These are some
of the most talented Australian tennis players to ever live who have not
only achieved personal success in their professional careers, but have all
played an important role in shaping the positive image of Australian tennis
globally. Here’s a list of my favourite Australian tennis legends;
John Newcombe
John David Newcombe, AO, OBE is an Australian
former world No. 1 tennis player who won seven Grand Slam singles titles, and
an all-time record 17 doubles titles. He was one of many Australian players to
dominate the field during the 1960s and 1970s and was considered one of the best amateur tennis players in the
period preceding the Open Era.
In
his first year out of the juniors, Newcombe was part of Australia’s Davis Cup
winning side in 1964.Routinely rated as one of the greatest tennis players of
all time, Newcombe has not just been on the Davis Cup side, but captained
Australia at the tournament from 1995 to 2004.
Newcombe
had major majors success with compatriot Tony Roche, and together the
pair won a mammoth 12 Grand Slam titles, which until 2013 was the record
for the highest ever number of titles a doubles pair had won together.
Roy Emerson
Roy
Stanley Emerson is an Australian former number one tennis player who won 12
Major singles titles and 16 Grand Slam tournament men's doubles titles. He is
the only male player to have completed a Career Grand Slam in both singles and
doubles.. He had unparalleled success at the
Australian Open, winning the singles 6 times – of which 5 titles were
consecutive.
He
won each of the other three Grand Slams two times apiece at the singles, and
was even a World No. 1 pre-Open Era, but his doubles records were
unprecedented. Emerson holds 16 Grand Slams doubles titles, six of which he won
at Roland Garros.Winning 20 doubles titles in the Open Era, of which two were
Grand Slams, Emerson was the first ever tennis player to win every Majors
tournament at least twice.
Margaret Court
Margaret Court
AO, MBE, also known as Margaret Smith Court, is a retired world No. 1
professional tennis player. She amassed more major titles than any other player
in history. In 1970, Court became the first woman during the open era to win
the singles Grand Slam.
Court won a record 24 of those titles, a record that still stands. Unlike many players of her age and today, who tend to favour one surface,Court was immensely successful across surfaces. Although a number of players have since won a calendar slam, Court is the only player in all of tennis history to have won Calendar Slams in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles
Rod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is a former tennis player widely regarded as one of the greatest in tennis history. He was the No. 1 ranked professional from 1964–70, spanning four years before and three years after the start of the Open Era.The name is synonymous with tennis as he is regarded as one of the most iconic players to have played the game.
Laver’s
biggest singles success at Grand Slams came at Wimbledon, where he won 4
titles. He won 3 at his home Slam – the Australian Open, and two each at the US
Open and Wimbledon, and has been most successful at the doubles on his home
hard court, winning that title 4 times.
He is one of a number of players who had immense success both before and during the (current) Open Era of tennis. Making his debut in 1963, Laver was part of the winning Davis Cup side that year, and was considered the world’s no. 1 player by 1965, winning 17 titles that year.
Melbourne Park's primary arena (Centre Court) was renamed Rod Laver Arena in 2000, in recognition of Rod Laver's remarkable tennis career.A near-unsurpassed success across surfaces, Laver has gone down in history as one of the legends of the game.
Court won a record 24 of those titles, a record that still stands. Unlike many players of her age and today, who tend to favour one surface,Court was immensely successful across surfaces. Although a number of players have since won a calendar slam, Court is the only player in all of tennis history to have won Calendar Slams in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles
Rod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is a former tennis player widely regarded as one of the greatest in tennis history. He was the No. 1 ranked professional from 1964–70, spanning four years before and three years after the start of the Open Era.The name is synonymous with tennis as he is regarded as one of the most iconic players to have played the game.
He is one of a number of players who had immense success both before and during the (current) Open Era of tennis. Making his debut in 1963, Laver was part of the winning Davis Cup side that year, and was considered the world’s no. 1 player by 1965, winning 17 titles that year.
Then, with
the advent of the Open Era and professionals being permitted to play Grand
Slams again, Laver won Wimbledon in 1968 to become the first Open Era champion at the tournament. That year, he was
officially ranked World No. 1 – and the next year, took his second Calendar
Slam.
Melbourne Park's primary arena (Centre Court) was renamed Rod Laver Arena in 2000, in recognition of Rod Laver's remarkable tennis career.A near-unsurpassed success across surfaces, Laver has gone down in history as one of the legends of the game.
Watch some of the highlights of Laver's career
Click here for a more comprehensive list
Stay tuned for my next post....
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