Six times Australian Champion, Nancye Wynne Bolton was a powerhouse in Australian tennis from the mid 1930’s to early 1950’s.
Inducted into the International Hall of Fame and of course into Australia’s tennis hall of fame with other greats such as Laver, she was an inspiration not only to her own generation, but to those who followed in the late 50′ and 1960’s.
Nancye was born in Melbourne on December 2nd 1916. Her first foray into tennis began at aged 10 on a bitumen court located on the roof of an office block in the city where a coach by the name of Leo Guiney.
In 1933 as a very tall 5’10” sixteen year old she won the Victorian schoolgirl tennis championships which was followed by a couple of seasons playing A grade pennant for St Kilda. In 1936 she entered the Australian championships and made the final against previous winner, Joan Hartigan, losing 6-4, 6-4. In doubles she played with Thelma Coyne from NSW, who like Nancye had been winning state events, and surprisingly at 18 and 17 years old respectively won the event.
In singles, Nancye lost only one other match over the next 12 months. Overall, Nancye won six Australian singles titles and when you consider that WW2 interrupted tournament play for 5 years, you can only imagine what the record books may have been like had play been continuous.
In doubles, Nancey and Thelma formed a lifelong friendship which saw them take out the Australian doubles title 10 successive times and with another partner Thelma won an 11th. In mixed doubles she played with Colin Long (pic) and they went onto win 4 successive Australian titles together.
With continuing good form, Nancye defeated Thelma in the 1937 semi final in a match that up to that point had them head to head 2-2. The match was a see sawing event but the win 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 was exciting tennis and Nancye went on to win the final against Westacott 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, another tight match which showed the highly competitive level of tennis within the women’s ranks. Nancye was the #1 ranked player in 1937 and please note the section on mens and womens player rankings in a different section.
In 1938, once again the LTAA was requested to send a Women’s team overseas and once again, as in 1925 they declined and even still more strangely, since the LTAA sanctioned the 1928 Women’s team which created a massive amount of interest along with a world class performance against all comers with only a major defeat at the hands of the Americans. After much consternation and a generous expenses allowance paid for by the overseas associations who wanted the Australians, did the LTAA permit the tour to proceed with Nancye, Nell Hopman, Thelma Coyne and Dot Stevenson.
1938 Womens Tennis Team for Overseas Tour
L-R Nell Hopman, Dot Stevenson, Thelma Coyne, Nancye Bolton
In 1947 Nancye went on another tour, but rather than give you to much detail in this article, we would like to assist Pam Stockley, Nancye’s daughter, with the sale of a magnificent book which covers Nancye’s tennis career and includes an excellent transcription of Nancye’s 1947 tour diary. The book is extremely well written with heaps of photos and does take the reader back to the 1940’s when the “team” and friendships were in full swing. There are only 196 copies left from a 400 limited run.
Please click this link to see a video clip of Nancye’s playing style CLICK HERE
Please contact Pam on Australia 61 3 9872 5486 or email pstockle at bigpond.net.au
These Challenge Cup trophies in silver were presented
