Fred Stolle

Last updated

Fred Stolle
AO
Full nameFrederick Sydney Stolle
Country (sports)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Residence Aventura, Florida, US
Born (1938-10-08) 8 October 1938 (age 85)
Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) [1]
Turned pro1966 (amateur from 1958)
Retired1976
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HoF 1985 (member page)
Singles
Career record860–442 (66.0%) [2]
Career titles39 [2]
Highest ranking No. 1 (1966, World Tennis) [3]
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
Career record189–101
Highest rankingNo. 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, AO [4] (born 8 October 1938) is an Australian former amateur world No. 1 tennis player and commentator. He was born in Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia. He is the father of former Australian Davis Cup player Sandon Stolle.

Contents

Career

Stolle is notable for being the only male player in history to have lost his first five Grand Slam singles finals, all but one were to Roy Emerson, the fifth of which he led by two sets to love. However, Stolle went on to win two Grand Slam tournament singles titles, the 1965 French Championships and the 1966 US Championships. [5] At Wimbledon and the Australian Championships he finished as runner-up in these tournaments and losing to compatriot Roy Emerson on no fewer than five occasions. World Tennis magazine ranked Stolle world No. 1 amateur in 1966. [6]

Stolle won ten Grand Slam doubles titles, partnering with compatriots Bob Hewitt (4 titles), Roy Emerson (4 titles) and Ken Rosewall (2 titles). In addition Stolle won 7 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.

As a member of the Australian Davis Cup team Stolle won the Davis Cup title in 1964, [7] 1965 and 1966. [8] In 1964 Stolle and Emerson were briefly suspended from the Australian Davis Cup team for going on an overseas tour in defiance of a Lawn Tennis Association of Australia order to remain in Australia until April. [9]

Stolle turned professional in 1966, [1] and as a pro, won two singles and 13 doubles titles. He earned about US$500,000 in career prize money. [10]

Stolle coached Vitas Gerulaitis from 1977 until 1983.

For many years, Stolle did TV commentary for ESPN and other tennis broadcasts. He currently provides commentary on Grand Slam tennis tournaments for Australia's Fox Sports and the Nine Network.

Honours

For his contribution to the tennis sport Fred Stolle was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985. [11] In 1988 he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. [12] He received an Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2005. [4] [13] In 2020, Stolle was awarded the ITF Philippe Chatrier Award, for his contribution to tennis both during his career and post-retirement. [14]

Grand Slam finals

Singles (2 titles, 6 runners-up)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss1963 Wimbledon Grass Flag of the United States.svg Chuck McKinley 7–9, 1–6, 4–6
Loss1964 Australian Championships Grass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson 3–6, 4–6, 2–6
Loss1964WimbledonGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson1–6, 10–12, 6–4, 3–6
Loss1964 US Championships Grass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson4–6, 2–6, 4–6
Loss1965Australian ChampionshipsGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson9–7, 6–2, 4–6, 5–7, 1–6
Win1965 French Championships Clay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Roche 3–6, 6–0, 6–2, 6–3
Loss1965WimbledonGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson2–6, 4–6, 4–6
Win1966US ChampionshipsGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Newcombe 4–6, 12–10, 6–3, 6–4

Doubles (10 titles, 6 runners-up)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss1961 Wimbledon Grass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Hewitt Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Neale Fraser
4–6, 8–6, 4–6, 8–6, 6–8
Loss1962 Australian Championships Grass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Hewitt Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Neale Fraser
6–4, 6–4, 1–6, 4–6, 9–11
Win1962WimbledonGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Hewitt Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Boro Jovanović
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Nikola Pilić
6–2, 5–7, 6–2, 6–4
Win1963Australian ChampionshipsGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Hewitt Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Fletcher
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Newcombe
6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
Win1964Australian ChampionshipsGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Hewitt Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Fletcher
6–4, 7–5, 3–6, 4–6, 14–12
Win1964WimbledonGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Hewitt Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Fletcher
7–5, 11–9, 6–4
Loss1965Australian ChampionshipsGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Newcombe
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Roche
6–3, 6–4, 11–13, 3–6, 4–6
Win1965 French Championships Clay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Fletcher
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Hewitt
6–8, 6–3, 8–6, 6–2
Win1965 US Championships Grass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson Flag of the United States.svg Frank Froehling
Flag of the United States.svg Charles Pasarell
6–4, 10–12, 7–5, 6–3
Win1966Australian ChampionshipsGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Newcombe
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Roche
7–9, 6–3, 6–8, 14–12, 12–10
Win1966US ChampionshipsGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson Flag of the United States.svg Clark Graebner
Flag of the United States.svg Dennis Ralston
6–4, 6–4, 6–4
Win 1968 French OpenClay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver
6–3, 6–4, 6–3
Loss 1968 WimbledonGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Newcombe
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Roche
6–3, 6–8, 7–5, 12–14, 3–6
Loss 1969 Australian OpenGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson
4–6, 4–6
Win 1969 US OpenGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall Flag of the United States.svg Charles Pasarell
Flag of the United States.svg Dennis Ralston
2–6, 7–5, 13–11, 6–3
Loss 1970 WimbledonGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Newcombe
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Roche
8–10, 3–6, 1–6

Open-era doubles titles (10)

NoYearTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
1.1968French Open, ParisClay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver
6–3, 6–4, 6–3
2.1968 Los Angeles, USHard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Cliff Drysdale
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roger Taylor
7–5, 6–1
3.1969 US Open, New YorkGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Pasarell
Flag of the United States.svg Dennis Ralston
2–6, 7–5, 13–11, 6–3
4.1971 Bologna WCT, ItalyCarpet Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Robert Maud
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Frew McMillan
6–7, 6–2, 6–3, 6–3
5.1972 Bretton Woods, US Hard Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Alexander Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Nikola Pilić
Flag of the United States.svg Cliff Richey
7–6, 7–6
6.1972 Vancouver WCT, CanadaOutdoor Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Newcombe Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Cliff Drysdale
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Stone
7–6, 6–0
7.1972 Johannesburg-2, South AfricaHard Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Newcombe Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Addison
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Carmichael
6–3, 6–4
8.1973 Chicago WCT, USCarpet Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall Flag of Egypt (1972-1984).svg Ismail El Shafei
Flag of New Zealand.svg Brian Fairlie
6–7, 6–4, 6–2
9.1973 Cleveland WCT, USCarpet Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall Flag of Egypt (1972-1984).svg Ismail El Shafei
Flag of New Zealand.svg Brian Fairlie
6–2, 6–3
10.1973 Bretton Woods, USClay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Carmichael
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Frew McMillan
7–6, 4–6, 7–5

Performance timeline

Key
W F SFQF#RRRQ#DNQANH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Singles

195819591960196119621963196419651966196719681969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 SR W–L Win %
Grand Slam tournaments 2 / 41102–3972.3
Australian Open 1R A 1R SF QF SF F F SF AA QF A 3R AAAAAAAA0 / 1023–1069.7
French Open AA 2R 3R 4R 2R 4R W QF A 2R QF AAAAAAAAA1 / 923–874.2
Wimbledon AA 1R 2R 3R F F F 2R A 4R 4R 1R 4R AAAAAA 1R 0 / 1231–1272.1
US Open AAAA 2R A F 2R W A 2R QF 3R A QF AA 1R A 2R A1 / 1025–973.5
Pro Slam tournaments 0 / 34–357.1
U.S. Pro AAAAAAAAA SF Not a Major0 / 12–166.7
French Pro AAAAAAAAA SF Not a Major0 / 12–166.7
Wembley Pro AAAAAAAAA 1R Not a Major0 / 10–10.0
Win–loss0–10–36–38–49–319–418–315–34–34–313–41–24–24–10–11–10–12 / 41106–4271.6

Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.

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References

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  2. 1 2 "Fred Stolle: Career match record". thetennisbase.com. Tennis Base. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  3. "The Sacramento Bee, 24 November 1966". newspapers.com. 24 November 1966.
  4. 1 2 "STOLLE, Frederick Sydney, AO". It's an Honour. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  5. Frank Deford (19 September 1966). "A forgotten Aussie refreshes the memory". Sports Illustrated . Vol. 25, no. 12. pp. 105–109.
  6. "The Sacramento Bee, 24 November 1966". newspapers.com. 24 November 1966.
  7. Frank Deford (5 October 1964). "Failure of a Winning Formula". Sports Illustrated . Vol. 21, no. 14. pp. 30–31.
  8. Ernest Shirley (10 January 1966). "¡Olé! Manolo—a little bit too late". Sports Illustrated . Vol. 24, no. 2. pp. 48–49.
  9. John Lovesey (13 July 1964). "The Outcasts Are Counted In". Sports Illustrated . Vol. 21, no. 2. pp. 22, 25.
  10. "ATP Player Profile". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  11. "Tennis Hall of Fame – Fred Stolle". Newport International Tennis Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  12. "Fred Stolle". Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  13. "Staale, Fred: Australian Sports Medal". It's an Honour. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  14. "SANTANA AND STOLLE HONOURED WITH ITF PHILIPPE CHATRIER AWARD". ITF Website. 31 March 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.