Rosewall, Ken

Ken Rosewall, byname of Kenneth Ronald Rosewall, (born November 2, 1934, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), Australian tennis player who was a major competitor for 25 years, winning 18 Grand Slam titles, 8 of which were in men’s singles.

Although he was short and had a slight build, Rosewall remained a powerful force in tennis far longer than many stronger players and was never badly injured. In 1953 he won his first major titles, the Australian and French singles and (with fellow Australian Lew Hoad) the Australian, French, and Wimbledon doubles titles. Two years later he captured his second Australian Open singles title. In 1956 he and Hoad combined to take the Davis Cup from the United States and were also victorious in several international doubles championships.

Rosewall turned professional in 1956, and that year he claimed his first U.S. Open men’s singles championship. He later won U.S. pro singles titles in 1963, 1965, and 1971. His real achievement, however, came from his victories after open tennis started in 1968. That year Rosewall captured his second French Open title, and in 1970 he defeated favourite Tony Roche to win the U.S. Open, 14 years after beating Hoad at the same event. He won the Australian singles championship in 1971 and 1972 and helped Australia win the 1973 Davis Cup. In 1974 Jimmy Connors defeated him in the singles final at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, but many thought it remarkable that the 39-year-old Rosewall had made it to the championship match. He had one of the longest professional careers in tennis, and his last victory on the tour came in 1977. His career Grand Slam wins included nine doubles championships and one mixed doubles title. In 1980 Rosewall was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.