Tony Roche
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- See also: Tony Roche (writer)
| This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2007) |
| Country | Image:Flag of Australia.svg 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 | United States dollar | |
| Singles | ||
| Career record: | 235-114 | |
| Career titles: | 7 | |
| Highest ranking: | 8 (16-Nov-75) | |
| Grand Slam results | ||
| Australian Open | - | |
| French Open | W (1966) | |
| Wimbledon | F (1968) | |
| U.S. 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, 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 the World Championship Tennis Association, 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 | Image:Flag of Hungary.svg Istvan Gulyas | 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 |
[edit] Runner-ups (5)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in final | Score in final |
| 1965 | French Championships | Image:Flag of Australia.svg Fred Stolle | 6-3, 0-6, 2-6, 3-6 |
| 1967 | French Championships | Image:Flag of Australia.svg Roy Emerson | 1-6, 4-6, 6-2, 2-6 |
| ↓ Open Era ↓ | |||
| 1968 | Wimbledon | Image:Flag of Australia.svg Rod Laver | 3-6, 4-6, 2-6 |
| 1969 | U.S. Open | Image:Flag of Australia.svg Rod Laver | 9-7, 1-6, 2-6, 2-6 |
| 1970 | U.S. Open | Image:Flag of Australia.svg Ken Rosewall | 6-2, 4-6, 6-7, 3-6 |
[edit] Grand Slam men's doubles finals (14)
[edit] Wins (12)
[edit] Runner-ups (2)
| Year | Championship | Partnering | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
| 1964 | French Championships | Image:Flag of Australia.svg John Newcombe | Image:Flag of Australia.svg Roy Emerson Image:Flag of Australia.svg Ken Fletcher | 7-5, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 |
| 1966 | Australian Championships (2) | Image:Flag of Australia.svg John Newcombe | Image:Flag of Australia.svg Roy Emerson Image:Flag of Australia.svg 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 | Image:Flag of the United States.svg Judy Tegart Dalton | Image:Flag of Australia.svg Bill Bowrey Image:Flag of Australia.svg Robyn Ebbern | 6-1, 6-3 |
| 1976 | Wimbledon | Image:Flag of France.svg Françoise Durr | Image:Flag of the United States.svg Rosie Casals Image:Flag of the United States.svg Bob Stockton | 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 |
[edit] Runner-ups (3)
| Year | Championship | Partnering | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
| 1965 | Wimbledon | Image:Flag of Australia.svg Judy Tegart Dalton | Image:Flag of Australia.svg Ken Fletcher Image:Flag of Australia.svg Margaret Smith Court | 12-10, 6-3 |
| 1967 | Australian Championships | Image:Flag of the United States.svg Judy Tegart Dalton | Image:Flag of Australia.svg Owen Davidson Image:Flag of Australia.svg Lesley Turner Bowrey | 9-7, 6-4 |
| 1969 | Wimbledon (2) | Image:Flag of the United States.svg Judy Tegart Dalton | Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ann Jones Image:Flag of Australia.svg 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.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
[edit] External links
es:Tony Roche fr:Tony Roche it:Tony Roche ja:トニー・ローチ no:Tony Roche pl:Tony Roche sv:Tony Roche
Categories: Articles needing additional references from May 2007 | Australian tennis players | Australian tennis coaches | Tennis Hall of Fame members | Australian Open champions | French Open champions | Wimbledon champions | US Open champions | People from Wagga Wagga | 1945 births | Living people
