\u201cTennis in Australia has lost one of its greats, and a lot of us have lost a mate and mentor,\u201d says Pat Rafter
\n SYDNEY
\nMal Anderson, the first unseeded player to win the US Open men\u2019s singles title, has died aged 91, Tennis Australia said on Monday. Anderson\u2019s career started on a dirt court on a farm and he went on to become an Australian tennis great, winning the US crown in 1957 and three major doubles titles.
\nAlthough unseeded at what was then the United States Championships, Anderson beat three seeds and dropped only two sets on his way to the title.
\nHe also won the Davis Cup twice.
\nAfter retirement Anderson mentored young Australian players including Pat Rafter, who went on to become world number one.
\n\u201cI was really sad to hear of Mal\u2019s passing. He was one of those people who helped shape my tennis from very early on,\u201d said Rafter, who twice won the US Open.
\nAustralian tennis great Mal Anderson can be seen during his playing career in this undated image. \u2014 X\/@TheFirstServeAU
\nAustralian tennis great Mal Anderson can be seen during his playing career in this undated image. \u2014 X\/@TheFirstServeAU
\n\u201cHe was a true legend of the game, but more importantly he was a terrific bloke \u2014 humble, generous with his time and always happy to help younger players along. \u201cTennis in Australia has lost one of its greats, and a lot of us have lost a mate and mentor. I feel very lucky to have known him.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cTennis in Australia has lost one of its greats, and a lot of us have lost a mate and mentor,\u201d says Pat Rafter SYDNEY Mal Anderson, the first unseeded player to win the US Open men\u2019s singles title, has died aged 91, Tennis Australia said on Monday. Anderson\u2019s career started on a dirt court on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":546009,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-545998","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n