Rod Laver - Tennis Players, Birthday and Childhood
Home › Australian › Rod LaverAugust 9, 1938508 viewsRod Laver's Personal Details
Rod Laver is a former professional tennis player from Australia, known for his four consecutive ‘Grand Slam’ wins
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | August 9, 1938 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Famous | School Dropouts, Sportspersons, Tennis Players, Tennis Players |
| Spouses | Mary Bensen |
| Siblings | Bob Laver |
| Known as | Rodney George Laver, Rodney Laver |
| Birth Place | Rockhampton |
| Height | 173 |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Roy Laver |
| Mother | Melba Roffey |
| Sun Sign | Leo |
| Born in | Rockhampton |
| Famous as | Tennis player |
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Rod Laver's photo
Who is Rod Laver?
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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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.
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.
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.
Trivia
This famous player earned the nickname, "Rocket", which was given to him by his tennis coach.
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Rod Laver's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year | |
Rod Laver biography timelines
- // 9th Aug 1938Rodney 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.
- // 1957The 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.
- // 1959In 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.
- // 1961The 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.
- // 1962In 1962, Laver won seventeen tennis matches, along with four Grand Slam tournaments. This feat was earlier achieved by American former professional player, Donnie Budge.
- // 1962In 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.
- // 1963 To 1970From 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.
- // 1964In 1964, Rodney won tournaments like the 'Wembley Championships', where he beat friend Rosewall, and the 'US Pro', defeating Pancho Gonzales.
- // 1966In 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.
- // 1967The 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.
- // 1968In 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.
- // 1968In 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.
- // 1969The 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.
- // 1973In 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.
- // 1981 To 1985From 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'.
- // 2000In 2000, he featured on a postage stamp issued by the Australia post, along with colleague, Margaret Court.
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Rod Laver's FAQ
What is Rod Laver birthday?
Rod Laver was born at 1938-08-09
Where is Rod Laver's birth place?
Rod Laver was born in Rockhampton
What is Rod Laver nationalities?
Rod Laver's nationalities is Australian
Who is Rod Laver spouses?
Rod Laver's spouses is Mary Bensen
Who is Rod Laver siblings?
Rod Laver's siblings is Bob Laver
How tall is Rod Laver?
Rod Laver's height is 173
Who is Rod Laver's father?
Rod Laver's father is Roy Laver
Who is Rod Laver's mother?
Rod Laver's mother is Melba Roffey
What is Rod Laver's sun sign?
Rod Laver is Leo
How famous is Rod Laver?
Rod Laver is famouse as Tennis player