Roy Emerson

Roy Emerson has been married to his wife Joy for over five decades. The couple met as teenagers in 1952. They had two children: a daughter named Heidi and a son, Antony, who was an All-American in tennis at Corona del Mar High School and the University of Southern California. Antony died of cancer in January 2016.

The Roy Emerson trophy, which is awarded to the male champion at the Brisbane International, is named in his honor.

Roy Stanley Emerson was born on a farm in Blackbutt, Queensland, on 3 November 1936. His family later moved to Brisbane.

He went to the Brisbane Grammar School and Ipswich Grammar School. As a young boy, he developed an interest in tennis and received training to develop his skills at the sport.

He partnered with Neale Fraser in 1959 to win his first Grand Slam tournament doubles title at Wimbledon; he soon developed a reputation as a very skilled doubles player.

He won his first Grand Slam tournament singles title at the Australian Championships (now known as Australian Open) in 1961, beating compatriot Rod Laver in four sets in the final. Later the same year he claimed his second Major singles crown when he again beat Laver in the final of the US Championships (now known as US Open).

Having received coaching under the legendary Harry Hopman, Emerson emerged as a serve-and-volley specialist who was also skilled at a variety of other playing styles. Hopman greatly stressed on good fitness and under his guidance Emerson adopted a rigorous training regime which helped him develop his stamina.

Between 1963 and 1967, he won five consecutive men's singles titles at the Australian Championships. During the same period he won his first French Championships (now known as French Open) singles title, beating Pierre Darmon in the final in 1963.

He played against Fred Stolle in the Wimbledon singles final in 1964 and registered a victory. The year 1964 was a highly memorable one for him—he won 55 consecutive matches during the year and finished the year with 109 victories out of 115 matches.

Roy Emerson was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1982 and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1986.

He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and the Centenary Medal the next year.