Ken Rosewall

Lore & Background

Rosewall was born in Hurstville, Sydney, and started playing tennis at age 3 with a shortened racket. He was a natural left-hander but was taught to play right-handed by his father. In his youth, he often played Lew Hoad, and they became known as the Sydney 'twins.' Rosewall won his first Grand Slam singles title at the 1953 Australian Championships at age 18, and also won the French Championships that year. He turned professional in December 1956 and dominated the pro circuit, winning a Pro Slam in 1963. He was ranked world No. 1 by multiple sources from 1961 to 1964, and again in 1970, and by Rino Tommasi in 1971 and 1972.

Reader's Guide

Ken Rosewall's significance lies in his extraordinary longevity and versatility. He was the only player to simultaneously hold Pro Slam titles on three different surfaces (1962–63). At the 1971 Australian Open, he became the first man in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam tournament without dropping a set. Despite being only 1.70 m tall and having a relatively soft serve, his powerful backhand, agility, and tireless volleying made him a champion across two eras. He won world professional championship tours in 1963 and 1964, and WCT titles in 1971 and 1972. His career spanned from the early 1950s to the early 1970s, with his first top-20 ranking in 1952 and his last in 1977. Rosewall's record of 15 Pro Majors remains unmatched, and he helped Australia win three Davis Cup Challenge Rounds. His legacy is that of a complete player who adapted to changing surfaces and competition.

Did You Know?

• Rosewall was nicknamed 'Muscles' sarcastically by fellow players because of his lack of them.
• He was the only player to simultaneously hold Pro Slam titles on three different surfaces (1962–63).
• At the 1971 Australian Open, he became the first man in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam without dropping a set.
• Rosewall won 15 of the 17 Davis Cup singles rubbers he played, including the last 14 in a row.