Former Wimbledon champion Neale Fraser has passed away at the age of 91.
The Australian tennis legend won the Wimbledon singles title in 1960 and also claimed the US National Championships in both 1959 and 1960, during the era when tennis was still an amateur sport.
Fraser’s remarkable career included 11 Grand Slam men’s doubles titles and five in mixed doubles.
He achieved the world number one ranking in men’s singles in 1959.
In addition to his success on the court, Fraser was part of four winning Australian Davis Cup teams as a player. He later served as the captain of the Davis Cup team for 24 years, leading Australia to four more victories.
Tennis Australia paid tribute to Neale Fraser, calling him “a true legend of Australian tennis” who will be deeply missed by fans worldwide.
Fraser defeated his fellow Australian, Rod Laver, to win both the Wimbledon and US titles in 1960.
Laver expressed his sorrow over Fraser’s passing, describing him as “a true gem in a golden era of Australian tennis legends.” Laver remembered Fraser as an exceptional world number one, Grand Slam champion, and Davis Cup icon. He also noted that Fraser had beaten him in two major finals, which pushed him to improve as a player. Laver sent his condolences to Fraser’s wife, Thea, and the family, sharing that he would miss him greatly. “Rest in peace, buddy,” Laver added.
Pat Cash, who was part of the Australian team that won the Davis Cup in 1983 and 1986 under Fraser’s captaincy, also paid tribute. Cash spoke of Fraser as a father figure who had a unique ability to make players feel valued and bring out their best.