Rod Laver
Rodney George Laver AC MBE (born 9 August 1938) is an Australian former tennis player. Laver was ranked the world number 1 professional player indisputably for five years from 1965 to 1969 and by some sources also in 1964 and 1970. He was also ranked as the number 1 amateur in 1961 and 1962. Laver won 198 singles titles which is the most won by a player in history.
Laver in 2015 | |
| Full name | Rodney George Laver |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) | Australia |
| Residence | Carlsbad, California, U.S. |
| Born | 9 August 1938 Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia |
| Height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) |
| Turned pro | 1963 (amateur tour from 1956) |
| Retired | 1979 |
| Plays | Left-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | US$1,565,413 |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1981 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 1689–538 (75.8%) in pre Open-Era & Open Era |
| Career titles | 198 (72 open era titles listed by ATP) |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (1961, Lance Tingay) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1960, 1962, 1969) |
| French Open | W (1962, 1969) |
| Wimbledon | W (1961, 1962, 1968, 1969) |
| US Open | W (1962, 1969) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | RR – 2nd (1970) |
| WCT Finals | F (1971, 1972) |
| Professional majors | |
| US Pro | W (1964, 1966, 1967) |
| Wembley Pro | W (1964, 1965, 1966, 1967) |
| French Pro | W (1967) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 235–77 (75.32%) |
| Career titles | 28 |
| Highest ranking | No. 11 (per ATP) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1959, 1960, 1961, 1969) |
| French Open | W (1961) |
| Wimbledon | W (1971) |
| US Open | F (1960, 1970, 1973) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1959) |
| French Open | W (1961) |
| Wimbledon | W (1959, 1960) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | W (1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1973) |
Laver won 11 Grand Slam singles titles and 8 Pro Majors titles. He completed the Grand Slam (winning all four slams in a calendar year) in singles twice in 1962 and 1969; the latter remains the only time a man has done so in the Open Era. He also completed the Pro Slam (winning all three pro majors in one year) in 1967. Laver won titles on all court surfaces of his time: grass, clay, hard, carpet, wood and he contributed to five Davis Cup titles for Australia during an age when the Davis Cup was deemed as significant as the four majors. The Rod Laver Arena and the Laver Cup tournament are named after him.