A legendary sports reporter has died suddenly in Melbourne while covering the Australian Open.
The family of Mike Dickson, 59, announced his death late on Wednesday evening.
The UK Daily Mail reporter’s passing has led to scores of tributes including from tennis greats such as Tim Henman and the organisers of the Australian Open itself, the US Open and Wimbledon.
‘Brilliant bloke’
“We are devastated to announce that our wonderful husband and Dad, Mike, has collapsed and died while in Melbourne for the Aus Open,” his family wrote on Twitter, now known as X.
“For 38 years he lived his dream covering sport all over the world. He was a truly great man and we will miss him terribly. Lucy, Sam, Ruby and Joe”.
Mr Dickson, who lived in Wimbledon in south east London, not far from the home of the world’s most well known tennis tournament, had been a journalist for 38 years.
He began reporting on cricket before moving to tennis. For most of his career he was at the London based Daily Mail.
The Mail’s global publisher of sport, Lee Clayton, said: “Dicko was everything you want a correspondent to be – a brilliant news hound, a terrific writer and a friend to so many in his sport”.
“The world of tennis will join us in mourning. He was a giant of a journalist.
“He was just a brilliant bloke, a class act. It was a privilege to work alongside him and to know him.”
Responding to the Dickson family’s tweet, the Australian Open wrote: “We are shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Mike, our longstanding colleague and friend”.
“Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family.”
The organisers of Wimbledon said it was “deeply saddened” by Mr Dickson’s death.
“Mike covered so many of our Championships during his remarkable career in journalism and brought so many stories to so many sports fans around the world.”
The US Open said he was “one of the most well respected journalists in the industry,” while the World Tennis Association said Mr Dickson was a “highly respected figure on Tour among players, coaches, staff and everyone connected with tennis”.
Mr Dickson was born on the Wirral peninsula, near Liverpool in England’s north west, and followed Wirral based soccer team Tranmere Rovers as well as Premier League team Everton based over the River Mersey in Liverpool.
“Such sad news. Everyone at Everton send our condolences to Mike’s family. He was a great man who achieved a lot in his career. RIP Mike,” said the team in a tweet.
British tennis player Tin Henman held back tears on TV when discussing Mr Dickson.
“It’s incredibly sad that he passed away in Melbourne. He was a great friend of the tennis community”.
“So sorry to hear this. Mike was a terrific journalist. RIP,” said commentator, presenter and former newspaper editor Piers Morgan.
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