Australian tennis was at the forefront of developing the modern game as we know it today. There have been numerous male and female Australian players who have made an impact on the game worldwide and have become global sporting stars in their own right.
Below we list some of the biggest names and most popular tennis players that Australia has produced.
Rod Laver
Possibly the greatest Australian player of all time, Rod Laver is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in tennis history.
He was the number 1 ranked professional from 1964 to 1970 spanning four years before the Open Era and three after. He was also the number 1 amateur in 1961 and 1962.
Rod Laver’s 200 single titles are the most in tennis history and some say will never be surpassed.
Ken Rosewall
Ken Rosewall is a former world top ranking amateur and professional player in the 1960’s. He won a record 25 tennis Majors including 8 Grand Slam singles titles and even before the Open Era he won a record 15 professional titles and a record 35 Major finals overall. He won the Pro Grand Slam in 1963 and won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam.
One of his greatest attributes is considered to be his ferocious backhand and his speed around the court.
Margaret Court
Margaret Court amassed a list of tournament wins that is unrivalled. She is only one of three players to complete the “Boxed Set” which is the singles, doubles and mixed titles at all four majors.
She was a strong, superbly conditioned athlete known for her blanketing net attack and powerful serve. Margaret collected 64 major titles in all formats with her closest rival being Martina Navratilova with 59.
In 1970, Court became just the second woman to complete the Grand Slam, only Steffi Graf being the other.
John Newcombe
John Newcombe was a tough and rugged serve-volleyer and a fierce competitor. “Newk” as he was nicknamed won 7 Grand Slam singles titles, winning all but the French.
He won 12 Grand Slam doubles titles with Tony Roche more than any pairing in tennis history. Newcombe eventually won 17 doubles majors and he was part of five winning Davis Cup teams.
Lleyton Hewitt
Lleyton Hewitt became Australia’s top-ranked junior tennis player before turning professional in 1998. He was renowned for his scrappy playing style, he won singles titles at the US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon the following year. He was the youngest men’s player ever to earn the number 1 ranking.
These are just some of the marvellous talent that Australia has groomed on the tennis courts. Their record is not for debate as it stands for everybody to see and it is quite incredible how many top players the country has produced.
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