Fred Stolle, Australian tennis legend and two-time Grand Slam singles champion, has died at 86
\n Melbourne
\nFred Stolle, the Australian tennis great who won two Grand Slam singles titles and played a key role in the nation\u2019s dominance of the sport in the 1960s, has died at the age of 86.
\nStolle won the French Open in 1965 and the US Open in 1966, reaching six other Grand Slam finals, including three at Wimbledon. He also secured 10 Grand Slam men\u2019s doubles titles and seven mixed doubles crowns.
\nTennis Australia described Stolle as \u201cone of its great players and characters.\u201d CEO Craig Tiley said Stolle\u2019s name was synonymous with the transition from amateur to professional tennis.
\n\u201cHis legacy is one of excellence, dedication, and a profound love for tennis,\u201d Tiley said. \u201cHis impact on the sport will be remembered and cherished by all who had the privilege to witness his contributions.\u201d
\nStolle was part of an Australian generation that dominated men\u2019s tennis, competing alongside Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, and John Newcombe. He helped Australia win the Davis Cup in 1964, 1965, and 1966, later transitioning to coaching and commentary.
\nLaver, the only man to win all four Grand Slam titles in a single year during the Open era, paid tribute to Stolle on X.
\n\u201cIt took the best to beat the best,\u201d Laver wrote. \u201cWe never tired of reliving the past as we travelled the world looking into the future with an enduring love of the sport.\u201d
\nFormer Australian doubles player Paul McNamee also honoured Stolle\u2019s contributions.
\n\u201cWhat a player, what a commentator, what a bloke,\u201d McNamee said. \u201cOne of that great group of Aussie tennis players who made history, and whose legacy is perhaps unrivalled.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Fred Stolle, Australian tennis legend and two-time Grand Slam singles champion, has died at 86 Melbourne Fred Stolle, the Australian tennis great who won two Grand Slam singles titles and played a key role in the nation\u2019s dominance of the sport in the 1960s, has died at the age of 86. Stolle won the French […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":465691,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-465685","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n