Her best Grand Slam performance in singles came at the Australian Open in 1987, when she reached the quarterfinals.

She played Federation Cup from 1984 to 1994, and won a bronze medal in women's doubles with Wendy Turnbull at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

[4] She was the long-time tournament director of the Australian Women's Hardcourts and also works as a sports television commentator.

Her brother Mervyn Sayers played one first-class cricket game for Western Australia in 1979.

Smylie and Turnbull lost their semifinal match to Zina Garrison and Pam Shriver 6–7(5), 4–6.