| Full name | Helen Gourlay Cawley |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  Australia |
| Born | (1946-12-23)23 December 1946 (age 78) Launceston, Australia |
| Height | 168 cm (5 ft 6 in)[1] |
| Retired | 1978 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Singles | |
| Career record | no value |
| Highest ranking | No. 12 (1971) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1977Dec) |
| French Open | F (1971) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (1968, 1972, 1977) |
| US Open | QF (1970) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | no value |
| Career titles | 20 |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1972, 1976, 1977, 1977) |
| French Open | F (1971, 1977) |
| Wimbledon | W (1977) |
| US Open | QF (1971, 1974) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (1967) |
| French Open | SF (1966) |
| Wimbledon | SF (1970, 1974) |
| US Open | QF (1971) |
Helen Gourlay Cawley (néeGourlay; born 23 December 1946) is a retiredtennis player from Australia.
Helen Gourlay was born inLaunceston, Tasmania, Australia. She married Richard Leon Cawley in January 1977, and married William Timothy Cape in October 1986.
Gourlay reached the singles final of twoGrand Slam tournaments, losing the 1971French Open and the December 1977Australian Open to countrywomanEvonne Goolagong.[2]
An operation on her elbow sidelined her for 10 months in 1973.[3]
In women's doubles, Gourlay was a four-time winner of theAustralian Open (1972, 1976, 1977 (January), 1977 (December)). She wonWimbledon in 1977 partneringJoAnne Russell and was the runner-up there in 1974 withKaren Krantzcke. Gourlay was twice the runner-up at the French Open in 1971 with Kerry Harris and 1977 with Rayni Fox. In 1977, Gourlay played in four of the five Grand Slam Women's Doubles finals (the Australian Open was contested twice), only failing to reach the US Open final, where she lost in thesecond round with JoAnne Russell.
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1971 | French Open | Clay | Evonne Goolagong | 3–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 1977 | Australian Open (Dec) | Grass | Evonne Goolagong | 3–6, 0–6 |
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1971 | French Open | Clay | Kerry Harris |  Françoise DürrGail Chanfreau | 4–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 1972 | Australian Open | Grass | Kerry Harris | Patricia ColemanKaren Krantzcke | 6–0, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1974 | Wimbledon | Grass | Karen Krantzcke | Evonne Goolagong Peggy Michel | 6–2, 4–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 1976 | Australian Open | Grass | Evonne Goolagong |  Renáta TomanováLesley Turner Bowrey | 8–1 |
| Win | 1977(Jan) | Australian Open | Grass | Dianne Fromholtz | Kerry Melville ReidBetsy Nagelsen | 5–7, 6–1, 7–5 |
| Loss | 1977 | French Open | Clay | Rayni Fox | Regina MaršíkováPam Teeguarden | 7–5, 4–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 1977 | Wimbledon | Grass | JoAnne Russell | Martina Navratilova Betty Stöve | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Win | 1977(Dec) | Australian Open | Grass | Evonne Goolagong | Mona Guerrant Kerry Melville Reid | Shared |
Note: Evonne Goolagong occasionally is credited incorrectly with winning the 1977 Ladies Doubles event at Wimbledon, due to the confusion regarding the married names of both Goolagong and her compatriot Gourlay who took the trophy. Both women were listed in tournaments as Mrs. R. Cawley (Goolagong was Mrs. R.A. Cawley and Gourlay was Mrs. R.L. Cawley). Goolagong did not participate at Wimbledon 1977.
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
| Tournament | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | Career SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | QF | 3R | 3R | 2R | 1R | QF | A | QF | SF | A | 2R | 2R | SF | SF | F | A | A | 1R | 0 / 14 |
| France | A | A | 1R | 3R | 3R | 2R | 1R | F | 4R | A | A | A | A | 3R | A | A | A | 0 / 8 | |
| Wimbledon | A | A | 2R | 1R | 4R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 4R | 1R | 3R | 2R | A | 4R | 2R | A | A | 0 / 11 | |
| United States | A | A | A | A | A | A | QF | 2R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 3R | 2R | A | A | A | 0 / 8 | |
| SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 5 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 41 | |
Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
Gourlay was coached by Brian Hudson for over 10 years. She lived with Hudson, his wife Beryl and their children for three years while he coached her for free at his Granville (Sydney) tennis courts (1963-1965). Gourlay and Hudson played mixed doubles at White City (1968) and Wimbledon (1972). Gourlay also was coached by Hudson at his Terranora court, leading into many international events, including Grand Slams. Hudson coached Gourlay in the1977 Australian Open, in which Gourlay defeated Sue Barker in the semifinals.
Gourlay was one of the inaugural coaches of theAustralian Institute of Sport tennis program when it was established in Canberra in 1981.[4] Gourlay left the program in 1986.
In 1987, she was inducted into the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame, and in 2000, she received theAustralian Sports Medal.[4]
