- Entry type: Person
- Entry ID: AWE2212
Akhurst, Daphne Jessie
- Married name Cozens, Daphne Akhurst
- Born 22 April 1903, Ashfield, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Died 9 January 1933, Burwood Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Occupation Tennis player
Summary
A promising pianist in her school days, Daphne Akhurst attended the State Conservatorium of Music in New South Wales, becoming a music teacher and performer. While studying, she became an enthusiastic tennis player, winning the schoolgirls’ singles championship in 1917-20. In 1923 she won the County of Cumberland ladies’ singles, and two years later, the Australasian championships. She went on to win the Australasian championships a further four times. Akhurst travelled to the United Kingdom, where she competed at Wimbledon, reaching the singles and doubles semi-finals and the mixed doubles final (with Jack Crawford). Akhurst out-performed all of the Australian men in the competition and was ranked third in the world by Ayres’ Almanac.
Akhurst married Royston Stuckey Cozens, a tobacco manufacturer, in 1930, and retired from serious competition in 1931. The pair had one son. Akhurst died of an ectopic pregnancy in 1933.
The trophy for the women’s singles winner at the Australian Tennis Open is names in her honour.
Events
- 2006
Published resources
- Edited Book
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Site Exhibition
- She's Game: Women Making Australian Sporting History, Australian Women's Archives Project, 2007, http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/sg/sport-home.html
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Resource Section
- Akhurst, Daphne Jessie (1903 - 1933), Regan, Kerry, 2006, http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070028b.htm
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Resource
- Trove: Akhurst, Daphne Jessie (1903-1933), http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-707073