Tennis names day after Indigenous legend
The Australian Open’s “Indigenous Day” has been renamed Evonne Goolagong Cawley Day and will take place on Wednesday, January 21.
This annual celebration is a permanent fixture at the Australian Open to honor the legendary Wiradjuri tennis player’s achievements and showcase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture on a world stage.
What’s On for Evonne Goolagong Cawley Day:
- A traditional Welcome to Country ceremony.
- Performances from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance groups.
- Live music, including didgeridoo performances.
- First Nations art exhibitions and soundscapes around the precinct.
- Indigenous ballkids taking center stage on the courts.
- Opportunities to experience First Nations food and culture.
Two of the most prominent Indigenous Australian players in the Australian Open are the legendary Evonne Goolagong Cawley and the recently retired Ash Barty.
Trailblazers and Champions
Evonne Goolagong Cawley:
A proud Wiradjuri woman, she was the first Indigenous Australian to achieve international success in tennis. She won the Australian Open singles title four times (1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 [Dec edition]) and a total of seven Grand Slam singles titles in her career.
Ash Barty:
A proud Ngarigo woman, Barty was a three-time Grand Slam singles champion and the second Indigenous Australian woman to win the Australian Open singles title, which she achieved in 2022. She also reached the world No. 1 ranking in singles, a feat only achieved by one other Australian woman, Goolagong Cawley. Barty retired at the peak of her career in 2022.
- The Australian Open main draw runs from Sunday, January 18 to Sunday, February 1 2026, at Melbourne Park.
