Tony Roche
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- See also: Tony Roche (writer)
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Country | Australia | |
Residence | - | |
Date of birth | May 17, 1945 | |
Place of birth | Wagga Wagga, Australia | |
Height | 5'10 (177 cm) | |
Weight | 175 lbs (79 kg) | |
Turned Pro | - | |
Plays | Left-handed | |
Career Prize Money | US$529,199 | |
Singles | ||
Career record: | 235-114 | |
Career titles: | 7 | |
Highest ranking: | 8 (16-Nov-75) | |
Grand Slam results | ||
Australian Open | QF (1964) | |
French Open | W (1966) | |
Wimbledon | F (1968) | |
US Open | F (1969, 1970) | |
Doubles | ||
Career record: | 208-94 | |
Career titles: | 18 | |
Highest ranking: | 748 (25-Jun-84) | |
Infobox last updated on: January 26, 2007. |
Anthony "Tony" Dalton Roche (born May 17, 1945) is a former professional Australian tennis player, born in Tarcutta. He played junior tennis in the New South Wales regional city of Wagga Wagga.[1] He is also very well known for coaching multi-grand slam winning World Number Ones Ivan Lendl, Patrick Rafter, Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt.
Contents |
[edit] Playing career
Roche grew up playing in Australia under the tutelage of Harry Hopman, who also coached other Australian greats such as Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall.
Roche had a successful singles and double career. He won a single singles Grand Slam - the 1966 French Open at Roland Garros. He was 5 times runner-up - at Roland Garros in 1965 and 1967, Wimbledon in 1968, and US Open in 1969 and 1970. With John Newcombe dominated the men's doubles Grand Slams with a total of 12 Grand Slam titles.
In 1968 Roche turned pro, signing with World Championship Tennis, joining other pros like Cliff Drysdale, Nikki Pilic, and Roger Taylor to form the "Handsome Eight."
Perhaps one of his greatest achievements came in 1977, being called up to play singles in the finals of the Davis Cup tournament versus Italy, nearly 10 years since he had last played for Australia. In the tie, Roche upset top Italian Adriano Panatta in straight sets 6–3,6–4,6–4 to lead Australia to a 3–1 victory, winning the Davis Cup. Shoulder and elbow injuries cut short his career after having finished in the top 10 for 6 straight years.
[edit] Coaching career
After completing his playing career Roche has developed a highly successful career as a tennis coach. Ivan Lendl hired Roche as a full-time coach for Roche's advice on volleying (Lendl dreamed of winning Wimbledon, and because Roche had been a fine grass court player, he sought his tutelage). Roche also coached former world No. 1 Patrick Rafter from 1997 to the end of his career in 2002. Roche coached current World No. 1 Roger Federer from 2005 to May 12, 2007. It is reputed this was on a "handshake agreement" with no contract - Roche is paid by the week. Federer hired Roche for the opposite reason that Lendl hired him: to work on his clay court game (as Roche had won the French Open). He is currently coaching two-time grand-slam winner Lleyton Hewitt, who is aiming to get his career back on track after a number of unsuccessful years on the tour.[2]
[edit] Honours
Roche entered the Tennis Hall of Fame alongside doubles partner and close friend John Newcombe in 1986.
[edit] Grand Slam singles finals
[edit] Wins (1)
Year | Championship | Opponent in final | Score in final |
1966 | French Championships | Istvan Gulyas | 6–1, 6–4, 7–5 |
[edit] Runner-ups (5)
Year | Championship | Opponent in final | Score in final |
1965 | French Championships | Fred Stolle | 6–3, 0–6, 2–6, 3–6 |
1967 | French Championships | Roy Emerson | 1–6, 4–6, 6–2, 2–6 |
↓ Open Era ↓ | |||
1968 | Wimbledon | Rod Laver | 3–6, 4–6, 2–6 |
1969 | U.S. Open | Rod Laver | 9–7, 1–6, 2–6, 2–6 |
1970 | U.S. Open | Ken Rosewall | 6–2, 4–6, 6–7, 3–6 |
[edit] Grand Slam men's doubles finals (14)
[edit] Wins (12)
Year | Championship | Partnering | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
1965 | Australian Championships | John Newcombe | Roy Emerson Fred Stolle |
3–6, 4–6, 13-11, 6–3, 6–4 |
1965 | Wimbledon[3] | John Newcombe | Ken Fletcher Bob Hewitt |
7–5, 6–3, 6–4 |
1967 | Australian Championships (2) | John Newcombe | Bill Bowrey Owen Davidson |
3–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–8, 8–6 |
1967 | French Championships | John Newcombe | Roy Emerson Ken Fletcher |
6–3, 9–7, 12-10 |
1967 | U.S. Championships[4] | John Newcombe | Bill Bowrey Owen Davidson |
6–8, 9–7, 6–3, 6–3 |
1968 | Wimbledon (2) | John Newcombe | Ken Fletcher Ken Rosewall |
3–6, 8–6, 5–7, 14-12, 6–3 |
1969 | French Open (2) | John Newcombe | Roy Emerson Rod Laver |
4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
1969 | Wimbledon (3) | John Newcombe | Tom Okker Marty Riessen |
7–5, 11-9, 6–3 |
1970 | Wimbledon (4) | John Newcombe | Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle |
10-8, 6–3, 6–1 |
1971 | Australian Open (3) | John Newcombe | Tom Okker Marty Riessen |
6–2, 7–6 |
1974 | Wimbledon (5) | John Newcombe | Bob Lutz Stan Smith |
8–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
1976 | Australian Open (5) | John Newcombe | Ross Case Geoff Masters |
7–6, 6–4 |
[edit] Runner-ups (2)
Year | Championship | Partnering | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
1964 | French Championships | John Newcombe | Roy Emerson Ken Fletcher |
7–5, 6–3, 3–6, 7–5 |
1966 | Australian Championships (2) | John Newcombe | Roy Emerson Fred Stolle |
7–9, 6–3, 6–8, 14-12, 12-10 |
[edit] Grand Slam mixed doubles finals (5)
[edit] Wins (2)
Year | Championship | Partnering | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
1966 | Australian Championships | Judy Tegart Dalton | Bill Bowrey Robyn Ebbern |
6–1, 6–3 |
1976 | Wimbledon | Françoise Durr | Rosie Casals Bob Stockton |
6–3, 2–6, 7–5 |
[edit] Runner-ups (3)
Year | Championship | Partnering | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
1965 | Wimbledon | Judy Tegart Dalton | Ken Fletcher Margaret Court |
12-10, 6–3 |
1967 | Australian Championships | Judy Tegart Dalton | Owen Davidson Lesley Turner Bowrey |
9–7, 6–4 |
1969 | Wimbledon (2) | Judy Tegart Dalton | Ann Jones Fred Stolle |
6–2, 6–3 |
[edit] Grand Slam record
[edit] Australian Championships/Open
- Doubles champion: 1965, 1967, 1971, 1976[Jan]
- Doubles finalist: 1966
- Mixed Doubles champion: 1966
- Mixed finalist: 1967
[edit] French Championships/Open
- Singles champion: 1966
- Singles finalist: 1965, 1967
- Doubles champion: 1967, 1969
- Doubles finalist: 1964
[edit] Wimbledon
- Singles finalist: 1968
- Doubles champion: 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974
- Mixed Doubles champion: 1976
- Mixed finalist: 1965, 1969
[edit] U.S. Championships/Open
- Singles finalist: 1969, 1970
- Doubles champion: 1967
[edit] References
- ^ Roche, Tony. Sporting Hall of Fame. Museum of the Riverina. Retrieved on 2007-05-01.
- ^ Lleyton Hewitt hires celebrated tennis coach Tony Roche. International Herald Tribune (2007-07-18). Retrieved on 2007-07-19.
- ^ The Championships, Wimbledon 2007 - Grand Slam Tennis - Official Site by IBM
- ^ The US Open 2006 - Grand Slam Tennis - Official Site by IBM - History & Records