Evonne Goolagong

Where Is She Now?

Since her retirement from the professional tour in 1983, Goolagong has remained in the public eye as an ambassador for the game of tennis, as well as being an advocate for her native people's rights. She works hard to bring the issues of race to the forefront. She has also been a consultant to the Australian Sports Commission's indigenous sports program, serving as an ambassador, and since 1997 has competed on the Virginia Slims Legends tennis tour.

Goolagong also works with Australia's Salvation Army as their spokesperson, recently signing over her Will to the organization as a way of urging others to do so as well (the money goes to help fight poverty, homelessness and hunger). Additionally, she consults with the company Herbal Creations in their development of an herbal tablet to help women through menopause. "I've always had an interest in natural herbs," she told the Melbourne Sunday Herald Sun, "and when I came back to Australia I wanted to learn more about my people and part of that was learning about natural herbs." Her mother suffered terribly through menopause, and due to the hormone heplacement therapy drugs, Goolagong's mother is now battling breast cancer, as well. It's something that Evonne Goolagong's determined to fight, just like she fought on the court.