Five-time Grand Slam champion Dennis Ralston died on Sunday aged 78 following a battle with illness.
Ralston’s death was announced by his alma mater, Southern California University, who confirmed that the former tennis star had been suffering from cancer and passed away in Austin, Texas. He was a member of the Handsome Eight, the original eight players signed to the World Championship Tennis tour at the end of 1967.
A multiple NCAA champion during his college years, Ralston became one of the world’s top doubles players throughout the 1960s. During his career, he won three US Championships, one French Open and one Wimbledon title in the men’s doubles with various partners. Overall, he reached 13 Grand Slam doubles finals with four of those being in the mixed doubles. One of the many to pay tribute to Ralston was Billie Jean King, who played alongside him in the 1966 Wimbledon final.
“Tennis legend Dennis Ralston, friend and fellow player from Southern California, has passed away following a brave fight against cancer. Sending our love and deepest condolences to his wife Linda and the rest of his family,” King wrote on Twitter.
It wasn’t just doubles where Ralston achieved success. In singles his biggest achievement was finishing runner-up to Manuel Santana at Wimbledon in 1966. He also won the U.S. Indoor Singles Championship (1963), U.S. Clay Court Singles Championship (1964, 1965), U.S. Hard Court Singles Championship (1964, 1965) and U.S. Pro Doubles Champion in 1967.
In the Davis Cup he won both of his matches during his country’s clash with Mexico in the 1966 final. Six years later Ralston would win the team event for a second time but this time as the captain of Team America. A position he held between 1972-1975. Between those two milestones he also served as a Davis Cup coach (1968-1971).
After his playing career, the American became a top coach where he worked with Chris Evert for six years, as well as Yannick Noah and Gabriela Sabatini.
Ralston was introduced into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987 for his services to the sport.
