On Friday night at the 2026 Tennis West Awards Night presented by Theme Group, WA tennis icons Siobhan Drake-Brockman and Max Bonner were inducted into the Tennis West Hall of Champions at Optus Stadium.
The Hall of Champions induction was presented by Chair of the Tennis West Hall of Champions Committee, Pam Brand.
Siobhan Drake-Brockman grew up on her family farm in Donnybrook with her two older sisters, Tracey and Marni, both State ranked players who represented WA in numerous state teams. Their mother, Jan Longson was a top ranked player in WA in her own right and a Wilson Cup representative (who beat Billie Jean King (Moffitt) at RKPTC in the 1970s).
At the age of 16, Siobhan defeated world No. 61 Rachel McQuillan to win a $25,000 ITF tournament in Port Pirie in 1994.
She made her WTA main draw debut at the Tasmanian International, in 1995. In the same year, she won the Australian Junior Girls Singles title.
Siobhan competed in the main draw of the Australian Open Championships for from 1995 – 1998 making the second round in 1995 and 1996. She also played qualifying rounds of Wimbledon for four years, qualifying rounds of the US Open and the French Championships in 1995, 1997 and 1998.
She achieved her highest singles world ranking of 109 in 1997 and a junior singles world ranking of 2 in 1995.
After five years on the WTA circuit, Siobhan retired from international tennis, but continued to play local state tournaments. She was ranked No. 1 in Western Australia from 1995 to 1998, winning the WA State Open in 1997, 1999 and 2001 and the WA State Closed in 1999 and 2000. Siobhan won Tennis West Player of the year in 2001.
Siobhan distinguished herself as an ornament to the game, consistently demonstrating an eagerness to learn from others. Her poise and exemplary demeanour on the court set her apart throughout her career.
Upon retiring from the international circuit in 1998, Siobhan chose to focus on academic pursuits, successfully attaining a Communications and Law Degree. She is a former board member of Tennis West and the current Vice President of Nedlands Tennis Club.
Max Bonner was born in Western Australia and grew up learning his craft in Perth. He began playing tennis at an early age, as his parents were told to make sure he went outside for health reasons.
He was Singles champion of Western Australia in 1941. He held the State’s No. 1 Men’s Singles ranking in 1939 and 1940 and was also State Men’s Doubles champion from 1937 to 1940.
In the early 1940s, he moved to Victoria. In 1940, aged 23, Max became a Sergeant in the R.A.A.F. during World War II. After serving in Darwin raids, he was discharged on medical grounds.
Max played the Australian Championships 9 times, from 1936 to 1940 and from 1946 to 1949. In 1946, he reached the Singles Quarter Finals and had the best win of his career against former Australian champion Jack Crawford. The match reportedly “contained many long and gruelling baseline rallies and in the end Bonner wore out his older opponent”. He also reached the Doubles Quarter Finals in 1946 and 1948.
In 1946 Max was ranked equal 10th in Australia with Frank Sedgman. He was a popular player and very agile around the court. Max’s playing career was interrupted by World War II and he turned to coaching in 1949, after which he was not eligible to play competitions due to his “professional” status.
In the 1960s, during the years prior to the Amateur Tennis Associations accepting Pro Tennis players in tournaments, Max organised and promoted events in WA for the Jack Kramer Troupe which included the world’s best players at that time such as, Frank Sedgman, Ken Rosewall, Lew Hoad, Rod Laver, Earl Bucholz and Pancho Gonzales.
Max was an excellent tennis coach and highly regarded by the Western Australian tennis community. He was club coach at Royal King’s Park Tennis Club and coach of Wilson and Linton Cup teams for many years. Max died in Perth in 1996 aged 78.
Full wrap of the awards night including full list of award winners, Tennis Seniors WA Hall of Fame inductions and photos will be announced and released this week.
Tennis West sincerely acknowledges and thanks our Presenting Partner, Theme Group, for their generous support of this year’s Tennis West Awards Night. We also extend our appreciation to our valued partners Streamer, Front Row Screens, Perth Audio Visual, KC Australia, Maxiblock, Kinetic, Current Electrical, Midland Trophies, Dunlop, Wise Wines, CBH Group, Healthway, the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport, Suss X Sports, and Waterdrop for their ongoing support and partnership.
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