Trabert passed away in Florida after a long life where he won five Grand Slam tournaments and was world number one in 1953 and 1955. After an active career, he was the Davis Cup captain for the United States and led the team to victories in both 1978 and 1979 with a young John McEnroe as a frontman complemented by Stan Smith at the end of his career.
Trabert was also responsible for the television production from the US Open during 30 for CBS.
He was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame and was its chairman for eleven years from 2001.
Thought the top players in 1955 would have done well
In an interview in 2011, he commented on the development of tennis.
- There are more good players today but I am not sure that the top players are better now than they were when I played.
No one will know, said Trabert.
Perhaps most memorable is his comment after the 1955 Wimbledon victory.
- When I won Wimbledon, I got a gift card worth SEK 230, Trabert has said.
He then used it in a sports shop.
Modern tennis when professionals were welcome in Grand Slam tournaments began in 1968 and is called "The Open era".