Wimbledon enthusiasts are being encouraged to stream a compelling three-part drama that tells the story of a legendary tennis champion. The Australian miniseries Goolagong, inspired by the true story of Aboriginal Australian champion Evonne Goolagong Cawley, is available to watch for free on BBC iPlayer. The series has been described as the "perfect" accompaniment to this year's Championships, given that Evonne claimed the Wimbledon singles title twice and the doubles title once during her career.
Series Follows Evonne's Journey from Youth to Wimbledon Glory
Goolagong chronicles the tennis icon's life from her childhood through her triumph at Wimbledon, where she lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish. It also depicts a career-threatening injury she endured. The official synopsis states: "In 1958, an eight-year-old girl peered through the wire fence of the tennis courts near her small-town home in New South Wales. She was instantly hooked. Evonne Goolagong would later win 14 Grand Slam titles, challenging racial barriers in the process."
The series further explores the challenges behind the scenes: "But despite on-court success, a disturbing dynamic played out behind the scenes and threatened to derail everything - until Goolagong found the strength to step out from that shadow, reclaim her identity and follow her passion on her own terms. She challenged tennis orthodoxy and united a nation. This is the story of how Wiradjuri tennis champion, Evonne Goolagong's love for the game carried her to international sporting glory - and made her one of Australia's most celebrated sporting figures."
Cast and Availability
The cast is led by Lila McGuire as Evonne, alongside Luke Carroll, Chenoa Deemal, Marton Csokas, Belinda Woolcock, Felix Mallard, Rhys Muldoon, Courtney Clarke, and Elizabeth Cullen. The BBC acquired the series in May, and it is now streaming for free on BBC iPlayer, making it ideal weeknight viewing, especially after watching the thrilling semi-finals on Centre Court.
Nick Lee, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, commented: "The classic recipe for a sports drama is passion and talent to triumph over adversity, Goolagong does all this with heart. Fans of tennis will of course indulge in Evonne's story and the matchplay, but whether familiar with her career or not, everyone will relate to the pure human spirit that's been so authentically dramatised in this show."
Viewer Reactions
Viewers have expressed admiration across social platforms. One IMDb user wrote: "Another Aussie gem. Superbly acted to the point that towards the end I thought they had switched to archival footage and I was actually watching Yvonne on the court." Another added: "The perfect Wimbledon warm up. I've always thought Aussie TV dramas can be overlooked and underrated. I think this firmly sits in that category and the production standards were surprisingly high. By the 3rd episode I was rooting for Gong, the tension built before the Wimbledon final worked well in this series. I liked it a lot and would recommend it as a good drama."
A third remarked: "Understated and graceful. It is an elegantly told story about one of the greatest tennis stars. Exceptional acting at its core. Lila Maguire is every bit Evonne Goolagong as Evie herself. Whilst Martin Csokas turn as Vic Edward's, Evie's coach, is hauntingly brilliant. The real love story at the heart of this wonderful Australian drama is a that of a champion and their love for the beautiful game of tennis. A triumphant return to form for simple Australian filming."
Another viewer posted: "I'm glad this miniseries exists. It was heartbreaking most of the time and only recovering with momentary heartwarming fragments," while a further comment mirrored this view: "The editing is excellent and, despite being filmed at Kooyong, the viewer is left feeling as though they are front row at Wimbledon in the 1970s." Goolagong is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
