PLAYER PROFILE

Thelma Long

  • Born14 October 1918
  • Birth PlaceSydney, New South Wales
  • PlaysRight-handed
  • Playing StatusDeceased
  • Australian Tennis Hall Of Fame2002

Singles champion
Australian 1952, 1954

Doubles champion
Australian 1936-40, 1947-49, 1951-52, 1956, 1958

Mixed doubles champion
Australian 1951-52, 1954-55
French 1956

Thelma Long was the winner of 19 majors over a 22-year career. She was especially successful in doubles, capturing a record 12 Australian doubles titles. Long held the record as the oldest Australian women’s singles champion (she was aged 35 years and eight months in 1954 when she won her second Australian singles title) until 2017, when Serena Williams eclipsed her record. Long still holds the team record for the most Australian doubles titles (10) with Nancye Wynne Bolton. In 1960, Long became a coach and mentored many junior players in her home state of New South Wales. In 1985 Tennis NSW awarded Long life membership of the state association, and in 2000 she was awarded the Australian Sports medal.

Thelma Long in the news

News wrap: Aussies make the headlines
Nick Kyrgios celebrates a point en route to victory over Denis Kudla in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells; Getty Images
17 April, 2015

Some of the stories hitting headlines were the Aussies in Fed Cup action, Pat Rafter’s take on the healthy state of Australian tennis, our Junior Davis Cup and Fed Cup…
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Tennis legend Thelma Long passes away
Australia's Thelma Coyne Long competes against Maureen Connolly of the USA in the semifinal of the Women's Singles in the Surrey Championships at Surbiton, Surrey, UK on 29 May 1952; Douglas Miller/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
14 April, 2015

Australian tennis legend Thelma (Coyne) Long passed away at her home in Sydney on Tuesday, aged 96.
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Hingis, Coyne Long inducted into Hall of Fame
14 July, 2013

Martina Hingis and Australia's Thelma Coyne Long have been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
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Hingis, Long set for Hall of Fame
Martina Hingis of Switzerland in action during her first round Legends' doubles match at Australian Open 2013; Getty Images
5 March, 2013

Three-time Australian Open champion Martina Hingis will this year be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, as will Australian Thelma Coyne Long.
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