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Ashley Cooper Very few people ever remember how long Ashley John Cooper's career actually was: the Australian, graced the amateur stage for just three highly productive seasons. After fellow countryman Frank Sedgman had shown them how, the dark haired Cooper, became the third player from Down Under to win the Wimbledon title and the fourth to capture the U.S. Championships, in the same year, 1958. The right-hander from Melbourne was always an attacker stroking the ball with poise, if not spectacular strokes to win many of his points at the net. At 5-foot-10-inches he was athletic, spending his three years in the world's Top Ten, gaining the top spot for 1957 and 1958.
During those years he reached six major singles finals, winning four championships out of the eight Grand Slams he contested. Two French semi-final appearances, were the best results in the Slam he didn't win. Having lost the 1957 Wimbledon final to compatriot Lew Hoad, Cooper found himself upset again in the U.S. finals, beaten by the unseeded Mal Anderson, but the pair got together for the Christmas Davis Cup final when they beat the United States 3-2. Cooper continued his fine run of form into the 1958 Australian championship, winning at Wimbledon and defeating Anderson 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 10-8, 8-6, despite an ankle injury in the year-ending U.S. final. His hopes of the Grand Slam were dashed in Paris, by Luis Ayala, losing 9-11, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5, but it's noted in the history books that Cooper is one of ten men to have won three majors in one year. Grand Slam Record Australian Singles winner 1957-58; Doubles winner 1958; Doubles finalist 1957 French Doubles winner 1957-58; doubles finalist 1956 Wimbledon Singles winner 1958; Singles finalist 1957; Doubles finalist 1958 U.S. Championships Singles winner 1958; Singles finalist 1957; Doubles winner 1957 Tournament Record (inc. Davis Cup and Olympics) Australian Davis Cup team member 1957-58;
winning team 1957-58
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