ITF honours Evonne Goolagong Cawley with top gong at Paris awards night

The Australian legend has been awarded one of the most prestigious honours in tennis for her ongoing work off the court.

Evonne Goolagong Cawley with her Companion of the Order of Australia medal at the Australian Open this year. Picture: Michael Klein

Australian legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley has been awarded one of the most prestigious honours in tennis for her ongoing work off the court following her celebrated career.

The 66-year-old was lauded for her distinguished life at an International Tennis Federation function in Paris that also saw current champions Rafael Nadal and Garbine Muguruza receive awards.

The ITF presented the 1971 French Open champion with the Philippe Chatrier Award, its highest accolade, during the Champions Dinner at the Pavillon Cambon Capucines.

Goolagong Cawley, who claimed her sole title at Roland Garros aged 19 and followed up with a maiden triumph at Wimbledon, was recognised for her work in increasing female participation in sport and for her work with indigenous Australians.

ITF president David Haggerty said Goolagong Cawley’s work following a distinguished career that garnered seven grand slam singles titles was deserving of acknowledgment on a global stage.

“The ITF is delighted to recognise Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s exceptional achievements as a player and the lasting legacy she has left for so many people in the years since,” he said.

“Not only is she a legendary seven-time grand slam singles winner, she is also a champion of diversity who has worked tirelessly in her home country to improve the lives of many through the sport we all love.”

A winner of 92 singles titles during her career, Goolagong Cawley has run a national development camp for more than a decade which uses tennis to promote better health, education and ­employment.

Through her foundation, she has set up a government-funded program called Dream, Believe, Learn, Achieve which gives indigenous children an opportunity to play tennis and provides pathways to state development squads.

“What could be better than winning the highest award of tennis? Coolagong Cawley asked. “It’s just blown my mind, actually. It’s fantastic.”

In January Coolagong Cawley was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia.

Nadal and Muguruza were anointed the best singles players of 2017 at the dinner.

The Spaniard claimed the French Open for an astounding 10th time en route to regaining the world’s top ranking.

The ITF deemed this a superior effort to that of a resurgent Roger Federer, who claimed his first grand slam titles in five years when successful at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Muguruza claimed her second grand slam title when triumphant at Wimbledon and reached the world’s top ranking in September.

Goolagong Cawley is not the only Australian legend to be honoured in Paris this week.

Ken Rosewall will play a lead role in this weekend’s finals festivities on Philippe Chatrier Stadium at Roland Garros with the French Tennis Federation hailing his triumph in Paris 50 years ago.

The 83-year-old, who defeated Rod Laver in the final, recently told The Australian of his friendship with Chatrier, a player who went on to become one of the sport’s leading administrators.