Vale Beryl Collier, an Australian Tennis Hall of Fame member

Four-time Grand Slam champion Beryl Collier (nee Penrose) is remembered as a quiet achiever and an exceptional player.


Thursday 24 June 2021
tennis.com.au
Australia
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 25:  Beryl Penrose Collier is inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame on day 10 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia.  (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Australian tennis is mourning the passing of Beryl Collier (nee Penrose).

At 90 years old, she had been the oldest surviving Australian women's singles champion.

Collier, who was born in Sydney in 1930, completed a clean sweep of the Australian Championships in 1955. As well as claiming the singles title, she also won the women's doubles title with Mary Hawton (nee Bevis) and shared the mixed doubles title with Neale Fraser.

A French and Wimbledon singles quarterfinalist in 1955, Collier was one of the world's best players during the mid-1950s.

Collier competed in seven Grand Slam finals during her career, winning four (also sharing the Australian doubles championships with Hawton in 1954).


A trailblazer in a time when opportunities were limited for women, Collier was the ultimate quiet achiever and was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 2017.

Collier's grandson, world No.88 James Duckworth, has followed in her footsteps in pursuing a tennis career.

The Tennis family extends our condolences to Collier's loved ones at this time.