Joan Winifred Austin (later ''Lycett'', 23 January 1903 – 2 April 1998) was a British female

tennis Tennis is a racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball ...

player who was also known as one of "The Babes".

Early life

23 January 1903, Austin was born in London, England. Austin's brother was Bunny Austin, a Wimbledon finalist. Austin attended Winchester School for Girls. Austin was taught tennis by her father.

Career

Austin won the singles title at the Junior Championships of Great Britain in 1920 and 1921. Partnering with

Evelyn Colyer Evelyn Lucy Colyer (later Munro, 16 August 1902 – 4 November 1930) was a female tennis player from Great Britain. With Joan Austin, sister of Bunny Austin, Colyer played doubles in the 1923 Wimbledon final against Suzanne Lenglen and Elizabe ...

she played doubles in the 1923 Wimbledon tournament and reached the final against Suzanne Lenglen and

Elizabeth Ryan Elizabeth Montague Ryan (February 5, 1892 – July 6, 1979) was an American tennis player who was born in Anaheim, California, but lived most of her adult life in the United Kingdom. Ryan won 26 Grand Slam titles, 19 in women's doubles and mi ...

but lost in straight sets. Colyer and Austin were known in the British press as "The Babes." Between 1923 and 1932 she competed in nine editions of the

Wimbledon Championships The Wimbledon Championships, commonly known simply as Wimbledon, is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and is widely regarded as the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London, since 1877 and is pla ...

. Her best singles result was reaching the third round in 1923, 1927 and 1929. In June 1925 Austin and her husband teamed up in the mixed doubles event at Wimbledon and reached the semifinal which they lost in three sets to Suzanne Lenglen and

Jean Borotra Jean Laurent Robert Borotra (, ; 13 August 1898 – 17 July 1994) was a French tennis champion. He was one of the " Four Musketeers" from his country who dominated tennis in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Borotra was imprisoned in Itter Castle ...

. In November 1934 Austin became a professional tennis coach.

Personal life

12 February 1925, Austin married

Randolph Lycett Randolph Lycett (27 August 1886 – 9 February 1935) was a British tennis player. Lycett is primarily known for his success in doubles, winning 5 men's doubles and 3 mixed doubles slams. He was also the runner-up at the 1922 Wimbledon men's si ...

, a tennis player. In August 1926, Austin had a daughter.

Grand Slam finals

Doubles: (1 runners-up)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Austin, Joan 1903 births 1998 deaths British female tennis players English female tennis players Tennis people from Greater London