Sporting Spotlight on Joyce Rogers
It’s Wednesday morning and I’m lucky enough to catch Joyce Rogers before she heads out to play tennis, something she has done for a large part of her 80 years. Today is not a tournament, it’s not a national cup or a world title (all of which she has won, many times over) it’s just another game out of the thousands she has played in her lifetime yet there is an excitement in her voice and I can tell she can’t wait to get out on the court. We should all be so lucky to find such a lifelong love that keeps us active and healthy. Here is an insight into true athlete’s journey.
What was it that first drew you to tennis?
My father used to play and when I was eight (my brother was eleven) dad gave us five shillings to buy two tennis rackets and that’s how we started, on the two courts behind the house, hitting up against the wall.
Have you played all your life?
I had a good young life playing tennis, catching the train to Kooyong with my brother and dad who I practised with all the time. My brother still loves to hear about what I’m doing in the sport. Although he cheekily asks me if there is anyone else in the competition when I have a win!
Throughout my schooling years I played a lot of top tennis but at 19 I was married and on my honeymoon discovered my first husband hated that I played, so I packed the rackets away and that part of my life I put on hold.
Then when my son was 12 months old, my dad would drive me down to the tennis complex, I would get a bucket of balls hit them down one end, then hit them down the other and dad would look after my son.
When did you know it was going to be a lifelong love?
I hoped I would do it for the rest of my life. When I didn’t play, it was like chopping off an arm!
What Titles have you held over the years?
In Victoria I held all the school girl titles, under 13, under 14, under 15 in Kooyong and numerous clubs. I stopped playing at 17 so I didn’t have a chance to win the major one, the under 19 as you still had to be at school and I had managed to get a job at the tennis firm “Alexanders” at that point.
I’ve managed to play for Australia from 60 years of age. In January each year you go to a different Australian State to play in the singles and doubles to nominate for the Australian team to play overseas. On my Australian blazer I have one more space, for a new cup which is the Doris Hart cup. This is the 80 year old team and it was recently announced that I made it! To be held in October this year.
I’ve represented Australia in the Alice Marble, Kitty Godfree, Althea Gibson and Queens cups as well as playing in the Friendship Cup in Japan multiple times. I also play in the Austrian European Championships, I’ve been to Austria 18 times in the last 18 years!
What places do you most enjoy playing at?
Austria would be my pick of places to play tennis. Turkey is lovely also. Here in Australia you can’t beat Kooyong although I do like to play in Perth, it’s a beautiful city. Next year the national titles will be Adelaide and 2018 they are on the Gold Coast but to be honest it’s too hot to play singles in January. The last time I played there I was leading the girl, I was way up in the rubber and I just walked up to the net and handed it to her. It was just too hot. I’ve always promised my husband, Kel, who has always been a great support and source of encouragement for me, that I wouldn’t make a martyr of myself.
What do you love most about the sport?
The people. I’ve met some wonderful people all around the world and they keep in touch with an email. And I just like being out in the fresh air. As a child, the only thing that was white on me were the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet! I’ve always be outdoorsy.
What do you like least about tennis?
I can’t think of anything! I forget when I’m on the tennis court that I’m 80 years of age! I can still run on the court. I can anticipate where the ball is going to go and even though my serve is disastrous since I had a fall, it doesn’t matter because I still get it over the net. Everyone hates it because where I put it, they can’t get it! It dribbles over the net and they don’t expect that.
Do you have a ‘signature’ look when you play?
(laughs) you could say that. I’ve never been one for up market gear but everyone knows that I like to match my shirt with my knickers, hanky and the tops of my socks. My son bought me my first ‘proper’ tennis outfit about 10 years ago but to be honest I prefer my less expensive favourites. I do get teased at tennis about my matching outfits!
What training do you do leading up to an event?
I drink extra water – I drink a lot of water anyhow. And basically I just play all the time. We have a break mid June to mid July and December to February so it’s up to you play socially to keep your eye in and be prepared. I play twice a week regardless. I just like doing it. It gives me a break and gets me out in the fresh air.
My husband knows when I walk through the back door, if I’m strutting like a soldier, I’ve won, but if I’m walking like a whipped dog, he doesn’t ask!
Do you watch the tennis on TV?
Yes, I love it. Although I can’t handle the grunting so we turn that part down! I can’t work out why they do it. I was hit in the chest a few weeks ago and it really hurt me and ended up as a huge bruise. I think that’s the only time I may have roared out on the court (possibly even swore)! But those girls that grunt and carry on, it’s just terrible.
Who is your all-time favourite tennis player?
Roger Federer and when I was a young lass there was a girl called Maureen Connolly – “Little Mo” they called her and she was brilliant!
What is your most treasured memory after all these years in the sport?
I had a doubles partner, Allison Ide, who I won the worlds with. I played with her for 12 years and we won the Austrian, the European, the Australian, we won everything, numerous times and she went to heaven with Cancer a few years ago. My most treasured memory is winning the world title with her. She was the only person on this earth who has bossed me on tennis court and I’ve done as I was told. She was so tiny, like a match with the wood scraped off! She was a great player, I would set them up and she would fly around the net. I have a new partner now, a girl from Port Macquarie and she is brilliant as well.
Is there much pressure?
No. I don’t allow it. I think the sadness in my life has balanced me out as a human being. To be able to get up in the morning and have a cup of tea, and go to play tennis and still feel ok is what really matters.
Do you worry about getting injured?
No I don’t worry about that because I wouldn’t play if I didn’t feel right. I know my limits and I don’t push past them. I’m fit for my age but I don’t train. I did when I was young but now I go for a 45 minute walk each day, I go out in the garden and I play tennis.
But really if my family are well then I am right as rain and nothing can touch me. I love tennis but my family are my life.
