She reached the final at Wimbledon in 1968, where she lost to Billie Jean King in two tight sets after defeating second-seeded Margaret Court in the quarterfinal and third-seeded Nancy Richey in the semifinal.

She was made a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2019 Australia Day Honours for "significant service to tennis as a player, to equality for women in sport, and to sporting foundations". Her invite to the prestigious sporting event came on the back of blood, sweat and tears and a great love of tennis.

Only fitting

With her tennis background and her close association with Wimbledon Judy was invited back this year to sit in the Royal Box and watch the current crop of champions do their thing. Maureen accompanied Judy and the pair soaked up every moment of it.

From the best seats in the house (Catherine, Princess of Wales was their neighbour) the two watched the fairy tale Women’s Final where Czech player Marketa Vondrousova beat Ons Jabeur to become the first unseeded player to win the Wimbledon women's singles title.

If that wasn’t enough the gals later met Men’s final winner Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon Restaurant and cosied up to the triumphant Spaniard for a photo. Carlos had earlier defeated four-time defending champion Novak Djokovic in the final.

Maureen expanded on the story for Newsport “Whilst we were sitting there in walked Carlos Alcaraz and his family, so I sang out and congratulated him on his win and invited him to our table to meet a woman who has won 11 Grand Slams, so over he came and the three of us just talked and talked” she said.

Globe trotters

Judy and Maureen have now left London for a hectic five weeks in America with Judy being honoured by the International Hall of Fame, in Newport Rhode Island and then it’s on to New York to receive another gong for being involved in setting up the Women’s Tennis Association. The duo is expected back in Port Douglas in early September.