ITF

ITFWORLD SUMMER 2017 31 www.itftennis.com Former Australian player Peter Doohan died in July after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease just nine weeks previously. He was 56. Dubbed the 'Becker Wrecker' after famously defeating two-time defending champion Boris Becker at Wimbledon in 1987 en route to the fourth round, Doohan reached a career-high ranking of No. 43 in singles and No. 15 in doubles. He was the 1987 Australian Open doubles runner-up alongside Laurie Warder. Unbeaten in Davis Cup doubles, Doohan won two matches with Pat Cash and a five-set epic alongside Wally Masur against Mexico to help Australia reach the 1987 semifinals. After retiring, Doohan coached in America, having studied at the University of Arkansas, where he was all-American and an NCAA champion. He returned to live in Australia in 2009. Former French player Jerome Golmard died in August at the age of 43. Golmard was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in January 2014, losing the use of his legs within a few weeks of the diagnosis. He established a foundation to raise awareness and provide support for those with the disease. Golmard reached a career-high ranking of No. 22 in April 1999 and won two singles titles. He was the top-ranked Frenchman for a total of 14 weeks and made 26 Grand Slam singles appearances. He represented France in Davis Cup six times with a 5-2 record. French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli paid tribute to Golmard. "His fight against the disease was a reflection of his sporting attitude," he said. "He leaves us far too early and the big family of French tennis is in mourning, as is the French Davis Cup team. My thoughts go to his two children and his family." SUMMER 2017 NEWS ROUND-UP OBITUARY: RUSS ADAMS OBITUARY: JEROME GOLMARD OBITUARY: PETER DOOHAN Legendary tennis photographer Russ Adams passed away in June aged 86. Widely respected and admired by his peers, the players, and the tennis industry, Adams chronicled the sport for more than 50 years at Grand Slam tournaments, Fed Cup, Davis Cup, the Olympics, and tennis events around the world. He was generally known as 'The Dean' of modern tennis photography. Knowing nothing about tennis, Adams' career as a photographer of the sport began when he was assigned by the Boston Herald-Traveler to cover a tournament at the Longwood Cricket Club in 1953. In 1967 he became the official photographer of the US National Championships at Forest Hills, eventually becoming director of photographers for the US Open. Adams was the driving force behind the development of a universal code of conduct that was implemented for photographers covering international tennis events. He was also a founding member of the ITF's Media Commission, serving on it for 17 years. He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for his work in 1953, was presented with the USTA's Media Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002, and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007. Adams's wife of 65 years, Betty, who travelled the tennis circuit with her husband throughout his career, passed away three weeks earlier. OBITUARY: MERVYN ROSE Seven-time Grand Slam champion Mervyn Rose passed away in July at the age of 87. The Australian left-hander won singles titles at the 1954 Australian Championships and at 1958 Roland Garros, captured four Grand Slam doubles crowns, and won one in mixed doubles. Rose first reached the Australian final in 1953, falling to Ken Rosewall in straight sets. He avenged that defeat in Melbourne the following year, beating the reigning champion and top seed in the semifinals before defeating his doubles partner Rex Hartwig for the title. Rose defeated Luis Ayala at 1958 Roland Garros to win his second Slam title. In doubles, Rose won two titles at the US Championships: in 1952 with Vic Seixas, and in 1953 with Hartwig. He also teamed with Hartwig to win the 1954 Australian Championships and 1954 Wimbledon. He claimed the 1957 Wimbledon mixed doubles title with Darlene Hard. Rose represented Australia in Davis Cup and was part of the Harry Hopman- captained victories over the United States in the 1951 and 1957 finals. After retiring, he worked as a coach to some of the game's greats, including Margaret Court, Billie Jean King and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.

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