Lleyton Hewitt and the Top 15 Australian Men in Tennis History

Tennis is a sport that is rivaled by few when it comes to how diverse the field is of athletes taking part at any given time in the many tournaments taking place around the world each year.

In looking at the diversity, I decided to take on researching and developing this slideshow that will look at the top 15 players to have played or currently play under the Australian flag.

I will present a snapshot (there's too many great accomplishments to list everything) of players from both the pre-Open Era as well as the Open Era. As many point out, there are differences between the two, but one thing remained the same—great tennis. I think it is only right to give credit to the pre-Open Era as it set the ground work and the Open Era has built upon that solid foundation.

Unfortunately, I cannot list everyone. And not mentioning someone by no means belittles their tennis accomplishments. This is simply my opinion of who I feel are the top Australian players.

As you read this piece, you can assist as I encourage you to feel free to provide comments on who you feel should have been listed or maybe someone whom you feel should not have been listed.

It's always great to have a good discussion.

Well, without further delay, here are the top tennis players from Australia. They are listed in no particular order.

Rodney George "Rod" Laver

Born: August 9, 1938

Rod Laver is probably one of the most recognizable names in Australian tennis.

Of course, there's the Rod Laver Arena, home to the Australian Open. However, there's also the tennis career behind his achieving such recognition.

Laver was ranked No. 1 for seven consecutive years. He was the first player, male or female, to have won the Grand Slam in the Open Era.

Over the course of his career, he won 11 Grand Slam singles title.

Laver was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993. He is also on the prestigious list of Australia's Living Treasures.

Neale Fraser

Born: October 3, 1933

Neale Fraser is the first of several all-around players. I define all-around as playing a combination of singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

In Fraser's case, though, he was a little partial. His preferences were doubles and the Davis Cup.

One very important highlight of his career was in 1959, he won the singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles at the US Nationals’ (US Open now) and successfully defended them the next year.  To this day, the record still stands.

Fraser retired in 1963 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984 as a Master Player.

Norman Everard Brookes

Born: November 14, 1877

Immediately, I am sure that you recognize the name Norman Brookes. If not, ask any man who has won the Australian Open single's title and you would undoubtedly get an immediate response. Why?

The beautiful prize cup is named after Mr. Brookes—the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, and rightfully so, as he was quite instrumental in establishing the Australian Open (previously known as the Australasian Championship until 1927). He actually won it as a junior in 1911.

During his career, he won two Grand Slam men's singles titles (he was the first non-Briton to win at Wimbledon) and four Grand Slam doubles titles.

Brookes served at the president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia for 30 years.

Brookes was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1977 as a master player, exactly 100 years after his birth.

He was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1996.

Mark Woodforde

Born: September 23, 1965

For this slide, though it is on Mark Woodforde, there is unspoken recognition to his fellow Aussie tennis player and partner, Todd Woodbridge (shown in the photo above in front of Woodforde).

I felt the need to mention Woodbridge as the majority of Woodforde's achievements came as a result of their partnership on the tennis court.

Aforementioned, Woodforde shared a long career playing doubles with Woodbridge. Because of their last names, they were referred to as the “The Woodies.”

“The Woodies” won 61 doubles tournaments (Woodforde won 67 altogether). Of those 61 titles, 11 were Grand Slam doubles titles. Another highlight of his/their career was winning the gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Woodforde retired in 2000 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 2010 (both along with doubles partner, Todd Woodbridge).

Anthony "Tony" Dalton Roche

Born: May 17, 1945

Tony Roche's tennis career took him down two paths—player and coach.

During his career as player, he played both singles and doubles. He won a Grand Slam singles title (he was actually runner-up five times) and 12 Grand Slam doubles titles. Interesting note, his doubles partner is none other than fellow Australian, John Newcombe, whom you will get to know later on in the slideshow.

Roche played both singles and doubles. He won one Grand Slam singles title and 12 doubles.  His highest ranking in singles was No. 2.

As a coach, he has worked with some of the best. His students have included Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer and fellow Aussie Lleyton Hewitt (Roche currently coaches Hewitt).

Roche was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1998 (both along with doubles partner, John Newcombe).

Roy Emerson

Born: November 3, 1936

Roy Emerson was one of the greats prior to the Open Era. During his tennis career, he captured 12 Grand Slam singles titles along with 16 Grand Slam doubles title.

He is the only male to have won the singles and doubles titles in four Grand Slams. Additionally, he is the first male to have won each Grand Slam at least twice and the first male to have won more than 11 Grand Slams.

Emerson was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1982 and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994.

He retired in 1983.

Owen Davidson

Born: October 4, 1943

Owen Davidson was huge in tennis during the 1960s and 1970s. His greatest accomplishments came a as a mixed doubles player. 

He won eight Grand Slam mixed doubles titles during his career.

He won a calendar year Slam by winning the mixed doubles titles of all four majors.  His partner during this accomplishment was none other than the great Billie Jean King.

Fittingly, Davidson was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 2010 followed by induction into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in January 2011.

Jack Crawford

Born: March 22, 1908

Jack Crawford played singles, doubles and mixed doubles and won titles in all three genres.

During his career, he won six Grand Slam singles titles, six Grand Slam doubles titles and five Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.

Crawford’s highest ranking was world No. 1.

He was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1979.

John Newcombe

Born: May 23, 1944

John Newcombe was a very skilled tennis player, and it was evident as his highest ranking was No. 1 for both singles and doubles.

Over the course of his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles and 17 Grand Slam doubles titles.

His very first Grand Slam doubles title was actually with fellow Australian, Tony Roche.

He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1998. ( both also along with Tony Roche).

Lew Hoad

 Born: November 23, 1934

Lew Hoad’s tennis achievements were primarily noted during the 1950s.

Hoad won four Grand Slam singles titles, seven Grand Slam doubles titles and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title.

At the height of his career, he was ranked No. 1.

Following his retirement, Hoad’s love for the game continued as he and his wife, Jenny, moved to Spain and opened and operated a tennis resort for more than 30 years. They provided an environment of tennis and relaxation to all who attended, including some of their very famous friends.

Hoad was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995.

Adrian Quist

 Born: August 4, 1913

*note: many publications list his birthday as January 23, 1913

Adrian Quist was another Australian who excelled in both singles and doubles. 

He won three Grand Slam singles titles and 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. Ten of those titles were at the Australian Championships (pre-Open Era name for the Australian Open).

He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1998.

Gerald Patterson

Born: December 17, 1895

Another all-around Australian tennis player, Gerald Patterson won three Grand Slam singles titles, five Grand Slam doubles titles and a Grand Slam doubles title over the course of his career.

He was also an avid Davis Cup player (32-14 career record in singles and doubles combined), serving as  captain in 1946. 

He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1997.

Ken Rosewall

Born: November 2, 1934

Ken Rosewall was another Australian tennis great known for his achievements in both singles and doubles.

During his career, he won eight Grand Slam singles titles, nine Grand Slam doubles titles and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title.

Rosewall was the first male during the Open Era to win a Grand Slam without dropping a set. This accomplishment came at the 1971 Australian Open. How fitting that this occurred in his home country and at the most prominent tennis tournament in his home country.

Rosewall was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995. He is also recognized as one of Australia's Living Treasures.

Patrick "Pat" Michael Rafter

Born: December 28, 1972

Pat Rafter’s highest ranking was No.1. His career afforded him two Grand Slam titles—both at the US Open (1997 and 1998).

He retired in 2002 but decided to continue playing World Team Tennis for the Philadelphia Freedoms.

In honor of his achievements and love of the game, he received four very distinguished achievements.

He was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 2006.

He was inducted into the Australian Open Hall of Fame in 2008.

He is on Australia’s Living Treasure list.

And lastly, but definitely not to be considered least of his achievements, center court at the Queensland Tennis Center in Brisbane was named the Pat Rafter Arena.

Frank Sedgman

Born: October 29, 1927

Frank Sedgman was another all-around tennis player. 

From 1948-1952, Sedgman won all of his career Grand Slam titles. He won five Grand Slam singles titles, nine Grand Slam doubles titles and eight Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.

Grand total: 22 Grand Slam titles

This accomplishment alone is ample proof as to why he was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1996. He is also recognized as an Australian Living Treasure.

Lleyton Hewitt

Born: February 24, 1981

Lleyton Hewitt is an active tennis player currently on tour.

His highest ranking was world No. 1(youngest male to accomplish this ranking) back in 2001 at the age of 20. He has captured two Grand Slam titles during his career (Wimbledon in 2002 and the US Open in 2001).

As a distinguished achiever in tennis, Hewitt is the youngest male to have won a Grand Slam doubles title in the Open Era. He accomplished this feat back in 2000. Additionally, he was the first teenager in ATP history to ever qualify for the year-end Tennis Masters Cup (ATP World Tour Finals).

Hewitt is currently ranked No. 173 and coached by fellow Australian tennis great, Tony Roche.

Wrap-Up

For those of you who stopped by for a read, I hope that you were inspired by the accomplishments of these Australian men and what they have given not only to Australian tennis but the sport of tennis as a whole.

And as I mentioned in the opening slide, I welcome your comments and feedback.

Thanks to:

Wikipedia

International Tennis Hall of Fame

Australia's Living Treasures

Tennis Australia

Australian Tennis Hall of Fame