Helen Gourlay Cawley (née Gourlay; born 23 December 1946) is a retired tennis player from Australia.
Personal Helen Gourlay was born in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. She married Richard Leon Cawley in January 1977, and married William Timothy Cape in October 1986.
Career Gourlay reached the singles final of two Grand Slam tournaments, losing the 1971 French Open and the December 1977 Australian Open to countrywoman Evonne Goolagong.
An operation on her elbow sidelined her for 10 months in 1973.
In women's doubles, Gourlay was a four-time winner of the Australian Open (1972, 1976, 1977 (January), 1977 (December)). She won Wimbledon in 1977 partnering JoAnne Russell and was the runner-up there in 1974 with Karen Krantzcke. Gourlay was twice the runner-up at the French Open in 1971 with Kerry Harris and 1977 with Rayni Fox. In 1977, Gourlay played in four of the five Grand Slam Women's Doubles finals (the Australian Open was contested twice), only failing to reach the US Open final, where she lost in the second round with JoAnne Russell.
Grand Slam finals
Singles (2 runner-ups)
ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss 1971 French Open Clay Evonne Goolagong 3–6, 5–7Loss 1977(Dec) Australian Open Grass Evonne Goolagong 3–6, 0–6
Doubles (5 titles, 3 runner-ups)
ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss 1971 French Open Clay Kerry Harris Françoise Dürr Gail Chanfreau 4–6, 1–6 Win 1972 Australian Open Grass Kerry Harris Patricia Coleman Karen Krantzcke 6–0, 6–4Loss 1974 Wimbledon Grass Karen Krantzcke Evonne Goolagong Peggy Michel 6–2, 4–6, 3–6Win 1976 Australian Open Grass Evonne Goolagong Renáta Tomanová Lesley Turner Bowrey 8–1Win 1977(Jan)Australian OpenGrass Dianne Fromholtz Kerry Melville Reid Betsy Nagelsen 5–7, 6–1, 7–5Loss 1977 French Open Clay Rayni Fox Regina Maršíková Pam Teeguarden 7–5, 4–6, 2–6Win 1977 Wimbledon Grass JoAnne Russell Martina Navratilova Betty Stöve 6–3, 6–3Win 1977(Dec) Australian Open Grass Evonne Goolagong Mona Guerrant Kerry Melville Reid Shared Note: Evonne Goolagong occasionally is credited incorrectly with winning the 1977 Ladies Doubles event at Wimbledon, due to the confusion regarding the married names of both Goolagong and her compatriot Gourlay who took the trophy. Both women were listed in tournaments as Mrs. R. Cawley (Goolagong was Mrs. R.A. Cawley and Gourlay was Mrs. R.L. Cawley). Goolagong did not participate at Wimbledon 1977.
Grand Slam singles tournament timeline
Tournament 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 Career SR AustraliaQF3R3R2R1RQFAQF SFA2R2R SF SF FAA1R 0 / 14 FranceAA1R3R3R2R1R F4RAAAA3RAAA 0 / 8 WimbledonAA2R1R4R3R2R1R4R1R3R2RA4R2RAA 0 / 11 United StatesAAAAAAQF2R1R1R2R2R3R2RAAA 0 / 8 SR0 / 10 / 10 / 30 / 30 / 30 / 30 / 30 / 40 / 40 / 20 / 30 / 30 / 20 / 50 / 10 / 00 / 1 0 / 41
Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
Coaching Gourlay was coached by Brian Hudson for over 10 years. She lived with Hudson, his wife Beryl and their children for three years while he coached her for free at his Granville (Sydney) tennis courts (1963-1965). Gourlay and Hudson played mixed doubles at White City (1968) and Wimbledon (1972). Gourlay also was coached by Hudson at his Terranora court, leading into many international events, including Grand Slams. Hudson coached Gourlay in the 1977 Australian Open, in which Gourlay defeated Sue Barker in the semifinals.
Gourlay was one of the inaugural coaches of the Australian Institute of Sport tennis program when it was established in Canberra in 1981. Gourlay left the program in 1986.
Recognition In 1987, she was inducted into the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame, and in 2000, she received the Australian Sports Medal.
See also Performance timelines for all female tennis players since 1978 who reached at least one Grand Slam final
References
External links