Mal Anderson MBE, a former Davis Cup and Grand Slam champion, passed away, and Australian tennis is in sorrow.
The 91-year-old had a stellar professional career, winning the US Open singles championship in 1957 as well as the French Open and Australian Open doubles crowns in 1957 and 1973, respectively.
When Anderson advanced to the 1956 Australian Open and lost to Ken Rosewall in the semi-final, it was his big break in the tennis world.
And when he defeated Ashley Cooper in New York the following year, he wouldn’t have to wait much longer to capture his first and only singles crown.
Anderson was unstoppable at the US Open, defeating three opponents ranked higher than him and dropping just two sets to win the championship.
During a hiatus in his career, he went on to manage a tennis and squash center in Brisbane before returning to the court.
Anderson became a mentor to several Australian tennis players after he retired from the sport, notably Pat Rafter, Scott Draper, and John Fitzgerald.
Mal Anderson passed away at the age of 91, and the tennis community has been in sorrow.
After retiring from tennis, he also served as a tutor to several elite Australian players.
The legendary Australian tennis player won four Grand Slam titles in doubles and one in singles.
Pat Rafter talked highly of Anderson, his old coach, claiming that he influenced Rafters’ tennis early in his career.
After Anderson passed away, Rafter couldn’t say enough good things about him: “I was really sad to hear of Mal’s passing,” he told tennis.com.au.He was one of the individuals who influenced my tennis style from a very young age.
He took me to Wimbledon for the first time, where he showed me what the professional game looked like and how to behave appropriately.
“Having someone like Mal do that for you was pretty special for a young Australian kid coming through.”
“I still recall hearing the response he received when his name was announced at Queen’s Club in London; everyone there stood up for him.” That was a clear indication of how well-liked he was not only in Australia but globally as well.In addition to being a genuine game icon, he was an amazing man who was modest, giving of his time, and always willing to assist newer players.
“One of Australia’s greatest tennis players has passed away, and many of us have lost a friend and mentor. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have known him.
“Mal was someone I looked up to from a very young age,” Scott Draper said, describing Anderson’s influence and his wish to give back to the sport. Mal taught me tennis for the first time when I was five years old. “Every weekend, our family played tennis at his center; it was a home away from home,” Draper remarked. “I was a member of the Mal Anderson high-performance squad with my brother Mark when I was a teenager.” I had the good fortune to accompany Mal on his Mal Anderson Exhibition tours, which are an amazing legacy. Mal was the pinnacle of professionalism and fitness, setting the highest standards and motivating us all to improve. He brought tennis to the local communities, bringing young aspirants like me along. “We learned how to coach and play exhibition matches,” he said. Mal was a pleasure to be around; he was the epitome of humility and genuinely cared about your life. A wonderful man, and I will undoubtedly carry on his legacy.
Wally Masur acknowledged that he learned what it took to be a professional from Mal Anderson.
Additionally, Wally Masur acknowledged that Anderson taught him what it took to be a tour professional.
“I first met Mal when he took ten young people on a satellite circuit around rural NSW in about 1979,” Masur recalled. “If you were out of the tournament, he made you run at 6.30am, punishing runs that usually made my stomach turn.” After spending four or five hours on the practice court, he hit for every minute of those four or five hours. He completed all of those runs with ease. “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.” He was there for you every step of the way and never said anything critical.
Anderson referred to himself as “addicted” throughout his life.
