Evonne On Form (Press, 30 September 1977)

On 30 September 1977, Evonne Goolagong Cawley made a notable return to competitive tennis after giving birth to her daughter just four months prior. Competing in the women's semi-finals of the World Invitational Tennis Classic held in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Goolagong Cawley faced fellow Australian Kerry Melville-Reid and won the match with a score of 7-6, 6-3. This victory marked her impressive comeback, showcasing her strong court movement and net play. In the other semi-final match, British player Virginia Wade, the reigning Wimbledon champion, defeated Dianne Fromholu from Australia, securing her place in the final against Goolagong Cawley. The stakes were high in this event, which featured a prize pool of $522,000. In a separate tennis event taking place in Palm Harbour, Florida, the first round of a $35,000 women's tournament saw a surprising outcome when controversial transsexual athlete Renee Richards triumphed over the top seed, Rosie Casals, with a score of 6-4, 6-2. Additionally, famed player Billie Jean King, who was the second seed, overcame Helen Cawley from Australia after a challenging match that ended with scores of 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. These matches highlighted significant developments in the women's tennis scene, including Goolagong Cawley's successful return to the sport and the contentious presence of Richards, illustrating the evolving dynamics and narratives within the game in the late 1970s.

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