Two singles, ten doubles, and seven mixed doubles Grand Slam titles. Three Davis Cup victories for Australia. Induction into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985. A 50-year career as the voice of tennis for Nine Network, CBS, and Fox Sports. And above all, an unwavering dedication to representing Australia. This is the remarkable legacy of Fred Stolle, “Fiery Fred,” who passed away on Wednesday.

Serena Williams‘ ex-coach and Australian former pro, Rennae Stubbs, couldn’t hold her emotions when she learned about Stolle’s departure. Paying her heartfelt tribute, Stubbs wrote, “Fred Stolle, Australian tennis legend and beloved friend, dies at 86. And one of my favorite people. RIP Fiery. ❤️ you. Stubbsy xo”

If you ask any old-school tennis fan about Fred Stolle, they’ll tell you he was a legend back in the 60s, when Australia was basically unbeatable. During this phase, the country saw many of its players rule the court. These included the likes of Rod Laver, Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, John Newcombe and Ken Rosewall. He was right up there with the best of them.

Apart from winning two singles Slams, Stolle reached five championship battles in two majors. He fell short of victory in three consecutive Wimbledon finals of 1963, 1964, and 1965. Same was the case in his two finals at the Australian Open in 1964 and 1965. He hit world number one in ’66. But his doubles game? That’s where he really shined. Ten majors, a career Grand Slam – just incredible.

When asked about his career highlight, he didn’t mention a single personal victory; instead, he chose to play Davis Cup. “To play for Australia meant everything to me,” he had said. Despite living most of his life in the United States, Stolle remained intensely proud of his Australian heritage. As Stolle liked to say, “For us Aussies, it was simple: ‘first to the net, first to the pub.’”

So, Stolle got this nickname “Fiery” during the Davis Cup, which is hilarious because he was the opposite of fiery in the mornings. Like, super sluggish and quiet during practice. They loved their ironic nicknames back then. And get this, he thought of the tennis court as a stage, not a boxing ring.

Stolle was a big guy, 191 cm, and he knew how to use it. He had this powerful serve and was super sharp at the net. His love for tennis started early, as a ball boy at a 1951 Davis Cup match in Sydney. That’s when he decided tennis was his thing, not cricket or rugby. And back when Australian tennis was overflowing with talent, his family helped him get his start by funding his first international trips in 1960.

Fred Stolle, from Hornsby, Australia, has a really interesting stat. He’s the only male player ever to lose his first five Grand Slam singles finals. And to top it off, four of those were against Roy Emerson, one where he even had a two-set lead. Talk about tough luck.

“Competition and camaraderie, that’s what it’s all about,” he liked to say about the years he’d devoted to tennis. “For all the matches you play and win and lose, what matters in the end are the friendships you build all around the world.” Naturally, many other notable tennis figures have also paid homage to Stolle.

Rod Laver, Paul McNamee, and others remember Fred Stolle

“When we speak about Australia’s golden era and the progression from amateur to professionalism, Stolle’s name is right up there with the best,” Tennis Australia’s CEO Craig Tiley said as reported by BBC. “His impact on the sport will be remembered and cherished by all who had the privilege to witness his contributions.”

Following the news of his demise, 11-time Major winner Rod Laver remembered him. “As I wrote in my book on the Golden Era of Aussie tennis, Fred Stolle was too nice a guy to hold a grudge. He won many Grand Slams and was in the finals of many more. It took the best to beat the best,” he wrote on X. “He won many Grand Slams and was in the finals of many more. It took the best to beat the best. We never tired of reliving the past as we travelled the world looking into the future with an enduring love of the sport. You will be missed, Fiery, RIP 🚀”

Jannik Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill also paid an emotional tribute to Stolle. In his X post, dated March 6, he wrote, “A great man and a legend of our sport both as a player and broadcaster. But he was world champion with a microphone when emcee of any tennis event. Witty, hilarious, sharp, quick on his feet and no one in the room was safe. No one did it better. RIP Fiery and congrats on an amazing innings. 🤍”

Former Australian ATP pro and doubles No.1 Paul McNamee also shared an emotional message. Taking to his X account, he wrote, “Fiery Fred Stolle is no longer with us. What a player, what a commentator, what a bloke. One of that great group of Aussie tennis players who made history, and whose legacy is perhaps unrivalled. Thank you Fred for your wit, your friendship and for just being you. We’ll miss you”

Even former American tennis icon Patrick McEnroe couldn’t hold himself from paying his final homage. He wrote, “Rest in peace the legend Fred Stolle.” The late ATP icon is survived by his wife Pat, son and former doubles World No.2 Sandon and two daughters Monique and Nadine.