Who is Ken Rosewall?
Ken Rosewall is an Australian tennis champion who won eight Grand Slam singles titles across the amateur and Open eras. He won the Australian Open in 1971 and 1972, the second time at the age of 37.
Rosewall was born in Sydney in 1934. Known as Muscles, ironically because of his slight build, he was famous for his elegant backhand and consistency.
As an amateur, he won the Australian and French championships in 1953 and the US Championships in 1956. He then turned professional and was unable to play in Grand Slams for years.
The Open era
When the Open era began in 1968, Rosewall won the first French Open of the era. He went on to win the 1970 US Open and the 1971 and 1972 Australian Opens.
His 1972 Australian Open win at the age of 37 made him the oldest man to win a Grand Slam singles title in the Open era. Despite his success, he never won the Wimbledon singles title, finishing runner-up four times, in 1954, 1956, 1970 and 1974.
Rosewall's career spanned more than two decades at the highest level. He helped Australia win the Davis Cup and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1980.
Did You Know?
Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney, now part of the Sydney Olympic Park tennis center, was named after him.