Southeast mourns passing of 96-year-old Maroubra tennis great Thelma Coyne Long

Maroubra tennis legend Thelma Coyne Long, once the womens world No.7, has passed away at the age of 96.

Thelma Coyne Long 94 of Maroubra has been inducted into The International Tennis Hall of Fame.

MAROUBRA tennis legend Thelma Coyne Long passed away at the age of 96 last Monday morning.

Inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2013, the women’s world No.7 in 1952 died in Narrabeen, near Sydney.

Coyne Long was inducted into The International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2013.

Over a playing career from the mid-1930s to the late ’50s Coyne Long won 19 grand slam titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

Coyne Long’s tennis career was interrupted when she joined the army as a transport driver in WWII.

MAROUBRA’S THELMA COYNE LONG INDUCTED INTO INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME

She was awarded the Australian War Medal and Australian Service Medal for her commitment to service during the war.

19-time major champion & Class of 2013 Hall of Famer Thelma Coyne Long passed away peacefully this week at age 96. http://t.co/ZWu5MH2bBE

— Tennis Hall of Fame (@TennisHalloFame) April 15, 2015

She won two major championships in singles, 12 in doubles and five in mixed doubles.

In 1952 at the tournament now known as the Australian Open she won the singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles.

At the age of 35 she became the oldest Australian women’s singles champion.

Coyne Long was world number 7th in womens in 1952.

On Monday the international tennis community and southeast locals took to social media to honour Coyne Long.

“It is with great sadness we mourn the loss of Australian tennis legend and Tennis Australia inductee Thlema Coyne Long,” Tennis Australia tweeted.

It is with great sadness we mourn the loss of Australian #tennis legend and Tennis Australia Hall of Fame inductee Thelma (Coyne) Long.

— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) April 14, 2015

“Vale Thelma Coyne Long, tennis great, Maroubra local and 19 grand slam winner,” Randwick Council tweeted.

In an interview with the Southern Courier after becoming a member of the Hall of Fame, Coyne Long said it “was a bit tougher to be a good tennis player back then”.

“Nowadays they make millions for running around in their undies but they are definitely fitter and faster than players were in my era,” she said.

Her funeral was held on Monday.