Martina Navratilova mourns the death of fellow tennis legend Neale Fraser after Aussie passes away at 91

Martina Navratilova mourned the death of Aussie tennis legend Neale Fraser, who passed away on December 2, 2024, at the age of 91. Fraser and Navratilova had connected in 1987, helping the American stop the up-and-coming Steffi Graf.

Fraser was one of the biggest names in Australian tennis in the 1950s and 1960s. He won a total of 19 Grand Slam titles including three singles, 11 doubles, and five mixed doubles titles. In 1959, Fraser held the World No. 1 rank in both singles and doubles.

He had famous rivalries with his compatriots and fellow tennis legends Ashley Cooper and Rod Laver. Fraser faced Cooper in two Grand Slam finals, the 1957 Australian Open (then Championship) and the 1958 Wimbledon Championship, losing both.

Laver faced Fraser in three Grand Slam finals. Laver won the 1960 Australian Championships but Fraser was victorious at Wimbledon and the US Championships that year.

Fraser, a lefty, was famous for his serve. After retiring from playing, he helped Martina Navratilova in 1987 ahead of Wimbledon to sharpen her serves. The American, also a lefty, was facing a tough time with her serve but in 1987, especially at Wimbledon, she was formidable with the help of Fraser.

Navratilova took to X to pay tribute to the Aussie. She wrote:

"So sad to hear Neale Fraser passed away two days ago. He was a true champion on and off the court! Grateful to have known him and thank you Neale for your help back in 87:), RIP Champ , lots of love,m."

Graf had defeated Navratilova in the French Open final in 1987 but the American claimed victory in the Wimbledon Championships and the US Open final against the German.

Eventually, Navratilova, who is over 12 years older than Graf, finished with a 9-9 head-to-head record against the German. Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles while Navratilova won 18.

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Neale Fraser inspired Martina Navratilova to win the Wimbledon Championships

Martina Navratilova at The Championships - Wimbledon 2024 (Image: Getty)

As reported by The Times, Martina Navratilova credited a photo of Neale Fraser serving, found in a rare tennis book in her native Czechoslovakia, as a pivotal inspiration in her journey to Wimbledon glory.

Fraser was a towering figure in tennis, both as a player and a leader. He received numerous honors, including an MBE in 1974, an AO in 1988, and induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984. He also served as Australia's Davis Cup captain for an unparalleled 24 years, leading the team to victory in four editions: 1973, 1977, 1983, and 1986.

His contributions to the sport earned him the ITF's highest honour: the Philippe Chatrier Award in 2008 and recognition as the first recipient of the ITF's Davis Cup Award of Excellence.