Australian tennis star Neale Fraser dies at age 91
December 4, 2024
According to news.com.au on Tuesday, former Australian tennis star Neale Fraser of Melbourne has passed away at the age of 91. Fraser won three grand slam singles titles. He won the 1959 and 1960 United States National Championship, and the 1960 Wimbledon Championship. Fraser also excelled in doubles, with 11 grand slam titles in men’s doubles, and five titles in mixed doubles. He also won four Davis Cups as a player and was the captain for Australia for 24 years after his playing career was over.
At the 1959 US National Championship in Forest Hills, New York, Fraser defeated Alex Olmedo of the United States in the final, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4. Then in 1960, Fraser defeated Australian tennis legend Rod Laver of Rockhampton 6-4, 6-4, 10-8. This was the second time Fraser beat Laver in a grand slam final in 1960, as he also won 6-4, 3-6, 9-7, 7-5 in the Wimbledon final.
Fraser also reached four other grand slam singles finals. He lost to Ashley Cooper of Melbourne in the 1957 Australian Championship and 1958 Wimbledon final, Olmedo at the 1959 Australian Championship, and Laver at the 1960 Australian Championship.
In men’s doubles, Fraser won 11 grand slam titles with three Australian partners. He won the 1957 Australian Championship with Lew Hoad of Glebe, three titles with Cooper (1957 United States Championship, 1958 Australian Championship and 1958 French Championship), and seven titles with Roy Emerson of Blackbutt (1959 Wimbledon, 1959 United States Championship, 1960 French and United States Championship, 1961 Wimbledon, and 1962 Australian and French Championship). In mixed doubles, Fraser won alongside Australian Beryl Penrose of Sydney at the 1956 Australian Championship, and American Margaret Osborne at three straight United States Championships from 1958 to 1960, and the 1962 Wimbledon Championship.
Fraser won his first Davis Cup for Australia in Forest Hills in 1959. He beat Barry MacKay of the United States in the deciding match, 8-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. Australia then beat Italy in the final in 1960, and again in 1961, before beating Mexico in 1962.
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