'ROCKET' – THE ROD LAVER MBE COMMEMORATIVE RELEASE' is the first personalised collectable that Rod Laver has set his hand to. From the lush green courts of Wimbledon, to the red clay of Roland Garros… From the bigtown bustle of Forest Hills, to the hometown fervour of Kooyong, one player set standards that are yet to be matched… In the golden age of Australian tennis, one rare, red-haired nugget glittered brighter than the rest… This superb sporting showpiece captures, in both words and photographs, the unique essence of an authentic Australian hero. The photographs used have been meticulously chosen from literally hundreds from around the world. They were taken during some of the most important tournaments of his career, and reveal a distinctive combination of power, and grace. The main colour photograph was taken on centre court, Wimbledon in 1971. This is the photograph personally hand-signed by Rod Laver. The historic photographs border a written tribute that captures the story of an uncommon Australian, and his greatest victories. A Brief Chronology · 1956 Won the USTA Under-18 singles and double titles · 1960 Won Australian Open for the first time · 1961 Won Wimbledon for the first time · 1962 Won the Australian, French, Wimbledon, United States, Italian, Swiss, German, Dutch, Irish, Norwegian, British Hardcourt and London Grasscourt tournaments. Won the Grand Slam for the first time · 1963 –1968 Played professional tennis · 1964 – 1967 Won the professional world title, the Wembley World Professional Championship four years in succession · 1968 Won the first Open Wimbledon · 1969 Won the Grand Slam for the second time · 1973 Won all six of his matches in the Inter-Zone Davis Cup semi-final against Czechoslovakia and the final against the USA in Cleveland. Won the first Australian Indoor Championship · 1975 Won four tournaments in a row (23 consecutive matches). Retired at age 37.
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