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Tennis Canada was saddened by the news of the death of one of its greatest ambassadors, Lorne Main, who passed away on Monday at the age of 89.
Lorne Main was a former professional tennis player who competed in 11 Grand Slam tournaments and won the title at the prestigious Monte Carlo Masters in 1954. He was a member of the Canadian Davis Cup team as a player from 1949 and 1955 and was also the Captain from 1958 to 1961.
Despite all of his success at the professional level, it was on the Senior tour that Lorne Main became a true legend in the world of tennis. In fact, he won over 40 titles in every age category, from 55 to 80 years and over, which represents more titles than any other tennis player in the world at the Senior level. In 2012, he was notably presented with the ITF Award for Outstanding Achievements in Senior Tennis after having won his 39th World Championship title.
Lorne Main was recognized for his dedication to the sport when he was honored by the British Columbia Sport Hall of Fame in 1975 as well as being inducted into the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1991.
Chair of the Tennis Canada Board of Directors, Jennifer Bishop, is also mourning the loss of a person she knew well.
“Lorne is responsible for where I am today. His influence on my personal and professional life in the tennis world is unmatched. Lorne was much more than a tennis player. He was a great ambassador for our sport and represented Canada with tremendous pride throughout his years of playing tournaments around the globe. Lorne exemplified tennis as the sport of a lifetime. I will miss him dearly and would like to extend my deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones.”
Lorne Main has made a very meaningful contribution to Canadian tennis. His accomplishments have been impactful and historic. The Canadian tennis community lost a great friend of tennis. His legacy will live on as his accomplishments have been world-class and memorable.
Lorne Main is survived by his wife Adrienne Avis, four children, Kelly, Kevin, Kristine and Kasey and four grandchildren.
