ASM
- Born
- 14 October 1918
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - Occupation
- Tennis player and Servicewoman
- Alternative Names
- Coyne, Thelma (maiden name)
Summary
The career of Australian tennis player Thelma Coyne Long spanned more than 20 years. The winner of the Australian Women's Singles title in 1952 and 1954 (aged 35 years) she was also runner-up in 1951, 1955 and 1956. From 1936 until 1940, Thelma Coyne and Nancye Wynne (later Bolton) were Australian Women's Doubles Champions. During the war years of 1941 to 1945, no competition was held for major Australian tournaments and Long enlisted in the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS). Following her discharge from the AWAS Long and Nancye Wynne Bolton continued their tennis careers. They won the Australian Doubles 1947-1949 and 1951-1952. Long then joined with Mary Hawton to win the doubles championship in 1956 and 1958 - 20 years after she won the National Junior Singles Championship aged 16. The pair were also runners-up for the Wimbledon Women's Doubles title in 1957. Long was winner of the Australian Mixed Doubles 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955 and the French Mixed Doubles in 1956.
On 30 August 2000 Long was awarded the Australian Sports Medal and inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 2002.
A life member of the Australian Women's Army Association (New South Wales) Long is actively involved in the archiving of the association records. In October 2002 she became a participant of the Australian Women in War Project working group.
