The Australian tennis community has mourned the loss of eight-time Grand Slam champion Ashley Cooper, aged 83.
Cooper was a dominant force in tennis during the 1960s, winning four singles and four doubles titles in the space of two years.
He led Australia to Davis Cup success in 1957, becoming the top-ranked amateur player in the process.
This was followed up an incredible 1958 season, winning three of the four majors, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon, before turning pro in 1959.
A popular member of Australia’s golden generation, Ashley Cooper was a humble Grand Slam champion who leaves a rich legacy in the sport. pic.twitter.com/IHdvXja2cL
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) May 22, 2020
In his retirement, he would serve as President of Tennis Queensland, overseeing the creation of the Queensland Tennis Centre, including Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane.
Cooper was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1987 and the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1991, appointed an AO in 2007 for his services to tennis.
Tennis Australia released a statement on Friday, with CEO Craig Tiley thanking Cooper for his incredible work on and off the court.
“Ashley was a giant of the game both as a brilliant player and an astute administrator and he will be greatly missed,” said Tiley.
“His contribution to the sport went far beyond his exploits on the tennis court. His rich legacy includes the magnificent Queensland Tennis Centre, a project he was passionate about, nurturing the development from the very beginning, and resulting in the return of world-class international tennis to Brisbane.
“Ashley was also the most humble of champions and a great family man. Our hearts go out to his wife Helen and his family, along with his wide and international circle of friends, including so many of our tennis family.
“On a personal note, Ash was instrumental in our family moving to Australia and for that, we will be forever grateful. He was a very humble advisor and great supporter of our transformation of Australian tennis. I will miss him.”
World number one Ash Barty and 11-time grand slam champion Rod Laver led the tributes, thanking Cooper for his work in the sport.
Thank you for everything that you have done for our sport. My thoughts are with your family and loved ones.
— Ash Barty (@ashbarty) May 22, 2020
Rest In Peace, Ashley. https://t.co/uOoedanL6K
So sad to hear of Ashley’s passing. He was a wonderful champion, on and off the court. And what a backhand! So many cherished memories. Farewell my friend. My thoughts are with Ashley’s wife, Helen, and his family. https://t.co/HeKYuOFINm
— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) May 22, 2020