Fred Stolle a Winner in France

May 29, 1965 - Fred Stolle of Australia, known as “Mr. Runnerup” on the circuit, defeated Tony Roche, a 20-year-old countryman, 3-6, 6-0, 6-2, 6-3, today and won the men’s singles title of the French international tennis championships.

Before his victory today, Stolle had been beaten twice in the Wimbledon final and once in the U.S. and Australian championships.

Recovering quickly from a disastrous first set in which he made 26 errors, Stolle punched his backhand volley and stroked his service more cleanly in the second set and quickly found he could outpower Roche’s backhand.

Stolle maintained his pace in the third set, when he scored heavily by attacking the net for repeated winners with his backhand volley. It was his sharpest tool all afternoon. 

Roche, who couldn’t miss in the first set, found the tables turned in the final set. He committed 26 errors in that set. 

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