As household, buddies and Australian tennis legends farewelled Neale Fraser at a state funeral, former world No.1 Roger Federer additionally paid tribute to the Aussie nice.
Melbourne, Australia, 18 December 2024 | Melissa Woods, AAP
The tennis group, together with Lleyton Hewitt, Paul McNamee, Todd Woodbridge and John Fitzgerald, have been amongst those that farewelled Neale Fraser at a state funeral at Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral on Wednesday.
Former world No.1 Roger Federer additionally paid tribute to the Australian nice.
It adopted the loss of life of the previous Davis Cup captain at age 91 on 3 December.
The funeral was additionally attended by former Victorian premiers Jeff Kennett, Ted Baillieu and John Brumby, together with present chief Jacinta Allan, who described Fraser as “equal elements sheer blinding expertise and diligent, decided onerous work”.
Fraser gained 19 Grand Slam titles, together with three singles crowns, and held the world No.1 rating in each singles and doubles throughout his profession.
However he’s finest remembered for his involvement with the Davis Cup, each as a participant and in a record-setting run as Australian captain.
After serving to Australia declare 4 successive Davis Cup titles from 1959 to 1962, he was captain for a report 24 years from 1970 to 1993, steering Australia to 4 finals triumphs – in 1973, 1977, 1983 and 1986 – and recording 55 wins from 75 ties performed.
Fitzgerald, who was a part of the final two titles, mentioned Fraser set the bar excessive for his Davis Cup proteges.
“He was a hero of mine who grew to become my captain, which advanced into him being my mentor and my pal,” the previous doubles star mentioned of their 1983 workforce of himself, Paul McNamee, Pat Money and Mark Edmondson.
“He had the power to carry the completely different characters in our workforce collectively.
“We have been 4 completely different personalities, all buddies however from completely different planets, however he acquired us to work collectively and combat for a standard purpose.
“He had nice ardour for the inexperienced and gold.”
With a mini Davis Cup trophy, picket racquet and his trademark terry-towelling hat flanking the coffin that was topped with an Australian flag, Fitzgerald learn a letter despatched from Federer to Fraser’s widow Thea.
“I’m deeply saddened to listen to of Neale’s passing … he was a real legend of our sport and his exceptional achievements and management proceed to encourage gamers in all places,” Federer wrote.
“He and his era set an unbelievable instance for all of us to comply with.”
A 3-time Grand Slam singles champion, Fraser downed Rod Laver in a memorable all-Australian Wimbledon males’s closing in 1960.
He additionally gained two US Open singles titles, once more beating Laver in 1960 a 12 months after overcoming Peru-born American Alex Olmedo.
Rising in the course of the golden period of Australian males’s tennis, Fraser additionally amassed 16 Grand Slam doubles titles, finishing the profession slam within the males’s format, and claimed 5 combined main trophies.
He was elected into the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame in 1984, the Australian Tennis Corridor of Fame in 1994, and was honoured with the Philippe Chatrier Award for excellent achievements in tennis in 2008.
He was remembered by his spouse Thea, her three youngsters and his 5 youngsters with first spouse Wendy.
Daughter Melissa Fraser spoke on behalf of the household and advised of her dad’s love of golf and horse racing in addition to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
“Dad if there’s one factor you taught us in life, it’s to have ardour,” she mentioned.
“Whether or not or not it’s barracking for the Melbourne Demons, attempting to select a winner on the races or on the golf course.
“You shunned the skilled life to safe your Davis Cup captaincy, that’s the dad we knew – Australia first.
“Whether or not it was the Fed Cup, the Davis Cup or the Olympics, your ardour in your nation was admirable.”
She mentioned Wimbledon was his “particular place”, with Fraser visiting greater than 50 occasions together with his final journey in 2023, when he was honoured as a former champion.
