Sir Brookes

Sir Norman Everard Brookes was the first president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia. He maintained the position for 28 years. His efforts, services and contribution to tennis were recognized in 1939 when he was given the knight’s award. The trophy of Norman Brookes Challenge Cup was named to his honour and is presented to the awardees and winners of Australian Open men’s singles. In 1977 he was elected and inducted to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Born on November 14, 1877 in Melbourne, Victoria and died on September 28, 1968 in South Yara, Brookes was the son of William Brookes who was made rich because of gold mining in Bendigo area. Norman joined a Melbourne Grammar School for his private education. He worked as a clerk at a paper mill and was promoted to become a member of the board where his father was the elected managing director. He is married to Mabel Balcombe Emmerton, daughter of solicitor Harry Emmerton on April 19, 1911 at the St. Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne. The doting parents were blessed with three daughters.

During his teen age years, Brookes constantly played and practiced at a private court in his family mansion at Queens Road, Melbourne. Sometimes he played at the Lorne St. Courts where he could study the styles and tactics of the best tennis players of his time.

In 1907 and 1914, Brookes won the Wimbledon Championships twice under the men’s singles category. He also won the doubles title in 1907 against Anthony Wilding from New Zealand. He played at least 39 matches in the Davis Cup for Australia and New Zealand. Between 1905 and 1920, he was an active member of the Australian Davis Cup Team.

Brookes served as the commissioner of the British Red Cross in Egypt for the Australian team during the World War I and later on influenced the creation of the Kooyong tennis centre.