Daphne Akhurst

Daphne Akhurst

Daphne Akhurst Cozens (Daphne Jessie Akhurst; 22 April 1903, in Ashfield, New South Wales – 9 January 1933, in Sydney) was an Australian tennis player. According to Wallis Myers (Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail), she was ranked World No. 3 in 1928.

The second daughter of Oscar James Akhurst, a lithographer, and his wife Jessie Florence (née Smith), Daphne Akhurst won the women's singles title at the Australian Championships five times, in 1925, 1926, 1928, 1929, and 1930. She ranks third on the list of most women's singles titles at the Australian Championships, behind only Margaret Court with eleven titles and Nancye Wynne Bolton with six titles. She won the women's doubles title at the Australian Championships five times: in 1924 and 1925 with Sylvia Lance Harper, in 1928 with Esna Boyd Robertson, and in 1929 and 1931 with Louie Bickerton. She and Marjorie Cox were the runner-ups in 1926.

Akhurst won the mixed doubles title at the Australian Championships four times: in 1924 and 1925 with John Willard, in 1928 with Jean Borotra, and in 1929 with Gar Moon. She and Willard were the runner-ups in 1926. She and her partner Jack Crawford reached the mixed doubles final at Wimbledon in 1928, but lost to the team of Elizabeth Ryan/Patrick Spence, 7–5, 6–4.