Fred Stolle
Tennis Legend

In the commemorative centenary booklet, Naremburn Public School 1888-1987, is stated:-

“Despite the small enrolment, results in inter-school competitions were good. This was the time when, arguably our most famous ‘old boy’ Fred Stolle was making his mark. He was already beyond schoolboy standards in tennis, so devoted his talents to cricket and football.’’

It was in tennis that Fred was to become a legend and belatedly recognised for his academic achievements.

Born in Hornsby, NSW, in October 1938, Fred completed his education at Naremburn achieving his Intermediate in 1953. The rest is history. Stolle went on to win eighteen Grand Slam Championships ranking seventh on the all time list of Champions. A member of Australia’s Davis Cup team from 1964 until 1967, he won thirteen of his fourteen matches while playing on four victorious teams. His tremendous talents earned him the world number one ranking in 1966. His career spanned the amateur and open eras. He was in the world Top Ten for four years from 1963 and turned professional in 1967. With the nickname ‘Fiery’ he won the French and US Opens and was twice a singles finalist in the Australian Open, three times Wimbledon Singles Finalist in 1963, 1964 and 1965.

Fred was an accomplished doubles player with sixteen Grand Slam titles including the US Open, two US mixed doubles, two Wimbledon doubles, three Wimbledon mixed doubles, two French Open men’s doubles, three men’s doubles and one mixed doubles at the Australian Open.

When the Naremburn School Centenary Committee was sifting through old records they came across a number of unclaimed Intermediate Certificates. Unaware that Fred Stolle, tennis legend, was an ‘old boy’, a number of phone calls revealed that the unclaimed certificate in the name of ‘Frederick Sydney Stolle’ was that of THE Fred Stolle. Fortunately Fred, who was then based in Miami, Florida, was due to visit Sydney. He was able to claim his 1953 Intermediate Certificate from the Principal, Mr Bill Shea, and the seven members of the Centenary Committee, “in the congenial surroundings of the Manly Pacific Hotel”. One of the seven, Jann Hoyos, still lives in Dalleys Road.

Fred’s son, Sandon, born 1970, became a tennis pro and represented Australia in the Davis Cup. He won one Grand Slam event, the US doubles, and in 2001 reached a two ranking in world double play.

Fred is known to us today as a tennis commentator and analyst on Channel 9’s Wide World of Sport.