Mal Anderson facts for kids
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Mal Anderson (1972)
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| Country (sports) |  Australia |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 March 1935 Theodore, Queensland |
| Turned pro | 1958 (amateur from 1952) |
| Retired | 1977 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 2000 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 646-446 (59.1%) |
| Career titles | 17 |
| Highest ranking | No. 2 (1957, Adrian Quist) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1958, 1972) |
| French Open | 2R (1957) |
| Wimbledon | QF (1956, 1958) |
| US Open | W (1957) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Professional majors | |
| US Pro | QF (1959, 1965, 1966) |
| Wembley Pro | W (1959) |
| French Pro | SF (1962, 1965) |
| Other pro events | |
| TOC | SF (1959AUS) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 53–28 |
| Career titles | 4 |
Malcolm James Anderson, born on March 3, 1935, is a famous Australian tennis player. He played tennis from the mid-1950s to the early 1970s. Mal won the singles title at the 1957 U.S. National Championships. In 1957, he was ranked as high as No. 2 in the world among amateur players.
After 1958, he became a professional tennis player. He won the Wembley World Professional Tennis Championships in 1959. Later, in 1972, he was a runner-up at the Australian Open.
Contents
About Mal Anderson
Mal Anderson played tennis with his right hand. He started playing when he was eight years old. By age 16, he was very serious about the sport.
He is also related to another Australian tennis legend, Roy Emerson. Roy Emerson is his brother-in-law.
Mal Anderson's Tennis Career
Amateur Years
Mal Anderson had two of his best years in 1957 and 1958. During this time, he was an amateur player. He was ranked as the world's No. 2 player twice.
In 1957, Mal won the US Championships. He was an unseeded player, meaning he was not expected to win. Earlier that year, he reached the semifinals of the Australian Championships. He also won the French Championship in doubles with his partner, Ashley Cooper. Mal later beat Ashley Cooper in the 1957 US Championships final.
In 1958, Mal Anderson reached the finals of both the Australian Championships and the US Championships. He lost both of these matches to Ashley Cooper.
Professional Years
Mal Anderson became a professional tennis player in late 1958. In 1959, he won the Wembley Championships. He beat Frank Sedgman in the quarterfinals. He then had tough five-set wins against Ken Rosewall and Pancho Segura. Mal even saved a match point against Segura before winning.
After this big win, Mal said he wanted to retire from professional tennis. He planned to buy a farm in Australia once he saved enough money. He officially retired from the pro tour after the 1963 Wembley tournament. He said he was having problems with his eyesight.
Mal Anderson made another major final appearance in 1972. He was 36 years old and reached the final of the Australian Open. He beat John Newcombe in a long quarterfinal match. He then won against Metreveli in the semifinal. He lost the final to Ken Rosewall. In the same year, he won the Hong Kong Hardcourt title. He beat Geoff Masters and Pancho Gonzales to win.
In 1973, Mal won the Australian Open doubles title. His partner was John Newcombe. His last important tournament win was the 1973 New South Wales Championships. He beat several strong players, including Newcombe and Rosewall, to win.
Mal Anderson played for the Australian Davis Cup team four times. He played in 1957, 1958, 1972, and 1973. The Australian team won the Davis Cup twice with him on the team, in 1957 and 1973.
Grand Slam Finals
Singles: 4 (1 Title, 3 Runner-ups)
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1957 | U.S. Championships | Grass |  Ashley Cooper |
10–8, 7–5, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1958 | Australian Championships | Grass | Ashley Cooper |
5–7, 3–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 1958 | U.S. Championships | Grass | Ashley Cooper |
2–6, 6–3, 6–4, 8–10, 6–8 |
| Loss | 1972 | Australian Open | Grass | Ken Rosewall |
6–7(2–7), 3–6, 5–7 |
Doubles: 3 (2 Titles, 1 Runner-up)
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1957 | Australian Championships | Grass | Ashley Cooper |
Lew Hoad Neale Fraser |
3–6, 6–8, 4–6 |
| Win | 1957 | French Championships | Clay | Ashley Cooper |
Don Candy Mervyn Rose |
6–3, 6–0, 6–3 |
| Win | 1973 | Australian Open | Grass | John Newcombe |
John Alexander Phil Dent |
6–3, 6–4, 7–6 |
Mixed Doubles: 1 (1 Title)
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1957 | Australian Championships | Grass | Fay Muller |
Jill Langley Billy Knight |
7–5, 3–6, 6–1 |
Pro Slam Finals: 1 (1 Title)
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1959 | Wembley Pro | Indoor |  Pancho Segura |
4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 8–6 |
Awards and Recognition
In 1972, Mal Anderson was given an award called the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This was to honor his great contributions to tennis.
He was welcomed into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000. On August 23, 2000, he also received the Australian Sports Medal for his tennis achievements.
In 2001, Mal Anderson was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame. In 2009, he joined the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame. On January 6, 2016, he was named an "Icon of Queensland Tennis." A bench was placed in Tennis Avenue Park in Ashgrove in December 2017 to honor him.
Mal Anderson gave the champion cup he won at the 1957 US Open to the Theodore Tennis Club. This is the club where he first started playing tennis. He donated it as part of the town's 2022 centenary celebrations.
See also
In Spanish: Malcolm Anderson para niños
