Thelma Coyne Long
Encyclopedia
Thelma Dorothy Coyne Long (born in Sydney, Australia, 14 October 1918) was one of the female tennis players who dominated Australian tennis from the mid-1930s to the 1950s.
, Long won singles titles in 1952 and 1954 and was a singles finalist in 1940, 1951, 1955 and 1956. In women's doubles, she won ten titles with Nancye Wynne Bolton
(1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951 and 1952) and three titles with Mary Bevis Hawton (1954, 1956 and 1958). Long was a women's doubles finalist with Bolton in 1946 and 1950. She won mixed doubles titles in 1951, 1952 and 1955 with George Worthington and in 1954 with Rex Hartwig
. She was a mixed doubles finalist in 1948 with Bill Sidwell
.
At Wimbledon
, Long was a women's doubles finalist in 1957 with Hawton and a mixed doubles finalist in 1952 with Enrique Morea
. At the age of 52, Long teamed with Lorraine Coghlan Robinson
to lose in the first round of women's doubles at Wimbledon in 1971.
At the French Championships, Long was a women's doubles finalist in 1958 with Hawton, won the mixed doubles title in 1956 with Luis Ayala
, and was a mixed doubles finalist in 1951 with Mervyn Rose
.
At the 1953 tournament in Cincinnati
, Long won the singles title (defeating Anita Kanter
7–5, 6–2 in the final) and the women's doubles title with Kanter.
According to Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail
, Long was ranked in the world top ten in 1952 and 1954 (no rankings issued from 1940 to 1945), reaching a career high of World No. 7 in those rankings in 1952.
Long became a teaching professional in 1960 and spent many years coaching promising New South Wales
junior players. In 1985, her achievements were recognized by Tennis NSW when she was awarded Life Membership of the State Association.
On 30 August 2000, Long was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
. She was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame
in a ceremony at Melbourne Park
during the Australian Open on Australia Day
in 2002.
.
In May 1941, during the Second World War, Long joined the Red Cross as a transport driver and worked in Melbourne, Australia. On 19 February 1942, she joined the Australian Women's Army Service
(AWAS) and rose to the rank of captain in April 1944. For her service in the AWAS, she was awarded the War Medal 1939/45 and Australian Service Medal 1939/45.
Long has worked as a volunteer at the State Library of New South Wales, and she received the Volunteer Service Award in 1999, The Year of the Volunteer.
NH = tournament not held.
R = tournament restricted to French nationals and held under German occupation.
A = did not participate in the tournament.
SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.
1In 1946 and 1947, the French Championships were held after Wimbledon.
Tennis career
At the Australian ChampionshipsAustralian Open
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
, Long won singles titles in 1952 and 1954 and was a singles finalist in 1940, 1951, 1955 and 1956. In women's doubles, she won ten titles with Nancye Wynne Bolton
Nancye Wynne Bolton
Nancye Wynne Bolton was a female tennis player from Australia. She won the women's singles title six times at the Australian Championships, second only to Margaret Court who won 11 titles...
(1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951 and 1952) and three titles with Mary Bevis Hawton (1954, 1956 and 1958). Long was a women's doubles finalist with Bolton in 1946 and 1950. She won mixed doubles titles in 1951, 1952 and 1955 with George Worthington and in 1954 with Rex Hartwig
Rex Hartwig
Rex Noel Hartwig was an Australian tennis player.-Wimbledon:He won the doubles in Wimbledon twice: In 1954 with Mervyn Rose and in 1955 with Lew Hoad.-Australian Championships:...
. She was a mixed doubles finalist in 1948 with Bill Sidwell
Bill Sidwell
Bill Sidwell was an Australian tennis player.Sidwell reached four Grand Slam doubles finals, winning once, and also played in the Davis Cup in 1948 and 1949. He is currently Treasurer of the AVGA and is playing golf regularly in place of tennis.-Grand Slam finals:-External links:* *...
.
At Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
, Long was a women's doubles finalist in 1957 with Hawton and a mixed doubles finalist in 1952 with Enrique Morea
Enrique Morea
Enrique Morea was an Argentine tennis player.Morea won the mixed doubles title of the 1960 French Championships. He also won two gold medals at the inaugural men's tennis competition at the 1951 Pan American Games.Morea is the current president of the Asociación Argentina de Tenis .-References:...
. At the age of 52, Long teamed with Lorraine Coghlan Robinson
Lorraine Coghlan
Lorraine Coghlan Robinson is a female former tennis player from the state of Victoria in Australia. In 1956 she won the Australian Championships Girls Singles title. Coghlan teamed with Bob Howe to win the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon in 1958...
to lose in the first round of women's doubles at Wimbledon in 1971.
At the French Championships, Long was a women's doubles finalist in 1958 with Hawton, won the mixed doubles title in 1956 with Luis Ayala
Luis Ayala (tennis)
Luis Alberto Ayala Salinas is a former Chilean world-ranked tennis player who competed in the 1950s and 1960s. When he retired, he became a tennis professional at River Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas. Currently, he is the Director of Tennis at the Forest Club in Houston, Texas.-Grand slams:...
, and was a mixed doubles finalist in 1951 with Mervyn Rose
Mervyn Rose
Mervyn Rose was an Australian male tennis player. He was born in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales and turned professional in 1959...
.
At the 1953 tournament in Cincinnati
Cincinnati Masters
The Cincinnati Open is an annual outdoor hardcourts tennis event held in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason, Ohio, USA. The event started on September 18, 1899 and is the oldest tennis tournament in the United States played in its original city., Between...
, Long won the singles title (defeating Anita Kanter
Anita Kanter
Anita Kanter of Santa Monica, California, was an American amateur tennis player in the 1950s.In singles, Kanter was ranked # 6 in the United States in 1952, and # 9 in 1953.-Tennis career:...
7–5, 6–2 in the final) and the women's doubles title with Kanter.
According to Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
, Long was ranked in the world top ten in 1952 and 1954 (no rankings issued from 1940 to 1945), reaching a career high of World No. 7 in those rankings in 1952.
Long became a teaching professional in 1960 and spent many years coaching promising New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
junior players. In 1985, her achievements were recognized by Tennis NSW when she was awarded Life Membership of the State Association.
On 30 August 2000, Long was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
Australian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
. She was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame
Australian Tennis Hall of Fame
The Australian Tennis Hall of Fame was established in 1993 and induction takes place on Rod Laver Arena on Australia Day each year during the Australian Open. Induction is recognised by a bronze bust which is later displayed in Garden Square at Melbourne Park.Australian Tennis Hall of Fame...
in a ceremony at Melbourne Park
Melbourne Park
Melbourne Park is a sports venue in the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Since 1988, Melbourne Park has been home of the Australian Open in tennis, which is played annually in January...
during the Australian Open on Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
in 2002.
Personal life
On 30 January 1941, she married Maurice Newton Long of Melbourne. The marriage did not continue after the end of the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In May 1941, during the Second World War, Long joined the Red Cross as a transport driver and worked in Melbourne, Australia. On 19 February 1942, she joined the Australian Women's Army Service
Australian Women's Army Service
The Australian Women's Army Service or "AWAS" was a women's service established on 13 August 1941 to "release men from certain military duties for employment in fighting units".-Formation / Structure:...
(AWAS) and rose to the rank of captain in April 1944. For her service in the AWAS, she was awarded the War Medal 1939/45 and Australian Service Medal 1939/45.
Long has worked as a volunteer at the State Library of New South Wales, and she received the Volunteer Service Award in 1999, The Year of the Volunteer.
Grand Slam singles tournament timeline
| Tournament | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 - 1944 | 1945 | 19461 | 19471 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | Career SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Championships Australian Open The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court... |
SF | SF | QF | SF | F | NH | NH | QF | SF | 2R | SF | QF | F | W | A | W | F | F | A | 2R | 1R | 2 / 17 |
| French Championships | A | A | 2R | A | NH | R | A | A | A | A | A | A | QF | A | A | A | A | 3R | A | 4R | A | 0 / 4 |
| Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
A | A | 3R | A | NH | NH | NH | A | A | A | 4R | 3R | 1R | QF | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 4R | A | 0 / 8 |
| U.S. Championships | A | A | 3R | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | QF | 3R | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | 0 / 4 |
| SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 1 / 3 | 0 / 1 | 1 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 1 | 2 / 33 |
NH = tournament not held.
R = tournament restricted to French nationals and held under German occupation.
A = did not participate in the tournament.
SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.
1In 1946 and 1947, the French Championships were held after Wimbledon.
See also
- Performance timelines for all female tennis players who reached at least one Grand Slam finalTennis performance timeline comparison (women)This article presents in a tabular form the career tennis Grand Slam, World Hard Court Championships and Olympic singles results of every woman who has reached the singles final of at least one Grand Slam, World Hard Court Championships or Olympic tournament during her career...