Cooper, Ashley

Ashley John Cooper
Born: September 15, 1936
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Citizenship: Australia
Handed: Right
Inducted: 1991

Grand Slam Record
Australian Open Singles 1957-58
   Doubles 1958
   Doubles finalist 1957

 Wimbledon Singles 1958
   Singles finalist 1957
   Doubles finalist 1958

 U.S. Singles 1958
   Singles finalist 1957
   Doubles 1957

 French Doubles 1957-58
   Doubles finalist 1956
Tournament Record
Davis Cup Team Member 1957-58
Among the seemingly endless platoon of Aussies who were to dominate the world after Frank Sedgman showed them how, handsome, dark-haired Ashley John Cooper was the third of their number to win Wimbledon (1958) and the fourth to capture the U.S. the same year. Because he turned pro shortly after those successes, the right-handed Ash’s career in the public eye was brief though very productive. His last two amateur years, 1957 and 1958, could compare well to anyone’s: six finals and four championship out of eight major starts, and two semis at the French, the only ones he didn’t win.

An athletic 5-foot-10, he was of an attacking mindset, like the others of his tribe, a thorough, smooth, if not spectacular, stroker in attaining his goals at the net. He also won the Australian championship in 1958, one of only 10 men to grab three majors in one year. But whatever hopes he had for a Grand Slam were dashed in Paris by Luis Ayala, 9-11, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5. Still, he had one of the finest years with a 25-1 match record in the majors.

Cooper, who had lost the 1957 Wimbledon final to Lew Hoad, was upset in the U.S. final by unseeded Mal Anderson, but they got together three months later to successfully defend the Davis Cup against the U.S., 3-2. Despite an ankle injury incurred during their final at Forest Hills in 1958, Cooper regrouped and came from behind to beat Anderson, 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 10-8, 8-6. Cooper spent three years, 1956-58, in the World Top Ten, No.1 the last two years. He was born September 15, 1936, in Melbourne, and entered the Hall of Fame in 1991.

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