When tennis spread throughout the world, it was initially thought of as a womans game, however the menfolk soon learnt the high degrees of skill and fitness involved. While this equally applied to women, the fashion of the day involving long dresses and bonnets hardly assisted a more agressive game beyond baseline play.

The tournaments and clubs were generally managed by the men used to arranging such things for cricket and football. The ladies were often happy to use tennis within the context of the fashionable afternoon Sunday garden party.

Although mens tournaments set the pace, Wimbledon began for them in 1877, womens tennis eventually came into its own in 1884. In the USA it was 1881 and 1887 and in Australia it was 1905 and 1922 as a National tournament, yet state championships began in Victoria 1880,1884, NSW 1885,1885 etc.

The Davis Cup for men commenced in 1900 and the Wightman Cup in 1923, which also started out as did the Davis Cup between USA and UK,but never went past this two country playoff. whereas the Davis Cup exploded onto the world arena.

Whereas the media and public focused most heavily on the performances of the men at home, Wimbledon and the teams representing Australasia in the Davis Cup, womens international tennis languished in the background.

When searching for the first Australian woman to play at Wimbledon from 1884 to 1918 no names come up with any certainty until 1919, when Lily Addison, played at Wimbledon making the 2nd round. Wimbledon didn’t record nationalities, so we can’t be sure that another Australian woman made it earlier than this time and obviosuly with little or no fanfair in the media. There was an E.M.Mayne who entered Wimbledon, but then withdrew in 1906. She might have been the very prominent Miss Mayne who dominated the tennis championship scene in Victoria and New South Wales in the mid -late 1890’s, but this is unlikely.

Lily was born in South Australia on 23-12-1885 and came to Melbourne with her large family owing to her Fathers position as head of the National Australia Bank. Attending Faireleight school in St Kilda, the family became regular players at the South Yarra Tennis Club (also Norman Brookes club). Her brothers Jack (John) & Glen Addison were good tennis players from 1905 to 1914. Jack often partnered Norman Brookes in Vic interstate matches and Liily also played in these events and was highly successful. Her key results included 6 Victorian singles titles, South Australian and NSW titles and numerous doubles and mixed doubles titles sometimes playing with brother Jack. Jack was sadly killed in WW1 and Lily found her way to the UK in the nursing corp. where she served, losing one lung to tuberculosis. This did not discourage her from playing at Wimbledon, however and afterwards returned to Australia and won her 6th Victorian title in 1921 and the Geelong Easter tournament in 1924. The Royal South Yarra Girls Singles Title is named in her honour. To view a National archives document about Lily click here.

In 1920, Australians Mrs Harper (nee Sylvia Lance) played at Wimbledon antheir appearance there began to spark interest in sending an Australian team on an overseas tour. While, very few women travelled abroad to play with the exception of the USA and UK women, no international female players of note had been enticed to visit Australia either and these matches were always a yard stick as to the progress of tennis on home soil.

However in 1925 things started to change. A lobby began to send a team overseas but the LTAA declined to fund them directly stating inadequate funds. Consequently, a public fund was commenced and sufficient money was raised to support a team of 4, Mrs R. Harper, Miss E Boyd, Mrs Utz (already in Europe) and D.Akhurst.

The tour started June 1st with their first engagement at the Weybridge Tournament in England. Following the summer season, including Wimbledon, the team would hopefully have sufficient funds to divert to the USA on their return journey.

The schedule was quite full. Below this story is additional results information for the 1925 and 1928 teams and additional commentary from various tennis almanacs of the period.

After some initial practice on grass at Queen’s, the big challenge was set for Roehampton on June 17th-18th.

On the first day they confounded the critics by finishing 2 matches all against what was considered a top class English team.

The next day was doubles and it was here that the UK team became dominant to win the overall match 5-3, however the Australian girls had certainly sent a message to the ladies arriving for Wimbledon the following week. Daphne Ackhurst, only days before this match underwent knee surgery on the 11th June and her performance most likely suffered through loss of practice and one might assume confidence to really chase balls down. Mrs Harper was praised most highly for her very competitive performances.

Although funds were tight, their credible performances opened doors, literally. They were “showered” with invitations to stay at private residences which meant they could conserve funds.

The team post Wimbledon went onto play Wales, Scotland and Ireland and won all these matches quite readily.

It should be noted that Miss St George, who played at Wimbledon while not part of the originally announced team did fill in as emergency. The picture, right comes from A Wallis Myers book ’50 Years of Wimbledon’ (1926).

As a tour highlight, Edna Boyd took the title of the 1925 Irish Women’s Singles Championship (defeating Ackhurst) and also the doubles title with Miss St George.

Concluding matches in England, the team then travelled to the continent where they played France,Belgium and Holland. On this part of the tour they shared in gate receipts revenue 50/50 and raised an additional 812 pounds.

Seemingly now flush with funds, the well managed team decided they could afford to travel to the US but unfortunately timing meant they had to miss the US Open by a few days.

The first of two US teams comprised Mrs Jessup, Mrs Mallory, Misses Rayard, Goss and Townsend. Played at the Germantown courts, the match was drawn 3-3 prior to the last doubles which the US won. Another very close tussle which again showed the relative skill of the Australian ladies.

Following this event they played in a second match against a Californian team featuring noted player Helen Wills and Mrs Hosmer in San Francisco, on ashpalt courts. The US champion, Helen Wills comprehensively defeated Boyd 6-0, 6-1 and Mrs Harper 6-0, 6-0 and overall the team lost 7-0.

After 6 1/2 months away they arrived home to Australia, very satisfied with their results and with a greater resolve towards sending and receiving International womens teams in future years. The main comment about their USA defeat in San Francisco against Wills, was that they arrived to late to practice on the asphalt courts after a full season on grass and they were very keen for a rematch against Helen Wills with the advantage of more preparation.

In 1927 the LTAA announced two very special events. First, for men’s tennis in Australia, the visit of the French Team, which had never occurred before outside of teams challenging for the Davis Cup and second, the decision to send a properly organised and funded men’s and women’s team abroad in 1928.

This 1928 team comprised Boyd, Ackhurst, Mrs Pat O’Hara Wood and Miss Bickerton.

They won every match against all comers and pre Wimbledon they even attempted to organise a match against the USA Wightman cup team. All except Helen Wills were happy to play and without the possibility of presenting their strongest team the US match never proceeded. Once again Boyd’s desire to have another crack at Wills would have to wait. On their return, Norman Brookes admitted that the women had surpassed the expectations of the LTAA and could indeed be considered the “International Team of the year” even though the US team was individually still the best on paper. Neither Boyd or Ackhurst did play Wills again at any other event known to us. The only earlier chance to play Wills on grass was the 1925 Wimbledon but the ladies were in different halves of the draw.

The following valuable information was compiled by tennis results researcher, Andrew Tasiopoulos to whom we thank once again.

Tour Results 1925

1 June 1925 – St Georges Hill Weybridge

F Esna Boyd d. Rose GBR 63 06 63

Mixed F J Williams/Sylvia Harper d Nigel Nones/Miss Royle 97 64

June 1925 – Roehampton, Australia vs England
England d. Australia 5-3

Sylvia Harper d. Fry 63 62

Esna Boyd L Kitty McKane 68 36

Gwen Utz d. EH Harvey 46 63 63

Daphne Akhurst L Lycett 57 61 06

Harper/Akhurst L McKane/ Harvey 26 46

Boyd/Utz L McKane/ Harvey 06 1214

Boyd/Utz L Lycett/ Fry 46 75 79

Harper/ Akhurst d. Lycett/ Fry 119 16 61

June 15 1925 – Roehampton – Kent Championships
F Esna Boyd d Mrs Brice-May 64 62

Doubles F Rose GBR/St George L Fry/Ellis 36 62 26

21 June 1925 – Wimbledon UK WIMBLEDON

R1 Kathleen Bridge d Nancy Melody NZL 63 60

R1 Esna Boyd d Cristobel Hardie 62 60

R1 Mary Cambridge d Gwen Utz WO

R1 Daphne Akhurst d HB Weston 63 75

R1 Floris St George d Sybil Johnson 26 62 62

R2 Esna Boyd d Millicent Pitt RSA 62 62

R2 Daphne Akhurst d Doris Craddock 75 57 64

R2 Marie Hazel d Floris St George 46 75 63

R3 Esna Boyd d Agnes Tuckey 36 61 63

R3 Daphne Akhurst d Evelyn Colyer 46 64 64

QF Kitty McKane d Esna Boyd 61 61

QF Joan Fry d Daphne Akhurst 26 64 63

Final Lenglen d. Fry 62 60

Doubles

Melody NZL/St George d Middleton/Hazell 46 64 63

July 9-10 – Llanelly, Wales – Australia vs Wales
AUS d WALES 12-0

Mrs Harper d. Miss Olwen Sheere 60 61

Mrs Harper d. Mrs RA Seel 60 36 62

Miss D Akhurst d. Mrs EJ Russell 60 62

Miss D Akhurst d. Miss James 61 60

Miss E Boyd d. Mrs RA Seel 63 60

Miss E Boyd d. Miss Olwen Sheere 62 61

Miss St George d. Miss James 64 61

Miss St George d. Mrs EJ Russell 62 61

Doubles

Boyd/ St George d. Seel/ Sheere 64 86

Boyd/ St George d. Russell/ James 60 62

Harper/ Akhurst d. Russell/ James 61 61

Harper/ Akhurst d. Seel/ Sheere 60 60

July 1925 Dublin – Australia vs Ireland
AUS d IRE 6-2

Day One

Esna Boyd d H Wells 63 61

Daphne Akhurst d Mrs Blair White 63 63

Harper/Akhurst d Wells/Haughton 61 63

Boyd/St George d White/Stoker 64 63

Day Two

Harper L Haughton 57 36

St George d Stoker 36 61 63

Harper/Akhurst d White/Stoker 64 61

Boyd/St George L Haughton/Wallis 26 46

July 1925 Dublin IRL Irish Championships

F Esna Boyd d. Daphne Akhurst 97 61

Mixed

F Sherwell/Daphne Akhurst d Smith/Sylvia Harper 36 63 64

July 1925 – Edinburgh, Scotland – Australia vs Scotland
AUS d SCO 11-1

Mrs Harper d. Mrs Herriot 62 64

Mrs Harper d. Miss CT Duncan 62 60

Miss D Akhurst d. M Thom 63 64

Miss D Akhurst d. Miss MK Jenkins 63 61

Miss E Boyd d. Miss T Thom 61 64

Miss E Boyd d. Miss JC Rankine 64 61

Miss St George lost to Mrs Hudleston 36 108 36

Miss St George d. Miss Langmuir 63 16 64

Doubles

Boyd/ St George d. Thom/ Welsh 64 46 119

Boyd/ St George d. Jenkins/ Duncan 57 60 62

Harper/ Akhurst d. Herriot/ Hudleston 63 86

Harper/ Akhurst d. Rankine/ Langmuir 60 62

August 1925 – Hilversum, HOL – Australia vs Holland
AUS d HOL 10-2

Mrs Harper lost to K Bouman 46 26

Mrs Harper d. Mrs Stroink 60 61

Miss E Boyd d. Mrs Stroink 63 61

Miss E Boyd d. K Bouman 26 61 61

Miss St George d. Miss Canters 97 64

Miss St George lost to Miss Lhoest 46 63 16

Miss D Akhurst d. Miss Lhoest 60 46 62

Miss D Akhurst d. Miss Canters 62 61

Harper/ Akhurst d. Bouman/ Stroink 46 60 64

Harper/ Akhurst d. Canters/ Lhoest 61 62

Boyd/ St George d. Canters/ Lhoest 63 62

Boyd/ St George d. Bouman/ Stroink 64 60

August 1925 – Westende, BEL – Australia vs Belgium
AUS d BEL 11-0

Day One

Boyd d Sigart 64 61

Harper d de Borman 62 60

St George v Levy 62 12 – rain stopped play

Day Two

St George d Levy 62 26 63

Boyd d de Borman 62 62

Harper d Sigart 62 63

Akhurst d Levy 61 60

St George d Borman 62 86

Harper/Akhurst d Borman/Levy 61 60

Harper/Akhurst d Borman/Sigart 63 63

Boyd/St George d Borman/Levy 63 46 61

Boyd/St George d Borman/Levy 61 75

25 August 1925 – Deauville, France

F Suzanne Lenglen d. Akhurst 62 62

September 1925 – Deauville, France
FRA D AUS 7-4

Akhurst d. Bourgeois 68 61 86

Bourgeois d. St George 61 61

E Boyd d. Vlasto 62 26 60

Vlasto d. Harper 61 64

Lenglen d. Harper 60 64

Lenglen d. Boyd 75 61

Desclercs d. St George 36 60 61

Desclercs d. Akhurst 64 97

Lenglen/ Vlasto d. Boyd/ St George 63 36 63

Harper/ Akhurst d. Desclercs/ Bourgeois 61 62

Boyd/ St George d. Desclercs/ Bourgeois 60 16 63

Sep 1925 – Philadelphia
USA d AUS 4-3

Mallory d. Harper 75 86

Mallory d. Boyd 64 61

Jessup lost to Boyd 46 26

Jessup lost to Harper 79 16

Goss d. Akhurst 64 36 61

Anderson/ Bayard lost to St George/ Boyd 63 46 57

Goss/ Jessup d. Harper/ Akhurst 36 64 63

3/4 October 1925 – San Francisco
CALI D AUS 7-0

Wills d. Sylvia Harper 60 60

Elanor Tennant d. Daphne Akhurst 62 36 86

Tennant d. Floris St George 63 60

Wills d Esna Boyd 60 61

Harper d. Charlotte Hosmer 63 63

Wills/Hosmer d. Harper/ Akhurst 62 64

Tennant/ Avery Follett d. St George/ Boyd 46 86 wo ret

Additional Commentary from both the 1925 and 1928 tours were published in various tennis Almanacs.

1925 Tour

Ayres Lawn Tennis Almanac 1926 pg 473-79

“The first international women’s match between England and Australia was staged in Roehampton in June. Though it yielded a victory for the home side by five matches to three, the margin in reality was much smaller, for the visitors came within a stroke of winning another doubles match on the second day.

Had not Miss Boyd failed to take an easy chance at the net when she and Mrs Utz were opposed to Miss Fry and Mrs Lycett, the issue would have been all-square at the end of the struggle. At it was, by dividing the four singles on the first day and by nearly achieving the same result in the doubles, the Australians proved their quality as a courageous fighting team. Their players may not possess the polished strokes of Miss McKane or Mrs Lycett, and they do not get anything like the same tournament practice in their own country- yet in courtcraft, tenacity, and the capacity to recover from a losing position, they have nothing to learn from our representatives.

In Mrs Harper they possessed a tactician of a rare standard, capable of seeking out and exploiting to her own advantage any weakness on the part of her opponents. Every member of their team was both a driver and volleyer; she commanded a variety of strokes and a safety of return which are absent from many of our younger tournament players.

If the Australian ladies surprised the crowd by their skill, some of their opponents did not come up to expectations. Miss Fry, for example, who was beaten by Mrs Harper in the singles, and lost one of her doubles matches, showed that her driving game, forceful as it was on one wing, was not yet adequate against a campaign conceived cleverly to test her at her weaker points.

Mrs Harper won many strokes by a backhand drop volley across the court to which Miss Fry’s background, made on the run, was anything but an effective counter. Variation of pace, with free use of cut, embarrassed Miss Fry much more than good-length drives; and since the Australians were adept at the former, she was often penalised.

Miss Harvey, on the other hand, went to the other extreme. She was too cautious in her singles against Mrs. Utz, and ended up by becoming so soft that the Sydney lady, who has a fluency of neat strokes, gained a good win in the third set.

Miss McKane won all her matches, one singles and two doubles, without the loss of a set, thus fulfilling expectation; but she had to fight hard to beat off the alert and determined attack of Miss Boyd on the first day, and the no less resolute effort of Mrs Utz and Miss Boyd on the second day. Miss McKane and Miss Harvey had won the first set to love in the double, and were leading 52 in the second. The match, as it proved, had not run half its course, for the Australians, lobbing the two volleyers very astutely and finding openings with low drives, did not yield up the match until twenty-six games had been contested in the second set.

Mrs Lycett was undoubtedly the second best player on the home side. When opposed to Miss Akhurst she showed excellent judgement, after winning the first set by a great effort, in easing down in the second for a renewed attack in the third. She won the last set to love, overwhelming an adversary who obviously did not expect this resuscitation.

Paired with Miss Fry in the doubles, Mrs Lycett was handicapped by having her partner at the back of the court. It was an improvised combination, and consequently cohesion was lacking. Miss Boyd and Mrs Utz should have beaten them. Having saved the second set, they led 42 in the third and at 76 with Miss Boyd serving, and not withstanding two double faults, they came within a stroke of the match. An easy lob was put up to Miss Boyd. She swung for a crisp reply, but mistimed the shot. In the next game the Australians were love-30 on Mrs Lycett’s service; again the chance was sacrificed. Lawn tennis balls, like cards, do not forgive, and their opponents got out at 97.

In the victory of Mrs Harper and Miss Akhurst in alliance, Mrs Harper was ever the sound general. With sliced volley and drop, and with skilful lob, she discovered the gap between the volleyer and the baseliner. In was a most creditable performance.”

From the Ayres Lawn Tennis Almanack 1926 pg 473-479

“Against France at Deauville, despite the inclusion of Mlle Lenglen on the home side, the visitors were able to win four matches out of eleven and to make an excellent fight. Miss Boyd put up a good performance in beating Mlle Vlasto, as also did Miss Akhurst in defeating Mlle Bourgeois. Mrs Harper succeeded in taking four games from Lenglen, but on the second day, when Miss Boyd ran her to advantage games in a set, the champion is stated to have suffered from a badly-blistered hand.

Australia was credited with two good victories in the three doubles matches played. Mlle Lenglen and Mlle Vlasto lost a set to Miss Boyd and Miss St George. One double was abandoned on account of rain.”

Spaldings Tennis Annual 1926 pg 90

“The Australian womens team ended its round-the-world tour in San Francisco in October and played a series of international matches with a picked team from California. The competition was held in two sections, three singles and a doubles being played at the Berkeley Tennis Club, Saturday October 3, and two singles and a doubles at the Municipal Tennis Stadium in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, the following day. California won six of the seven matches.

Ayres Lawn Tennis Almanac 1926 pg 473-479

“Before they left California, en route for home, the Australian ladies team played a match against a representative American team in Philadelphia. The tourists, as in Europe, acquitted themselves well, and were only defeated by the odd match in seven, the decision being deferred until the last set. Miss Boyd beat Mrs. Jessup, while Mrs. Harper not only defeated Mrs. Jessup, but had a very close match with Mrs. Mallory.

Travelling west through America, the Australians met a Californian team at San Francisco which included Miss Wills. The tourists were handicapped by their long journey and their unfamiliarity with asphalt courts, and did not do themselves justice, winning only one match.

Before reaching home the Australians landed at Auckland and played a series of matches against New Zealand ladies, all of which were won.Their whole tour through Europe and America had been a remarkable adventure and reflected great credit on its organisers and on the captain of the team, Mrs Barry.

1928 Tour

THE AUSTRALIAN LADIES’ TOUR by Harley Malcolm (Hon. Sec. of the Australian Association)

Ayres Lawn Tennis Almanack pages 21-28

TOWARDS the end of 1927 one of the most comprehensive sporting tours ever organised was under consideration by the Australian Lawn Tennis Association. The object of the tour was twofold. Its first was to give Australian women players a chance of measuring their skill against the leading exponents of the world, its second to acknowledge officially the success of the first Australian ladies’ team, financed chiefly by subscriptions from New South Wales, which visited Europe in 1925.

True to their motto- Festina Lente- the Association, before planning such a lengthy tour, canvassed all the available players. The result was that virtually Australia’s strongest team – Miss Boyd (captain), Miss Akhurst, Mrs O’Hara Wood and Miss Bickerton- was nominated.

With myself as manager, the team left Melbourne on March 5 for an eight months’ tour. Journeying overland to Perth, the players joined the Demosthenes for South Africa, on board which were the French team bound for Durban. After an extended tour of the different provinces, against which they won six matches, the team left Cape Town on April 24 by the Nestor, arriving at Tilbury on May 24.

The French Championships in Paris were the team’s next objective, followed by a hurried return to England to practice on grass for the Championships at Wimbledon and the match against Great Britain at Bournemouth, the two chief fixtures of the tour. Tournaments and matches against Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Holland and France followed in quick succession, broken only by a sight-seeing trip to Switzerland and the beautiful Rhine Valley.

Returning to England for a brief and well-earned rest, the team played their last match against Ireland on the courts of the Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin. This encounter practically concluded the tour, for Miss Akhurst and Miss Bickerton, after brief visits to France, Switzerland and Italy, returned to Australia, via Naples and Singapore, with the manager, reaching home on November 24. Mrs. O’Hara Wood and Miss Boyd, deciding to stay longer in Europe, returning later.

SOUTH AFRICA BEATEN

Having summarised the tour – in which not a single match was lost – I may review the itinerary in more detail. The first task of the tourists on reaching South Africa was to accustom themselves to the climate and the hard courts, the latter almost unknown in Australia for official match play. The first match at Maritzburg against a Natal side which included Miss E Heine, resulted in an easy win for the tourists. But Miss Heine confirmed the promise shown on her European visit by defeating Miss Boyd 64 61, although it is only fair to add that the Australian visitor was undoubtedly affected by the unusual heat. The next side to be met -the Orange Free State- also included one of South Africa’s front rank players, Miss RD Tapscott. This time Miss Boyd won both her singles in two sets.

A stern fight was waged when Australia met South Africa in Johannesburg. Rain prevented practice, and the local players, familiar with the different bound and flight of the ball at an attitude of over 6000 feet, started with a distinct advantage. They appeared to be heading for victory when, leading by four matches to three, Mrs Neave and Mrs McArthur won the first set of the final contest against Miss Boyd and Miss Bickerton. But the Australian pair rallied pluckily, and, profiting by weak lapses on the part of their opponents, captured the second and third sets to two. As each side had won four matches and ten sets, it was decided to count games, when it was found Australia led by the narrow margin of six games. The chief fixture of the match was the defeat of Mrs Peacock and Miss Heine in singles, and their undoubted superiority, as a pair, in doubles. Miss Akhurst scored a decisive win over Miss Heine, but Miss Boyd, after winning the first set comfortably, allowed Mrs Peacock to reach 4/0 before finally banking the second set at 8/6. A large crowd watched the play on the second day, and gave a warm ovation to the Australians for their well-earned and, to the South Africans, unexpected victory.

Returning to Pretoria, where the ladies were taken for an aeroplane flight, the visitors scored a further win, although Miss Boyd did not compete in the singles. Visits to diamond mines and other forms of entertainment in this delightful city occupied the players in their spare time. On their return to Johannesburg they were invited to a farewell dinner and theatre party by the Johannesburg officials.

Kimberley was the next place to be visited, where the fifth match, against Griqualand West, was staged. Miss Tapscott was again on the opposing side and, judging by her fine fight against Miss Boyd, the Australian were not sorry this pertinacious player had not been included in the Test team the previous week. Miss Rogers, another Kimberley player, was expected to harass Miss Akhurst but, through nervousness, could only collect two games. More visits to mines provided interesting education, and after only one day’s stay the overnight journey to Capetown for the final match in South Africa was begun.

Here the interest was not quite so keen nor the audience so large as in previous centres, for the French team had visited the town two days earlier. Miss A de Smidt drove vigorously in the first set against Miss Boyd, but lack of experience prevented her turning this pace to advantage. At Capetown, as in all other towns, the visitors received unbounded hospitality, and they left many friends behind them when they set sail on April 24 for their Mecca -London.

After only three days on land a hurried departure was made for Paris, in order to compete in the French Championships. Although unsuccessful in winning any of the titles, much valuable experience was gained in meeting new and varied opponents.

Gipsy and Beckenham tournaments provided the teams next practice ground, but wet weather had made the courts particularly “dead”, a heavy factor against the invaders, accustomed to the sun-baked surfaces of Australia. Miss Boyd and Miss Akhurst felt this handicap when they met Miss Ryan, whose chops, drawing guile from the heavy turf, worried them both considerably. The defeat of these two players in the doubles at Gipsy was balanced by an Australian success in the mixed doubles, when EF Moon and Miss Akhurst defeated LA Godfree and Miss Ryan (Andrew Tas note: score of final was 63 57 86) . Mrs O’Hara Wood raised Australian stock by capturing a set from Miss Ryan at Beckenham, and Miss Akhurst again figured in the mixed doubles final with PDB Spence.

WIMBLEDON – AND AFTER

If no championship titles from Wimbledon went overseas to Australia, the Dominion flag was worthily upheld by Miss Akhurst, who shared with Miss Ryan the honour of being the only competitor to reach three semi-finals. In the singles Miss Akhurst had victories over Miss Jacobs, who led 6/5 in the final set, and Miss Bennett. Against the latter, Miss Akhurst, new to the centre court, lost the first set easily. Once confidence came, her ground strokes, well co-ordinated, were sound enough to unsteady and ultimately to beat her opponent.

In the doubles, paired with Miss Boyd, Miss Akhurst reached the semi-final at the expense of Miss Anderson and Miss Jacobs, in spite of a 4/0 lead against her in the third set. In the mixed, partnered by J. Crawford, Miss Akhurst looked to have secured a commanding lead in the final, when her side led 5/3 and 40/15 in the first set. A costly double fault from Crawford, who did not concentrate enough on the vital points, and the chance was lost.

Miss Bickerton, having beaten Mrs. Mallory in the second round, achieved fame on her first apperance on the centre court before a large crowd by carrying Senorita de Alvarez to 9/7 in the first set. She led 4/1 in the second, but then the Spanish girl’s brilliance pierced her steady defence. Hawkes and Miss Boyd held Hunter and Miss Wills in a close three-set match, Miss Boyd showing a steady hand when her side were 0/4 down in the second set.

After Wimbledon, Bournemouth! Meeting England on courts more akin to the hard Australian surface than any previous courts, the team faced their task confidently, albeit the British side, with the exception of Miss Goldsack, had carried off the Wightman Cup a few weeks earlier. Miss Akhurst was again the heroine of her team. She defeated Miss Bennett and Mrs Watson without the loss of a set. The issue was decided when Mrs O’Hara Wood and Miss Bickerton, sounder in combination, defeated Miss Harvey and Miss Goldsack in two sets. Australia eventually won the contest by four matches to three.

A CONTINENTAL INVASION

The following week saw the start of the long Continental tour, in which the team had a series of victories, culminating with a close win over France at Deauville. At Knocke, against Belgium, the visitors lost only three sets of the twenty-five contested. Mlle Sigart showed most promising form, which should carry her to the front rank of European tennis.

At Cologne on August 4 and 5 the German opposition was more threatening. The slow courts were inimical to the fast play of the Australians, who found, after a few games, that their best policy was to keep the ball in play and wait for their opponent to make the mistake. The art of sliding across the court to conserve energy after a running stroke was also exploited for the first time, so that the visitors were playing under rather novel conditions. Miss Akhurst and Miss Boyd both went down to Frl Aussem, playing on her home courts. The only other German victory was scored by Frau Schomburgh, who beat Miss Bickerton. The only rain encountered during the whole of the European tour fell during this match, which affected the attendance.

Hamburg, for the German championships, was the next place of call. The team was in fine form. Miss Akhurst won the singles championship with victories over Miss Boyd and Frl Aussem, the holder. Miss Akhurst and Miss Boyd won the ladies’ doubles, and, with EF Moon, Miss Akhurst was runner-up in the mixed doubles. Incidentally, the mens doubles championship went to an Australian pair, RO Cummings and EF Moon of Queensland.

Two nights’ travel, via Berlin and Prague, brought the team to Budapest. Here the players were warmly welcomed by the Hungarian officials, who showed them the chief sights of the beautiful city on the banks of the Danube. Here, too, the opposition was weak, the Australians winning every match. Mixed doubles, in which Miss Boyd and Miss Akhurst were partnered respectively by B von Kehrling and Der Peteri, were included in the programme.

Anxious to see Switzerland, some of the players made a slight detour via Vienna, to Lucerne and Interlaken, before rejoining forces at Mayence for the river trip along the Rhine to Cologne. An early start was made the next day for Scheveningen, where the Dutch match was to take place. Continual travelling had weakened the Australian forces, and it was therefore not surprising that Mlle Bouman should defeat Miss Akhurst in two sets. Indeed, the Dutch champion won the first set in a few minutes. The home team scored a further success when Mlle Bouman and Mlle Couquerque defeated Mrs O’Hara Wood and Miss Bickerton after three sets.

A misunderstanding having arisen over the date of the match against France, a hurried departure, involving the team in another day and a half’s travelling, was necessary to keep the appointment at Deauville. However, only two matches were staged, out of courtesy to the visitors, on the first day.

Mme Lafaurie was perhaps the best player of a very even team representing France; her backhand, stroke was especially effective. Miss Akhurst was too accurate for Mme Desloges. France levelled the singles when Mme Bordes beat Mrs O’Hara Wood and Mme Mathieu defeated Miss Bickerton. A close finish was spoiled by the collapse of Mme Lafaurie and Mme Desloges in the final set of their match against Miss Boyd and Miss Akhurst, the French pair failing to win a game.

After victory was already secured, Mrs O’Hara Wood and Miss Bickerton scored a close win over Mme Bordes and Mlle Bourgeois, which brought the Australian total score to five matches to three. The umpiring and lining in some of the matches left much to be desired. On one occasion a small boy, who had scarcely had time to learn the rudiments of the game, occupied an important position on the baseline.

The last match was against Ireland at Dublin, where once again the home team seemed a little overawed by their opponents’ reputation. Of the sixteen sets contested, Australia only lost two. Mrs O’Hara Wood lost a set to Miss M French, and Miss Boyd and Miss Akhurst dropped the first set to Mrs Blair White and Miss Fleming. Here for the third time the Australians scored a victory without the loss of a match.

Their tour concluded, the team left in a very happy frame of mind for their long return journey. The total number of international contests won during the tour amounted to thirteen. Of these 76 matches, 159 sets and 1,159 games went to Australia, against the 16 matches, 46 sets and 691 games of their opponents. The total result of the eight Test matches played, included in the above, was 8 wins, 51 matches, 108 sets and 838 games, against 15 matches, 43 sets and 548 games.

The one regret of the Australians during their varied tour was they were not able to pit their strength against the representatives of the United States who competed in the Wightman Cup contest. The majority of the players were, it is understood, willing to play, but unless the American team was fully representative the Australians felt little honour would be attached to the victory if success had come their way.

The members of the team will long remember the many social functions to which they were invited in London. Chief among these was the International Club’s annual dinner and dance at the Royal Automobile Club, followed on Sunday by the I.C. Oversea Reception at Roehampton, and the dinner given by the Lawn Tennis Association on the concluding Saturday of the Championships at Wimbledon. Nor must we forget the little dinner at the House of Commons, when the Australian team were personally conducted over the two Houses by the Lord Chancellor and other M.P.’s, or the farewell dinner and theatre party, at which Lord D’Abernon was present, on the eve of their departure.