In front of the eyes of the world each January, champion sportsperson and tennis icon Evonne Goolagong Cawley is recognised for her contributions to the game and beyond.

The former world #1 won four Australian Open singles titles in as many years during the mid-to-late 1970s, with triumphs also coming at Roland Garros and twice at Wimbledon throughout her career.

Goolagong-Cawley also boasts seven doubles Grand Slam titles, the bulk coming in Naarm within an era of dominance.

In 2025, the annual First Nations Day at the Australian Open was renamed to recognise this legacy.

The second Evonne Goolagong Cawley Day took over Melbourne Park on Wednesday.

For Tennis Australia First Nations lead Kyah Jones, it's one of the best days on the 12-month calendar.

"To honour Evonne and celebrate her achievements while celebrating our people, our history and our culture."

In a jam-packed schedule, First Nations ball kids take to the courts for matchplay with the world's best with more younger ones getting up early to have a hit on Margaret Court Arena.

Outreach projects, art, weaving and more installations also form part of celebrations.

As gates opened and the crowds flooded in, Wurundjeri Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin hosted a Welcome to Country ceremony, joined by her son Craig leading a smoking ceremony, on the steps of Margaret Court adorned with Barngala man Thomas Croft's art.

ARIA Award winner Budjerah also performed.

Speaking on the steps, Goolagong Cawley's daughter Kelly explained her pride of being to see her mother's recognition.

"To look out and to know this is mum's day, it makes me really, really emotional," she said.

Goolagong Cawley could not be there on the day.

Her impact within the sport and for Indigenous people has continued well after calling time on her career four decades ago.

In 2005 she founded the Goolagong National Development Camp for First Nations youth utilising promoting health, education and employment opportunities through tennis, also founding state camps and the scholarship in her name continuing to help develop the next generation of top talent.

She remains a key figure at the National Indigenous Tennis Carnival for players aged 12-18 in Darwin each year.

Ms Jones was handed her first tennis racket by Goolagong Cawley.

"I was on a scholarship with her when I was a very young girl. She flew me to Melbourne and I lived here on her scholarship for a few years," she said.

"Evonne has made a huge impact on my own life, personally, but I know she has also done that with a lot of other First Nations tennis players.

"But not only us, she's made an impact on the whole world (by) how beautifully she played the game of tennis, and how beautiful she is off the court as well."

In 2022, Ash Barty became the first Australian to win a home Slam singles title in over 40 years and second Indigenous player to lift the trophy after Goolagong Cawley.

It's Laquisa Khan's dream to be the third.

The Bundjalung woman, 23, made her professional debut as a wildcard entry to the Adelaide International earlier this month, becoming the first Indigenous woman since Barty to feature at a WTA event.

"Evonne Goolagong Cawley is a great mentor to me. She's an inspiration as well," she said.

"Yvonne has been a big part of my journey ever since I was little, since the age of 13, and she's been along my journey until now."

Khan is among the next generation following in the footsteps of Goolagong Cawley and Barty.

Charlie Pade, 20, has recently made the jump to the US with Grand Canyon University's Athletics program.