Australian Tennis Star Fred Stolle Dies at 86

Legendary Australian tennis player and commentator Fred Stolle has passed away at the age of 86, as announced by officials on Thursday, who praised his "excellence, dedication, and deep love for tennis."اضافة اعلان

Born on October 8, 1938, in Hornsby, Stolle won the French Open in 1965 and the US Open in 1966. He also reached the finals of the Australian Open in 1964 and 1965, as well as Wimbledon three times in 1964, 1965, and 1966.

However, his greatest successes came in doubles and mixed doubles, where he won 17 Grand Slam titles and claimed victories in all four major tournaments at least twice. His career also included 39 singles titles, 10 in doubles, and 7 in mixed doubles.

After retiring from competitive tennis, Stolle became a renowned commentator, gaining widespread fame as the "voice of tennis" for generations of fans through Australian networks such as Nine Network, as well as Fox Sports and ESPN in the United States.

Craig Tiley, President of Tennis Australia, praised the late Stolle’s qualities, calling him an iconic figure both in Australia and internationally. He said, "When we talk about the golden era of Australian tennis and the transition from amateurism to professionalism, Fred’s name is among the best."

He added, "Fred was an integral member of Australia’s Davis Cup team, and he made significant contributions to the sport after his decorated career as both a coach and an insightful commentator."

Tiley concluded, "His legacy is one of excellence, dedication, and a deep love for tennis. Anyone who had the honor of witnessing his contributions and his impact on the sport will remember and cherish it."

Stolle was part of three Australian Davis Cup-winning teams (1964–1966) and was a long-time coach of American player Vitas Gerulaitis, who won the Australian Open in 1977.