Australian icon Margaret Molesworth won the first ever Australian Open Women’s Singles title in 1922, defeating compatriot Esna Boyd in the final.
Molesworth repeated the feat in 1923, and in 1924, Sylvia Lance Harper won her only singles title at the event.
In 1925, one of the most iconic figures in Australian Open history won the tournament – Daphne Akhurst.
Akhurst, who went on to win five Australian Open Women’s Singles titles during her career, is one of the most successful players in Australian tennis history.
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In fact, she ranks fourth on the Australian all-time singles champion list behind Margaret Court, Nancye Wynne Bolton and Serena Williams.
The Australian Open Women’s Singles trophy is named after Daphne Akhurst
Daphne Akhurst sadly passed away in 1933 at the age of 29.
A year later, the Australian Open women’s singles trophy was renamed the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup in her honour.
Following Akhurst’s [picture below] untimely death in 1933, three-time Australian Open champion Joan Hartigan reflected on Akhurst’s personal and professional life.
In an obituary compiled by the Sun and recorded by The National Australian University, Hartigan said of Akhurst: “A marvellous friend, as well as a tennis player. Her death comes as a terrible shock.”
Akhurst’s landmark moment for Australia
In 1928, Akhurst became the first Australian woman to reach the world top 10 the same year, reaching world number three.
That year, she won her third Australian Open title, defeating Esna Boyd 7–5, 6–2 in the final.
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Akhurst’s name lives on to this day, and another tennis star will lift the trophy on January 31, when the 2026 Australian Open Women’s Singles final is contested.
Madison Keys was the last player to lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, doing so after defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the 2025 final.
Margaret Court, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, has lifted the trophy the most times of any player in women’s tennis history.
Court won 11 Australian Open titles between 1960 and 1973.
