Evonne Goolagong

As the 1970s wound to a close, Evonne's major victories seemed to be disappearing. Many critics of her game cited her two weakest aspects—a poor forehand volley and her "walkabouts" (the Aboriginal term Goolagong herself used to describe her wandering on the court)—as reasons she was losing her control of the game. In spite of her tenacious play, some people simply thought that her desire to achieve another Grand Slam victory had dissipated.

But in 1980, Goolagong returned to Wimbledon, this time as a wife and mother (she had married Roger Cawley of Britian a few years earlier), and stunned the crowd, picking off great player after great player as she climbed her way into the finals against Chris Evert to win the only Wimbledon singles finals round to end in a tie-breaker. Goolagong was also the first mother to win the title in 66 years. When she chose to retire from the world of professional tennis in 1983, Goolagong had 285 victories and only 72 losses, along with 19 career singles titles. She also left with nearly $1.5 million in prize money.