Mal Anderson, the Australian tennis standout who became the first unseeded man to win the U.S. National singles championship, has died. He was 91.
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The International Tennis Hall of Fame said Anderson died Monday, May 11. A cause of death was not disclosed.
Anderson's most notable achievement came in 1957, when he captured the U.S. Nationals title, now known as the US Open, with a run that included victories over several top-seeded opponents. He defeated second-seeded Dick Savitt, third-seeded Sven Davidson and top-seeded fellow Australian Ashley Cooper en route to the title.
The victory followed a challenging stretch that included injuries and inconsistent results. Anderson rebounded to produce one of the most memorable performances of that era.
Born in Theodore, Queensland, Anderson grew up on a cattle ranch and developed his game on makeshift courts. He later became a key contributor to Australia's success in Davis Cup competition, helping the country retain the title in 1957.
Anderson went on to win 21 singles titles during his career and added three major championships in doubles and mixed doubles. He reached the finals of both the Australian and U.S. championships in 1958.
He briefly stepped away from the sport in the late 1960s before returning to competition, highlighted by a run to the 1972 Australian Open final and a role on Australia's 1973 Davis Cup-winning team.
Anderson was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000. He is survived by three children, nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
