Fred Stolle facts for kids
| Full name | Frederick Sydney Stolle |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  Australia |
| Residence | Aventura, Florida, US |
| Born | 8 October 1938 Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 5 March 2025 (aged 86) |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Turned pro | 1966 (amateur from 1958) |
| Retired | 1976 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1985 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 860–442 (66.0%) |
| Career titles | 39 |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (1966, World Tennis) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1964, 1965) |
| French Open | W (1965) |
| Wimbledon | F (1963, 1964, 1965) |
| US Open | W (1966) |
| Professional majors | |
| US Pro | SF (1967) |
| Wembley Pro | 1R (1967) |
| French Pro | SF (1967) |
| Doubles | |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (1964) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1963, 1964, 1966) |
| French Open | W (1965, 1968) |
| Wimbledon | W (1962, 1964) |
| US Open | W (1965, 1966, 1969) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1962, 1969) |
| French Open | F (1962, 1963, 1964) |
| Wimbledon | W (1961, 1964, 1969) |
| US Open | W (1962, 1965) |
Frederick Sydney Stolle, also known as Fred Stolle, was an Australian tennis player and sports commentator. He was born in Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia, on October 8, 1938, and passed away on March 5, 2025. Fred was known for being a world No. 1 amateur tennis player. His son, Sandon Stolle, also became a professional tennis player.
Contents
Fred Stolle's Tennis Career
Fred Stolle had an amazing tennis career. He is famous for a unique record: he was the only male player to lose his first five major singles finals. A "Grand Slam" in tennis means one of the four biggest tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. Most of these losses were to his fellow Australian player, Roy Emerson. In one of those finals, Fred was even leading by two sets to love!
However, Fred didn't give up. He went on to win two Grand Slam singles titles. He won the French Championships in 1965 and the US Championships in 1966. He also reached the finals at Wimbledon and the Australian Championships multiple times, often losing to Roy Emerson. In 1966, World Tennis magazine ranked him as the world's No. 1 amateur tennis player.
Doubles and Mixed Doubles Success
Fred Stolle was also incredibly successful in doubles tennis. He won ten Grand Slam doubles titles with different partners. He won four titles with Bob Hewitt, four with Roy Emerson, and two with Ken Rosewall.
He also won seven Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. In mixed doubles, a team has one male and one female player.
Playing for Australia
Fred was an important part of the Australian Davis Cup team. The Davis Cup is a major international team competition in men's tennis. He helped Australia win the Davis Cup title three times in a row: in 1964, 1965, and 1966.
In 1966, Fred Stolle became a professional tennis player. As a professional, he won two singles titles and 13 doubles titles. He earned about US$500,000 in prize money during his career.
After Retirement
After his playing career, Fred Stolle became a coach. He coached famous tennis player Vitas Gerulaitis from 1977 to 1983.
Fred also spent many years as a TV commentator. He worked for ESPN and other tennis broadcasts. He provided commentary for major Grand Slam tournaments for Fox Sports and the Nine Network in Australia.
Awards and Honours
Fred Stolle received many awards for his contributions to tennis:
- In 1985, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. This is a special place for the greatest tennis players.
- In 1988, he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
- He received an Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
- In 2005, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. This is a high honour given to Australian citizens.
- In 2020, he received the ITF Philippe Chatrier Award. This award recognizes people who have made great contributions to tennis during and after their playing careers.
See also
In Spanish: Fred Stolle para niños
