Search

Placeholder Content Image

Australian tennis legend passes away aged 64

<p>Former Australian Davis Cup tennis star Peter McNamara has died aged 64.</p> <p>“Macca,” who reached a career-high number seven in the world in 1983, left a memorable mark when he beat two all-time greats Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl to win two of his five singles titles.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.39400921658984px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828812/eacpdumueaiyi11-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8fca7dad11f949949a1e0a3f6767101c" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Peter McNamara, 2014. </em></p> <p>However, what the tennis star was perhaps most highly regarded for was his doubles partnership with Paul McNamee – the duo went on to win Wimbledon twice in 1980 and 1982 as well as the Australian Open in 1979.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Hard to believe that after 50 years of friendship Macca is gone... you lived life to the full mate and will be missed by your loved ones and many more...a toast to the great times mate <a href="https://t.co/0RVbCD6ZRd">pic.twitter.com/0RVbCD6ZRd</a></p> — Paul McNamee (@PaulFMcNamee) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulFMcNamee/status/1153066090760511490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Melbourne-born McNamara retired in 1987 and enjoyed a successful coaching career.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">So saddened to wake up to the news of Peter McNamara’s passing overnight. A great player, great coach that improved every player he worked with, and gun of a person. Big hugs to his family, friends and of course, his great mate <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulFMcNamee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PaulFMcNamee</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPMacca?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPMacca</a> 😔 <a href="https://t.co/CeFBai2jYI">pic.twitter.com/CeFBai2jYI</a></p> — Darren Cahill (@darren_cahill) <a href="https://twitter.com/darren_cahill/status/1153063153724354560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>He coached Mark Philippoussis and guided Grigor Dimitrov in his formative years. More recently, he coached Matt Ebden and Wang Qiang.</p> <p>Until February, McNamara worked with Qiang and helped her to reach the world’s top 20 in their four-year partnership.</p> <p>The Aussie legend died peacefully at his home in Germany on Saturday night after a long and brave battle with prostate cancer.</p> <p>David Law, commentator and long-time friend of the tennis star and coach said McNamara went on to compete in exhibition matches and coach throughout his illness without many people ever knowing about his personal health issues.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">So sad to wake up &amp; hear the news of Peter McNamara’s passing 😢 he was always one of the coaches I could sit down with on tour &amp; be able to have a great chat with. Mostly about life &amp; our kids. I will never forgot him telling me to live my life &amp; be happy with who I am <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPMacca?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPMacca</a></p> — Casey Dellacqua OLY (@caseydellacqua) <a href="https://twitter.com/caseydellacqua/status/1153042613152337920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>McNamara is survived by his wife Petra, his children and grandchildren.</p> <p>The tennis world took to social media to voice their love and admiration of the late tennis legend.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">When you represent Australia.. you get the chance of meeting so many good people. One of them was Australian tennis legend Peter McNamara. Ripper bloke and will sadly be missed. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPMacca?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPMacca</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tennis?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tennis</a> 😪</p> — Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProfDeano/status/1153074719203233795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Peter McNamara was one of the greats, a great person. He gave his all to everything he did, respected life &amp; always had a smile &amp; time for you. He’s someone you wanted to be in the trenches with. He fought in silence and now he can rest peacefully . <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPMacca?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPMacca</a></p> — roger rasheed (@roger_rasheed) <a href="https://twitter.com/roger_rasheed/status/1153038830552772608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">One of the greats 🇦🇺 🙏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPMacca?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPMacca</a> <a href="https://t.co/iYJvS3qDBq">pic.twitter.com/iYJvS3qDBq</a></p> — TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) <a href="https://twitter.com/TennisAustralia/status/1153078863129264128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2019</a></blockquote>

Caring

Placeholder Content Image

The special moment you missed after Nick Kyrgios's intense match

<p><span>At the Australian Open viewers can expect to see blood, sweat and tears as the champions of tennis battle it out on the court.</span></p> <p><span>However, at the end of an intense match between Nick Kyrgios and Grigor Dimitrov, a great act of sportsmanship displayed the class of the two tennis stars.</span></p> <p><span>At the end of the three-hour and 26-minute game, Dimitrov took home the win 7-6 7-6 4-6 7-6.</span></p> <p><span>Kyrgios hit hard at every opportunity and Dimitrov consistently battled back showing great court coverage. At the conclusion of the intense match, the players knew they had just played an iconic game and came together at the net to embrace.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-video"> <p dir="ltr">These are the moments that make our game great. <br /><br />🤝<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ak2AWGdtyo">pic.twitter.com/Ak2AWGdtyo</a></p> — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/955058468750163968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2018</a></blockquote> <p style="text-align: center;"><span> </span></p> <p><span>Kyrgios told his defeater to “believe” as they hugged.</span></p> <p><span>“I just told him to believe in himself,” explained Kyrgios, in his post-match press conference. “Sometimes I think he lacks a bit of belief. But I think he’s got the game and he’s proved to everyone that he can win one of these slams. So I just told him to believe in himself and hopefully he can go all the way.”</span></p> <p><span>Dimitrov kept his message a secret but said he respected his competitor.</span></p> <p><span>“I’m going to keep it a secret but it was just a positive message,” Dimitrov said. “We both have a great understanding of each other, we’re nice with each other and have respect on the court. It’s good to have that kind of fair play after a match like this.”</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnkyrgios%2Fposts%2F1795882153763342&amp;width=500" width="500" height="683" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe><br /></span></p> <p><span>“Playing against Nick is always tricky, two weeks ago I lost against him,” Dimitrov said.</span></p> <p><span>“He was serving and playing unbelievable and he fought really hard. It’s one of those matches that you have to be locked in and try to get any opportunity you have.</span></p> <p><span>“Even when I was serving for the match I felt that I was not finding my spots very well and I’m just glad I got through that match.”</span></p> <p><span>Aussie tennis stars Todd Woodbridge and Lleyton Hewitt discussed how special the moment was.</span></p> <p><span>“That handshake and that moment at the net — great significance in the career of Kyrgios, one thinks,” Woodbridge said.</span></p> <p><span>“It was respect by both players shown at the net,” Hewitt added. “I know for a fact they have amazing respect for each other out there, both on and off the tennis court.</span></p> <p><span>“The way that these two champions went about it tonight, what a match we have seen in the round of 16 here at the Australian Open.”</span></p> <p><span>On Tuesday, Dimitrov will compete against Kyle Edmund in the quarter-finals. </span></p> <p><span>Did you see the classy moment between Nick Kyrgios and Grigor Dimitrov? Tell us in the comments below. </span></p>

News

Our Partners

Over 60

© Copyright 2024 OverSixty.All Rights Reserved.