Laver–Rosewall rivalry

Australian tennis player Rod Laver (born 1938) had a long-running and friendly rivalry with countryman Ken Rosewall (born 1934).^[1] In 1956 both players toured in the amateur circuit but never faced each other. Rosewall turned professional in 1957 and the two players did not meet until January 1963 when Laver turned pro. They played several times until 1976 when both semi-retired from the main tour.^[2]

Analysis

Including tournaments and one-night stands, they played at least 146 matches with Laver leading 81–65.

Except the first year (1963) and the last year they played (1976), the statistics of their meetings show a domination by Laver, which can be explained considering that Laver faced an already declining Rosewall: in their first meeting ever, Rosewall was already 28 years of age.^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Head-to-head tallies

“	Ken [Rosewall] pushed me around for about 20 years.	”
— Rod Laver, in 2012

The following is a breakdown of their documented head-to-head results:^[3]

Player	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	Total
Rod Laver	12	15	13	8	8	5	8	5	3	3	1	0	0	0	81
Ken Rosewall	34	4	6	7	5	2	1	0	2	1	1	0	0	2	65

All matches: Laver 81–65
All finals: Laver 36–20
Grand Slams: 1–1
Pro Slams: Rosewall 6–4

Results on each court surface

These statistics should be viewed cautiously because the surface only has been documented in about two-thirds of matches.

Grass courts: Laver 16–15
Hard courts: Rosewall 8–4
Clay courts: 8-8
Indoor courts (carpet, wood, other): Laver 20–15

List of all matches

Legend:
Rod Laver's wins
Ken Rosewall's wins

Winner	No.	Year	Date	Event	Round	Surface	Scorefruther
Ken Rosewall	1.	1963	6 January	Australasian Tour – Sydney White City ^[4]	Tour	Grass	6–3, 6–3, 6–4
Ken Rosewall	2.	1963	12 January	Australasian Tour – Brisbane Milton	Tour	Grass	3–6, 10–8, 6–2, 6–3
Rod Laver	1.	1963	19 January	Australasian Tour – Melbourne ^[5]	Tour	Grass	6–3, 3–6, 7–5, 6–2
Ken Rosewall	3.	1963	21 January	Australasian Tour – Canberra ^[6]	Tour	Grass	10–8, 6–3
Rod Laver	2.	1963	January	Australasian Tour – Adelaide	Tour	Grass	6–1, 6–2, 6–2
Ken Rosewall	4.	1963	January	Australasian Tour – Auckland	Tour	Grass	6–4, 6–4
Ken Rosewall	5.	1963	January	Australasian Tour – Dunedin	Tour	Grass	10–8, 6–4
Ken Rosewall	6.	1963	January	Australasian Tour – Palmerston North	Tour	Grass	7–9, 6–3, 6–4
Ken Rosewall	7.	1963	January	Australasian Tour – Napier	Tour	Grass	6–1, 6–3
Ken Rosewall	8.	1963	January	Australasian Tour – Masterton	Tour	Grass	6–2, 6–3
Ken Rosewall	9.	1963	January	Australasian Tour – Wellington	Tour	Grass	6–3, 6–3
Ken Rosewall	10.	1963	3 February	Australasian Tour – Hamilton	Tour	Grass	6–3, 7–5^{[lower-alpha 2]}
Ken Rosewall	11.	1963	10 February	North America Tour (group phase) – New York	Tour	Indoor	12–10
Ken Rosewall	12.	1963	14 February	North America Tour (group phase) – College Park (MD)	Tour	Indoor	8–5
Ken Rosewall	13.	1963	17 February	North America Tour (group phase) – Baltimore (MD)	Tour	Indoor
Ken Rosewall	14.	1963	22 February	North America Tour (group phase) – Montreal, Canada	Tour	Indoor	8–6
Ken Rosewall	15.	1963	31 March	North America Tour (group phase) – Kansas City	Tour	Indoor	12–10
Rod Laver	3.	1963	1 April	Cleveland Tournament	3rd place	Indoor	9–7
Rod Laver	4.	1963	7 April	North America Tour (group phase) – Louisville (KY)	Tour		8–3
Rod Laver	5.	1963	11 April	North America Tour (group phase) – Wheaton (IL)	Tour		8–6 (or 8–5)
Rod Laver	6.	1963	14 April	North America Tour (group phase) – Hamilton, Bermuda	Tour		10–8
Rod Laver	7.	1963	26 April	North America Tour (play-off phase) – San Francisco	Tour		3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Ken Rosewall	16.	1963	27 April	North America Tour (play-off phase) – Los Angeles	Tour	Indoor	10–8, 7–5
Rod Laver	8.	1963	29 April	North America Tour (play-off phase) – Salt Lake City	Tour		6–4, 16–18, 6–4
Ken Rosewall	17.	1963	30 April	North America Tour (play-off phase) – Denver	Tour		6–3, 6–2
Ken Rosewall	18.	1963	2 May	North America Tour (play-off phase) – Winnipeg (Canada)	Tour
Rod Laver	9.	1963	5 May	North America Tour (play-off phase) – Unknown city	Tour		Laver's win
Ken Rosewall	19.	1963	May (?)	North America Tour (play-off phase) – Unknown city	Tour		Rosewall's win
Ken Rosewall	20.	1963	10 May	North America Tour (play-off phase) – Unknown city	Tour		Rosewall's win
Ken Rosewall	21.	1963	11 May	North America Tour (play-off phase) – Hershey (PA)	Tour		Rosewall's win
Ken Rosewall	22.	1963	12 May	North America Tour (play-off phase) – New Haven (CT)	Tour		Rosewall's win
Rod Laver	10.	1963	16 May	North America Tour (play-off phase) – New York	Tour	Indoor	6–0, 6–3
Ken Rosewall	23.	1963	18 May	North America Tour (play-off phase) – Corvallis (Oregon)	Tour		10–8, 7–5
Ken Rosewall	24.	1963	20 May	North America Tour (play-off phase) – Unknown city	Tour		Rosewall's win
Ken Rosewall	25.	1963	21 May	North America Tour (play-off phase) – Medford (Oregon)	Tour	Indoor	6–1, 6–3
Ken Rosewall	26.	1963	22 May	North America Tour (play-off phase) – Eugene (Oregon)	Tour	Indoor	6–2, 6–2
Ken Rosewall	27.	1963	23 May	North America Tour (play-off phase) – Seattle	Tour		6–2, 3–6, 6–3
Ken Rosewall	28.	1963	24 May	North America Tour (play-off phase) – Unknown city	Tour		Rosewall's win
Ken Rosewall	29.	1963	May (?)	North America Tour (play-off phase) – Unknown city	Tour		Rosewall's win
Ken Rosewall	30.	1963	16 June	Los Angeles Pro ^[7]	Final	Hard	14–12, 6–4, 6–3
Ken Rosewall	31.	1963	29 June	U.S. Pro – Forest Hills ^[8]	Final	Grass	6–4, 6–2, 6–2
Rod Laver	11.	1963	5 August	Kitzbühel Pro	Final	Clay	6–3, 6–4, 6–4
Rod Laver	12.	1963	12 August	Cannes Pro	Final	Wood (i)	6–2, 6–3, 6–4
Ken Rosewall	32.	1963	15 September	French Pro – Paris Stade Coubertin	Final	Wood (i)	6–8, 6–4, 5–7, 6–3, 6–4
Ken Rosewall	33.	1963	30 September	Italian Pro – Rome	Final		6–4 6–3
Ken Rosewall	34.	1963	3 November	Japan Pro – Osaka ^[9]	Tour	Clay	5–7, 6–2 6–4
Rod Laver	13.	1964	5 January	Western Australian Pro – Perth (4 man tournament) ^[10]	Round robin	Grass	6–2, 6–1
Ken Rosewall	35.	1964	11 January	Melbourne Pro	Final	Grass	6–4, 6–4
Ken Rosewall	36.	1964	1 March	New Zealand Tour – Hamilton East	Tour		5–7, 6–3, 6–1
Rod Laver	14.	1964	8 March	New Zealand Tour – Nelson	Tour		7–5, 6–2
Rod Laver	15.	1964	9 March	New Zealand Tour – Palmerston North	Tour		Laver's win
Rod Laver	16.	1964	February or March	New Zealand Tour – Gisborne	Tour		Laver's win
Rod Laver	17.	1964	20 June	Monterey California Pro	Semifinal		11–9, 6–3r
Rod Laver	18.	1964	11 July	U.S. Pro – Brookline outside Boston	Semifinal	Grass	6–3, 6–3, 7–9, 6–2
Rod Laver	19.	1964	July	Nottingham (UK)	Tour		6–2, 6–3
Rod Laver	20.	1964	22 July	Knokke-le-Zoute Pro (4 man Tournament)	Semifinal	Clay	6–1, 6–1
Rod Laver	21.	1964	1 September	Montreux	Tour	Clay	6–1, 6–3
Ken Rosewall	37.	1964	13 September	French Pro – Paris Stade Coubertin	Final	Wood (i)	6–3, 7–5, 3–6, 6–3
Rod Laver	22.	1964	19 September	Wembley Pro – London	Final	Wood (i)	7–5, 5–7, 4–6, 8–6, 8–6
Rod Laver	23.	1964	6 October	Faenza	Tour		7–5, 6–4
Rod Laver	24.	1964	8 October	Torino	Tour		8–6, 6–2
Rod Laver	25.	1964	October	Bloemfontein	Tour		8–6, 6–4
Rod Laver	26.	1964	October	East London	Tour		6–4, 3–6, 6–4
Rod Laver	27.	1964	October	Durban	Tour		6–4, 9–7
Ken Rosewall	38.	1964	October	Johannesburg – Ellis Park	Challenge		6–4, 6–1, 6–4
Ken Rosewall	39.	1965	16 January	Queensland Pro – Brisbane	Final	Grass	6–8, 6–2, 6–4
Rod Laver	28.	1965	31 January	South Australian Pro – Adelaide	Final	Grass	6–3, 6–4
Rod Laver	29.	1965	13 February	Victorian Pro – Melbourne ^[11]	Final	Grass	2–6, 6–1, 6–4
Rod Laver	30.	1965	5 June	Greater Seattle Pro	Semifinal		6–8, 15–13, 6–4
Rod Laver	31.	1965	19 June	Lake Tahoe Pro	Semifinal		6–3, 3–6, 6–1
Ken Rosewall	40.	1965	27 June	Greater Washington Pro – Reston	Final	Clay	8–6, 6–1
Ken Rosewall	41.	1965	3 July	St Louis Pro	Semifinal	Clay	6–1, 6–4
Ken Rosewall	42.	1964	5 July	US Tour – Cincinnati	Tour	Clay	10-8
Rod Laver	32.	1965	6–12 July	Newport Pro	Round robin	Grass	31–21
Rod Laver	33.	1965	6–12 July	Newport Pro	Play off	Grass	31–28
Ken Rosewall	43.	1965	19 July	U.S. Pro – Brookline outside Boston	Final	Grass	6–4, 6–3, 6–3
Ken Rosewall	44.	1965	13 September	French Pro – Paris Stade Coubertin	Final	Wood (i)	6–3, 6–2, 6–4
Rod Laver	34.	1965	19 September	Brighton (UK)	Tour		1–6, 6–2, 6–4
Rod Laver	35.	1965	October	Nairobi Pro	Final		6–1, 4–6, 6–2
Rod Laver	36.	1965	October	Rhodesian Pro – Bulawayo and Salisbury	Final		3–6, 6–4, 6–1
Rod Laver	37.	1965	October	Natal Pro – Durban	Final		6–2, 8–6
Rod Laver	38.	1965	October	East London	Tour		Laver's win
Rod Laver	39.	1965	October	Johannesburg – Ellis Park	Tour		5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–4
Rod Laver	40.	1965	1–4 November	Western Province Pro – Cape Town	Final		4–6, 6–3, 6–3
Rod Laver	41.	1966	22 January	Victorian Pro – Melbourne	Final	Grass	6–3, 6–0
Rod Laver	42.	1966	23 January	Warrnambool	Tour		6–2, 6–0
Ken Rosewall	45.	1966	23 January	Shepparton	Tour	Grass	7–5, 9–7
Rod Laver	43.	1966	29 January	Western Australian Pro – Perth	Final	Grass	6–2, 10–8
Ken Rosewall	46.	1966	26 March	Madison Square Garden Pro – New York City ^[12]	Final	Indoor	6–3, 6–3
Rod Laver	44.	1966	8–12 June	Forest Hills Pro	Round robin	Grass	31–20
Rod Laver	45.	1966	12 June	Forest Hills Pro	Final	Grass	31–29
Ken Rosewall	47.	1966	27 June	San Rafael Pro	Round robin		31–29
Ken Rosewall	48.	1966	9 July (or 10)	Newport Pro	Round robin		31–23
Rod Laver	46.	1966	16 July	U.S. Pro – Brookline ^[13]	Final	Grass	6–4, 4–6, 6–2, 8–10, 6–3
Rod Laver	47.	1966	17 September	Wembley Pro – London ^[14]	Final	Wood (i)	6–2, 6–2, 6–3
Ken Rosewall	49.	1966	2 October	French Pro – Paris Stade Coubertin ^[15]	Final	Wood (i)	6–3, 6–2, 14–12
Ken Rosewall	50.	1966	20 October	Johannesburg Pro^{[lower-alpha 3]}	Final	Hard	31–26
Ken Rosewall	51.	1966	24 October	Port Elizabeth	Tour		6–3, 7–5
Rod Laver	48.	1966	23 October	Western Province Pro – Cape Town	Final		5–7, 6–4, 7–5
Rod Laver	49.	1967	2 April	Boston Pro^{[lower-alpha 4]}	Final	Indoor	6–4, 6–0
Rod Laver	50.	1967	9 April	Paris Pro – Stade Coubertin^{[lower-alpha 5]}	Final	Indoor	6–0, 10–8, 10–8
Ken Rosewall	52.	1967	28 May	Los Angeles Pro	Final	Hard	6–2, 2–6, 7–5
Ken Rosewall	53.	1967	4 June	Pacific Coast Pro – Berkeley	Final	Hard	4–6, 6–3, 8–6
Rod Laver	51.	1967	9 June	Madison Square Garden Pro, New York City	Final	Indoor	6–4, 6–4
Ken Rosewall	54.	1967	25 June	Newport Beach Pro	Final		6–3, 6–
Rod Laver	52.	1967	4 July	World Pro – Oklahoma City	Final	Clay	6–2, 3–6, 6–4
Rod Laver	53.	1967	18–23 July	Newport Pro	Round robin	Grass	31–20
Rod Laver	54.	1967	28 August	Wimbledon Pro, England ^[16]	Final	Grass	6–2, 6–2, 12–10
Ken Rosewall	55.	1967	6 September	Transvaal Pro – Pretoria, Benoni and Klerksdorp		Hard	6–3, 6–2
Rod Laver	55.	1967	11 September	East London Pro	3rd place		8–5
Ken Rosewall	56.	1967	24 September	Mbabane	Tour	Hard	6–2, 8–6
Rod Laver	56.	1967	28 October	Wembley Pro – London	Final	Wood (i)	2–6, 6–1, 1–6, 8–6, 6–2
Rod Laver	57.	1968	18 April	BBC2 World Invitation Champs Pro – Wembley	Final		6–3, 10–8r
Ken Rosewall	57.	1968	27 April	Bournemouth Open	Final	Clay	3–6, 6–2, 6–0, 6–3
Rod Laver	58.	1968	6 May	NTL Wembley Invitation Pro	Final	Indoor	6–0, 6–1, 6–0
Rod Laver	59.	1968	18 May	NTL Madison Square Garden Pro – New York City	Final	Indoor	4–6, 6–3, 9–7, 6–4
Ken Rosewall	58.	1968	9 June	French Open – Stade Roland Garros Paris	Final	Clay	6–3, 6–1, 2–6, 6–2
Rod Laver	60.	1968	23 September	Pacific Southwest Open – Los Angeles	Final	Hard	4–6, 6–0, 6–0
Rod Laver	61.	1968	10 December	Nashville - Dixie Tennis Classic	Final	Wood (i)	6–2, 6–3
Rod Laver	62.	1969	8 February	Philadelphia Open	Semifinal	Carpet (i)	6–4, 6–2
Rod Laver	63.	1969	10–15 February	Orlando Pro	Final		6–3, 6–2
Rod Laver	64.	1969	25 February	Oakland Pro	Semifinal		6–3, 6–3
Rod Laver	65.	1969	22 May	BBC2 World Pro – Wembley	Final	Indoor	8–6, 6–0
Rod Laver	66.	1969	22–24 May	Dutch Pro Champs – Amsterdam and Eindhoven	Round robin	Clay	6–2, 1–6, 6–3
Rod Laver	67.	1969	8 June	French Open – Stade Roland Garros Paris	Final	Clay	6–4, 6–3, 6–4
Rod Laver	68.	1969	14 July	U.S. Pro – Brookline	Semifinal		6–3, 5–7, 6–2, 6–3
Rod Laver	69.	1969	17 August	Fort Worth Pro	Final	Hard	6–3, 6–2
Ken Rosewall	59.	1969	October	Hamburg – One-night stand			2–6, 7–5, 8–6
Rod Laver	70.	1970	22 March	Dunlop Sydney Open – White City ^[17]	Final	Grass	3–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–2, 6–3
Rod Laver	71.	1970	1 June	St Louis WCT	Final	Carpet (i)	6–1, 6–4
Rod Laver	72.	1970	16 July	Tennis Champions Classic Pro – New York City	Final	Indoor	6–4, 6–3, 6–3
Rod Laver	73.	1970	1 August	Louisville WCT	Semifinal	Clay	6–4, 1–6, 6–1
Rod Laver	74.	1970	15 December	Masters, Tokyo	Round robin	Carpet (i)	5–6, 6–3, 6–5
Rod Laver	75.	1971	2 January	Tennis Champions Classic Pro – New York		Indoor	6–3, 6–2, 7–5
Rod Laver	76.	1971	1 August	Fort Worth WCT	Quarterfinal	Hard	7–5, 5–7, 6–2
Ken Rosewall	60.	1971	August (15?)	Washington WCT	Round of 16	Clay	5–7, 6–3, 6–1
Rod Laver	77.	1971	3 October	Berkeley WCT	Final	Hard	6–4, 6–4, 7–6
Ken Rosewall	61.	1971	18 November	WCT Finals, Houston and Dallas	Final	Carpet (i)	6–4, 1–6, 7–6, 7–6
Rod Laver	78.	1972	13 February	U.S. Pro Indoor – Philadelphia WCT	Final	Carpet (i)	4–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–2
Rod Laver	79.	1972	20 February	Toronto WCT	Final	Carpet (i)	6–1, 6–4
Rod Laver	80.	1972	9 April	Houston River Oaks WCT	Final	Clay	6–2, 6–4
Ken Rosewall	62.	1972	14 May	WCT Finals, Dallas	Final	Carpet (i)	4–6, 6–0, 6–3, 6–7, 7–6
Ken Rosewall	63.	1973	9–13 May	WCT Finals, Dallas	3rd place	Carpet (i)	6–3, 6–2
Rod Laver	81.	1973	10 November	Sydney	Semifinal	Indoor	6–4, 3–6, 8–6
Ken Rosewall	64.	1976	15 February	WCT Avis Challenge Cup	Round robin	Hard	6–4, 6–1, 6–3
Ken Rosewall	65.	1976	5–10 April	Houston River Oaks WCT (first Tour)	Round of 16	Clay	3–6, 6–4, 6–3

Other matches:

1963, January or February – Australasian Tour, unknown city. Rosewall won or match not played.
1964, 30 January – Brisbane Pro (final). Rain stopped match when Rosewall was ahead: 6–4, 6–8, 0–1.
1964, March – New Zealand Tour (some unknown results) with Rosewall, Laver, Hoad and Anderson.
1965, 24 January – Manly Tour. Rain stopped match when Rosewall was ahead: 6–2, 3–2.
1965, 28–29 September – Marseille Pro.
1966, October–November – Tour in Nairobi, Entebbe, Accra and Lagos.
1967, August – Italian Tour, four cities with the pro troupe.
1967, October – Spain Tour with Laver, Rosewall, Gimeno and Stolle.

Notes

↑ John Albert Kramer claimed in "Tennis de France N°174 Octobre 1967" that Rosewall's peak career was in 1961-1962.
↑ Rosewall won 6–3, 7–5 or 6–3, 7–6. They may have played a final game to finish the set off.
↑ Not to be confused with: South African Pro – Johannesburg.
↑ Not to be confused with: U.S. Pro.
↑ Not to be confused with: French Pro.

References

↑ Conner, Floyd (2002). Tennis's Most Wanted : the top 10 book of baseline blunders, clay court wonders, and lucky lobs (1st ed.). Washington, D.C.: Brassey's, Inc. p. 224. ISBN 978-1574883633.
↑ Eben Harrell (Sep 8, 2010). "Top 10 Tennis Rivalries". Time.
↑ Bud Collins (January 29, 2006). "A rivalry for the ages". The Age.
↑ "Laver 'Crushed' In 65 Minutes – Grand Slam Champion Beaten By Rosewall.". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 7 January 1963. p. 16.
↑ "Laver Downs Ken Rosewall". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 21 January 1963. p. 20.
↑ "Laver Down Before £850 Gate.". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 22 January 1963. p. 20.
↑ "Rosewall Wins Pro. Title.". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 18 June 1963. p. 28.
↑ "LAVER LOSES TO ROSEWALL.". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 2 July 1963. p. 24.
↑ "Hoad Wins". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 4 November 1963. p. 20.
↑ "Laver In Form.". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 6 January 1964. p. 16.
↑ "Rosewall down to Laver.". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 15 February 1965. p. 14.
↑ "Professional tennis to Ken Rose wall.". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 28 March 1966. p. 23.
↑ "Laver hits top again.". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 19 July 1966. p. 16.
↑ "Layer outclasses Rosewall with swift efficiency.". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 19 September 1966. p. 13.
↑ "Rosewall's singles title.". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 5 October 1966. p. 29.
↑ "Wimbledon pro title to Laver.". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). ACT: National Library of Australia. 30 August 1967. p. 36.
↑ "Tennis thriller – Layer wins 'greatest game ever'.". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 23 March 1970. p. 20.

Sources

Joe McCauley, The History of Professional Tennis, London 2001
World Tennis (The US Magazine)
World of Tennis (Annuals edited by John Barrett)
Tony Trabert in Tennis de France (French magazine)
Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Laver – Rosewall head to head

External links

A rivalry for the ages by Bud Collins, at Australian newspaper The Age

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