Who was Daphne Akhurst?
Daphne Akhurst was an Australian tennis champion who won the Australian women's singles title five times in the 1920s and 1930. The Australian Open women's singles trophy is named the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup in her honor.
Akhurst was born in Ashfield, Sydney, in 1903. She won the Australasian women's singles title in 1925, 1926, 1928, 1929 and 1930.
She also won several women's doubles and mixed doubles titles at the Australian championships, making her one of the most successful players of her era.
International success
In 1928, Akhurst reached the Wimbledon singles semifinals and the mixed doubles final, among the best results by an Australian woman of the time. She reached a world ranking of number three.
Akhurst was also a talented pianist and music teacher. She retired from tennis after marrying Roy Cozens in 1930.
She died in 1933 at the age of 29 due to complications of an ectopic pregnancy. The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup was first presented in 1934 and has been awarded to every women's singles champion at the Australian Open since then.
Did You Know?
The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup is presented on Rod Laver Arena after the women's singles final.