Ken Rosewall facts for kids
Rosewall in the mid-1950s
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| 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 (71.84%) |
| 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) |
Kenneth Robert Rosewall (born 2 November 1934) is an Australian former professional tennis player. He was one of the world's top players for many years. Rosewall won an amazing 147 singles titles during his career. This includes 15 major professional titles and 8 Grand Slam titles. In total, his 23 major titles rank him second only to Novak Djokovic. He also won 15 professional major doubles titles and 9 Grand Slam doubles titles.
In 1963, Rosewall achieved a "Pro Slam" in singles. This means he won the three main professional major tournaments in one year. He also completed a "Career Grand Slam" in doubles, winning all four Grand Slam doubles titles at different times.
Rosewall was known for his powerful backhand shot. He had a very long career, playing at the top level from the early 1950s to the early 1970s. Many experts ranked him as the world No. 1 tennis player from 1961 to 1964, and again in 1970, 1971, and 1972. He was first ranked in the top 20 in 1952 and stayed there until 1977. Rosewall is the only player to hold professional Grand Slam titles on three different court surfaces at the same time (1962–63). At the 1971 Australian Open, he was the first man in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam without losing a single set.
Even though he was a natural left-hander, his father taught him to play tennis right-handed. He was only 1.70 meters (5 feet 7 inches) tall and weighed 67 kg (148 pounds). Other players jokingly called him "Muscles" because he wasn't very big. However, he was incredibly fast, agile, and never seemed to get tired. He was also excellent at hitting the ball close to the net. Ken Rosewall is a father of two and a grandfather of five. He lives in northern Sydney, Australia.
Early Life and First Steps in Tennis
Ken Rosewall was born on November 2, 1934, in Hurstville, Sydney. His father, Robert Rosewall, owned a grocery store. When Ken was one year old, his family moved to Rockdale. There, his father bought three clay tennis courts.
Ken started playing tennis at just three years old. He used a shorter racket and hit the ball with both hands for both forehand and backhand shots. He and his father practiced early in the mornings. They would focus on practicing one type of shot for several weeks. Even though Ken was naturally left-handed, his father taught him to play right-handed.
He played his first tournament when he was nine years old. He lost to the player who eventually won the competition. At age eleven, Rosewall won the Metropolitan Hardcourt Championships for players under fourteen. This was his first big win!
In his youth, Rosewall often played against Lew Hoad. They were known as the "Sydney twins" because they were both very talented. However, they looked different and had different playing styles. Their first match was in Sydney in January 1947, when they were both 12. Rosewall won that match 6–0, 6–0. He continued to beat Hoad in other junior championships. By 1949, at age 14, Rosewall became the youngest junior champion at the Australian Hardcourt Championships.
Tennis Career Highlights
Amateur Years: 1950 to 1956
In September 1950, at 15, Rosewall reached the final of a hard court championship. He then made it to the semifinals of a grass court championship, losing to a world-class player.
In January 1951, Rosewall won his first men's tournament in Manly, New South Wales. He was the youngest player ever to win that title. He played very well, hitting almost perfect ground shots. His only weak point was his smash shot. Later that year, he beat a famous player, Adrian Quist, but lost in the final to Lew Hoad.
By 1952, at just 17, Rosewall reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Championships. He surprised everyone by beating the top-seeded player, Vic Seixas. Experts like Lance Tingay ranked Rosewall and his doubles partner, Lew Hoad, as the tenth best amateur players in the world.
In 1953, at 18, Rosewall won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Championships. He then won the French Championships, showing great skill against Vic Seixas. He was the top seed at Wimbledon but lost in the quarterfinals. He also reached the semifinals at the U.S. Championships. Rosewall helped Australia win the Davis Cup three times during his amateur career (1953, 1955, and 1956). He won 15 of his 17 Davis Cup singles matches.
In 1954, Rosewall reached the Wimbledon final but lost. He continued to win other tournaments, including the Victorian championships.
In 1955, he won the Australian Championships for the second time, beating Lew Hoad. He did not play the French Championships that year to focus on the Davis Cup.
In 1956, Rosewall and Hoad won almost all the Grand Slam men's doubles titles. In singles, Hoad beat Rosewall in the Australian and Wimbledon finals. However, Rosewall stopped Hoad from winning the Grand Slam by beating him in the U.S. Championships final. Rosewall's amazing backhand and clever shots were too much for Hoad.
Professional Career: 1957 to 1968
In late 1956, Rosewall decided to become a professional tennis player. This meant he could earn money from playing. His first professional match was in January 1957 against Pancho Gonzales, who was the top professional player. Gonzales won their first tour, but Rosewall quickly improved.
In September 1957, Rosewall won the Wembley Pro title, a very important professional tournament. This was a big win for him.
By 1958, Rosewall was a strong contender in professional tournaments. He reached the final of the Forest Hills Tournament of Champions. He also won the French Pro Championship, showing his skill on clay courts.
In 1959, Rosewall started beating Pancho Gonzales more often. He won two Queensland Pro Championships. He was ranked among the top professional players.
In 1960, Rosewall was part of a new World Pro tour. He finished second behind Gonzales. He also won two major tournaments: the French Pro and Wembley Pro.
In 1961, Rosewall took a break to spend time with his family. When he returned, he won the two biggest tournaments: the French Pro and Wembley Pro. He beat Gonzales in the French Pro final and Hoad in the Wembley final. Many experts started to rank Rosewall as the new world No. 1 professional player.
In 1962, Rosewall continued to dominate, winning most professional tournaments. He kept his Wembley Pro and French Pro titles. He was widely considered the world No. 1 professional.
1963 was a fantastic year for Rosewall. He beat Rod Laver in a tour of Australia and New Zealand. He then won the U.S. Pro, French Pro, and Wembley Pro championships. This meant he won all three major professional tournaments in one year, achieving a "Pro Slam." He was voted the world's number one professional player.
In 1964, Rosewall won the French Pro title again. He was officially ranked as the No. 1 professional player. Even Rod Laver, another great player, said that Rosewall was still the best.
Rosewall continued to win major tournaments in 1965 and 1966, often battling against Rod Laver. They shared most of the top titles during these years.
By 1967, Rod Laver started to win more tournaments than Rosewall. However, Rosewall still won several titles. From 1957 to 1968, Rosewall was not allowed to play in traditional Grand Slam events or the Davis Cup because he was a professional. Despite this, he reached his peak during this time, winning at least 62 tournaments.
Open Era Career: 1968 to 1980s
The "Open Era" in tennis began in 1968. This meant that professional players could finally compete in Grand Slam tournaments alongside amateur players.
In 1968, at 33 years old, Rosewall played his first "Open" tournament and won it. He then won the French Open, which was the first Grand Slam of the Open Era. This showed he was still the best clay court player. He also reached the final of the Pacific Southwest Open and won the Wembley Pro tournament. At 34, he was ranked No. 3 in the world.
In 1969, Rosewall reached the French Open final again but lost to Rod Laver. He won three other tournaments that year.
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In 1970, Rosewall did not play the Australian Open or French Open due to disagreements over prize money. However, he reached the final of Wimbledon, losing a close five-set match to John Newcombe. Two months later, at the U.S. Open, Rosewall won his sixth Grand Slam title, beating Newcombe and then Tony Roche in the final. This was a great comeback year for Rosewall. Many experts ranked him as the world No. 1.
In 1971, Rosewall continued his strong performance. He won the Australian Open without losing a single set. This was his second Grand Slam win in a row and his seventh overall. He became the first man in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam without dropping a set. He also won the WCT Finals, beating Rod Laver in a memorable final.
In 1972, Rosewall won his fourth Australian Open title. This was his eighth and final Grand Slam title. At 37 years and 2 months old, he became the oldest male player to win a Grand Slam singles title in the Open Era. He also won the WCT Finals again, beating Laver in an epic five-set match. This match was watched by 23 million people in the U.S. and is often called "the match that made tennis in the United States."
From August 1972, players could enter almost any tournament. Rosewall won seven tournaments in 1972. He was ranked No. 2 in the world by some experts and No. 1 by others.
In 1973, Rosewall returned to Davis Cup play after 17 years. He reached the semifinals of the US Open and finished third at the WCT Finals. He won several other tournaments and remained in the top 10.
1974 was a unique year as Rosewall didn't win a tournament. However, he reached three finals, including Wimbledon and the US Open. At 39, he reached his last Wimbledon final, but lost to Jimmy Connors. He was still ranked among the top players in the world.
Rosewall continued to play well into his 40s. In 1975, he was still in the top 10 and won five tournaments. He made his last attempt at Wimbledon at over 40 years old. In 1976, he won three more tournaments.
In 1977, at 43, Rosewall reached the semifinals of the Australian Open. He won his last two titles in Hong Kong and Tokyo. In October 1977, he beat the world No. 3 player, Vitas Gerulaitis, and reached the final of the Sydney Indoor Tournament. He gradually retired from the sport. In 1980, at nearly 46, he won a match against a world-ranked player before losing. He even made a brief comeback in 1982 at 47, reaching a final in a smaller tournament.
By 1972, Rosewall was the second tennis professional to earn over $1 million in his career.
Rivalries
Ken Rosewall had famous rivalries with Rod Laver and Pancho Gonzales.
His matches against Rod Laver are well-documented. In the Open Era, Laver won more matches against Rosewall (23-9). Overall, including all their matches, Laver led 89-75.
Rosewall and Pancho Gonzales played at least 204 professional matches. Gonzales won more of these, with a record of 117 wins to Rosewall's 87.
Playing Style and Strengths
When Rosewall first became a professional, he was known as a "backcourt player," meaning he played mostly from the back of the court. However, he quickly learned to play at the net, becoming a master at it. This helped him have such a long career.
His one-handed backhand shot, often hit with backspin, was considered one of the best in tennis history. He also had an excellent first volley, which is a shot hit before the ball bounces.
Many people consider Ken Rosewall to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time. He was ranked among the top players for 25 consecutive years (1952–1976).
Rosewall was very lucky to stay mostly injury-free throughout his long career. This helped him win tournaments even at 43 years old and remain in the world's top 15. Although he reached the final of Wimbledon four times, it was the one major tournament he never won.
At the 1974 US Open, Rosewall was 39 years and 310 days old. This made him the oldest player to reach two Grand Slam finals in the same year. In 1972, when he won the Australian Open at 37 years and 2 months, he became the oldest male player to win a Grand Slam singles title in the Open Era.
Career Statistics Summary
Ken Rosewall joined professional tennis in 1957. Because of rules at the time, he couldn't play in 45 Grand Slam tournaments until the Open Era began in 1968. Combining his Grand Slam and Pro Slam tournaments, Rosewall won 23 titles. He had an impressive win-loss record of 246 wins and 46 losses, which is an 84.24% winning rate over 28 years.
Major Titles Performance Timeline
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | A | NH |
| Grand Slam tournament | Amateur | Professional | Open Era | SR | W–L | Win % | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957–1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | |||||
| Australian Open | 1R | QF | W | SF | W | F | A | 3R | A | W | W | 2R | A | A | SF | SF | QF | 3R | 4 / 14 | 43–10 | 81.13 | |
| French Open | A | 2R | W | 4R | A | A | A | W | F | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2 / 5 | 24–3 | 88.89 | |
| Wimbledon | A | 2R | QF | F | SF | F | A | 4R | 3R | F | SF | A | A | F | 4R | A | A | A | 0 / 11 | 47–11 | 81.03 | |
| US Open | A | QF | SF | SF | F | W | A | SF | QF | W | A | 2R | SF | F | A | A | 3R | A | 2 / 12 | 57–10 | 85.07 | |
| Win–loss | 0–1 | 8–4 | 21–2 | 17–4 | 16–2 | 17–2 | 15–2 | 13–4 | 13–1 | 10–1 | 6–1 | 5–2 | 12–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 9–3 | 2–1 | 8 / 42 | 171–34 | 83.41 | ||
| Pro Slam tournament | Professional | SR | W–L | Win % | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | ||||
| U.S. Pro | SF | A | A | A | A | A | W | SF | W | F | SF | 2 / 6 | 12–4 | 75.00 |
| French Pro | NH | W | SF | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | SF | 8 / 10 | 30–2 | 93.75 |
| Wembley Pro | W | SF | SF | W | W | W | W | F | SF | F | F | 5 / 11 | 29–6 | 82.86 |
| Total: | 15 / 27 | 71–12 | 85.54 | |||||||||||
Amazing Records
All-Time Records
- In 1963, Ken Rosewall won the calendar year Professional Grand Slam. This means he won all three major professional tournaments in one year.
- He reached 52 combined major semifinals (Grand Slams and Pro Slams) throughout his career, which is a record no one else has achieved.
- Rosewall played in 27 Pro Slam tournaments, won 15 titles, and reached 19 finals. He also had an incredible 85.54% win rate in these tournaments.
- He is the youngest player to reach every Grand Slam final (1953–1955).
- He won a Grand Slam title in three different decades (1953–1972), a record he shares with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
- At the Australian Championships in 1953, he became the youngest singles champion at 18 years and 2 months old.
- There was a 19-year gap between his first and last Australian Open singles titles (1953–1972).
- In 1971, he won the Australian Open title without losing a set, a rare achievement.
- He won 8 French Pro-Championship titles, including 7 in a row from 1960 to 1966.
- There was a 14-year gap between his first and last U.S. Championships singles titles (1956–1970).
- He won 4 consecutive Wembley Pro-Championship titles from 1960 to 1963.
- Rosewall won 20 wood court titles, more than anyone else.
- He won a singles title for 25 seasons in a row (1951–1977).
- He played the most matches (2282) and won the most matches (1665) in tennis history.
- He was ranked in the world's top 10 for 25 consecutive years (1952–1976).
Open Era Records
- At the 1971 Australian Open, he won the title without losing a set.
- In 1972, he became the oldest singles champion at the Australian Open (37 years, 2 months).
- At the 1974 US Open, he was the oldest player to reach a Grand Slam final (39 years, 10 months).
- He won the WCT Finals two years in a row (1971–1972).
Personal Life
Ken Rosewall married Wilma McIver, a former tennis player from Queensland, on October 6, 1956. Their wedding was a big event in Brisbane. The couple later moved to Turramurra in Sydney. They had two sons. His wife passed away on April 27, 2020.
Honours and Recognition
Ken Rosewall has received many honours for his amazing tennis career:
- In 1971, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
- In 1979, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
- He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1980.
- In 1985, he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
- He is considered an Australian Living Treasure.
To honor his contributions to tennis, the main court at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre was renamed the Ken Rosewall Arena in 2008.
In 2023, Rosewall was invited to present the Men's Singles trophy at the Australian Open Championship. This was to celebrate the 70th anniversary of his first Australian singles championship victory.
See also
In Spanish: Ken Rosewall para niños
- Tennis male players statistics
- All-time tennis records – Men's singles
- Open Era tennis records – Men's singles
