Roland Garros' oldest champion of modern era dies at 82

Thu, 24 Oct 2019

Roland Garros' oldest champion of modern era dies at 82

News24
10 Oct 2019, 04:13 GMT+10

Madrid - Andres Gimeno, the oldest male French Open champion in the Open era, has died at the age of 82, the Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) announced on Wednesday.

Gimeno's biggest achievement was winning Roland Garros aged 34 in 1972 but he also reached the Australian Open final in 1969 and the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 1970.

"One of the iconic figures of Spanish tennis, Andres Gimeno, died on Wednesday in Barcelona at the age of 82 after a long illness," read a statement from the RFET.

"The Royal Spanish Tennis Federation wants to express its condolences to both his family and relatives."

World number two Rafael Nadal, a 12-time Roland Garros champion, wrote that Gimeno had been a "pioneer" for the sport in Spain.

"I have just been told the sad news of the death of #AndresGimeno," Nadal wrote. "Without doubt one of the pioneers of tennis in Spain and a great athlete. Heartfelt condolences to his family. RIP."

Gimeno won 44 career titles and represented Spain at the Davis Cup from 1958 to 1960 and 1972 to 1973. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2009.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Australian Herald.

More Information

International

Section

Northern Ireland man arrested after container found with 39 bodies

LONDON, UK - A 25-year old Northern Irish man has been arrested after a lorry container in Essex, 30 kilometres ...

Kim unlikely to forego nuclear capability without solid guarantees

WASHINGTON, DC - Since the regime in Pyongyang doesn't see any reason to rein in its nuclear weapons program or ...

U.S. tightens net on whistleblower Julian Assange

LONDON, UK - U.S. efforts to have whistleblower Julian Assange extradited from a prison in London to the United States ...

Israel could be forced to polls for third time this year

JERUSALEM, Israel - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has failed to form a government, and has given up on being ...

Trudeau holds on to power but with slimmed majority

Canada's federal election campaign highlighted a struggle that caught the world by surprise. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was on the ...

U.S. soldiers could remain in Syria, Trump now tweets

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. President Donald Trump is now considering leaving some American troops, nearly 200, in Syria to guard ...

Sydney

Section

Wayde Egan looks to Warriors to advance career

LITHGOW, Central West, NSW, Australia - Penrith surprisingly released Lithgow native Wayde Egan overnight, to allow him to join the ...

New Zealand carrier announces direct flights to New York

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Air New Zealand is to launch a non-stop route from Auckland to New York.The new service ...

U.S. tightens net on whistleblower Julian Assange

LONDON, UK - U.S. efforts to have whistleblower Julian Assange extradited from a prison in London to the United States ...

Two men in 20s front Central West court after trying to flee police

DUBBO, Central West, NSW, Australia - Two men fronted court in the Central West on Monday on charges relating to ...

Over-the-top policing of bike helmet laws targets vulnerable riders

Cycling is often held up as a model of healthy and sustainable urban transport. So why have bike laws become ...

Risky business: how our 'macho' construction culture is killing tradies

The construction and building industries can be dangerous places to work. These jobs not only pose risks to a person's ...

Movie Review

Rumble Fish