Rod Laver Biography
The former Australian tennis legend Rodney George Laver MBE popularly known as Rod Laver was born on 9th of August 1938 At Rock Hampton, Queensland, Australia. The 5'8" tall Tennis star holds the distinction of occupying the World no. 1 slot consecutively from 1964 to 1970, although many critics contest this fact. Rod Laver's dominance on the tennis court can also be judged by the fact that he is the only tennis star to capture all the four Grand slam singles of a year twice during his career. He achieved this feat once as a new sensation on the tennis court in 1962 and next time as a mature professional in 1969. Many Tennis pundits consider him the greatest star ever to play on the tennis court in the history of this popular Sport.
Rod Laver's playing style was close to perfection according to many tennis legends; He effectively employed a flawless ‘Serve and Volley’ game to disarm his opponents. His ‘Serve and Volley’ game was augmented by well placed, rocket paced ground shots and contrasting feather touched drop shots. The technique often prevented his opponents from reaching the tennis ball well within time on the court. Rod laver was the master in deploying topspin to his shots; in 1960 he improvised the lob shot by executing it with an attacking topspin. Rod Laver's left handed serves were disguising to his opponent due to intelligently employed variations of pace and swing to it.
As a young school boy Rod Laver renounced an academic career in favor of tennis. After leaving his school, Rod Laver was coached first by Charlie Hollis in Queensland followed by Harry Hopman who was the captain of Australian Davis Cup Team. Harry Hopman gave Laver the nickname “Rocket”, apparently as tennis ball fired at a herculean pace after receiving execution instructions from Rod Laver’s Racket. Rod Laver claimed the U.S. junior championship in the year 1956 and its Australian counterpart in the year 1957. Rod Laver made his mark on the global tennis court in the year 1959 when he forced his way into all three finals of Wimbledon tournament. Rod Laver grabbed the cup of mixed doubles in this tournament in association with his partner Darlene Hard. Rod Laver claimed his first singles title in the year 1960 at the Australian Championship defeating his fellow country player Neale Fraser. In the year 1962 Rod Laver became the second male player after Don Budge to win single titles of all four Grand Slams in a particular year. In addition to that Rod Laver also grabbed seventeen other titles in the same year.
After winning the Grand Slam in the year 1962 Rod Laver became one among the top notch professionals and positioned himself among the leaders of professional tennis players like Ken Rosewall, Pancho Gonzales and Lew Hoad. In the coming seven years Laver won five times the U.S. Pro Championships, including four consecutive wins subsequent to 1966. From the years 1963 to 1965 Rod Laver showed considerable improvement against the toughest opponents of his time namely Ken Rosewall and Lew Hoad. Initially Rod laver registered miserable losses against these Rosewall and Hoad , however by 1965 Rod Laver was able to distinctly established himself as world’s number one player claiming seventeen reputed titles. In the process Rod Laver registered 13 wins against nearest rival Rosewall. In the year 1967, Rod Laver emerged as winner of the three tournaments namely US Professional Championships, Wembley Championships and the French Professional Championships.
Rod Laver had an equally successful record after the emergence of Open Era post 1968, registering five major grand slam victories in two seasons, Rod claimed Wimbledon single tile by defeating Fellow Australian Tony Roche in straight sets. However Rod lost miserably against arch rival Ken Rosewall in the French Open Final. In 1969 Rod Laver avenged his French open defeat by winning the French open against Ken in straight sets. Rod also registered victories against Andres Gimeno and John Newcombe in the finals of Wimbledon and Australian Open. In the same year Laver and Tony Roche once again faced each other during the US open finals with a similar result to their previous encounter. Post 1970 Rod laver started to slow down a bit with participation in selective events, however Rod Laver still managed to maintain a very healthy win-loss ratio of almost 80%. The Strategy of conserving energy worked for laver and he managed to grab 45 titles post his 30th birthday.
Rod Laver opted for a semi retirement in the year 1975 from mainstream professional tennis. In 1981 Rod Laver's name was included in the Hall of fame list of Tennis Players. Rod Laver was bestowed the title of MBE on the occasion of the queens birthday in 1970 in recognition to his achievements in the field of Tennis. Rod Laver is also a Living Australian Treasure. Rod Laver Currently lives in Carlsbad, California, U.S.
The former Australian tennis legend Rodney George Laver MBE popularly known as Rod Laver was born on 9th of August 1938 At Rock Hampton, Queensland, Australia. The 5'8" tall Tennis star holds the distinction of occupying the World no. 1 slot consecutively from 1964 to 1970, although many critics contest this fact. Rod Laver's dominance on the tennis court can also be judged by the fact that he is the only tennis star to capture all the four Grand slam singles of a year twice during his career. He achieved this feat once as a new sensation on the tennis court in 1962 and next time as a mature professional in 1969. Many Tennis pundits consider him the greatest star ever to play on the tennis court in the history of this popular Sport.
Rod Laver's playing style was close to perfection according to many tennis legends; He effectively employed a flawless ‘Serve and Volley’ game to disarm his opponents. His ‘Serve and Volley’ game was augmented by well placed, rocket paced ground shots and contrasting feather touched drop shots. The technique often prevented his opponents from reaching the tennis ball well within time on the court. Rod laver was the master in deploying topspin to his shots; in 1960 he improvised the lob shot by executing it with an attacking topspin. Rod Laver's left handed serves were disguising to his opponent due to intelligently employed variations of pace and swing to it.
As a young school boy Rod Laver renounced an academic career in favor of tennis. After leaving his school, Rod Laver was coached first by Charlie Hollis in Queensland followed by Harry Hopman who was the captain of Australian Davis Cup Team. Harry Hopman gave Laver the nickname “Rocket”, apparently as tennis ball fired at a herculean pace after receiving execution instructions from Rod Laver’s Racket. Rod Laver claimed the U.S. junior championship in the year 1956 and its Australian counterpart in the year 1957. Rod Laver made his mark on the global tennis court in the year 1959 when he forced his way into all three finals of Wimbledon tournament. Rod Laver grabbed the cup of mixed doubles in this tournament in association with his partner Darlene Hard. Rod Laver claimed his first singles title in the year 1960 at the Australian Championship defeating his fellow country player Neale Fraser. In the year 1962 Rod Laver became the second male player after Don Budge to win single titles of all four Grand Slams in a particular year. In addition to that Rod Laver also grabbed seventeen other titles in the same year.
After winning the Grand Slam in the year 1962 Rod Laver became one among the top notch professionals and positioned himself among the leaders of professional tennis players like Ken Rosewall, Pancho Gonzales and Lew Hoad. In the coming seven years Laver won five times the U.S. Pro Championships, including four consecutive wins subsequent to 1966. From the years 1963 to 1965 Rod Laver showed considerable improvement against the toughest opponents of his time namely Ken Rosewall and Lew Hoad. Initially Rod laver registered miserable losses against these Rosewall and Hoad , however by 1965 Rod Laver was able to distinctly established himself as world’s number one player claiming seventeen reputed titles. In the process Rod Laver registered 13 wins against nearest rival Rosewall. In the year 1967, Rod Laver emerged as winner of the three tournaments namely US Professional Championships, Wembley Championships and the French Professional Championships.
Rod Laver had an equally successful record after the emergence of Open Era post 1968, registering five major grand slam victories in two seasons, Rod claimed Wimbledon single tile by defeating Fellow Australian Tony Roche in straight sets. However Rod lost miserably against arch rival Ken Rosewall in the French Open Final. In 1969 Rod Laver avenged his French open defeat by winning the French open against Ken in straight sets. Rod also registered victories against Andres Gimeno and John Newcombe in the finals of Wimbledon and Australian Open. In the same year Laver and Tony Roche once again faced each other during the US open finals with a similar result to their previous encounter. Post 1970 Rod laver started to slow down a bit with participation in selective events, however Rod Laver still managed to maintain a very healthy win-loss ratio of almost 80%. The Strategy of conserving energy worked for laver and he managed to grab 45 titles post his 30th birthday.
Rod Laver opted for a semi retirement in the year 1975 from mainstream professional tennis. In 1981 Rod Laver's name was included in the Hall of fame list of Tennis Players. Rod Laver was bestowed the title of MBE on the occasion of the queens birthday in 1970 in recognition to his achievements in the field of Tennis. Rod Laver is also a Living Australian Treasure. Rod Laver Currently lives in Carlsbad, California, U.S.
Rod Laver
Rod Laver
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Rod Laver
Rod Laver vs Tony Roche USO F 1969 (1 of 4)
Tennis - Wimbledon Finale 1969 - Rod Laver vs.John Newcombe
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