The death of the former captain of the national Davis Cup team occurred this Tuesday in Houston, United States.
Unfortunate news shakes the world of national sport. This Wednesday, the death of historic national tennis player Luis Ayala was announced at the age of 91 in Houston, United States. .
The information was confirmed by the family and released by the Chilean Tennis Federation.
Ayala entered the history of national tennis with great performances in the different tournaments in which he participated, highlighting the mixed doubles titles at Roland Garros in 1956 and the Rome Masters in 1959 .
Additionally, in individual competition, he was twice a finalist at Roland Garros (1968 and 1960), and won the gold medal at the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago.He reached fifth place in the world, in the top 10 between 1958 and 1951. .
Representing Chile, he participated in the Davis Cup between 1952 and 1960, then captained the team between 1973 and 1983, playing in the 1946 final against Italy.
Condolences
One of the first reactions to Ayala’s death was from the Chilean Tennis Federation (Fetech), an organization that offered its condolences to the family on its website.
“It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Luis Alberto Ayala Salinas, an icon of Chilean tennis who left an indelible mark on the history of the national sport. “, they began to indicate.
“Luis Ayala, born on September 18, 1932 in Santiago, was an internationally renowned tennis player and a great ambassador of our country in the world of tennis. Known for his skill on the court and his competitive spirit, Ayala reached the highest levels of the sport during his career,” they continued.
They added that “among his most notable achievements, he was twice a finalist at the Roland Garros tournament, in 1958 and 1960, establishing himself as one of the best clay court players of his time. In addition, Luis, a Pan American gold medalist in 1959, was the first Chilean to enter the top 10 of the world rankings, reaching number 5 in 1959.During his career, he accumulated memorable victories, forty-six professional singles titles, which made him a reference for future generations. “.
“His legacy is not limited to his achievements as a player. Luis Ayala has also dedicated a large part of his life to training new talents, transmitting his knowledge and passion for tennis as a coach. “, they noted.
They also added that “in his role as captain of the Chilean Davis Cup team, he achieved important milestones between 1973 and 1983, reaching the semi-finals in 1975 and the following year, the memorable final against Italy at the National Stadium. “His commitment to the development of tennis in Chile and his contribution to the country’s sporting culture will endure forever.”
“In these difficult times, the Board of Directors of the Chilean Tennis Federation, led by its President Sergio Elías Aboid, extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the great Lucho Ayala. Today, Chilean tennis loses a giant, but his legacy will live on in all the courts where this beautiful sport is played. “, they expressed.
“Rest in peace, Luis Ayala. Your story will continue to inspire future generations of Chilean tennis players,” the statement concluded.
Source: Latercera
I’m Rose Brown , a journalist and writer with over 10 years of experience in the news industry. I specialize in covering tennis-related news for Athletistic, a leading sports media website. My writing is highly regarded for its quick turnaround and accuracy, as well as my ability to tell compelling stories about the sport.
