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| Daphne Akhurst and Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup presented to ladies singles winner at the Australia Open |
There was a girl, a lady who stormed her way onto the tennis
field, won many of her battles and stormed away from the scene - forever. Those
29 years of which the last decade she captured many a hearts by her domination
in Australian women's tennis. A five-time singles and doubles winners - and add
four mixed titles to her name, this was Daphne Jessie Akhurst's achievements at
the Australian Open. If not for a complication during her pregnancy, who knows,
what destiny had in store for this talented New South Wales player after whom
the ladies singles title of Australian Open is named after.
MUSIC AND TENNIS
Daphne Akhurst was just a year old (b. 1903) when the
national association of tennis in Australia was formed. Little did she know
that one day she would have a long lasting connection with that sport. With a
strong liking for music, she finished her studies in music and went to perform
in few of the clubs and at concerts - and taught music.
While music was an integral part growing up - as a school
girl she did participate in few of the locally held tennis competitions. A
self-taught player, her natural ability towards the game was in display when
she won the state schoolgirl's championships three years in a row (1917-1920). She
balanced both music and tennis perfectly and went on to participate in many of
the state and national level competitions. After winning her major title at the
County of Cumberland in 1923, there was no stopping for this twenty-year old.
TOOK TO TENNIS JUST LIKE FISH IN THE WATERS
The year 1922 was a landmark one for women's tennis in
Australia - as for the first time ladies competitions were added to the existing
men's competition.
Though there was no shortage of talent, Daphne Akhurst
however did lack in experience of playing big games. At her debut Grand Slam
appearance in Australia, she reached the final four and lost to the eventual
runner-up. However, her doubles play had no such problems as she took both the
ladies doubles and mixed doubles title. Not bad for a 20-year old!
Next year, she took the title defeating Esna Boyd coming
from one set down. She completed the trio of victories as she successfully
defended doubles and mixed doubles title.
The same year, New South Wales tennis association sponsored
the first overseas trip by the Australian women's team. It was to the tour of
Europe. Overall the team achieved some great wins over Wales, Holland, Ireland
and Scotland - while beaten by England and United States. At the Wimbledon,
Daphne did well to reach till the quarter-finals.
Back in Australia for the 1926 season, her only success was
at the singles title and was a runner-up at both the doubles event. In 1927,
she suffered with an injury and hence did not take further part in the Australian
Open.
The injury and the time away from tennis only strengthened
her play as she came back to her dominating best in the following season. As
expected, she won all the three titles and was ready for her second overseas
trip.
THE SHY GIRL OF WIMBLEDON
A second tour to Europe would be a game changer for Daphne.
While victories came regularly at home, it is often the overseas performances
that adds merit to one's overall success. Her team defeated England, Ireland,
Wales, Scotland, Holland, France, Germany, Belgium, Hungary and South Africa.
At Wimbledon, she enthralled the audience and the members of
the press with her stroke play. She reached the semi-finals at the both the
singles and doubles event; went one better in mixed doubles by reaching the
finals. She could not achieve the highest peaks at Wimbledon, however it was
hardly a debate that she was the best tennis player Australia had sent that
season. Her charming and attractive personality along with extreme modesty,
earned her the nickname 'The Shy Girl of Wimbledon'.
MARRYING HER CHILDHOOD SWEETHEART
She went on to win Australian Championships titles in 1929
and 1930; the same year in February, Daphne Akhurst married her childhood
sweetheart Royston Stuckey Cozens, a tobacco businessman and a well-known Western
Suburbs cricketer. She retired from the game after winning the ladies doubles
the following year. Between 1924 to 1931 - she had won five singles titles,
five doubles titles and four mixed doubles.
UNTIMELY DEATH AND IMMORTALITY
After having delivered her first child in 1932, Daphne
Akhurst now known as Mrs. Cozens played a match with her friend and former
doubles winning partner, Louie Bickerton at a local event in Pratten Park in
January 1933. A few days later, she was
admitted to a private hospital and underwent an anaesthetic surgery for ectopic pregnancy.
She passed away in the hospital leaving behind her husband and her five-month
old son. The entire nation went silent and mourned for this tragic loss.
Later that year in 1933, the New South Wales Tennis
Association presented a cup to the Australian Tennis Association for the winner
of the Australian ladies singles championships. Since then, the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup is presented to the winners of the Australian Open. Unlike the
previous years where Daphne Akhurst retained permanently the Anthony Wilding
Memorial Shield (for winning 5 Australian Open singles title), the Daphne
Akhurst memorial cup will be held by the respective winners annually. Later
in 1935, her good friend and doubles partner Louie Bickerton married Royston
Stuckey Cozens (Daphne's husband) and they remained a married couple for 63
years until the time of her death in 1998.
LEGACY
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| Daphne Akhurst |
What went away with her are nothing but those memories in
many a people's minds and hearts. With time those souls who witnessed her play
on the court too have withered away. Her athletic grace, perfect footwork, a
consistent player who defeated her opponents through her rallies than brilliance,
a clever finisher of a point, demeanour of great charm attributed to the truest
of sportswoman of that era - her stoic expressions at winning or losing the
games never came in the way of the fact that she enjoyed playing each game
against her opponents.
Her playing skills, her splendid nature unspoiled by all the
adulations showered on her made her an extremely loveable person. At the time
of her death, few questioned when she was held in the same breath as the most
famous Australian cricketer Victor Trumper (before Bradman).
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