Kenneth Robert Rosewall is an Australian former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player. He won a record 23 Majors in singles, including eight Grand Slam singles titles and, before the Open Era, a record 15 Pro Slam titles. Rosewall also won a record 24 major men's doubles titles, with nine Grand Slam titles and 15 Pro Slam men's doubles titles. 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 (1962–1963). 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 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. Now a father of two and grandfather of five, Rosewall lives in northern Sydney.
The 1972 U.S. Professional Indoor was a men's tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts. It was played at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States that was part of the 1972 World Championship Tennis circuit. It was the fifth edition of the tournament and was held from February 8 through February 13, 1972. Total attendance for the tournament was 57,282. First-seeded Rod Laver won the singles title, his third at the event after 1969 and 1970.
The 1981 World Championship Tennis Finals was a men's tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts. It was the 11th edition of the WCT Finals and was part of the 1981 Volvo Grand Prix. The tournament was played at the Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas in the United States and was held from April 27 through May 3, 1981. The winners of the eight WCT tournaments that were part of the 1981 Grand Prix circuit qualified for the tournament augmented by the next best performers in the WCT points standings. Guillermo Vilas qualified by winning the last tournament held just before the WCT Finals, the River Oaks Tournament in Houston, but was unavailable to play. Jimmy Connors withdrew before the tournament due to gastroenteritis and Yannick Noah could not participate due to a shoulder injury. They were replaced by Sandy Mayer and Sam Giammalva respectively. First-seeded John McEnroe won the title and $100,000 prize money.
The 1969 Stockholm Open was a men's tennis tournament played on indoor hard courts at the Kungliga tennishallen in Stockholm, Sweden. The tournament was held from 24 November until 29 November 1969. Unseeded Nikola Pilić won the singles title.
The 1972 United Bank Classic, also known as the Denver WCT, was a men's tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts in Denver, Colorado in the United States that was part of the 1972 World Championship Tennis circuit. It was the inaugural edition of the tournament and took place from April 24 through April 30, 1972. First-seeded Rod Laver won the first edition of both the doubles and singles competition. There was criticism by players, including Arthur Ashe, that the playing conditions on the Sporface carpet courts were too fast.
The 1973 Denver WCT, also known as the 1973 United Bank Tennis Classic for sponsorship reasons, was the second edition of the tennis event. It was held on indoor carpet courts in Denver, Colorado. The tournament was held between the April 23 and April 30, 1973. The tournament was part of the World Championship Tennis tour, and was part of the Group B circuit. As a result the defending champions Rod Laver, of the doubles and singles, along with his doubles partner Roy Emerson, were ineligible to compete. Ninth-seeded Mark Cox won the singles title.
The 1968 British Hard Court Championships was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at The West Hants Club in Bournemouth in England. It was the first tournament in the Open Era of tennis. The tournament was held from 22 April to 27 April 1968. Ken Rosewall and Virginia Wade won the first open singles titles while the men's team of Roy Emerson and Rod Laver and the women's team of Christine Truman Janes and Nell Truman won the first open doubles titles.
The 1975 Denver WCT, also known as the 1975 United Bank Tennis Classic for sponsorship reasons, was a men's professional tennis tournament. It was held on indoor carpet courts in Denver, Colorado. It was the fourth edition of the tournament and was held from 14 April through 20 April 1975. The tournament was part of the 1975 World Championship Tennis circuit, and was part of the Blue group circuit. Jimmy Connors made his WCT debut and won the singles title and the accompanying $12,000 first prize.
The 1970 U.S. Pro Tennis Championships was a men's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts at the Longwood Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. It was classified as a Class 1 category tournament and was part of the 1970 Grand Prix circuit. It was the 43rd edition of the tournament and was held from August 3 through August 9, 1970. Fourth-seeded Tony Roche won the singles title and the accompanying $12,000 first prize money.
The 1970 First National Tennis Classic, also known as the Louisville Open, was a men's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts at the Louisville Tennis Center in Louisville, Kentucky in the United States. It was the inaugural edition of the tournament and was held from July 29 through August 3, 1970. The tournament was part of both the 1970 Grand Prix tennis circuit, categorized in Class 2, as well as the 1970 World Championship Tennis season and had total prize money of $25,000. The singles final was won by Rod Laver who earned eight ranking points.
The 1971 First National Tennis Classic, also known as the Louisville WCT, was a men's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Louisville Tennis Center in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. It was the second edition of the tournament and was held from July 19 through July 25, 1971. The tournament was part of the 1971 World Championship Tennis circuit and offered total prize money of $50,000. The singles final was won by Tom Okker who earned $10,000 first-prize money.
The 1973 Peachtree Corners Classic, also known as the Atlanta WCT, was a men's tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts at the Alexander Memorial Coliseum in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States that was part of Group A of the 1973 World Championship Tennis circuit. It was the second edition of the tournament and was held from March 19 through March 25, 1973. Second-seeded Stan Smith won the singles title and the accompanying $10,000 first-prize money
The 1973 Fidelity Tournament, also known as the Richmond WCT, was a men's professional tennis tournament that was part of the Group A of the 1973 World Championship Tennis circuit. It was held on indoor carpet courts at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia in the United States. It was the eighth edition of the tournament and was held from January 30 through February 4, 1973. First-seeded Rod Laver won his second consecutive singles title at the event and earned $10,000 first-prize money.
The 1970 Atlanta Tennis Classic, also known as the Atlanta WCT, was a men's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts at the DeKalb Tennis Center in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States that was part of the 1970 World Championship Tennis season. It was the inaugural edition of the tournament and was held from May 6 through May 10, 1970. Tom Okker, who survived a match point in his semifinals match against John Newcombe, won the singles title and the accompanying $5,000 first-prize money.
The 1972 Rothmans International Vancouver, also known as the Vancouver WCT, was a men's professional tennis tournament that was part of the 1972 World Championship Tennis circuit. It was held on indoor carpet courts at the PNE Agrodome in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada. It was the third edition of the tournament and was held from 15 October through 22 October 1972. First-seeded John Newcombe won the singles title and earned $10,000 first-prize money.
The 1971 Rothmans International Vancouver, also known as the Vancouver WCT, was a men's professional tennis tournament that was part of the 1971 World Championship Tennis circuit. It was held on indoor carpet courts at the PNE Agrodome in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada. It was the second edition of the tournament and was held from 3 October through 11 October 1971. Fourth-seeded Ken Rosewall won the singles title and earned $10,000 first-prize money.
The 1970 Rothmans International Vancouver – Singles was an event of the 1970 Rothmans International Vancouver tennis tournament played at the PNE Agrodome in Vancouver, Canada from 29 September through 3 October 1970. Rod Laver won the singles title, defeating Roy Emerson 6–2, 6–1, 6–2 in the final.
The 1973 Fidelity Tournament – Singles was an event of the 1973 Fidelity Tournament men's tennis tournament played at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia in the United States from January 30 through February 4, 1973. The draw comprised 32 players and 10 of them were seeded. Rod Laver was the defending champion. First-seeded Laver won the singles title, defeating seventh-seeded Roy Emerson 6–4, 6–3 in the final.
The 1971 Rothmans International Vancouver – Doubles was an event of the 1971 Rothmans International Vancouver tennis tournament played at the PNE Agrodome in Vancouver, Canada from 3 October through 11 October 1971. Roy Emerson and Rod Laver were the defending doubles champions and retained the title, defeating John Alexander and Phil Dent in the final, 5–7, 6–7, 6–0, 7–5, 7–6.
The 1971 Rothmans International Quebec, also known as the Quebec International Open or Quebec WCT, was a men's professional tennis tournament that was part of the 1971 World Championship Tennis circuit. It was held on indoor carpet courts at Laval University in Quebec City, Quebec in Canada. It was the inaugural edition of the tournament and was held from 26 July through 1 August 1971. Tom Okker won the singles title and earned $10,000 first-prize money.
Rod Laver [1] 
