Australian tennis legend Neale Fraser (L), shown handing the 2019 Hopman Cup to Roger Federer, won a total of 19 titles from Grand Slams, including through the singles, doubles and mixed doubles circuits. Photo by Tony McDonough/EPA-EFE
Dec. 3 (UPI) — Australian tennis legend Neale Fraser, who won three Grand Slam singles crowns and was part of four Davis Cup title teams as a player and another four as a captain, has died, Tennis Australia said. He was 91.
“Australian tennis has lost one of its giants with the passing of Neale Fraser,” Tennis Australia said Monday in a news release.
Tennis Australia did not disclose Fraser’s cause of death.
Fraser, who never turned professional, was the No. 1 ranked amateur in 1959 and 1960. He won his first Grand Slam singles title at the 1959 U.S. Open. He won additional Grand Slam singles crowns at the Wimbledon 1960 and the 1960 U.S. Open. He also earned 11 Grand Slam doubles titles and five Grand Slam mixed doubles crowns.
Fraser is the last men’s player to win singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles at a single Grand Slam — which he did successively at the 1959 and 1960 U.S. Open.
He helped Australia earn Davis Cup titles in 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1962. Fraser was a non-playing captain of the Australian Davis Cup team for a record 24 years. The Australians won another four titles during that span.
“I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my dear mate and fellow lefty, Neale Fraser,” fellow Australian tennis legend Rod Laver wrote Tuesday on X. “He was a true gem in a golden era of Australian tennis legends — an incredible World No. 1, a Grand Slam champion, and a Davis Cup icon.
“Neale bested me in two major finals, pushing me to become a better player. My heartfelt condolences go out to Thea [Fraser’s wife] and Neale’s extended family. I’ll miss you dearly, buddy. Rest in peace.”
Fraser was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984.
Barbara Taylor Bradford
Best-selling novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford arrives at Cosmopolitan’s Cosmo 100 event in New York City on November 12, 2012. Bradford, whose books have sold more than 91 million copies including “A Woman of Substance,” “The Heir,” and “The Wonder of it All,” died at the age of 91 on November 24. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
