Albury tennis product Dianne Balestrat inducted into Hall of Fame

Dianne Balestrat (nee Fromholtz) was bestowed the honour at a special presentation at Melbourne Park on Tuesday night.

The left-hander claimed 23 career singles titles.

She won the 1977 Australian Open doubles with Helen Gourlay and reached the singles final the same year.

Balestrat was also a two-time US Open and French Open semi-finalist and twice reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.

The 62-year-old was overwhelmed to be recognised in the Hall of Fame and has plenty of fond memories of her time on the Border.

“When I first started playing in Albury, I was four years of age on the grass courts at the Albury Tennis Association and my sister was seven,” Balestrat said.

“We would be in a line of 300 children doing shadow drills in those days, which they don’t do anymore.

“I played with Rex Hartwig in mixed doubles when I was 11 at the Albury Easter tournament, and I’ve been back with my daughter over the last 15 years.

“She finished five years ago, but before that we would come to Albury regularly for the Margaret Court Cup.

“We left when I was seven years of age, but my father was still in Albury, so I would make regular trips back and stay with him.”

Balestrat recalls training with the fellow Albury export and tennis legend Margaret Court for around month when she was in her teens.

“There’s been quite a few good players come from Albury – Jack Crawford, Rex Hartwig, Margaret Court and Sam Groth,” she said.

“There’s something in the water that makes people want to play good tennis.”

Balestrat had to remain tight-lipped about the honour for six months until it was announced at the Australian Open.

“I had the official presentation and unveiling of the bust, which was really well done,” she said.

“They’ve made me look very, very young,” she laughed.

Balestrat has lived in Melbourne the past 15 years and is still a full-time coach.