Fraser won 19 grand slams but was arguably best known for his Davis Cup feats as a player, and then later as captain – a role he held for a record-setting 24 years.
Paul McNamee won the Davis Cup twice under the guidance of Neale Fraser and says simply: “If one person embodied the spirit of the Davis Cup, it was him.”
Australian tennis greats John Newcombe, Frank Sedgman, Neale Fraser, Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, and John Fitzgerald at Kooyong early last year.But as tennis moved to professionalism, Fraser resisted for fear of disqualifying himself from succeeding Hopman. “His love was Davis Cup,” said McNamee. “He committed his life to the service of Davis Cup, rather than turn professional.”
Raised in Melbourne, Fraser always marvelled at where and how far tennis took him. He grew up in South Yarra, next to tennis courts and soon enough on them. As well as tennis, he loved the races and cricket; by watching how leg-spinners cocked their wrists, he taught himself how to vary the direction of his serve.
In a time when the emphases in tennis were different, Fraser was also celebrated for the unique feat of twice winning the “triple crown” at the US: Singles, doubles and mixed.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘The spirit of the Davis Cup’: Australian tennis legend Neale Fraser dies aged 91Fraser won 19 grand slams but was arguably best known for his Davis Cup feats as a player, and then later as captain – a role he held for a record-setting 24 years.
Read more »
Aussie blow as Kokkinakis loses out in Davis Cup semi-finalAustralia’s hopes of reaching the Davis Cup final have been dealt an early blow after Thanasi Kokkinakis lost out in a tight three-set battle to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in Spain.
Read more »
Australia receives tough Davis Cup draw with former superpower Sweden first opponentLleyton Hewitt's Australian team will meet old foes Sweden, away, then face Belgium or Chile, in the qualifying rounds for the Davis Cup final 8.
Read more »
Rafael Nadal ‘in peace’ before curtain falls on legendary career at Davis CupRafael Nadal says he is at peace with his efforts as he prepares to end his legendary career at the Davis Cup finals in Málaga this week
Read more »
‘Take it seriously’: Lleyton tells it how it really is after Davis Cup heartbreakTennis: Australia have pulled off an upset to against a star-studded USA team to reach the Davis Cup semi-finals.
Read more »
Aussie blow as Kokkinakis loses out in Davis Cup semi-finalAustralia’s hopes of reaching the Davis Cup final have been dealt an early blow after Thanasi Kokkinakis lost out in a tight three-set battle to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in Spain.
Read more »