The year was 1960, and Ken Rosewall was one win away from becoming the first Australian to win the Grand Slam in tennis. He’d already won four Australian titles, and was about to add the last one when the legendary Bill Tilden decided to retire. It was an emotional victory for Rosewall, who dedicated his title to Tilden and the entire world of tennis. He became known as Mr. T, and the Ls1 (Lowest Servings 1) trophies he won are now known as the Ken Rosewall trophies.
Since then, many similar situations have presented themselves to tennis fans. In 1975, Jimmy Connors was one win away from a record-breaking seventh consecutive singles title. He won his sixth title, but then lost in the finals of the U.S. Open to Pete Sampras. In the same year, Ilie Nastase was one match away from winning his fifth consecutive Australian Open. He won his final four matches, but lost in the final to Rod Laver.
It’s never easy to lose a Grand Slam final. But after the disappointment of the 1975 U.S. Open, Nastase walked out on to Centre Court and told the crowd, “This is the end of my career. You can put me in jail now.” His wife started crying, and the crowd went home unhappy. But Nastase wasn’t finished yet. He kept playing and soon afterwards won the French Open, taking out his frustration on his opponents. He would eventually rack up a record 26 Grand Slam titles, proving that nothing, not even tennis’ greatest icon, can keep you down when you want something bad enough. (Nastase’s autobiography is titled, “I Love You More Than Any Woman Can Love A Man.”)
Touches, Volleys, and Service Games
Nowadays, it’s not just men who have made a name for themselves by winning Grand Slams. Women have certainly been responsible for some memorable moments as well. In 1998, Steffi Graf won her sixth Australian Open, tying Billie Jean King for most Grand Slam titles won. Graf’s win that year was especially memorable because it was her final match ever. She went on to win the tournament three more times in her career, passing King’s record of five Grand Slams. (Graf’s autobiography is named, “The Heart of a Champion.”)
The following year, King won the U.S. Open for an unprecedented seventh time, becoming the first champion in the Open Era to surpass the number of Grand Slams Jones, Fisher, and Rosewall had previously won. She went on to win the Australian Open and the French Open three more times. In 2001, Serena Williams became the first (and only) woman to win the Grand Slam since King, claiming all four major titles in a row. (Williams’ autobiography is titled, “Serena: Becoming Serena.)
The First Of Many
In 2006, Roger Federer won his first Australian Open, becoming the first man in the Open Era to win the Australian and French Open and then the W.C. for the title of champion. Since then, while he’s still looked upon as the greatest tennis player of all time, Federer has become less dominant, with wins coming less frequently. But even so, he’s still a four-time champion. (Federer’s autobiography is titled, “The Boy From Switzerland.)
Tennis has now seen the emergence of numerous players who’ve followed in the footsteps of Federer and Williams. In 2010, Novak Djokovic became the first player ever to complete a Career Grand Slam, winning the Australian Open, U.S. Open, and the French Open consecutively. (Djokovic’s autobiography is titled, “Unlimited.)
The Open Era began in 1968, and as a result, many historic moments have been preserved for future generations. The Ls1 trophies and the six Grand Slams have remained a constant reminder to everyone that while the world of tennis changes, the game itself never does.