The BBC miniseries Goolagong, which tells the true story of Aboriginal Australian tennis champion Evonne Goolagong Cawley, has been praised as 'hauntingly brilliant' and the 'perfect' accompaniment to this year's Wimbledon Championships. The three-part drama is currently available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
A Champion's Journey
The series follows Goolagong from her childhood in New South Wales, where she first discovered tennis at age eight, through her rise to international stardom. During her career, she won 14 Grand Slam titles, including two Wimbledon singles titles and one doubles title, while challenging racial barriers as an Indigenous athlete.
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.' It adds that '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.'
Cast and Critical Acclaim
Lila McGuire stars as Evonne Goolagong, with a supporting cast including 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 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.'
Viewers have shared enthusiastic reviews on social media and IMDb. One 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 described it as 'the perfect Wimbledon warm up' and praised the 'surprisingly high' production standards.
A third reviewer noted: '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 Edwards, Evie's coach, is hauntingly brilliant.'
Streaming Details
Goolagong is now streaming on BBC iPlayer, making it ideal viewing for tennis fans during the Wimbledon fortnight, particularly after watching the semi-finals and finals on Centre Court. The series consists of three episodes and offers an inspiring look at a sporting legend who 'united a nation' and 'made her one of Australia's most celebrated sporting figures.'
