Australian tennis has lost a giant of the sport: 19-time Grand Slam winner and Davis Cup titan Neale Fraser was announced dead at the age of 91.
The Australian tennis champion won a total of 19 titles in both singles and doubles at Grand Slams throughout his decorated career, but it was in the Davis Cup where he really made a name for himself.
He led the Australian team to four consecutive Davis Cup titles during the years when it was hotly contested and won a legion of fans for his commitment to the Australian cause.
“I could never think of anything better than representing your country,” was a popular slogan that the Australian tennis great would say at almost any opportunity.
He provided inspiration to generations of Australian tennis players, including Pat Cash.
“He was like a father to me,” Cash said.
Fraser Neale was a giant of Australian tennis who won 19 Grand Slams and led the Australian team to four consecutive Davis Cup titles.
Neale receives the Wimbledon trophy from Prince Philip when he was Duke of Edinburgh
Neale Fraser and his wife Thea attend the annual Legends Luncheon at the 2018 Australian Open
“He just knew how to make you feel important and play your best.”
Tributes have begun to flow for the great Australian tennis player, who touched so many lives at 91 years old.
“A true Australian tennis legend who will be missed by many around the world,” one group of fans posted.
‘If there is a person who embodied the Davis Cup, it was Frase. Our deepest condolences to his beautiful wife Thea and his extended family. The world of tennis thanks you deeply and we will miss you, Frase,” added a follower.
“I am extremely saddened to hear that the great Neale Fraser has passed away. Praise him as we all called him because he loved strawberries (French for strawberries). Thoughts are with Thea and her family. RIP friend,” posted another.
Fraser began playing tennis at age 11 in Melbourne and attended St Kevin’s College, where he captained the tennis team.
A left-handed player known for his powerful serve and athleticism, Fraser achieved significant success in both singles and doubles competitions.
He won the US National Championship singles titles in 1959 and 1960, and the Wimbledon singles title in 1960.
In doubles, Fraser won multiple Grand Slam titles: the Australian Championships in 1957, 1958 and 1962; the French Championships of 1958, 1960 and 1962; Wimbledon in 1959 and 1961; and the United States National Championships in 1957, 1959 and 1960.
Fraser would inspire generations of young tennis players to take up the sport and value the Davis Cup.
Fraser leaves a legacy that another Australian is unlikely to repeat in the Open era.
Neale also excelled in mixed doubles, winning titles at the Australian Championships in 1956, Wimbledon in 1962 and the US National Championships in 1958, 1959 and 1960.
Notably, Fraser is the last male player to achieve the ‘triple crown’ – winning the singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles in a single Grand Slam event, achieving this feat consecutively at the US National Championships in 1959 and 1960. .
Representing Australia in the Davis Cup from 1958 to 1963, he contributed to victories in 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1962.
After retiring from professional play, Fraser served as Australia’s Davis Cup captain from 1970 to 1994, leading the team to titles in 1973, 1977, 1983 and 1986.
His contributions to tennis were recognized with his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994.
In 2008, Fraser received the Philippe Chatrier Award from the International Tennis Federation for outstanding achievements in tennis.
He also served as president of the Australian Davis Cup Tennis Foundation from 1997 to 2019, continuing his involvement in the sport.
Fraser’s career was marked by his dedication to tennis both on and off the court, leaving a lasting impact on Australian tennis.