The Australian tennis community is mourning the loss of former champion and mentor Mal Anderson, who passed away at the age of 91.
A Historic Triumph
Anderson made history in 1957 when he became the first unseeded winner of the US Championships. He received his trophy from then Vice President Richard Nixon, alongside trailblazing women's champion Althea Gibson.
Nearly a Second Grand Slam
The Australian nearly added a second grand slam title during the professional Open Era. In the 1972 Australian Open, he knocked out reigning Wimbledon champion John Newcombe en route to the final. Although he lost to Ken Rosewall in the championship match, Anderson humorously noted he "got his revenge" by defeating Rosewall in the 1973 NSW Open (now the Sydney International). "It wasn't very popular beating him in New South Wales," he laughed on a Tennis Australia podcast last year.
Doubles Success and Davis Cup
Anderson also won the doubles title with Newcombe at the 1973 Australian Open and played a key role in Australia's Davis Cup triumph that same year.
A Mentor to Many
After his playing career, Anderson became a mentor to rising Australian stars, including Pat Rafter, Scott Draper, Wally Masur, and John Fitzgerald.
Tributes from Proteges
Pat Rafter expressed his sadness, saying, "He was one of those people who helped shape my tennis from very early on. He took me overseas for the first time, over to Wimbledon, and introduced me to what the professional game looked like and what it meant to carry yourself properly around it. I still remember being at Queen's Club in London and hearing the reception he got when his name was announced — the whole place stood up for him. That told you everything about the respect people had for him, not just here in Australia but around the world. He was a true legend of the game, but more importantly he was a terrific bloke — humble, generous with his time and always happy to help younger players along. Tennis in Australia has lost one of its greats, and a lot of us have lost a mate and mentor. I feel very lucky to have known him."
Wally Masur recalled meeting Anderson in 1979 when he took 10 youngsters on a satellite circuit around country NSW. "If you were out of the tournament he made you run at 6.30am, punishing runs that usually brought up the contents of my stomach. He did every one of those runs with us and did them easily. Then it was four or five hours on the practice court, and he hit for every minute of those hours. Never a critical word, just encouragement and he was with you every step of the way."
Scott Draper, who first learned from Anderson at age five, described the veteran's Queensland tennis centre as "a home away from home." He said, "Mal was a joy to be around, humility personified and always took genuine interest in your life. A great bloke and his legacy will definitely live on in me."
Personal Life
Anderson married Daphne Emerson, the sister of Australian tennis legend Roy Emerson, just weeks after winning the 1957 US Championships. Roy served as a groomsman in what was reported at the time as the "tennis wedding of the year."
Mal Anderson's contributions to tennis, both as a player and mentor, will be remembered fondly by the Australian and global tennis communities.
