Vale Peter McNamara: Tennis salutes a legend of the game

Even as Peter McNamara fought for his life, Paul McNamee marvelled at how his former doubles partner eschewed sympathy.

Paul McNamee, left, with his doubles partner Peter McNamara after winning the 1980 Wimbledon doubles title.

Even as Peter McNamara fought for his life — “down a break in the fifth set” — Paul McNamee marvelled at how his former doubles partner eschewed expressions of sympathy.

“One of my favourite memories of Peter will be of how at peace he was with his lot at the end,” McNamee said of the former world No 7, who passed away in Germany on Saturday, aged 64.

“Even though he fought it (prostate cancer) right to the end, and he was down a break in the fifth set, he was at peace. He was content.

“He didn’t want anybody to feel sorry for him. He didn’t want to create a fuss.

“That was how Peter lived his life and it’s why so many people loved him.

“You look at the outpouring of grief from all around the world, from John McEnroe, Henri Leconte and Darren Cahill, and you get an appreciation of how widely loved Peter was.

“But he never hung around in one place to probably fully appreciate it. He was a journeyman, he was always on the road.”

McNamara was first diagnosed with cancer five years ago.

Treatment appeared to be working but last year the disease regained a terminal foothold on the dual Wimbledon doubles champion and Australian Davis Cup star.

The Victorian, who spent the latter stages of his life living and working in Germany, was an immensely popular figure on both the men’s and women’s tours.

His refusal to publicly acknowledge he was suffering from the killer disease was the talk of January’s Australian Open, where he cut a tragically gaunt — but typically elegant — figure as he continued to coach.

“In his day he was such a physical specimen and for him, in the end, to be a shadow of his former self must have been heartbreaking,” McNamee said.

“Yet, despite the illness, he was recently playing tennis and riding his bike.

“It was tough for him to miss Roland Garros and Wimbledon … I was actually ringing him for coaching advice.

“Apart from being a brilliant player, a world No 7 and a Davis Cup winner, he was also an outstanding coach. Being on the road was his life. That’s how it was with Peter.”

Cut down at his peak as a singles player because of a knee injury, McNamara was a world-class competitor.

In his prime he beat grand slam champions Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl en route to two of five singles crowns.

Renowned for his flair, McNamara possessed a magnificent slice backhand McNamee says was one of the greatest offensive weapons in history.

McNamara’s partnership with McNamee, collectively dubbed “the Super Macs”, delivered three majors — the 1979 Australian and 1980 and ’82 Wimbledon titles.

Forced to retire at only 28 because of his knee injury, McNamara then forged an excellent coaching career.

He worked with Grigor Dimitrov, Mark Philippousis, Matt Ebden and, until he was too ill to continue in February, teamed with China’s Wang Qiang, who is now entrenched in the top 15.

McNamara is survived by wife Petra, four children and five grandchildren.

HERALD SUN