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By Amy Sheehan and Freya Jetson
(ABC-Australia) In a second-hand antique cabinet hidden in a corner
Theodore Tennis Club, a large silver trophy stands proudly on the top shelf.
Treasurer Kim Olsson is pleased to present
A simple country club in a small town in central Queensland, population 451,
Located 200 kilometres south of Rockhampton.
She put on a pair of white gloves and carefully
Glass cabinet.
“We didn’t put it here in the beginning,” she said.
“We were really concerned about how to house it.”
That’s how the club feels about the U.S. Open Men’s Tennis Championships.
The obverse is inscribed with “United States Lawn Tennis Association, Men’s
1957 Singles Champion.
The award was won by former Theodore native Malcolm Anderson, who donated
As part of the centenary celebrations, he gave Grand Slam memorabilia to his old club
In 2022.
“I thought the Theodore Tennis Club would last forever.
“That’s where I started playing tennis,” Anderson said.
“I think it will be a great topic of conversation when people come here to play or visit.
“The club there.”
Winning is Anderson’s “shining point”
In the 143-year history of the U.S. Open, only 12 Australian men have won the title.
won the title, the most recent victory being won in 2001 by Lleyton Hewitt.
Other Australian champions who have lifted the trophy include Roy Emerson, Rod
Laver, Ken Rosewall, John Newcombe and Pat Rafter.
But Anderson’s achievements in international tournaments are particularly
excellence.
He is the first unseeded player to win the U.S. Open.
World number one Ashley Cooper, a fellow Australian, suffered a major upset.
Anderson, now nearly 90, still has the winning racket from that tournament—it
It now hangs on the wall of his suburban Albany Creek retirement village.
Brisbane.
“I think Ash thought he had it easy because I didn’t really
I had managed to beat him up until that point,” Anderson said.
“I just hit some really nice shots and managed to win in straight sets.
“I didn’t emphasize that this was a Grand Slam.
I want to play tennis.
“I think if I knew what that meant, I would have gotten too nervous.”
Anderson was a tall serve-and-volley player who peaked in 1957 and 1958.
His career-high ranking was world number two.
In 1958, he reached the finals of the U.S. and Australian Opens, but
Lost to Cooper both times.
Anderson also represented Australia four times in the Davis Cup and
1957 and 1973.
Surprise Donation
The U.S. Open victory catapulted Anderson into international stardom.
He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000.
The following year he was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame.
But no one admired him more than the locals of his beloved hometown
Theodore was born in 1935 on his parents’ cattle farm.
Over the years, he returned to Theodore frequently to
Aspiring young players.
Ms. Olson said she was shocked when Anderson arrived with the trophy.
In 2022, the club’s centenary year, it will visit with an Australian
The doubles trophy he won with John Newcombe, and a replica of the Davis Cup.
“I just said, ‘Oh my God, are you sure?'” she said.
“He said to me, ‘Of course, I want you to put it here’.”
“We were all stunned.”
The club currently has 123 members and recently held a youth coaching workshop
70 children were drawn.
“Who knows? In 100 years, we might have another player from
Theodore,” Ms. Olson said.
Anderson says he believes there is a winning formula to being a great tennis player
10% is talent, 90% is heart.
“If you want to improve yourself, you have to love the sport,” he said.
“You have to really want to get better, and the ability comes with practice.”
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