Emerson Wins Wimbledon

July 2, 1965 - Roy Emerson has won Wimbledon again. The 28-year-old from Australia crushed his friend and teammate, Fred Stolle, today by 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 in 67 minutes of slashing serve and volley that was close to perfect.

It was the tennis tale grown familiar in the telling.

Since last July, Emerson has taken the championship at Wimbledon, Forest Hills, Canada, and Australia, and each time, he has steam-rollered over Stolle in the final. No victory has been more convincing than his destruction of fair-haired Fred this afternoon in the tournament final.

“It was wonderful,” said Princess Marina, the Duchess of Kent, as she went to the center court to hand over the silver cup to resounding applause.

And it put Emerson on a pinnacle all his own in the amateur game. In more than a decade on the international circuit, there is not a title of importance that he hasn’t won.

For three years running, Stolle has reached the Wimbledon title round. A month ago, he captured the French crown, after Roy had been knocked out in the semifinals. His runner-up jinx had been broken.

Stout of serve, sure of the volley, and quick enough to wind up on his flat strokes down the flanks, Stolle had lost only two meaningless sets over this fortnight on his way to the final. There was reason to think he could handle Emerson today.

But Roy swarmed all over him from the bell. In the Australian slam-bang game, it has to be return of service that decides the issue. This was the margin. Emerson broke Stolle at once.

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