Mal Anderson (Photo from ausopen.com) Australian tennis great Mal Anderson has died aged 91, Tennis Australia confirmed on Monday. Anderson made history in 1957 when he became the first unseeded player to win the men’s singles title at the US Open, then known as the United States Championship.Born and raised on a farm, Anderson began playing tennis on a dirt court before working his way up to become one of Australia’s most respected players. During his career, he won the US Open singles title, three Grand Slam doubles titles and helped Australia win the Davis Cup twice.
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Indian tennis star Shrivalli opens up about injuries and comebacksHis triumph at the 1957 US Open was particularly memorable as he defeated three seeds and lost only two sets over the course of the tournament despite entering unseeded.After retiring from professional tennis, Anderson remained closely involved with the sport and became a mentor to several young Australian players, including former world number one Pat Rafter.Rafter paid an emotional tribute after hearing the news.“I was really sad to hear about Mal’s death. He was one of those people who helped shape my tennis from the very beginning,” Rafter told AFP.“He was a true legend of the game, but more importantly, he was a great guy – humble, generous with his time and always happy to help the younger players.”Rafter also spoke of the personal impact Anderson had on Australian tennis players across generations. He added: “Tennis in Australia has lost one of its greats and many of us have lost a friend and mentor. I feel very lucky to have known him.”
