Ashley Cooper
Encyclopedia
Ashley John Cooper AO
(born 15 September 1936 in Melbourne) is a former tennis player from Australia, who was World No. 1 in the late 1950s.
1958 was Cooper's big year where he became one of only ten men to date (2010) to win three of the four Grand Slam events in the same year – he won singles at the Australian
, British, and American championships
and was a semi-finalist at the French championship, losing to Luis Ayala
11–9, 6–4, 4–6, 2–6, 5–7.
The right-handed Cooper was the top-ranked player in both 1957, when he was a Wimbledon and Forest Hills finalist and Paris semi-finalist, and in 1958. Cooper was an Australian Davis Cup
player as the team won the cup from '56 and '57, and finalists in '58. He turned professional in 1959.
Upon retiring as a player, Cooper has served as a tennis player development administrator with Tennis Queensland, where he has been based for forty years. He presently also sits on the Board of Directors for Tennis Australia
.
Cooper was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
in 1991.
In the Queen's Birthday Honours List of 2007, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his service to tennis.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 15 September 1936 in Melbourne) is a former tennis player from Australia, who was World No. 1 in the late 1950s.
1958 was Cooper's big year where he became one of only ten men to date (2010) to win three of the four Grand Slam events in the same year – he won singles at the Australian
Australian Open
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
, British, and American championships
U.S. Open (tennis)
The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881...
and was a semi-finalist at the French championship, losing to Luis Ayala
Luis Ayala (tennis)
Luis Alberto Ayala Salinas is a former Chilean world-ranked tennis player who competed in the 1950s and 1960s. When he retired, he became a tennis professional at River Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas. Currently, he is the Director of Tennis at the Forest Club in Houston, Texas.-Grand slams:...
11–9, 6–4, 4–6, 2–6, 5–7.
The right-handed Cooper was the top-ranked player in both 1957, when he was a Wimbledon and Forest Hills finalist and Paris semi-finalist, and in 1958. Cooper was an Australian Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
player as the team won the cup from '56 and '57, and finalists in '58. He turned professional in 1959.
Upon retiring as a player, Cooper has served as a tennis player development administrator with Tennis Queensland, where he has been based for forty years. He presently also sits on the Board of Directors for Tennis Australia
Tennis Australia
Tennis Australia is the governing body for the sport of Tennis in Australia. The organisation exists to promote tennis and conduct domestic and international tournaments on behalf of Australia, including the Australian Open and the Davis Cup for the Australian Davis Cup Team...
.
Cooper was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
International Tennis Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The hall of fame and honors players and contributors to the sport of tennis and includes a museum, grass tennis courts, an indoor tennis facility, and a court tennis facility.-History:The hall of fame and...
in 1991.
In the Queen's Birthday Honours List of 2007, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his service to tennis.
Wins (4)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1957 | Australian Championships Australian Open The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court... |
Neale Fraser Neale Fraser Neale Andrew Fraser AO MBE is a former tennis player from Australia, born in Melbourne, Victoria, the son of a Victorian judge. He began playing tennis at age 11 and attended St Kevin's College, Melbourne where he became Captain of Tennis at the school.Fraser won Wimbledon in 1960 and the US... |
6–3, 9–11, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1958 | Australian Championships (2) | Malcolm Anderson Malcolm Anderson Malcolm "Mal" J. Anderson was a top-ranking Australian tennis player from the middle 1950s to the early 1970s.... |
7–5, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1958 | Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
Neale Fraser | 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 13–11 |
| 1958 | U.S. Championships U.S. Open (tennis) The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881... |
Malcolm Anderson | 6–2, 3–6, 4–6, 10–8, 8–6 |
Runner-ups (2)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1957 | Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
Lew Hoad Lew Hoad Lewis Alan Hoad was a champion tennis player.... |
6–2, 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1957 | U.S. Championships U.S. Open (tennis) The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881... |
Malcolm Anderson Malcolm Anderson Malcolm "Mal" J. Anderson was a top-ranking Australian tennis player from the middle 1950s to the early 1970s.... |
10–8, 7–5, 6–4 |