Mr Rod Laver AC MBE

Nicknamed “Rocket” by Australian Davis Cup captain Harry Hopman, Rod Laver soars among the greats of tennis.
In a long and distinguished career, he held the world’s top ranking for seven straight years from 1964 to 1970.
The Rockhampton native won his first major at what were then the Australian Championships in 190, defeating compatriot Neale Fraser in five sets. Laver captured his first Wimbledon singles crown the following year.
As an amateur in 1962, he became only the second man to win all four Grand Slam singles titles in the same year. He is the only player to have won the Grand Slam twice, after repeating the feat as a professional in 1969.
The winner of 11 majors, he is equal fourth with Bjorn Borg on the all-time list behind Roger Federer (16), Pete Sampras (14) and fellow Queensland legend Roy Emerson (12) and who knows where Laver might sit on the ladder had he been allowed to play Grand Slams at the peak of his powers through the mid-1960s?
He and Roy Emerson are the only men to have won each major twice in their careers.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players to grace the game, Laver was a star on all surfaces of his era.