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Ken RosewallFormer professional Australian tennis player
Date of Birth: 02.11.1934
Country:  Australia |
Content:
Biography of Ken Rosewall
Early Life and CareerKen Rosewall, a former professional Australian tennis player, was born in Sydney. His father was a grocer, and when Ken was just one year old, the family moved to the suburbs where his father purchased three tennis courts. Ken took his first steps onto the court at the age of three, initially using a short racket and hitting with both hands. Father and son trained early in the morning, spending weeks perfecting their serves and shots. Although Ken was naturally left-handed, his father taught him to play right-handed. At the age of 9, Ken participated in his first championship, finishing second to the champion. At 11, he won a local junior championship, and at 14, he became the junior champion of Australia on hard courts.
Amateur Career
From 1950 to 1956, Ken Rosewall competed as an amateur. At 17, he reached the quarterfinals of the US Championship, and at 18, he won the singles titles at the Australian Championship, the French Championship, and the Pacific Southwest Championship. In 1956, Ken Rosewall and Lew Hoad won three out of four Grand Slam championships in doubles, only missing out on the French Championship. Interestingly, Rosewall faced his doubles partner in three Grand Slam singles finals, losing twice but emerging victorious at the US Championship. He also represented Australia in the Davis Cup, participating in three winning campaigns.
Professional Career
Ken Rosewall turned professional on January 14, 1957, facing the top-ranked professional player, Pancho Gonzales, in a challenging match. The following day, Rosewall managed to defeat Gonzales, adapting quickly to the differences between amateur and professional tennis. They would meet several more times on the court, with Gonzales mostly emerging as the winner. Only after Gonzales retired did Rosewall become a worthy contender for the title of the world's best player. In 1961, Ken took a break from tennis to spend more time with his family, but returned in 1962 without losing his competitive edge. However, a new rival, Rod Laver, emerged, and the competition between the two Australians became the highlight of tennis in the 1960s. Their fierce rivalry peaked in 1966, after which Rosewall began to decline, with Laver winning more frequently and new players giving Ken a tough time.
Later Career and Retirement
In 1968, Ken Rosewall participated in his first open tournament and performed well at Roland Garros, the first open Grand Slam tournament, solidifying his reputation as the "King of Clay." The rest of the year saw Rosewall face several defeats from talented newcomers, but overall, the season was relatively successful. In 1969, Rosewall struggled against Laver on all fronts, including losing on his beloved clay courts, and ended the year ranked only 4th. By the age of 35, Ken had won all major tournaments except Wimbledon, and he decided to focus on capturing that title. Although his career had its ups and downs, Rosewall never managed to win Wimbledon. He reached the final for the last time in 1974 and participated in the championship for the last time in 1975. After 1978, Ken gradually stepped away from professional tennis until his retirement.
