That year, he set a record for the amateur era, winning 21 titles. In the Wimbledon final, he defeated Martin Mulligan 6-2 6-2 6-1. In 1962, Laver became only the second male player after Don Budge in 1938 to win all four Grand Slam titles in the same year, defeating Roy Emmerson in the Australian 8-6 0-6 6-4 6-4, the French 3-6 2-6 6-3 9-7 6-2, and the US 6-2 6-4 5-7 6-4. He then captured his first Wimbledon singles crown in 1961 defeating Charles McKinley 6-3 6-1 6-4. His first major singles title was the Australian Championships in 1960, where he beat fellow Australian Neale Fraser in a titanic five-set final 5-7 3-6 6-3 8-6 8-6. In 1957 he won the Australian junior championship. His initial international triumph came during his first trip abroad in 1956, when he won the US junior championship at 17. Laver was a young boy when he left school to pursue a career in tennis that would end up lasting 23 years. Laver had a great record in five-set matches, often turning things around with subtle changes of tactics or by simply hitting his way out of danger. In his prime, he could adapt his style to all surfaces and to all conditions. When he turned professional, he learnt to control his adventurous shotmaking, and to integrate percentage tennis into his game. Laver was very quick and mobile, and had a gigantic left forearm.Īs an amateur, Laver was a somewhat flashy player, often a late starter. His wristy groundstrokes on both flanks were hit with topspin, an innovation in the 1960s, as was the attacking topspin lob, which Laver developed into a weapon, inspiring a wave of heavy-hitting topspin practitioners in the 1970s. He was technically faultless, from his richly varied serve to his feather-light touch on drop volleys plus a backhand drive carrying destructive topspin when needed. For this achievement, Laver is considered by many tennis fans to be the greatest player of all time.Īlthough of only medium build (175cm), Laver developed a complete serve-and-volley game, with aggressive groundstrokes to back it up. Nicknamed “Rocket” by Australian Davis Cup captain Harry Hopman, Rod Laver is the only player in tennis history to have twice won all Grand Slam singles titles in the same year – first as an amateur in 1962, then again as a professional in 1969. He was elevated as a Legend of Australian Sport in 2002. Rodney ‘Rod’ George Laver AC MBE was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985 as an Athlete Member for his contribution to the sport of tennis. Scholarship & Mentoring Program Committee.This excludes reserved seating in RLA and MCA. Patrons are not allowed to hold seats for more than three (3) changes of ends on all outdoor courts. Matches on Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Melbourne Arena will stop after an even number of games in that set or completion of the tie break when the Tournament Referee can decide to close the roof for the remainder of the match and the following matches, when the EHP is still in effect. If a five (5.0) is recorded on the AO HSS, the Tournament Referee can suspend the start of matches on outside courts and all matches in progress continuing until the end of an even number games in that set or completion of the tie break before play will be suspended. In the men’s singles a 10-minute break will be allowed after the third set when a four (4.0) is recorded on the AO HSS prior to or during the first-three sets of the match. Under the EHP, the Tournament Referee will allow a 10-minute break between the second and third sets in both women’s and junior singles matches and a 15-minute break in wheelchair singles matches when a four (4.0) is recorded on the AO HSS prior to or during the first two sets of the match. The scale starts at (1) for temperate playing conditions and escalates to (5) - suspension of play. These will be measured at five positions around the precinct, including on court in Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Melbourne Arena. The Heat Stress Scale will be used to measure four climate factors - radiant heat (strength of the sun), air temperature in the shade, relative humidity and wind speed. The Australian Open will implement the AO Heat Stress Scale at AO19. If play commences with a roof closed, it will remain closed for the entire match. Roofs on Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Melbourne Arena can be closed in the event of rain or the Extreme Heat Policy being invoked prior to the scheduled start of play. The decision to close an arena roof rests solely with the tournament referee.
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