Evonne Goolagong - Becoming A Tennis Star

Pulled out of one culture and thrust into another, Goolagong had some major adustments to make. Edwards was from a relatively affluent suburb of Sydney, and he encouraged Evonne to attend finishing school so that she could, according to Contemporary Authors, "learn elocution and poise." After finishing school, it was on to business college, where she learned secretarial skills in the event that her pro career did not pan out. Of course, her career in tennis did take off, and after winning several of the important Australian amateur championships, Goolagong left Australia at the age of nineteen to begin her first international tour in 1970, winning seven of the 21 tournaments she played in that year. She played Wimbledon as well, but was eliminated in the first round. The exposure to a venue such as Wimbledon, however, prepared her for the future.