Thu Mar 06 06:14:19 UTC 2025: ## Tennis Legend Fred Stolle Passes Away at 86
**Melbourne, Australia – March 6, 2025** – Fred Stolle, a renowned Australian tennis champion, passed away at the age of 86, Tennis Australia announced today. Stolle, a two-time Grand Slam singles champion and a member of three Davis Cup-winning teams, left an indelible mark on the sport both as a player and a commentator.
Stolle’s career spanned the transition from amateur to professional tennis, during Australia’s golden age in the 1960s. He achieved significant success, winning the 1965 French Open and the 1966 US Open. He also amassed an impressive 10 men’s doubles and seven mixed doubles Grand Slam titles. Despite reaching five Grand Slam singles finals before his first victory, he is remembered for his grace and sportsmanship, even facing repeated losses against fellow Australian Roy Emerson.
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley lauded Stolle as an “iconic figure,” highlighting his contributions as a player and his later career as a respected commentator for networks including Nine Network, CBS, and Fox Sports. Tiley described Stolle’s legacy as one of “excellence, dedication, and a profound love for tennis.”
Tributes poured in from fellow tennis greats, including Rod Laver, who praised Stolle’s character and achievements on social media. Stolle is survived by his wife, Pat, and his children, Sandon, Monique, and Nadine.
First Piper 