ATP
Australian tennis legend Fred Stolle dies aged 86
Winner of two Grand Slam singles titles and 17 doubles majors Fred Stolle has died aged 86.
He lost his first five Grand Slam finals but persevered to win the Men’s singles final at French Open in 1965 and the US Open in 1966 and made the final in six other Grand Slams including Wimbledon three times.
He also won 10 Grand Slam men’s doubles titles and seven mixed doubles.
Stolle was part of three winning Davis Cup teams (1964-66) with his finest achievement being a come-from-behind five-setter over Dennis Ralston in Cleveland in 1964.
Stolle grew up in Hornsby on Sydney’s North Shore and his first introduction to the Davis Cup was as a ball boy at the 1951 tie between United States and Italy.
Although already showing considerable skills in Cricket and Rugby at that young age the experience made such an impression on him he decided to concentrate on his tennis.
Stolle turned professional in 1966 reaching four Grand Slam singles quarter finals after tennis went ‘open’ in 1968 and played well into the 1970s, playing his last singles match in Baltimore in November 1982, four years after his final Grand Slam singles match at Wimbledon in 1978.
During his Davis Cup years Fred was nicknamed ‘Fiery’ in the tradition of ironic nicknames because of his slow start in the mornings and quiet play on practice courts.
The nickname belied his sense of humour and appetite for life, which made him a popular figure on the tour.
Stolle once wrote “for some the tennis court was like a boxing ring but for me it was like being on stage”.
Stolle was part of an epic era of Australian stars playing alongside Roy Emerson, Ken Rosewall, John Newcombe and Rod Laver, all of whom dominated the Men’s Game late into the amateur era and start of the professional.
He then became coach to former world No.3 Vitas Gerulaitas before turning his hand to broadcasting and became known to generations of tennis fans as worldwide the voice of tennis, broadcasting for the Nine Network, CBS and Fox Sports
Although he lived most of his life in Florida, and later California Stolle always was fiercely proud of being an Australian.
“Rocket Rod” Laver, the only man to win all four majors in one year during the Open era, described Stolle as “too nice a guy to hold a grudge”.
“It took the best to beat the best,” he said on X.
“We never tired of reliving the past as we travelled the world looking into the future with an enduring love of the sport.”
Fred had spent his last few years living not far from Laver in “The Desert” California
Stolle, for several decades a good friend of this author and a regular contributor to Grandslam Tennis Online is survived by wife Pat, son Sandon a former doubles world No.2 and major champion, and daughters Monique and Nadine.
Holger Rune battled past injured Carlos Alcaraz to spoil the Spanish Easter party at the Barcelona Open, with the Dane lifting the trophy 7-6 (6), 6-2.
The pair of 21-year-olds were familiar foes, having played 20 times in juniors before hitting the Tour; Rune won the first 500 series title of his career and his fifth overall.
Alcaraz was treated three times in the second set after an apparent injury to his upper right thigh/groin after duelling hard in the opening set at the Real Club.
The loss will send Alcaraz back to third in the rankings, with Alexander Zverev moving back to second behind Jannik Sinner as a result of winning the Munich title on Sunday.
Rune, a first-round victim last week in Monte Carlo, reversed his clay momentum in Spain, handing Alcaraz a first loss of a set for the week.
The Spanish top seed’s two final shots both clipped the top of the net and fell back as Rune raised his hands in celebration after 97 minutes on court in the Catalan capital.
“This means the world,” the winner said. “I started the match stressed, he was playing big-time tennis.
“I was able to find my rhythm after he broke me (3-2 in the opening set) and I got more into the match.
“The first set was a big battle with a lot of important points. It was super-important to win the set and gain momentum.
“I’m so proud of myself.”
Rune ended with 18 winners while the ailing Alcaraz produced 33 unforced errors. The Dane claimed his 50th match win on clay and levelled his Tour record in the series to 2-2.
Rune said he channeled Novak Djokovic’s Paris Olympic gold medal win from last summer over Alcaraz as he struggled to turn his game around in Barcelona.
“I asked myself what Novak did to win that final. I (realised) that I didn’t need to hit every ball on the line. I need to make him play and hit a lot of balls.”
Rune, who won the elite Paris Bercy Masters 1000 title in 2022, finally began reversing a 13-match loss streak against top five opponents.with his title victory.
Alcaraz may be racing for fitness with the Madrid Masters starting on Wednesday as the ATP ploughs ahead with an unpopular two-week format for Masters tournaments despite growing protest from exhausted players.
Main photo:- Holger Rune celebrates Barcelona win – by ATPTour.com
Alexander Zverev turned 28 on Sunday and awarded himself a third title on his home Munich clay as he beat Ben Shelton 6-2,6-4 to win the ATP event.
The 2017 and 2018 champion here is now threatening Carlos Alcaraz as the pair duel for the world No. 2 position which the Spaniard took over last week after winning Monte Carlo.
Zverev schooled lefthander Shelton in 70 minutes for a second win in their series. The winner becomes the second to hold three Munich titles after countryman Philipp Kohlschreiber (2007, 2012, 2016).
“I’m enjoying my birthday so far,” Zverev said. “It’s extremely special to win in Germany, the most special thing I can do.
January’s Australian Open finalist added: “It’s definitely a great birthday present, I knew I had to play my best today, conditions were very hot and very fast.They were perfect for me.”
The winner broke three times while never facing a challenge to his serve from Shelton as he claimed a sixth career title at the 500-Tour level.
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev with his “birthday” trophy – by BMW Open/Bitpanda
Alexander Zverev gave fans in Munich what they were after as the top seed rolled into the final of the clay ATP in Bavaria with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 defeat of Fabian Marozsan.
World No. 3 Zverev, who won the titles in 2017 and 2018 needed 91 minutes to advance into a title match with Ben Shelton.
The American earned his spot with a .2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 defeat of Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.
Zverev advanced with nine aces and broke twice in the tidy win over his Hungarian opposition.
“It’s awesome. The entire week has been great. Everybody is really enjoying the weather as well as the new Center Court,” the winner said. .
“I’m enjoying myself and hopefully I will have another great day tomorrow.”
Shelton reached his fourth career final, becoming the first American man to reach a clay final above ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi won the Rome Masters 23 years ago.
“It’s a big win for me. To get a win on clay against a guy like him gives me a lot of confidence,” Shelton.
“I’m really happy and excited to be in a 500-level final in Europe, my second clay-court tournament this season.
“I’ve been playing well this week and I’m not too stressed right now.”
Main photo:-Alexander Zverev winning in front of his home crowd – by ATPTour.com
Sabalenka hoping to turn her luck in Stuttgart
Rune rises to the occasion with defeat of Alcaraz
Zverev grabs a birthday gift with third Munich title
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