Australian great Ken Rosewall will join Culcairn native Rex Hartwig and doubles champion John Fitzgerald at a fundraising black tie dinner on July 29.

The evening at Albury’s Commercial Club will support the Margaret Court Tennis Academy junior development fund.

Fitzgerald, the youngest of the invited trio, said without hesitation Rosewall and Hartwig “are two of my old heroes”.

“I played Ken, I was 19 and he was 46,” Fitzgerald recalled this week.

“He was still playing at a really high level and it was amazing how good he was at that age.”

Although Hartwig’s tennis career had finished by then, the pair have met many times since.

“He’s a sheep farmer and my father was a sheep farmer, so we’ve got a lot in common,” Fitzgerald laughed. 

Now 55, Fitzgerald grew up in South Australia and helped Australia to Davis Cup wins in 1983 and 1986. He won seven major doubles titles, including a career Grand Slam, and also took out the mixed doubles at the US Open and Wimbledon.

With Sweden’s Anders Jarryd, Fitzgerald claimed three of the four grand slam doubles titles in 1991.

Fitzgerald said today’s top players generally competed in more tournaments each year, which worked against them playing both singles and doubles.

“No doubt it’s a healthy thing for them to play a lot of doubles when they’re younger,” he said. “It’s good for the younger kids trying to develop their game, they can learn other nuances in their game through the doubles experience.”

The former Davis Cup captain replied in general terms when asked about player behaviour.

“You want kids that want to enjoy playing, that bring a joy to the sport that inspires others, inspires younger kids and gives them someone to look to,” he said. “I always hope that the young Aussies create a good image worldwide, that's important.”

Fitzgerald felt the sport was booming globally, however that brought challenges.

“We’ve got a proud history” he said. “But the international game is a lot bigger than it used to be.”

He paid tribute to work done by Border tennis identity Phil Shanahan, a good friend, to promote the game.

“I know he has such a following with the kids and he’s developed some world class players himself, so it’s important that people like that are recognised, I think,” he said.

“I’m delighted that Rex and Ken and I can all get up there at the same time, I’m sure we’ll have a good night.”

For more information and tickets to the July 29 dinner, contact Melissa Bradbury on 0477 845 884.