Luis Ayala: Chilean Tennis icon dies aged 91

Luis Ayala, an icon of Tennis and a legend in Chilean sports, has died at the age of 91 on Wednesday, September 4. He is perhaps best known for being a two time runner-up in the French Open in both 1958 and 1960 - he also won the mixed doubles category of the competition in 1956.

A formidable player on hard surfaces, Ayala was considered as one of the best Tennis players on clay in the world during his time in the sport. Outside of his successes in the French Open, he also performed admirably in the US Open, reaching the quarter finals in 1957 and 1959.

While he preferred to play on firm surfaces, he was also a dangerous opponent on grass. This was displayed by his performances at Wimbledon - he reached the quarter finals of the prestigious tournament in 1959, 1960 and 1961.

For several of these tournaments, he had entered as an amateur - he would not turn professional until 1961. He won an impressive 46 singles title over the course of his career - he retired from professional Tennis in 1970. Following his retirement, Ayala looked to remain around the sport - he went on to become a tennis professional at the River Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas.

In a post on their official X (formerly Twitter) page, the Chilean Tennis federation wrote: “It is with deep regret that we bid farewell to Luis Ayala, a Chilean tennis legend and the first top 10 player in the world in 1959. Finalist at Roland Garros, captain of the Davis Cup team and mentor of new generations, his legacy will live on on every court. Rest in peace, Lucho Ayala.”

In a further statement, they added [via ESPN]: “Today the Chilean tennis is losing a giant, but his legacy will live on every court where this beautiful sport is played.”