Ken Rosewall
Kenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE (born 2 November 1934) is an Australian former world top-ranking professional tennis player. Rosewall won 147 singles titles, including a record 15 Pro Majors and 8 Grand Slam titles for a total 23 titles at pro and amateur majors. He also won 15 Pro Majors in doubles and 9 Grand Slam doubles titles. Rosewall achieved a Pro Slam in singles in 1963 by winning the three Pro Majors in one year and he completed the Career Grand Slam in doubles.
Rosewall in the mid-1950s | |
| Full name | Kenneth Robert Rosewall |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) | Australia |
| Residence | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Born | 2 November 1934 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Turned pro | 1956 (amateur since 1950) |
| Retired | 1980 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | US$1,602,700 |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1980 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 1811–710 (71.8%) |
| Career titles | 147 (40 listed by the ATP) |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (1961, L'Équipe) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1953, 1955, 1971, 1972) |
| French Open | W (1953, 1968) |
| Wimbledon | F (1954, 1956, 1970, 1974) |
| US Open | W (1956, 1970) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | RR – 3rd (1970) |
| WCT Finals | W (1971, 1972) |
| Professional majors | |
| US Pro | W (1963, 1965) |
| Wembley Pro | W (1957, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963) |
| French Pro | W (1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966) |
| Other pro events | |
| TOC | F (1958FH) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 211–113 (Open Era) |
| Career titles | 14 listed by the ATP |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1953, 1956, 1972) |
| French Open | W (1953, 1968) |
| Wimbledon | W (1953, 1956) |
| US Open | W (1956, 1969) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Career record | 21–6 |
| Career titles | 1 |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| French Open | SF (1953) |
| Wimbledon | F (1954) |
| US Open | W (1956) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | W (1953, 1955, 1956, 1973) |
Rosewall had a renowned backhand and enjoyed a long career at the highest levels from the early 1950s to the early 1970s. Rosewall was ranked as the world No. 1 tennis player by multiple sources from 1961 to 1964, multiple sources in 1970 and Rino Tommasi in 1971 and 1972. Rosewall was first ranked in the top 20 in 1952 and last ranked in the top 20 in 1977. Rosewall is the only player to have simultaneously held Pro Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces (1962–63). At the 1971 Australian Open, he became the first man during the Open Era to win a Grand Slam tournament without dropping a set. Rosewall won world professional championship tours in 1963, 1964, and the WCT titles in 1971 and 1972. A natural left-hander, Rosewall was taught by his father to play right-handed. He developed a powerful, effective backhand but never had anything more than an accurate but relatively soft serve. He was 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) tall, weighed 67 kg (148 lb) and sarcastically was nicknamed "Muscles" by his fellow-players because of his lack of them. He was, however, fast, agile, and tireless, with a deadly volley. A father of two and grandfather of five, Rosewall lives in northern Sydney.