‘Hero to Australian tennis’: Nation’s Davis Cup legend remembered by tennis world

Australian Davis Cup legend and former world number one, Neale Fraser has been remembered by the sporting world after he died aged 91.

L - R, Bob Mark, Neale Fraser, team Captain Harry Hopman, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson of Australia celebrate with the winning Davis Cup. Picture: Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The tennis world has paid tribute to Neale Fraser, who has been remembered as a “hero to Australian tennis” after he died at the age of 91.

A winner of 19 grand slam titles and a former world No. 1, Fraser has been hailed as the “heart and soul” of the Davis Cup after his decorated career as a player and captain.

Fraser reached world No. 1 in singles in 1959 in the same year that he won the first of his three major singles titles in the United States.

He backed up to win Wimbledon and the US crown the following year in 1960.

In all, Fraser was a 19-time grand slam champion – three singles, 11 doubles and five mixed doubles.

Fraser’s Davis Cup record was also exemplary – both as a player and captain.

Australian Davis Cup captain Neale Fraser in 1991. Picture: Unidentified staff photographer

Wimbledon champion Pat Cash led the tributes to Fraser, who he referred to as “my dear Davis Cup captain”.

“Like my coach Ian Barclay he was a second father to me for many years, we had many great times representing Australia and plenty of laughs and a few tears as well,” Cash wrote on social media.

“I will miss our chats – a hero to Australian tennis, whose passion for the sport and Davis Cup was second to none.

“Lots of saddened hearts today, but what a life to celebrate.

“Wimbledon singles and doubles champion to name a couple of titles and incredibly won the US champ singles, doubles and mixed in the same year only to do it again the next year.

“That left-handed serve was the greatest of his generation by a long way.

“Only fond memories. We will miss you Frasey.”

Neale Fraser on his way to winning the SA men's singles tennis championship over Lew Hoad at Memorial Drive, North Adelaide, 1956. Picture: Supplied

Former Australian player John Fitzgerald said Fraser stood in a “lofty position” in the tennis world.

“We talk about great sportsmen a little bit too much sometimes, but maybe it is overused a little bit, but as a player he was one of the truly great players,” Fitzgerald said.

“He reached number one in the world as an amateur and he won Wimbledon, beating Rod Laver in the final and he won the US Open twice back-to-back and he also won the doubles and the mixed those two years when he won the US Open.

“You used to call that the triple double, which was pretty cool, and no one will do that again, I’m pretty confident.

“He holds a very unique position. It’s very hard to emulate what he did these days, as a player he was number one in the world and then, of course, he won the Davis Cup four times as a player playing under the great Harry Hopman.

“Then he took over from Harry as the Davis Cup captain and captained Australia longer than anyone else – 24 years – and won four titles of that as well and he genuinely loved our sport.

“He loved the Australian game, he always barracked for Australian players. He always took an interest at Wimbledon to go out and watch out juniors when he was Davis Cup captain for years and years.”

Australian tennis player John Fitzgerald in 2019. Picture: AAP

Fitzgerald said in his time playing under Fraser in the Davis Cup, his ability to manage the “different personalities” in the team was a skill which stood out.

“He was certainly one of the best Davis Cup captains in the world, there was no doubt about that, he was always about the mark,” Fitzgerald said.

“As a manager of young men, he was as good as anybody.

“He had an ability to bring an eclectic group of people together as players and they were very different.

“The two years I was in winning Davis Cup teams, we had very different characters, good friends, but four very different eclectic characters that he was able to bring together and manage, which is what being a Davis Cup captain is about.

“You have to manage all of those egos, all of those different personalities and characters.”

Doubles champion Todd Woodbridge said Fraser was a true legend of the David Cup.

“(I) would say he was also the heart and soul of Davis Cup in this country,” Woodbridge said.

“Nobody loves representing Australia more than ‘Frase’ either on court as a player or off it as a captain.

“It was his lasting legacy to the game in Australia.”

Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley described Fraser as an “icon” of tennis.

Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said Neale Fraser was a force to be reckoned with in the Davis Cup. Picture: Getty Images

“Neale Fraser was a true icon of our sport, both as a competitor and as a leader”, Tiley said.

“His passion for tennis and dedication to representing Australia inspired generations of players and fans.

“I’ve been truly fortunate to work closely with Frase and he was never afraid to voice his opinion and offer his extraordinary insight on the players and the sport, particularly the Davis Cup – he was a force to be reckoned with.

“We will forever remember his extraordinary contributions on and off the court and pass on our sincere condolences to Thea and his family and friends.”

Fraser was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994.

Fraser also served as chair of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame from 1997 to 2005.

Sport Australia Hall of Fame chair John Bertrand said Fraser was a “towering figure in Australian sport”.

Australian tennis greats Rod Laver and Neale Fraser in 2020. Picture: Michael Klein

“Neale’s legacy as one of Australia’s greatest tennis champions is unparalleled,” Bertrand said.

“A serve-and-volley maestro and fierce competitor, he reached the pinnacle of world tennis, securing multiple grand slam titles across singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

“Beyond his on-court achievements, his passion for team competition, particularly in Davis Cup, showcased his unwavering commitment to the spirit of the game.

“As Davis Cup Cup, Federation Cup leader and contributor to tennis at the Olympic Games, Neale’s impact extended far beyond his playing days, leaving an indelible mark on the sport globally. His tenure and chair of the Hall of Fame from 1997 to 2005 exemplified his dedication to celebrating and nurturing the stories of Australia’s sporting heroes.”

Originally published as ‘Hero to Australian tennis’: Nation’s Davis Cup legend remembered by tennis world