MELBOURNE, Australia — Fred Stolle, a winner of two Grand Slam singles titles and 17 main doubles trophies, has died, Tennis Australia mentioned Thursday. He was 86.
Stolle was an “iconic determine” in tennis as a participant and later as a commentator for Australia’s 9 Community and U.S. broadcasters, Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley mentioned. Tiley didn’t present a reason for loss of life.
The 6-foot-3 Stolle was a part of Australia’s profitable period within the Nineteen Sixties as tennis progressed from an newbie to skilled sport.
Nicknamed “Fiery Fred” or “Fiery” for brief, he misplaced the primary 5 Grand Slam singles finals he reached — 4 of them to fellow Australian Roy Emerson. He additionally fell in consecutive Wimbledon finals in 1963, 1964 and 1965.
He broke by way of on his least favourite floor, on clay on the 1965 French Championships, beating Tony Roche within the closing.
“I misplaced a bunch of these to Emmo, however towards anyone else I felt comfy,” Stolle instructed the Tennis Channel. “The French was not the one I used to be imagined to win, however it was thrilling for me.”
On the 1966 U.S. Championships in Forest Hills, he beat John Newcombe in one other all-Australian closing, turning into solely the second unseeded champion. Newcombe was additionally unseeded. Stolle beat three seeds to succeed in the ultimate. Afterward, he held the No. 1 rating and turned professional.
He gained 10 males’s doubles titles at Grand Slams from 1962 to 1969, 4 every with Bob Hewitt and Emerson and two with Ken Rosewall. Stolle is among the few to win all 4 doubles majors.
Stolle additionally gained seven combined doubles majors, his companions together with Margaret Courtroom, Lesley Turner Bowrey and Ann Haydon Jones.
He gained the Davis Cup in 1964, 1965 and 1966. His most notable win was in 1964 in Cleveland the place, with Australia 2-1 down, he beat American Dennis Ralston 7-5, 6-3, 3-6, Sep 11, 6-4. The next yr, he launched Australia’s protection in Sydney by overcoming Spain’s Manolo Santana 10-12, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-5.
Stolle coached American Vitas Gerulaitis to the 1977 Australian Open title and would proceed enjoying singles on tour till 1982.
“His legacy is certainly one of excellence, dedication, and a profound love for tennis,” Tiley mentioned. “His affect on the game will probably be remembered and cherished by all who had the privilege to witness his contributions. A star member of Australia’s Davis Cup crew, Fred made vital contributions to the game following his embellished profession, as a coach and astute commentator.”
Rod Laver, an Australian who gained 11 main titles together with the calendar-year Grand Slams in 1962 and 1969, posted a tribute to Stolle on X.
“As I wrote in my e book on the Golden Period of Aussie tennis, Fred Stolle was too good a man to carry a grudge. He gained many Grand Slams and was within the finals of many extra. It took one of the best to beat one of the best,” Laver wrote. “We by no means uninterested in reliving the previous as we travelled the world trying into the longer term with an everlasting love of the game.”
Stolle was born in Sydney however lived in the US after his enjoying profession.
Tennis Australia mentioned Stolle is survived by his spouse, Pat, his son Sandon — a US Open doubles winner — and daughters Monique and Nadine.
