d. Toomey 7-5 6-4
Bolton [1] d. Wilson [5] 6-2 6-1

Final

Nancye Bolton [1] d. Joyce Fitch [8] 6-4 6-4

---------------------------------------------

Junior Final

Shirley Grant d. Norma Reid 6-3 6-0

---------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=11)

1st Round

Nancy Bolton/Thelma Long [1]-bye
Pat Lewis/Sybil Sheidow-bye
Pat Jones/Clare Proctor d. Joan Gent/Marjorie Stevens 6-0 6-3
Joan Hartigan/Alison Hattersley [4] d. Dot Moran/GwenThiele 10-8 6-2

Mary Bevis/Joyce Fitch [2] d. Barbara Cane/Joyce Traeger 6-1 6-2
Marie Toomey/Connie Wilson-bye
Dorn McGill/Edie Niemeyer-bye
Nell Hopman/Dulcie Whittaker [3]-bye

Quarterfinals

Bolton/Long [1] d. Lewis/Sheidow 6-2 6-0
Hartigan/Hattersley [4] d. Jones/Proctor 6-2 4-6 8-6
Mary Bevis/Fitch [2] d. Toomey/Wilson 6-4 6-4
Hopman/Whittaker [3] d. McGill/Niemeyer 6-4 6-3

Semifinals

Bolton/Long [1] d. Hartigan/Hattersley [4] 6-2 6-3
Mary Bevis/Fitch [2] d. Hopman/Whittaker [3] 6-2 5-7 6-1

Final

Mary Bevis/Joyce Fitch [2] d. Nancye Bolton/Thelma Long [1] 9-7 6-4

----------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=17)

1st Round

Nancye Bolton/Colin Long [2] d Val Pellew/David Davidson 6-0 6-2

2nd Round

Bolton/Long [2] d Gwen Thiele/Bill Sidwell 3-6 6-1 6-3
Joan Hartigan/Bob McCarthy d Edie Niemeyer/Pat Callaghan 5-7 6-1 6-3
Mary Bevis/Geoff Brown d Marie Toomey/Ken Slater 8-6 6-2
Clare Proctor/Don Turnbull d Dot Moran/Lionel Brodie 6-1 6-4

Joyce Fitch/John Bromwich [1] d Dulcie Whittaker/Peter Molloy 6-2 7-5
Connie Wilson/Max Newcombe d. Dorn McGill/Eric Maidens 3-6 6-4 6-4
Pat Jones/Jack Harper d. Alison Hattersley/Jack Heathcoate 8-6 4-6 6-3
Nell Hopman/Harry Hopman d. Barbara Cane/Tom Warhurst 6-2 3-6 6-4

Quarterfinals

Bolton/Long [2] d Hartigan/McCarthy 9-7 6-2
Bevis/Brown d Proctor/Turnbull 6-3 6-4
Fitch/Bromwich [1] d Wilson/Newcombe 6-1 6-2
Hopman/Hopman d Jones/Harper 4-6 8-6 9-7

Semifinals

Bolton/Long [2] d Bevis/Brown 6-4 5-7 6-4
Fitch/Bromwich [1] d Hopman/Hopman 6-1 6-3

Final

Nancye Bolton/Colin Long [2] d. Joyce Fitch/John Bromwich [1] 6-0 6-4

----------------------------------------------

Draw notes:

The draw is in exact draw order.

All names, male and female, are known.

Doreen Cock=Mrs Ray J Cock. Nee Doreen Fleet.
The Melbourne Argus uses "Claire" (not Clare) Proctor. They are in error.
HT Warhurst=Tom Warhurst

----------------------------------------------

Summary:

No foreigners in the field, not surprising with World War II having ended a few months before the event.

Nancye Wynne (Bolton), Connie Coate (Wilson), and Thelma Coyne (Long) all got married during the war. Bolton's husband was killed in an air raid over Cologne, leaving her alone to raise daughter Pamela.

When competitive tennis resumed after the war only Bolton of the old brigade survived the quarterfinals in Adelaide. Long, Hopman and Hartigan all lost in quarterfinals. In the semis Bolton defeated Wilson 6-2 6-2 while Fitch using the lob to great effect beat Toomey 7-5 6-4.

Fitch battled hard in the final despite her weaker array of shots. Her speed around the court and ability to retrieve Bolton's fiercest shots kept her in the match, but Bolton prevailed 6-4 6-4.

Total attending was 35,000. Played in terrific heat, the temps reached 105° F in the shade!


----------------------------------------------

Sources:

Special thanks to GeeTee for help with the draw.

Australian newspapers from Trove used.
 
#24 · (Edited)
1947

Dates: January 17 to 27.
Venue: White City Courts, Rushcutter Bay, Sydney
Surface: Grass

----------------------------------------------

Singles (Main Draw=32)

Qualifying

Lavinia Mills d Nancy Rudge ????

1st Round

Nancye Bolton [1] d Dorothy Jenkins 6-1 6-2
Dawn Fogarty d. Barbara Laurie 6-1 6-0
Mary Bevis [7] d. Gwen Bryant 6-1 6-1
Gwen Thiele d. Lavina Mills [Q] 6-0 6-3
Sadie Newcombe [4] d. Marcia Weimers 6-0 6-0
Marie Toomey d. Anne Chamberlain 7-5 6-2
Pat Jones [5] d. Verna Ashford 7-5 3-6 6-2
Noel Martin d. Sybil Sheidow 6-2 9-7

Thelma Long [2] d. Beryl Hobbs 7-5 6-2
Joan Hartigan d. Fay Chamberlin 6-2 6-2
Connie Wilson [8] d. Dawn Kent 6-1 6-1
Clare Proctor d. Joyce Traeger 6-4 6-2
Joyce Fitch [3] d. Phyllis Finn 6-2 6-3
Dulcie Whittaker d. Joan Charlier 6-1 6-2
Nell Hopman [6] d. Esme Ashford 6-0 6-1
Alison Hattersley d. Helen Taylor 6-2 6-4

2nd Round

Bolton [1] d. Fogarty 6-2 6-3
Bevis [7] d. Thiele 6-2 6-2
Toomey d. Newcombe [4] 3-6 6-3 6-4
Jones [5] d. Martin 6-2 6-2

Long [2] d. Hartigan 6-0 6-1
Wilson [8] d. Proctor 8-6 9-7
Fitch [3] d. Whittaker 9-7 6-4
Hopman [6] d. Hattersley 6-2 6-3

Quarterfinals

Bolton [1] d. Bevis [7] 6-3 6-1
Jones [5] d. Toomey 7-5 2-6 7-5
Long [2] d. Wilson [8] 6-2 6-4
Hopman [6] d. Fitch [3] 6-2 2-6 6-0

Semifinals

Bolton [1] d. Jones [5] 6-2 6-1
Hopman [6] d. Long [2] 6-4 6-1

Final

Nancye Bolton[1] d. Nell Hopman [6] 6-3 6-2

----------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=16)

1st Round

Nancye Bolton/Thelma Long [1] d. J Hughes/S Solomon default
Joan Hartigan/Alison Hattersley d. Fay Chamberlin/Greta Schultz 6-0 6-2
Pat Jones/Clare Proctor [4] d. Phyllis Finn/Helen Taylor 6-1 6-1
Marie Toomey/Dulcie Whittaker d. Beryl Hobbs/Dorothy Jenkins 5-7 7-5 6-1

Mary Bevis/Joyce Fitch [2] d. Esme Ashford/Verna Ashford 7-5 3-6 6-4
Dawn Fogarty/Norma Martin d. Sybil Sheidow/Joyce Traeger 6-1 6-0
Nell Hopman/Connie Wilson [2] d. Joan Charlier/Betty O'Donnell 6-2 6-1
Gwen Bryant/Dawn Kent d. Sadie Newcombe/Gwen Thiele 2-6 7-5 6-4

Quarterfinals

Bolton/Long [1] d. Hartigan/Hattersley 6-2 6-3
Jones/Proctor [4] d. Toomey/Whittaker 7-5 4-6 7-5
Bevis/Fitch [2] d. Fogarty/Martin 0-6 6-3 6-1
Hopman/Wilson [2] d. Bryant/Kent 6-4 6-2

Semifinals

Bolton/Long [1] d. Jones/Proctor [4] 6-3 6-3
Bevis/Fitch [2] d. Hopman/Wilson [2] 6-2 4-6 6-1

Final

Nancye Bolton/Thelma Long [1] d. Mary Bevis/Joyce Fitch [2] 6-3 6-3

----------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=20)

1st Round

Helen Taylor/Bob Howe d Beryl Hobbs/Don Rocavert 3-6 6-1 6-3
Gwen Bryant/Jim Matthews d. Dulcie Whittaker/Harry Jurd 6-4 7-5
Nancye Bolton/Colin Long [2] d. Gwen Thiele/Harry Rode 6-4 6-1
Marie Toomey/Bill Sidwell [4] d. Dawn Fogarty/Eric Maidens 6-1 6-2

2nd Round

Joyce Fitch/John Bromwich [1] d Verna Ashford/Harold Skennar 6-2 6-2
Esme Ashford/Jack Gilchrist d Noel Martin/Pat Callaghan 7-5 6-2
Dorothy Jenkins/Bob McCarthy d Nell Hopman/Bill Talbert (US) [3] default
Taylor/Howe d Bryant/Matthews 7-5 6-4

Bolton/Long [2] d Phyllis Finn/Roy Phelan 7-5 6-2
Pat Jones/Jack Dart d Marcia Weimers/Albert Donlon 6-3 6-4
Mary Bevis/Tom Brown (US) d Sadie Newcombe/Eric Stewart 6-2 7-5
Clare Proctor/Frank Sedgeman d Toomey/Sidwell [4] default

Quarterfinals

Fitch/Bromwich [1] d E Ashford/Gilchrist 6-3 6-1
Jenkins/McCarthy d. Taylor/Howe 6-3 7-5
Bolton/Long [2] d. Jones/Dart 6-4 6-3
Bevis/Brown d. Prcotor/Sedgman 6-4 6-0

Semifinals

Fitch/Bromwich [1] d Jenkins/McCarthy 6-1 7-5
Bolton/Long [2] d Bevis/Brown 7-5 6-0

Final

Nancye Bolton/Colin Long [2] d. Joyce Fitch/John Bromwich [1] 6-3 6-3

----------------------------------------------

Draw notes:

Mrs Maurice Long=Thelma Long (nee Coyne)
Noel Martin (according to Sydney Herald) is from Queensland. The Aussie site uses "Norma". The Herald goes on to relate how she is a schoolmistress for the Prebsbyterian Girl's School in Warwick.
Mrs R Mills of Queensland=Lavina Mills, nee Singleton
Mrs Max Newcombe= Sadie Newcombe (nee Berryman)
Mrs Ray Thiele=Gwen Thiele
Wiemers from Queensland
Mrs Jim Wilson=

Missing full names for:

Miss J Hughes
Miss S Solomon

----------------------------------------------

Summary:

The old brigade were back in charge in 1947. Hopman made light of her 37 years defeating Fitch 6-2 2-6 6-0. It was Fitch who visibly wilted in the final set. Bolton thrashed Bevis and Long also won through to the semis. The remaining qtrfinal produced one of the greatest recoveries in the history of the event. Pat Jones of NSW came back from 0-5 0-30 in the 3rd set against Toomey to win 7-5 2-6 7-5.

Jones wasn't able to reproduce the miracle against Bolton and Hopman had a surprisingly easy match over Coyne. Hopman tried everything she knew in the final, all to no avail. Bolton took her 4th title 6-3 6-2. The singles finals were windy, with 7,000 coming out to witness the action.

In the mixed Bill Sidwell caused a stir by defaulting in the mixed doubles-an event where he and partner Marie toomey were the #4 seeds. Sidwell cited having to play a the mixed as a second match on the same day. He said he played the first mixed match merely for practice. While officials were aghast at the action, he must have had a measure of understanding from Toomey, who gave her consent to the forfeit.
----------------------------------------------

Sources:

The Sydney Morning Herald
 
#25 · (Edited)
1948

Dates: January 16 to 26
Venue: Kooyong, Melbourne
Surface: Grass

----------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=28)

1st Round

Nancye Bolton [1]-bye
Viola Earle-bye
Norma Martin d. Dulcie Whittaker[6] default
Jill Tuckfield d. Gwen Thiele 3-6 9-7 6-4
Mary Bevis [3] d. Bernice Murphy 6-2 6-2
Joyce McDermott d. Veronica Lihehan 6-0 6-0
Nell Hopman [6] d. Greta Schultz 6-0 6-0
Alison Baker d. Helen Taylor 6-4 8-6

Dorothy Jenkins d. Denise Radford 6-3 6-0
Pat Jones [5] d. Shirley Jackson 6-0 6-2
Dot Moran d. Pat Longton (NZ) 6-2 6-1
Marie Toomey [4] d. I Griffiths 6-0 6-0
Esme Ashford d. Fay Chamberlin 6-2 4-6 6-2
Sadie Newcombe [7] d. Sylvia Johnston 6-1 6-1
Clare Proctor-bye
Thelma Long [2]-bye

2nd Round

Bolton [1] d. Earle 6-0 6-0
Tuckfield d. Martin 7-5 6-3
Bevis [3] d. McDermott 6-2 6-4
Hopman [6] d. Baker 6-1 6-3

Jenkins d. Jones [5] 3-6 6-3 6-4
Toomey [4] d. Moran default
Ashford d. Newcombe [7] 6-0 4-6 7-5
Proctor d. Long [2] default

Quarterfinals

Bolton [1] d. Tuckfield 6-2 6-0
Bevis [3] d. Hopman [6] 7-5 6-4
Toomey [4] d. Jenkins 8-6 6-3
Ashford d. Proctor 6-1 6-0

Semifinals

Bolton [1] d. Bevis [3] 6-3 6-4
Toomey [4]d. Ashford 4-6 7-5 6-4

Final

Nancye Bolton [1] d. Marie Toomey [4] 6-3 6-1

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Doubles (Draw=15)

1st Round

Nancye Bolton/Thelma Long [1] d. Fay Chamberlin/Mary McFarlane 6-1 6-0
Clare Proctor/Jill Tuckfield d. Shirley Jackson/Veronica Linehan 6-2 6-4
Nell Hopman/Joyce McDermott [4] d. Pat Longton (NZ)/Loris Nichols 6-2 6-1
Dorothy Jenkins/Sadie Newcombe d. I Griffiths/Bernice Murphy 6-0 6-3

Esme Ashford/Alison Baker d. Joan Egar/Josephine Spehr-Jones default
Marie Toomey/Dulcie Whittaker [3] d. Norma Martin/Helen Taylor 6-2 6-8 6-2
Dot Moran/Gwen Thiele d. Gloria Blair/Betty Bligh 6-3 7-5
Mary Bevis/Pat Jones [2]-bye

Quarterfinals

Bolton/Long[1] d. Proctor/Tuckfield 6-2 6-1
Hopman/McDermott[4] d. Jenkins/Newcombe 7-5 6-0
Ashford/Baker d. Toomey/Whittaker[3] 6-0 7-9 6-3
Bevis/Jones[2] d. Moran/Thiele default

Semifinals

Bolton/Long[1] d. Hopman/McDermott[4] 7-5 6-4
Bevis/Jones[2] d. Ashford/Baker 10-8 3-6 6-4

Final

Nancye Bolton/Thelma Long[1] d. Mary Bevis/Pat Jones[2] 6-3 6-3

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Mixed Doubles (Draw=18)

1st round

Sadie Newcombe/Maurice Newcombe d. Denise Radford/Maurice Murrells 6-2 6-1
Dorothy Jenkins/Frank Lonergan d. Bernice Murphy/Roy Harrison 6-1 9-7

2nd Round

Nancye Bolton/Colin Long d. Helen Taylor/Bob Howe 6-1 6-3
Mary Bevis/Arthur Liddle d. Norma Martin/Percy Gaydon 6-3 6-1
Pat Jones/Tom Warhurst d. Jenkins/Lonergan 6-4 6-1
Nell Hopman/Frank Sedgman d. Viola Earle/Norman Wasley 6-2 6-1

Thelma Long/Bill Sidwell d. Shirley Jackson/Ron Reid 6-2 6-1
Joyce McDermott/Eric Stewart d. Jill Tuckfield/Peter Molloy 2-6 6-3 6-2
Esme Ashford/Bob McCarthy d. Gwen Thiele/Keith Rogers 8-6 6-4
Newcombe/Newcombe d Miss Williams/Donald Tregonning 6-2 6-2

Quarterfinals

Bolton/Long d. Bevis/Liddle 6-0 7-5
Jones/Warhurst d. Hopman/Sedgman 6-2 6-4
Long/Sidwell d. McDermott/Stewart 6-3 8-6
Ashford/McCarthy d. Newcombe/Newcombe 6-2 6-2


Semifinals

Bolton/Long d. Jones/Warhurst 3-6 6-4 6-2
Long/Sidwell d. Ashford/McCarthy 6-0 6-4


Final

Nancye Bolton/Colin Long d Thelma Long/Bill Sidwell 7-5 4-6 8-6

----------------------------------------------

Summary:

Ashford one of 3 tennis-playing sisters. Led Toomey 3-0 in 2nd set, and 4-2 in 3rd.

Bolton took her 4th successive title in Melbourne without dropping a set. She returned from overseas with a quarter final finish at Wimbledon and a semifinal at Forest Hills. Louise Brough was her nemesis on both occassions, particularly after Bolton squandered a lead of 5-2 and 40-0 in the 3rd set of the Forest Hills match.

Bolton faced Toomey in the final who was totally outclassed. Her backhand was exposed as inadequate and she could find neither the length, or the direction to keep Bolton at bay. Bolton took only 33 minutes to win 6-3 6-1.

----------------------------------------------

Draw Note:

The Bolton-Earle score of 6-0 6-0 is correct. Wikipedia has an incorrect score of 6-1 6-0.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/22525370?

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Missing Names

I Griffiths
Williams (who partnered Tregonning in the mixed) probably=J. Williams a Victorian junior who made the SF of the girls doubles with Jill Warnock.
 
#26 · (Edited)
1949

Dates: January 22 to 31.
Venue: Memorial Drive, Adelaide
Surface: Grass

----------------------------------------------

Singles (Draw=30)

1st Round

Doris Hart (US) [1]-bye
Dorothy Moran d. Gloria Mason 6-1 6-1
Dulcie Whittaker [8] d. Sybil Sheidow 6-1 6-2
Clare Proctor d. Gwen Thiele 8-6 6-2
Joyce Fitch [4] d. Fay Chamberlin 6-3 6-1
Alison Baker d. Marg Williams default
Esme Ashford [7] d. Joy Strickland default
Marie Toomey d. Lottie Nottage 6-1 6-0

Nell Hopman d. Rosemary Thomas 6-1 6-0
Sadie Newcombe [6] d. Helen Taylor 6-1 6-1
Judy Warnock d. Joyce Traeger 6-4 6-4
Thelma Long [3] d. Bettie Redwood 6-2 6-2
Bev Mance d. Eileen Richardson 6-3 6-3
Mary Hawton [5] d. Pat Parkinson default
Dorothy Jenkins d. Bernice Bennett 6-1 6-0
Nancye Bolton [2]-bye

2nd Round

Hart [1] d. Moran 6-3 6-2
Whittaker [8] d. Procter 6-4 6-1
Baker d. Fitch [4] 6-3 6-4
Toomey d. Ashford [7] 4-6 6-2 6-4

Newcombe [6] d. Hopman 5-7 6-3 6-0
Long [3] d. Warnock 6-2 6-1
Hawton [5] d. Mance 6-2 6-4
Bolton [2] d. Jenkins 6-1 6-2

Quarterfinals

Hart [1] d. Whittaker [8] 6-3 3-6 6-2
Baker d. Toomey 6-3 1-6 6-3
Long [3] d. Newcombe [6] 6-0 6-3
Bolton [2] d. Hawton [5] 6-1 6-1

Semifinals

Hart[1] d. Baker 6-3 6-1
Bolton[2] d. Long[3] 6-4 6-2

Final

Doris Hart (US) [1] d. Nancye Bolton [2] 6-3 6-4

----------------------------------------------

Doubles (Draw=14)

1st Round

Doris Hart (US)/Marie Toomey [2]-bye
Alison Baker/Bernice Bennett d. Pat Parkinson/Joy Strickland default
Joyce Fitch/Clare Proctor [3] d. Bettie Redwood/RosemaryThomas 6-0 6-4
Nell Hopman/Dulcie Whittaker d. Sybil Sheidow/Joyce Traeger 6-1 6-1

Dorothy Jenkins/Sadie Newcombe d. Bev Mance/Marg Williams 3-6 6-1 6-1
Esme Ashford/Mary Hawton [4] d. Helen Angwin/Eileen Richardson 6-3 6-3
Dot Moran/Gwen Thiele d. Fay Chamberlain/Helen Taylor 6-3 6-4
Nancy Bolton/Thelma Long[1]-bye

Quarterfinals

Hart/Toomey [2] d. Baker/Bennett 6-1 6-2
Hopman/Whittaker d. Fitch/Proctor [3] 8-6 6-1
Ashford/Hawton [4] d. Jenkins/Newcombe 6-4 6-1
Bolton/Long [1] d. Moran/Thiele 7-5 6-2

Semifinals

Hart/Toomey [2] d. Hopman/Whittaker 6-3 6-1
Bolton/Long [1] d. Ashford/Hawton [4] 8-6 6-2

Final

Nancye Bolton/Thelma Long [1] d. Doris Hart/Marie Toomey [2] 6-0 6-1

----------------------------------------------

Mixed Doubles (Draw=22)

1st Round

Joyce Fitch/John Bromwich [2]-bye
Joyce Trager/Don Goodger-bye
Fay Chamberlin/Ian Occleshaw-bye
Marie Toomey/Tom Warhurst-bye
Gwen Thiele/Don Candy d. Bernice Bennett/Trevor Way 6-2 6-2
Dot Moran/Max Bonner d. Dorothy Jenkins/Ian Ayre 6-4 4-6 6-1
Lottie Nottage/Frank Lonergan d. Mary Hawton/Harold Skennar default
Nell Hopman/Harry Hopman [4]-bye

Nancye Bolton/Colin Long [1] -bye
Eileen Richardson/Ray Cock d. Dulcie Whittaker/Donald Tregonning 1-6 6-2 7-5
Clare Proctor/Bob Howe d Rosemary Thomas/John McHaffey 6-3 6-1
Sadie Newcombe/George Worthington d Helen Taylor/Glen Sheil 6-0 6-1
Thelma Long/Arthur Liddle-bye
Alison Baker/Eric Stewart-bye
Esme Ashford/Philip Brophy-bye
Doris Hart (US)/Frank Sedgman [3]-bye

2nd Round

Fitch/Bromwich [2] d. Traeger/Goodger 6-1 6-1
Toomey/Warhurst d. Chamberlain/Occleshaw 6-3 6-3
Thiele/Candy d Moran/Bonner 6-1 3-6 6-1
Hopman/Hopman [4] d. Nottage/Lonergan 6-2 8-6

Bolton/Long [1] d Richardson/Cock 6-1 6-1
Proctor/Howe d Newcombe/Worthington 2-6 6-1 6-2
Baker/Stewart d Long/Liddle 2-6 6-3 6-1
Hart/Sedgman [3] d Ashford/Brophy 6-1 6-4

Quarterfinals

Fitch/Bromwich [2] d. Toomey/Warhurst 6-4 6-4
Hopman/Hopman [4] d. Thiele/Candy 10-8 8-6
Bolton/Long [1] d Proctor/Howe 3-6 6-1 6-4
Hart/Sedgman [3] d Baker/Stewart default

Semifinals

Fitch/Bromwich [2] d Hopman/Hopman [4] 6-0 6-1
Hart/Sedgman [3] d Bolton/Long [1] 6-3 6-4

Final

Doris Hart (US)/Frank Sedgman [3] d. Joyce Fitch/John Bromwich [2] 6-1 5-7 12-10

----------------------------------------------

Draw notes:

Bernice Bennett is from Tasmania
Mary Bevis is now Mrs. Hawton
Sadie Berryman now Newcombe.
Mrs C Nottage=Lottie Nottage, From Woodville, South Australia
Mrs Eileen Richardson is from SA.
Mrs Robert (Alison) Baker is from Tasmania.

All names are complete

----------------------------------------------

Summary: (courtesy of Louloubelle)

Doris Hart's first visit to the Australian titles was a successful one. Scheduled to tour with Louise Brough who cancelled at the last minute, she defeated Bolton 6-3 6-4. She won the Victorian, New South Wales and South Australian titles beforehand and everyone thought she would win the Australian titles in a cakewalk. In the quarterfinals she lapsed unaccountably into error against Dulcie Whittaker, and for a time even seemed to be drifting into defeat. She eventually pulled her game together to win 6-3 3-6 6-2.

Mrs. Baker becomes first Tasmanian to reach semis, as Toomey had troubles coping with her left-handed shots. It is the only major upset of the women's event. Baker was beaten by Hart in the semis 6-3 6-1.

Bolton hits 25 clean winners vs Hawton. Coming into the 1949 event, Bolton hadn't lost a set in singles in this tourney since 1940.

Bolton defeated Long in the other semi.

In century heat Bolton began confidently in the final, going to a 2-0 lead. Then, as was her wont, Bolton lost control of her forehand and Hart won 6 of the next 7 games. The lone game Nancye won in this streak was when she held to a 3-2 lead with a clean ace.

Hart broke Bolton's serve to lead 4-2 in the 2nd, then Bolton made a charge to square back at 4-4. Hart applied the garotte and captured the title 6-3 6-4. The hard hitting match featured few long rallies. The South Australian Advertiser put the time at 31 minutes-remarkable if true as Bolton won 7 games in defeat!

----------------------------------------------

Sources:

Thanks to Andrew Tas for results


http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/130241995? [Describes the final]

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/130242432? [Photos of several competitors]

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/43799871? (indicates Hart/Sedgman "in lower half" of Mixed draw)

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/43801328? (describes quarterfinals-including Mrs Baker's upset over Toomey)
 
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