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, and as a professional, won two singles and 13 doubles titles. He earned about US$500,000 in career prize money.

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.Fred Stolle, Australian tennis legend and beloved friend, dies at 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: 8 (2 titles / 6 runners-up) ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss 1963 Wimbledon Grass Chuck McKinley 7–9, 1–6, 4–6Loss 1964 Australian Championships Grass Roy Emerson 3–6, 4–6, 2–6Loss 1964 Wimbledon Grass Roy Emerson 1–6, 10–12, 6–4, 3–6Loss 1964 U.S. Championships Grass Roy Emerson4–6, 2–6, 4–6Loss 1965 Australian ChampionshipsGrass Roy Emerson 9–7, 6–2, 4–6, 5–7, 1–6Win 1965French ChampionshipsClay Tony Roche3–6, 6–0, 6–2, 6–3Loss 1965 Wimbledon Grass Roy Emerson 2–6, 4–6, 4–6Win 1966U.S. ChampionshipsGrass John Newcombe4–6, 12–10, 6–3, 6–4

Doubles: 16 (10 titles / 6 runners-up)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss 1961 Wimbledon Grass Bob Hewitt Roy Emerson Neale Fraser 4–6, 8–6, 4–6, 8–6, 6–8Loss 1962 Australian Championships Grass Bob Hewitt Roy Emerson Neale Fraser 6–4, 6–4, 1–6, 4–6, 9–11Win 1962 Wimbledon Grass Bob Hewitt Boro Jovanović Nikola Pilić 6–2, 5–7, 6–2, 6–4Win 1963Australian Championships Grass Bob Hewitt Ken Fletcher John Newcombe 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3Win 1964 Australian Championships Grass Bob Hewitt Roy Emerson Ken Fletcher 6–4, 7–5, 3–6, 4–6, 14–12Win 1964 Wimbledon Grass Bob Hewitt Roy Emerson Ken Fletcher 7–5, 11–9, 6–4Loss 1965 Australian Championships Grass Roy Emerson John Newcombe Tony Roche 6–3, 6–4, 11–13, 3–6, 4–6Win 1965 French Championships Clay Roy Emerson Ken Fletcher Bob Hewitt 6–8, 6–3, 8–6, 6–2Win 1965 U.S. Championships Grass Roy Emerson Frank Froehling Charles Pasarell 6–4, 10–12, 7–5, 6–3Win 1966 Australian Championships Grass Roy Emerson John Newcombe Tony Roche 7–9, 6–3, 6–8, 14–12, 12–10Win 1966 US Championships Grass Roy Emerson Clark Graebner Dennis Ralston 6–4, 6–4, 6–4↓  Open Era  ↓Win 1968 French Open Clay Ken Rosewall Roy Emerson Rod Laver 6–3, 6–4, 6–3Loss 1968 Wimbledon Grass Ken Rosewall John Newcombe Tony Roche 6–3, 6–8, 7–5, 12–14, 3–6Loss 1969 Australian Open Grass Ken Rosewall Rod Laver Roy Emerson 4–6, 4–6Win 1969 US Open Grass Ken Rosewall Charles Pasarell Dennis Ralston 2–6, 7–5, 13–11, 6–3Loss 1970 Wimbledon Grass Ken Rosewall John Newcombe Tony Roche 8–10, 3–6, 1–6

Mixed doubles: 11 (6 titles / 5 runners-up) ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1961 Wimbledon Grass Lesley Turner Edda Buding Bob Howe 11–9, 6–2Win 1962 Australian Championships Grass Lesley Turner Darlene Hard Roger Taylor 6–3, 9–4Loss 1962 French Championships Clay Lesley Turner Renée Schuurman Bob Howe 6–3, 4–6, 4–6Win1962U.S. Championships Grass Margaret Smith Frank Froehling Lesley Turner7–5, 6–2Loss 1963 Australian Championships Grass Lesley Turner Margaret Smith Ken Fletcher 5–7, 7–5, 4–6Loss 1963 French Championships Clay Lesley Turner Margaret Smith Ken Fletcher 1–6, 2–6Loss 1964 French Championships Clay Lesley Turner Margaret Smith Ken Fletcher 3–6, 6–4, 6–8Win 1964 Wimbledon Grass Lesley Turner Margaret Smith Ken Fletcher 6–4, 6–4Win1965U.S. Championships Grass Margaret Smith Frank Froehling Judy Tegart6–2, 6–2↓  Open Era  ↓Win 1969 Wimbledon Grass Ann Haydon-Jones Judy Tegart Tony Roche 6–2, 6–3Loss 1975 US Open Clay Billie Jean King Rosemary Casals Richard Stockton 3–6, 6–7

Open Era finals Doubles: 22 (10 titles / 12 runner-ups) ResultW-L DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1–0 Jun 1968French Open, Paris Clay Ken Rosewall Roy Emerson Rod Laver 6–3, 6–4, 6–3Loss 1–1 Jul 1968Wimbledon, London Grass Ken Rosewall John Newcombe Tony Roche 6–3, 6–8, 7–5, 12–14, 3–6Win 2–1 Sep 1968 Los Angeles, US Hard Ken Rosewall Cliff Drysdale Roger Taylor 7–5, 6–1Loss 2–2 Jan 1969 Hobart, Australia Grass Tony Roche Mal Anderson Roger Taylor 5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1, 4–6Loss 2–3 Jan 1969Australian Open, Melbourne Grass Ken Rosewall Roy Emerson Rod Laver 4–6, 4–6Win 3–3 Sep 1969US Open, New York Grass Ken Rosewall Charlie Pasarell Dennis Ralston 2–6, 7–5, 13–11, 6–3Loss 3–4 Apr 1970 Dallas WCT, US Carpet Ken Rosewall Roy Emerson Warren Jacques 4–6, 8–6, 4–6Loss 3–5 Jul 1970Wimbledon, London Grass Ken Rosewall John Newcombe Tony Roche 8–10, 3–6, 1–6 Loss 3–6 Aug 1970 Toronto, Canada Clay Cliff Drysdale Bill Bowrey Marty Riessen 3–6, 2–6Loss 3–7 Oct 1971 Berkeley, US Hard Ken Rosewall Roy Emerson Rod Laver 3–6, 3–6Win 4–7 Nov 1971 Bologna WCT, Italy Carpet Ken Rosewall Robert Maud Frew McMillan 6–7, 6–2, 6–3, 6–3Loss 4–8 Apr 1972 Houston WCT, US Clay Ken Rosewall Roy Emerson Rod Laver 3–6, 3–6Win 5–8 Jul 1972 Bretton Woods, US Hard John Alexander Nikola Pilić Cliff Richey 7–6, 7–6Loss 5–9 Aug 1972 Fort Worth, US Hard Ken Rosewall Tom Okker Marty Riessen 2–6, 2–6Win 6–9 Oct 1972 Vancouver WCT, Canada Outdoor John Newcombe Cliff Drysdale Allan Stone 7–6, 6–0Win 7–9 Dec 1972 Johannesburg-2, South Africa Hard John Newcombe Terry Addison Bob Carmichael 6–3, 6–4Loss 7–10 Feb 1973 Milan WCT, Italy Carpet Ken Rosewall Tom Okker Marty Riessen 3–6, 3–6Win 8–10 Mar 1973 Chicago WCT, US Carpet Ken Rosewall Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie 6–7, 6–4, 6–2Win 9–10 Apr 1973 Cleveland WCT, US Carpet Ken Rosewall Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie 6–2, 6–3Loss 9–11 May 1973 Las Vegas, US Hard Ken Rosewall Brian Gottfried Dick Stockton 7–6, 4–6, 4–6Win 10–11 Jul 1973 Bretton Woods, US Clay Rod Laver Bob Carmichael Frew McMillan 7–6, 4–6, 7–5Loss 10–12 Nov 1982 Baltimore, US Carpet Vijay Amritraj Anand Amritraj Tony Giammalva 5–7, 2–6

Performance timeline

Singles 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 SR Win %Grand Slam tournaments 2 / 41 102–39 72.31R A1RSFQFSFFFSF A AQF A3R A A A A A A A A0 / 1023–1069.7French Open A A2R3R4R2R4RWQF A2RQF A A A A A A AA A1 / 923–874.2Wimbledon A A1R2R3RFFF2R A4R4R1R4R A A A A AA1R0 / 1231–1272.1US Open A A A A2R AF2RW A2RQF3R AQF A A1R A2R A1 / 1025–973.5Pro Slam tournaments 0 / 3 4–3 57.1U.S. Pro A A A A A A A A ASFNot a Major0 / 12–166.7French Pro A A A A A A A A ASFNot a Major0 / 12–166.7Wembley Pro A A A A A A A A A1RNot a Major0 / 10–10.0Win–loss 0–1 0–3 6–3 8–4 9–3 19–4 18–3 15–3 4–3 4–3 13–4 1–2 4–2 4–1 0–1 1–1 0–1 Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.

References

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