John Fitzgerald a top world doubles player and Davis Cup warrior, fulfilling dream forged in little Cockaleechie
John Fitzgerald won six global top-tier ATP singles titles but had greatest success as a doubles player. Inset: As a member (second from right) of the victorious Australian Davis Cup team in 1986.
John Fitzgerald forged his determination to be a world-class player as a young member of the tennis club at the tiny town of Cockaleechie on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. From hitting balls with two older brothers on an asphalt court at family farm in Cummins, Fitzgerald became hooked on the game at 12 after watching the Davis Cup final between the United States and Australia.
At 18 in the late 1970s, Fitzgerald gained the confidence to mix with the top level when a plane ticket, arranged through Tennis SA, allowed him to play professionally around Europe and qualify for Wimbledon. With the prizemoney, he was able return with the $1,000 traveller’s cheque loan from his father intact.
Two years later, Fitzgerald won his first of his six global men’s top-tier singles ATP titles. Fitzgerald rose to No.25 world singles player in 1988 but, at 21, his first doubles grand slam win at the Australian Open with John Alexander set him on the path over the next decade to another six men’s double grand slams and three mixed grand slams at the US Open, Wimbledon and French Open, with partners Tomas Smid, Elizabeth Smylie (nee Sayers) and Anders Jarryd. He represented Australia in the Seoul and Barcelona Olympics.
In 1983, Fitzgerald join his heroes in the winning Australian Davis Cup team. He was selected for the Davis Cup team again in 1986 and won an important doubles game with Pat Cash to help Australia clinch finals victory over the Swedes. Fitzgerald climbed to No.1 in the world doubles rankings with Swede Anders Jarryd in 1991 and retired from playing professional tennis four years later. Between 2001 to 2010 he also captained the Australian Davis Cup programme, guiding the 2003 team to the title.
After retiring, Fitzgerald was an ambassador for Tennis Australia, a tennis commentator, motivational speaker and inducted into the Australian Tennis hall of fame. He also was inducted into the South Australian sport hall of fame.
