Rod Laver Biography

(Australian Former World No. 1 Tennis Player)

Birthday: August 9, 1938 (Leo)

Born In: Rockhampton, Australia

Rod Laver is a famous Australian tennis player who proved his mettle time and again, in both the pre and post open era, in the world of tennis. This sportsman dropped out of school so that he could pursue a career in his favourite sport, tennis. This celebrated tennis player was trained by the legendary coach, Harry Hopman, and the former ventured into amateur tournament by the age of twenty-one. He showed immense talent and dedication, winning prestigious titles like the 'Grand Slams', 'Australian Championships', and 'Wimbledon'. Soon, he worked his way up the ladder, and held the position of world no. 2 for quite some time. Eventually, he became the no. 1 professional tennis player in the world. Once the 'Open Era' in tennis was introduced, he began playing the 'Grand Slams' of 'Wimbledon', winning most matches in the first few years. He was soon signed on by tours like 'National Tennis League', and 'World Championship Tennis'. By the age of 38, he had reduced the number of matches he played. This spectacular tennis champion has received the honour of being induced in the 'Hall of Fame' of three different associations. In recent years, there have been talks about the possibility of his being knighted in the 'Order of Australia'. To know more about his life and works read on
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Quick Facts

Australian Celebrities Born In August

Also Known As: Rodney George Laver

Age: 86 Years, 86 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Mary Bensen

father: Roy Laver

mother: Melba Roffey

siblings: Bob Laver

Tennis Players Australian Men

More Facts

awards: BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year

  • 1

    Where did Rod Laver grow up?

    Rod Laver grew up in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.

  • 2

    How many Grand Slam singles titles did Rod Laver win?

    Rod Laver won a total of 11 Grand Slam singles titles during his tennis career.

  • 3

    What is the significance of the "Rod Laver Slam?"

    The "Rod Laver Slam" refers to winning all four Grand Slam singles titles in a calendar year, a feat achieved by Rod Laver in 1962 and 1969.

  • 4

    What is Rod Laver known for in tennis history?

    Rod Laver is known for being one of the greatest tennis players of all time, particularly for his dominance in the 1960s.

  • 5

    How did Rod Laver contribute to the sport of tennis after retiring as a player?

    After retiring as a player, Rod Laver remained involved in tennis as a mentor and ambassador for the sport, continuing to inspire future generations of players.

Childhood & Early Life
Rodney George Laver was born to Roy and his wife Melba, in Rockhampton, a city in Queensland, Australia, on August 9, 1938. Roy worked as a butcher, and the family consisted of four children.
The boy was a talented tennis player at a very young age, and quit school to learn the game. He received his training from the legendary tennis player, Harry Hopman, in Queensland. In 1957, Laver had won both the ‘Australian’ and the ‘US Junior’ championships.
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Career
In 1959, Rodney competed in the finals of 'Wimbledon', and emerged triumphant at the mixed doubles game, where he teamed up with American counterpart Darlene Hard. However, he could not win the singles final, where he was defeated by Peruvian player, Alex Olmedo.
The following year, he participated in the 'Australian Championships', winning the five-set final match against Australian player Neale Fraser. In 1961, he took part in the 'Wimbledon', and won the singles title for the first time.
In 1962, Laver won seventeen tennis matches, along with four Grand Slam tournaments. This feat was earlier achieved by American former professional player, Donnie Budge.
The most memorable of these tournaments were the 'Italian', 'French' and 'German' Championships. He won the 'French Championships' with a lot of difficulty, against Australian Roy Emerson. At the 'Wimbledon' and the 'US Championships', the same year, he played exceptionally well, losing very few matches.
In December, 1962, Rod won the 'Davis Cup', as a part of the Australian team. This established him as a professional world tennis player, like Lew Hoad, Pancho Gonzales, Ken Rosewall and Andrés Gimeno.
From 1963-70, this skilled player was victorious at the 'U.S. Pro Tennis Championships' on five occasions. In the beginning of the same period, he established himself as the no. 2 player in world.
In 1964, Rodney won tournaments like the 'Wembley Championships', where he beat friend Rosewall, and the 'US Pro', defeating Pancho Gonzales.
The next year, Laver moved up to the position of no. 1 in the world rankings, after having seen victory at seventeen tennis championships.
The following year he won sixteen championships, and in 1967, he tasted victory again, with nineteen tournament wins to his name. These wins included 'US Pro Championships', the 'Wembley Pro', the 'Wimbledon', and the 'French Pro'. In the 'Wimbledon' final, he defeated fellow Australian Rosewall by 6–2, 6–2, 12–10.
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In 1968, the earlier rule that a professional tennis player could not compete in amateur tournaments, was lifted, and the 'Open Era' began. According to the 'Open Era', all players were going to be allowed to take part in any tournament of their choice, thus making tennis their full-fledged career.
The same year, he took part in 'Grand Slam' matches, becoming the first person to win the 'Open Era' championship at the 'Wimbledon'. Rodney won a straight set against Australian player Tony Roche in the final.
In 1968, he won prestigious tournaments like 'US Professional Championships', played on grass courts, and the 'French Pro Championships' on clay courts, thus bagging the world no. 1 spot.
The following year, in 1969, Laver played several tournaments, winning all the four Grand Slam championships. He also won the 'South African Open', 'Philadelphia US Pro Indoor', 'US Professional Championships', and the 'Wembley British Indoor'. He was thus victorious in 106 matches out of the 132 he played.
During the same period, Rod signed contracts with the tours 'National Tennis League' ('NTL'), and 'World Championship Tennis' ('WCT'). Owing to this, he participated in only five 'Grand Slam' championships in two years.
In 1973, he won several championships, including the 'Davis Cup'. The following year, he won only six championships, and his world ranking dropped to No. 4. Three years later, he signed a contract with the 'World Team Tennis', a tennis league.
Awards & Achievements
From 1981-85, this accomplished sportsman was included in the 'International Tennis Hall of Fame', and the 'Sport Australia Hall of Fame'. The Australian government has named him the country's 'Living Treasure', and in recent times, he has become a part of the 'Queensland Sport Hall of Fame'.
Rod has been made a 'Member of the Order of the British Empire', and has been felicitated with the 'Australian Sports Medal'.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1966, this famous tennis player got married to Mary Shelby Peterson, a divorcee with three children from her previous marriage. The marriage that took place in California was attended by other tennis players including Ken Rosewall, Barry MacKay, Mal Anderson, and Lew Hoad.
The couple had a son, and they lived in various residences in California.
Several tributes have been paid to this famous Australian tennis player, including the 'Rod Laver Arena' in Melbourne Park, which is named after him.
In 2000, he featured on a postage stamp issued by the Australia post, along with colleague, Margaret Court.
Facts About Rod Laver

He is related to famous cricketers Frank Laver and Jack Laver.

Laver's nickname, "Rocket," was given to him because of his lightning-fast speed and powerful shots on the tennis court, showcasing his exceptional athleticism and skill.

In 1998, he suffered a stroke during an interview with ESPN-TV. He suffered from speech and memory problems due to the stroke but soon recovered. 

In addition to his tennis prowess, Laver is also a talented artist and has showcased his creative side through his paintings, demonstrating his diverse range of talents beyond the sport.

See the events in life of Rod Laver in Chronological Order

How To Cite

Article Title
- Rod Laver Biography
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- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/rod-laver-6076.php

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