8th May 2021 - Dorey-Gugeri Tournament
Christine Dorey
(extract from the Tennis West Hall of Champion Inductees)
With a world high WTA Singles ranking of 89 and WTA Doubles ranking of 39, Christine has been a member of the Fremantle Lawn Tennis Club since 1961. Playing as the No. 1 player for the club’s State League team she lead the team to claim the shield 11 times and was recognised with Life Membership in 2005.Ranked as the state’s No.1 player in 1970, 1972, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1985.
Christine toured internationally from 1973 to 1977, Playing all international Grand Slams events, competing at Wimbledon on five occasions Christine was a quarter finalist at the 1975 and 1976 Australian Open when she was the first woman to play three rounds of Qualifying to reach the main draw and then go on to reach the Semi Finals of the event. With an equally impressive Doubles career, Christine enjoyed a run to the round of 16 at Wimbledon in (1977) and semi finals appearance at the 1978 and 1979 Australian Open.
Throughout her professional playing career, Christine claimed a credible list of international titles with an equally impressive list of junior and senior titles across both local and national competitions.
Christine was inducted into the City of Fremantle Sporting Wall of Fame (2000) and presented with the Australian Sports Medal (2000) , and was an inaugural inductee into the City of Cockburn Sports Hall of fame in 2004.
Dorey - Gugeri Tournament
The tournament originally set up by Chris Dorey in 1983 was known as the ‘FLTC Christine Dorey Shield’’ which then evolved in 2019 into the Dorey-Gugeri Tournament 2021 named in commemoration of her childhood train Noel GugerI.
The video displays a history in photos of one of Fremantle Tennis Clubs most illustrious players, Christine Dorey, who since 1964 has and still is winning tournaments and competitions.
On May 8th 2021, she again sponsored her and Noel Gugeri’s tournament.
Noel Gugeri had an enormous influence on her and was one of the reasons she joined the club in 1961 at age 10 to be in his squad.
This years tournament was the first of many which was and will be held at the new centre and many familar faces from the past returned to compete including her sister Germaine Matison an accomplished player in her own right.
Background
Chris Dorey - FLTC’S most illustrious player
Most club members never knew Noel Gugeri, the only mention on internet was a story from the Sunday Times in 1951 when Noel spent the night on his 22ft launch stranded on a reef 4 miles from shore off Safety Bay. Obviously he survived the experience.
Interestingly, the article was just below a headline lamenting the behaviour of 18 yo Ken Rosewall, possibly Australia’s first “tennis brat”, in his win in the Australian Open singles the day before.
Noel was clearly a massive influence on Christine, which was of some significance for this club, as she went on to compete not only nationally but internationally and has also become an influential trainer in her own right.
With a world high WTA Singles ranking of 89 and WTA Doubles ranking of 39, Christine has been a member of the Fremantle Lawn Tennis Club since 1961. Playing as the No. 1 player for the club’s State League team she lead the team to claim the shield 11 times and was recognised with Life Membership in 2005.Ranked as the state’s No.1 player in 1970, 1972, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1985.
Christine toured internationally from 1973 to 1977, Playing all international Grand Slams events, competing at Wimbledon on five occasions Christine was a quarter finalist at the 1975 and 1976 Australian Open when she was the first woman to play three rounds of Qualifying to reach the main draw and then go on to reach the Semi Finals of the event. With an equally impressive Doubles career, Christine enjoyed a run to the round of 16 at Wimbledon in (1977) and semi finals appearance at the 1978 and 1979 Australian Open.
Throughout her professional playing career, Christine claimed a credible list of international titles with an equally impressive list of junior and senior titles across both local and national competitions.
Christine was inducted into the City of Fremantle Sporting Wall of Fame (2000) and presented with the Australian Sports Medal (2000) , and was an inaugural inductee into the City of Cockburn Sports Hall of fame in 2004.
Chris Dorey joined FLTC in 1961 at age 10, choosing FLTC because Noel was coaching a group of talented youngsters here.
She started playing pennants at age 12 and entered world stage in the 1970 @ Australian Open (AO) doubles, reaching the last 16.
Played AO doubles 1970-78: reaching 2 quarter finals and 2 semi-finals.
Played Wimbledon doubles 1973, 75-77: twice reaching the last 32, and twice the last 16.
Played French & US Open doubles 1977 reaching the quarterfinals in both events.
In singles, played AO every year 1972-78: reaching the last 32 & 64, quarter final, last 32 and semi-final (our first female qualifier to reach the semi-final of a Grand Slam tournament ).
Played Wimbledon singles 1974-77: on two occasions reaching the last 64.
French Open 1974 & 76, reaching the last 64 in both.
US Open 1977: reaching last 64.
Winner of WA Open doubles 1975 with Lesley Bowrey.
Through all of this Chris continued to play tennis at home, including flying back from tournament in NZ to play one round of pennants.
In all she played in 13 pennant finals at Fremantle, winning 11.
Took over club coach role at Freo in 1981 from Rob Casey, remained coach through till 2010.
In that time she coached a generation of Fremantle players, & her influence can be seen in many of Fremantle’s best players, in their ball control & court craft.
For those who haven’t seen Chris play, she is living proof that huge power is not needed to win at tennis. This lady who can barely see over the net & has never hit a ball hard in her life, nevertheless competed with the world’s best for many years – in fact in 2012 was still ranked #3 in doubles on the International Tennis Federations (ITF) Seniors Tour.
Apart from coaching Chris has served FLTC in many other ways, including being on Committee for about 21 years as Junior & Senior Pennants Coordinator, Tennis West delegate, Publicity Officer and won Best Club Member the pre-curser to Jasper Green award 1992 & 2001.
In recent years Chris has slowed down a bit, having 2 hip replacement couple of years ago nut still managed to lay waste to the opposition by winning both the Open & Over 55 Ladies Doubles in 2021 Club Championships with partner Viv McKellar.
Phil Bayley (2021)
