New York, Sept 12: Evonne Goolagong Cawley, the last Australian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title, didn't wait long to congratulate the next, texting Sam Stosur moments after her U.S. Open win to say: “Twinkletoes, you finally have got what you deserved.”
Goolagong Cawley, who won her second Wimbledon title in 1980, was in Australia's capital city of Canberra on Monday morning with 100 Aboriginal work experience students.
A television was brought into a hotel meeting room so Goolagong Cawley could watch the last part of Stosur's 6-2, 6-3 win over Serena Williams, which ended the 31-year drought for Australian women at tennis majors.
“I couldn't be more delighted, it's been a great morning, the best in Australia for years,” Goolagong Cawley, who first selected Stosur on an Australiain Fed Cup team 10 years ago, told The Associated Press.
“And a great week, really, with Ashleigh Barty getting through to the junior semifinals there.”
Barty, who won the junior title at Wimbledon this year, is a former member of Goolagong's Aboriginal tennis program in Australia.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard also congratulated Stosur.
“She has shown great determination and skill to win the U.S. Open and everyone involved with tennis in Australia will be celebrating with her,” Gillard said in a statement.
“This is a great achievement and shows the future of Australian tennis is on the rise,” she said, citing Barty and fellow Wimbledon junior champion Luke Saville. AP
