Biography Of Rod Laver

On September 10th, 1962 Rod Laver legend tennis player wins all four majors tournaments for the career grand slam. Winning the career grand slam consists of winning all four major tennis championships in one year. These tennis championships are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. Laver became professional the next year, meaning that he could not compete in the Open championships, which at that time amateur-only. In 1968 the four grand slam tournaments stopped their amateur-only rule and let professionals compete, this would mark the beginning of the “Open Era” of tennis.

Rod George Lavers was born on August 9, 1938.Rod Lavers parents were not wealthy but did as much for him as possible. Lavers parents with the little money they had invested in a backyard court making sure he was never without a racquet or tennis balls. By the time he was eleven, Laver was driven to junior tournaments all throughout Queensland. Laver and his family would get up at two or even three in the morning for his father to drive them wherever they had to go, hundreds of miles during this time being dirt roads linking the towns. These trips could take seven or even eight hours where occasionally his father would drop Laver off and say, “ See you at five” , and find him at a pub having a drink and reading his newspaper.

Laver believes that one of the best things his parents have done for him was introducing him to his father’s friend and tennis coach Charlie Hollis who was a regular player on their home court in Rockhampton. Charlie traveled around Australia stopping there to coach children after he had been an artillery instructor in World War II. Laver’s coach would bellow at kids like the sergeant he was, telling them w...

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...aying tennis. Laver still continues to live his life normally playing both tennis and golf with his friends but occasionally has to cancel due to arthritis. In an interview Laver said he believes it’s, “wear and tear” as he pointed at his wrist which flicked a countless amount of brilliant winners on court. Laver is said to be one of the most humble and normal people even after being the only man to ever win all four of the Grand Slam events in one year twice. Unfortunately, even though Laver had dominated the tennis tour throughout most of the 1960’s the golden era of tennis was a decade away so Laver sometimes goes unrecognized. In my opinion Rod Laver is what a truly great tennis player should consist of not letting fame get to your head and always staying humble. Laver remains a huge inspiration in my tennis as well as other players amateur to professional.