Neale Fraser Dies at 91: "Deeply Saddened" - Rod Laver Pays Condolence to Fellow Australian Great

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Tributes and condolences poured in mouning the death of Australian tennis legend Neale Fraser, who has died aged 91. Fraser, who won 19 Grand Slam crowns in the 1950s and 60s and was the world's top-ranked player from 1959 to 1960, leaves behind his wife Thea.

Fraser won 19 titles across both the singles and doubles in Grand Slams across his career, but it was the Davis Cup that made him a legend of the game. He led his country to four consecutive Davis Cup titles (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962) and remained a non-playing captain for 24 years.

Fraser won the Wimbledon in 1960 by beating another Australian great, Rod Laver, as well as winning the precursor to the US Open, the US Championships in 1959 and 1960 - again beating Laver in the latter showdown.

Laver on Tuesday (December 3) paid his heartfelt condolence to losing his dear mate and fellow lefty, who pushed him to becoming a better player during their playing years.

"I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my dear mate and fellow lefty, Neale Fraser. He was a true gem in a golden era of Australian tennis legends - an incredible World No.1, a Grand Slam champion, and a Davis Cup icon," Laver posted on X.

"Neale bested me in 2 major finals, pushing me to become a better player. My heartfelt condolences go out to Thea and Neale's extended family. I'll miss you dearly, buddy. Rest in peace."

Fraser was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984, and ten years later in the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame. In 2008, Fraser was awarded the ITF's Philippe Chatrier Award for outstanding achievement in tennis.

"He learned to play on the clay courts next door to his childhood home in Melbourne and developed a game built around a thunderous left-handed serve," Tennis Australia said in a statement.

"As a cricket fan he watched how leg-spin bowlers turned the ball in different directions by cocking their wrists and he adapted this 'googly' approach to his serve."