Rod Laver (date
unknown)
by Ern McQuillan (b.1926)
gelatin silver photograph
Purchased 2003
Rod Laver MBE (b. 1938), tennis champion, is the
only player in the history of the game to win the
Grand Slam twice. Born in Rockhampton, the small and
slight left-hander began training with Harry Hopman
as a teenager. He made his first trip overseas in
1956, winning the US Junior Championship at 17. As
a Wimbledon finalist six straight times, he won in
1961 and 1962, coming back to win again in 1968 and
1969. Laver played Davis Cup for Australia every year
from 1958 to 1962, when he turned professional, and
played on the team again in 1973, when the competition
was opened to professionals for the first time. ‘Rocket’
Rod is universally considered one of the all-time
great tennis players. The arena at the Melbourne Tennis
Centre is named in his honour, and Adidas released
a namesake tennis shoe, which has recently been re-issued.
Laver’s publications include How to Play
Winning Tennis (1964) and Education of a
Tennis Player (1971). |
