Australian tennis is mourning the loss of former Davis Cup and Grand Slam champion Mal Anderson MBE, who has died at the age of 91. The tennis icon enjoyed a remarkable professional career, highlighted by his victory at the 1957 US Open singles title, as well as doubles triumphs at the 1957 French Open and 1973 Australian Open.
Breakthrough and Grand Slam Success
Anderson first made his mark on the tennis scene in 1956 when he reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open, ultimately losing to Ken Rosewall. However, he did not have to wait long to claim his first and only singles Grand Slam title. The following year, he defeated Ashley Cooper in New York to win the US Open, dropping just two sets and overcoming three seeded opponents along the way.
During a break in his playing career, Anderson ran a tennis and squash centre in Brisbane before eventually returning to the court. After retiring from professional tennis, he became a mentor to several Australian tennis stars, including Pat Rafter, Scott Draper, and John Fitzgerald.
Tributes from Tennis Stars
Pat Rafter spoke glowingly of Anderson, saying, 'I was really sad to hear of Mal's passing. He was one of the people who helped me 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. For a young Aussie kid coming through, that was a pretty special thing to have someone like Mal do for you.'
Rafter added, '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.'
Scott Draper also recalled Anderson's impact, saying, 'Mal was someone I looked up to from a very young age. I had my first tennis lesson from Mal at five. Our family spent every weekend playing tennis at his centre; it was a home away from home. In my teens, I was part of the Mal Anderson high-performance squad with my brother Mark. Mal was the epitome of fitness and professionalism and role-modelled the highest standards, inspiring all of us to be better. I was lucky to travel with him on his Mal Anderson Exhibition tours, which are an incredible legacy. He took tennis to the regions and took young wannabes like me with him. We learned how to coach and play exhibition matches. 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.'
Wally Masur credited Anderson with teaching him what it meant to be a professional on the tour. 'I first met Mal when he took 10 youngsters on a satellite circuit around country NSW in about 1979. 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. I'll leave it to his peers to judge where he sits in the pantheon of Australian tennis greats, but what a gentleman and an inspiration he was to a young player trying to make the tour.'
During his life, Anderson described himself as 'addicted' to tennis, a passion that clearly defined his legacy.
