Fred Stolle

Frederick Sydney Stolle, AO (8 October 1938 – 5 March 2025) was an Australian amateur world No. 1 tennis player and commentator. He was born in Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia. He was the father of former Australian Davis Cup player Sandon Stolle.

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. 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.

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, 1965 and 1966. 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.

Stolle turned professional in 1966,

Stolle coached Vitas Gerulaitis from 1977 until 1983.

Later life and death For many years, Stolle did television commentary for ESPN and other tennis broadcasts. He provided commentary on Grand Slam tennis tournaments for Australia's Fox Sports and the Nine Network.

Stolle died from cancer in Palm Desert, California, on 5 March 2025, at the age of 86.

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

Grand Slam finals

Singles (2 titles, 6 runners-up)

Doubles (10 titles, 6 runners-up)

Open-era doubles titles (10) NoYearTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore 1. 1968 French Open, Paris Clay Ken Rosewall Roy Emerson Rod Laver 6–3, 6–4, 6–3 2. 1968 Los Angeles, US Hard Ken Rosewall Cliff Drysdale Roger Taylor 7–5, 6–1 3. 1969 US Open, New York Grass Ken Rosewall Charlie Pasarell Dennis Ralston 2–6, 7–5, 13–11, 6–3 4. 1971 Bologna WCT, Italy Carpet Ken Rosewall Robert Maud Frew McMillan 6–7, 6–2, 6–3, 6–3 5. 1972 Bretton Woods, US Hard John Alexander Nikola Pilić Cliff Richey 7–6, 7–6 6. 1972 Vancouver WCT, Canada Outdoor John Newcombe Cliff Drysdale Allan Stone 7–6, 6–0 7. 1972 Johannesburg-2, South Africa Hard John Newcombe Terry Addison Bob Carmichael 6–3, 6–4 8. 1973 Chicago WCT, US Carpet Ken Rosewall Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie 6–7, 6–4, 6–2 9. 1973 Cleveland WCT, US Carpet Ken Rosewall Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie 6–2, 6–3 10. 1973 Bretton Woods, US Clay Rod Laver Bob Carmichael Frew McMillan 7–6, 4–6, 7–5

Performance timeline

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