SUNRISE BEACH, Australia — Evonne Goolagong finally made it to No. 1, although the honor was 30 years late in coming.
The Australian tennis star was told by the WTA Tour she should have been top-ranked for a two-week period in 1976. That was a stretch in which she was in the middle of winning six tournaments, including the Australian Open and the season-ending Virginia Slims Championship.
But when some tournament records were transferred to a computer in 1976, all of Goolagong’s points were not entered and she never received the top ranking, the WTA said.
The WTA has amended its records, making Goolagong the 16th No. 1 player since the introduction of tour computer rankings in 1975. Two weeks ago, the 56-year-old Goolagong received a trophy from the WTA that is now displayed in her oceanside home.
