 | |
| Full name | Anthony Dalton Roche |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  Australia |
| Residence | Turramurra,New South Wales, Australia |
| Born | (1945-05-17)17 May 1945 (age 80) Wagga Wagga, Australia |
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Turned pro | 1968 (amateur from 1963) |
| Retired | 1979 |
| Plays | Left-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | US$ 529,199 |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1986(member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 838-338 (71.2%)[1] |
| Career titles | 46[2] |
| Highest ranking | No. 2 (1969,Lance Tingay)[3] |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | SF (1965,1967,1969,1975) |
| French Open | W (1966) |
| Wimbledon | F (1968) |
| US Open | F (1969,1970) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 208–94 (Open era) |
| Career titles | 18 (Open era) |
| Highest ranking | No.1 (1965) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1965, 1967, 1971, 1976, 1977) |
| French Open | W (1967, 1969) |
| Wimbledon | W (1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974) |
| US Open | W (1967) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1966) |
| Wimbledon | W (1976) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | W (1965,1966,1967,1977) |
Anthony Dalton RocheAOMBE (born 17 May 1945) is an Australian former professional tennis player.
A native ofTarcutta, Roche played junior tennis in theNew South Wales regional city ofWagga Wagga.[4] He won one Grand Slam singles title, the 1966 French Open at Roland Garros, and 15 Grand Slam doubles titles (12 of these withJohn Newcombe).
In 1968, Roche won the WCT/NTL combined professional championship in men's singles in the final event of the season at Madison Square Garden. He was ranked World No. 2 byLance Tingay ofThe Daily Telegraph in 1969.[3]
He won the U.S. Pro Championships in 1970 at Longwood in Boston. Roche won the New South Wales Open twice, in 1969 and 1976. He won a key Davis Cup singles match in 1977.
He also coached multi-Grand Slam winning world No. 1sIvan Lendl,Patrick Rafter,Roger Federer andLleyton Hewitt as well as former World No. 4Jelena Dokic.
Roche started to play tennis at school when he was nine. His father, who worked as a butcher, and his mother were both recreational tennis players and encouraged his interest.[5] Roche grew up playing in Australia under the tutelage ofHarry Hopman, who also coached other Australian tennis players such asRod Laver andKen Rosewall.
Roche won one singles Grand Slam tournament, the 1966 French Open atRoland Garros, defeatingIstván Gulyás in straight sets in the final. He was runner-up at the French Championships in 1965, where he beatRoy Emerson in four sets in the semi finals[6] before losing toFred Stolle and 1967, when he lost to Emerson in the final.
In January 1968, Roche turned professional, signing withWorld Championship Tennis, joining other pros likeJohn Newcombe,Cliff Drysdale,Nikola Pilić andRoger Taylor to form the "Handsome Eight".[7][8][9] Roche was guaranteed $125,000 annually, an amount equivalent to the annual salary of Willie Mays, the top paid baseball player.[10]
Roche was the leading money winner on the WCT tour in 1968.[11] In the 1968 final in the combined WCT/NTL professional event at Madison Square Garden, Roche defeated Rod Laver in the semifinal andPancho Gonzales in the final.[12] At Wimbledon 1968 Roche beatKen Rosewall in the fourth round in straight sets. "Roche played brilliantly. Rosewall never got going and netted shots that should have been winners".[13] He lost in the final in straight sets toRod Laver. "Roche played a more consistent game, but Laver produced the flashes of genius that won the big points".[14]
Roche held a personal head-to-head edge over Laver during the latter's Grand Slam season of 1969, 5 to 4. At the News South Wales Open in Sydney, Roche beat Laver in the final in four sets. Rod didn't serve well "so Laver had to call upon his impromptu brilliance so many times to win points. He just couldn't keep it up against the tighter play of Roche."[15] The following week Roche and Laver played a classic match against each other in the 1969 Australian Open at Brisbane, two days after Roche had won a five set quarter final againstJohn Newcombe.[16] The Laver-Roche semi final was one of the longest matches played at that stage in tennis history (they were on court for 4 hours and 45 minutes in searing heat). Roche "displayed phenomenal fighting qualities to come from two sets down to get back on level terms with Laver" but Laver won the fifth set.[17][18] Roche lost in the French Open semi finals to Rosewall[19] and the Wimbledon semi finals to Newcombe.[20] Roche contested the final match of Laver's Grand Slam run that year, the 1969 U.S. Open final, after beating Newcombe in five sets in the semi finals in intense humidity.[21] Laver beat Roche in four sets. The match started late due to rain and the court was dried by a helicopter to get it into a playable condition.[22][23]
Roche won theU.S. Pro Championships at Longwood, Boston in 1970, defeating Laver in a hard fought five set final. He lost in the 1970 US Open final in four sets againstKen Rosewall.[24]
Roche missed much of the 1972 and 1973 seasons due to an elbow injury to his playing arm. He had surgery and then visited a faith healer in Manila.[25] He returned to regular play in 1974 and in December that year won his first title in more than two years when he beatPhil Dent in the final in five sets on a windy day to win the New South Wales championships.[26] At the 1975 Australian Open, Roche led Newcombe 5-2 in the fifth set and had 3 match points before losing their semi final.[27] After beating Ken Rosewall in the fourth round, Roche lost in five sets in the Wimbledon 1975 semi finals toArthur Ashe.[28]
Roche won his fourth New South Wales title (his first title was in the amateur era) by volleying well to beatDick Stockton in the 1976 final in four sets.[29] Perhaps one of his greatest achievements came in 1977, playing singles in the finals of theDavis Cup tournament versus Italy, nearly 10 years since he had last played for Australia. In the tie, Roche upset top ItalianAdriano Panatta in three straight sets to lead Australia to a 3–1 victory, winning the Davis Cup. One of his last great victories was in the final of Queen's in 1978, when the 33-year-old Roche beat 19-year-oldJohn McEnroe in "as good a final as Queen's have had".[30]
Shoulder and elbow injuries cut short his career after having finished in the top 10 for six consecutive years.
After completing his playing career, Roche has developed a highly successful career as a tennis coach. He was the player-coach of the Denver Racquets who won the firstWorld Team Tennis in competition 1974, and he was named WTT Coach of the Year.[31]Ivan Lendl hired Roche in 1985 as a full-time coach for Roche's advice on volleying.[32][33] 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. 1Patrick Rafter from 1997 to the end of his career in 2002. Roche coached world no. 1Roger Federer from 2005 to 12 May 2007. It is reputed this was on a "handshake agreement" with no contract; Roche was 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 1966 French Championships). He also coached two-timeGrand Slam singles titlist Lleyton Hewitt, who was aiming to get his career back on track after a number of unsuccessful years on theATP Tour.[34]
Roche was made a Member of theOrder of the British Empire (MBE) in 1981 and an Officer of theOrder of Australia (AO) in 2001.[35][36] He entered theInternational Tennis Hall of Fame alongside doubles partner and close friendJohn Newcombe in 1986.[37] In 1990 he was inducted into theSport Australia Hall of Fame.[38] He received anAustralian Sports Medal in 2000 and aCentenary Medal in 2001.[39][40]
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1965 | French Championships | Clay | Fred Stolle | 6–3, 0–6, 2–6, 3–6 | |
| Win | 1966 | French Championships | Clay |  István Gulyás | 6–1, 6–4, 7–5 | |
| Loss | 1967 | French Championships | Clay | Roy Emerson | 1–6, 4–6, 6–2, 2–6 | |
| ↓ Open Era ↓ | ||||||
| Loss | 1968 | Wimbledon | Grass | Rod Laver | 3–6, 4–6, 2–6 | |
| Loss | 1969 | US Open | Grass | Rod Laver | 9–7, 1–6, 2–6, 2–6 | |
| Loss | 1970 | US Open | Grass | Ken Rosewall | 6–2, 4–6, 6–7, 3–6 | |
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1964 | French Championships | Clay | John Newcombe | Roy EmersonKen Fletcher | 5–7, 3–6, 6–3, 5–7 |
| Win | 1965 | Australian Championships | Grass | John Newcombe | Roy EmersonFred Stolle | 3–6, 4–6, 13–11, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 1965 | Wimbledon Championships | Grass | John Newcombe | Ken Fletcher Bob Hewitt | 7–5, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1966 | Australian Championships(2) | Grass | John Newcombe | Roy Emerson Fred Stolle | 9–7, 3–6, 8–6, 12–14, 10–12 |
| Win | 1967 | Australian Championships(2) | Grass | John Newcombe | Bill BowreyOwen Davidson | 3–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–8, 8–6 |
| Win | 1967 | French Championships | Clay | John Newcombe | Roy Emerson Ken Fletcher | 6–3, 9–7, 12–10 |
| Win | 1967 | U.S. Championships | Grass | John Newcombe | Bill Bowrey Owen Davidson | 6–8, 9–7, 6–3, 6–3 |
| ↓ Open Era ↓ | ||||||
| Win | 1968 | Wimbledon(2) | Grass | John Newcombe | Ken Fletcher Ken Rosewall | 3–6, 8–6, 5–7, 14–12, 6–3 |
| Win | 1969 | French Open(2) | Clay | John Newcombe | Roy Emerson Rod Laver | 4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 1969 | Wimbledon(3) | Grass | John Newcombe |  Tom Okker Marty Riessen | 7–5, 11–9, 6–3 |
| Win | 1970 | Wimbledon(4) | Grass | John Newcombe | Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle | 10–8, 6–3, 6–1 |
| Win | 1971 | Australian Open(3) | Grass | John Newcombe | Tom Okker Marty Riessen | 6–2, 7–6 |
| Win | 1974 | Wimbledon(5) | Grass | John Newcombe | Bob LutzStan Smith | 8–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 1976 | Australian Open(4) | Grass | John Newcombe | Ross CaseGeoff Masters | 7–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 1977(J) | Australian Open(5) | Grass | Arthur Ashe | Charlie PasarellErik van Dillen | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1965 | Wimbledon Championships | Grass | Judy Tegart | Margaret SmithKen Fletcher | 10–12, 3–6 |
| Win | 1966 | Australian Championships | Grass | Judy Tegart | Robyn EbbernWilliam Bowrey | 6–1, 6–3 |
| Loss | 1967 | Australian Championships | Grass | Judy Tegart | Lesley TurnerOwen Davidson | 7–9, 4–6 |
| ↓ Open Era ↓ | ||||||
| Loss | 1969 | Wimbledon(2) | Grass | Judy Tegart |  Ann HaydonFred Stolle | 2–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 1976 | Wimbledon | Grass |  Françoise Dürr | Rosemary CasalsDick Stockton | 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 |
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
| Tournament | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | Career SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | A | QF | SF | QF | SF | A | SF | QF | 3R | A | A | 2R | SF | QF | 3R | 1R | QF | 3R | 0 / 14 |
| French Open | 1R | 2R | F | W | F | A | SF | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1 / 6 | |
| Wimbledon | 1R | 2R | 2R | QF | 2R | F | SF | QF | 1R | A | A | 3R | SF | 4R | A | 1R | A | 0 / 13 | |
| US Open | 3R | QF | A | 3R | A | 4R | F | F | A | A | A | 3R | 2R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 8 | |
| Grand Slam SR | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 1 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 1 | 1 / 41 | |
| Result | No. | Year | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1. | 1968 | Sydney WCT | Carpet | Nikola Pilic | 96–33 |
| Loss | 1. | 1968 | Miami WCT | Carpet | Butch Buchholz | 22–31, 26–31 |
| Loss | 2. | 1968 | Fresno WCT | Carpet | Butch Buchholz | 23–31, 29–31 |
| Loss | 3. | 1968 | Baltimore WCT | Carpet | Dennis Ralston | 0–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 4. | 1968 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | Rod Laver | 3–6, 4–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 5. | 1968 | Pretoria WCT | Hard | John Newcombe | 9–11, 6–4, 3–6 |
| Win | 2. | 1968 | Johannesburg WCT | Hard | Butch Buchholz | 6-2, 9-7 |
| Loss | 6. | 1968 | Durban WCT | Hard | John Newcombe | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 7. | 1968 | Port Elizabeth WCT | Hard | Roger Taylor | 8–10 |
| Win | 3. | 1968 | Cape Town WCT | Hard | Cliff Drysdale | 6-2, 6-1 |
| Loss | 8. | 1968 | Kimberley WCT | Hard | John Newcombe | 8–10 |
| Win | 4. | 1968 | Vienna WCT | Indoor Hard | John Newcombe | 6-4, 7-5 |
| Win | 5. | 1968 | Madison Square Garden, New York City | Carpet | Pancho Gonzales | 6-3, 6-4 |
| Loss | 9. | 1969 | Hobart, Australia | Grass | Fred Stolle | 3–6, 6–0, 4–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 6. | 1969 | Sydney, Australia | Grass | Rod Laver | 6–4, 4–6, 9–7, 12–10 |
| Win | 7. | 1969 | Auckland, New Zealand | Grass | Rod Laver | 6–1, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
| Loss | 10. | 1969 | Philadelphia WCT, U.S. Pro Indoor | Carpet | Rod Laver | 5–7, 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 8. | 1969 | Hollywood | Clay | Rod Laver | 6–3, 9–7, 6–4 |
| Win | 9. | 1969 | Oakland | Carpet | Rod Laver | 4–6, 6–4, 11–9 |
| Loss | 11. | 1969 | Rome, Italy | Clay | John Newcombe | 3–6, 6–4, 2–6, 7–5, 3–6 |
| Win | 10. | 1969 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | Tom Okker | 6–1, 5–7, 8–6, 7–5 |
| Loss | 12. | 1969 | US Open, New York | Grass | Rod Laver | 9–7, 1–6, 2–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 11. | 1969 | Tucson | Hard | Tom Okker | 9–7, 6–1 |
| Win | 12. | 1969 | Vienna | Hard | Tom Okker | w/o |
| Loss | 13. | 1969 | Wembley, UK | Carpet (i) | Rod Laver | 4–6, 1–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 13. | 1970 | Australian round robin | Grass | John Newcombe | 5–7, 7–5, 7–5 |
| Loss | 14. | 1970 | Melbourne | Grass | John Newcombe | 4–6, 4–6, 6–4 rtd. |
| Loss | 15. | 1970 | Philadelphia WCT, US | Carpet | Rod Laver | 3–6, 6–8, 2–6 |
| Win | 14. | 1970 | Dublin, Ireland | Grass | Rod Laver | 6–3, 6–1 |
| Win | 15. | 1970 | Gstaad, Switzerland | Clay | Tom Okker | 7–5, 7–5, 6–3 |
| Win | 16. | 1970 | Boston, US Pro | Hard | Rod Laver | 3–6, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2 |
| Loss | 16. | 1970 | US Open, New York | Grass | Ken Rosewall | 6–2, 4–6, 6–7, 3–6 |
| Win | 17. | 1972 | Washington WCT, US | Clay | Marty Riessen | 3–6, 7–6, 6–4 |
| Loss | 17. | 1973 | Kansas City | Hard | Charlie Pasarell | 1–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
| Loss | 18. | 1974 | Bombay, India | Clay |  Onny Parun | 3–6, 3–6, 6–7 |
| Win | 18. | 1974 | Sydney | Grass | Phil Dent | 7–6, 4–6, 3–6, 6–2, 8–6 |
| Loss | 19. | 1975 | Nottingham, England | Grass | Tom Okker | 1–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
| Win | 19. | 1976 | Charlotte WCT, US | Carpet | Vitas Gerulaitis | 6–3, 3–6, 6–1 |
| Win | 20. | 1976 | Sydney Outdoor, Australia | Grass | Dick Stockton | 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 20. | 1977 | Brisbane, Australia | Grass | Vitas Gerulaitis | 7–6, 1–6, 1–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 21. | 1978 | London/Queen's Club, England | Grass | John McEnroe | 8–6, 9–7 |
| Result | No. | Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1. | 1968 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | John Newcombe | Ken RosewallFred Stolle | 3–6, 8–6, 5–7, 14–12, 6–3 |
| Loss | 1. | 1968 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | John Newcombe | Tom OkkerMarty Riessen | 4–6, 4–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 2. | 1968 | Hobart, Australia | Grass | Fred Stolle | Mal AndersonRoger Taylor | 5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1, 4–6 |
| Loss | 3. | 1969 | Philadelphia WCT, U.S. | Carpet | John Newcombe | Tom Okker Marty Riessen | 6–8, 4–6 |
| Win | 2. | 1969 | French Open, Paris | Clay | John Newcombe | Roy EmersonRod Laver | 4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 3. | 1969 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | John Newcombe | Tom Okker Marty Riessen | 7–5, 11–9, 6–3 |
| Win | 4. | 1970 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | John Newcombe | Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle | 10–8, 6–3, 6–1 |
| Win | 5. | 1970 | Louisville, U.S. | Hard | John Newcombe | Roy Emerson Rod Laver | 8–6, 5–7, 6–4 |
| Win | 6. | 1971 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Grass | John Newcombe | Tom Okker Marty Riessen | 6–2, 7–6 |
| Win | 7. | 1971 | Miami WCT, U.S. | Hard | John Newcombe | Roy Emerson Rod Laver | 7–6, 7–6 |
| Loss | 4. | 1971 | Chicago WCT, U.S. | Carpet | John Newcombe | Tom Okker Marty Riessen | 6–7, 6–4, 6–7 |
| Win | 8. | 1971 | Rome, Italy | Clay | John Newcombe |  Andrés GimenoRoger Taylor | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 9. | 1971 | Tehran WCT, Iran | Clay | John Newcombe | Bob CarmichaelRay Ruffels | 6–4, 6–7, 6–1 |
| Loss | 5. | 1972 | Richmond WCT, U.S. | Carpet | John Newcombe | Tom Okker Marty Riessen | 6–7, 6–7 |
| Loss | 6. | 1972 | Philadelphia WCT, U.S. | Carpet | John Newcombe | Arthur AsheBob Lutz | 3–6, 7–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 7. | 1972 | Charlotte WCT, U.S. | Clay | John Newcombe | Tom Okker Marty Riessen | 4–6, 6–4, 6–7 |
| Loss | 8. | 1972 | Las Vegas WCT, U.S. | Hard | John Newcombe | Roy Emerson Rod Laver | DEF |
| Win | 10. | 1972 | St. Louis WCT, U.S. | Carpet | John Newcombe | John AlexanderPhil Dent | 7–6, 6–2 |
| Loss | 9. | 1972 | Washington WCT, U.S. | Clay | John Newcombe | Tom Okker Marty Riessen | 6–3, 3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 11. | 1972 | Boston WCT, U.S. | Hard | John Newcombe | Arthur Ashe Bob Lutz | 6–3, 1–6, 7–6 |
| Win | 12. | 1974 | Toronto WCT, Canada | Carpet |  Raúl Ramírez | Tom Okker Marty Riessen | 6–3, 2–6, 6–4 |
| Loss | 10. | 1974 | Monte Carlo WCT, Monaco | Clay | Manuel Orantes | John Alexander Phil Dent | 6–7, 6–4, 6–7, 3–6 |
| Win | 13. | 1974 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | John Newcombe | Bob LutzStan Smith | 8–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 11. | 1974 | Sydney Indoor, Australia | Hard (i) | John Newcombe | Ross CaseGeoff Masters | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 14. | 1976 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Grass | John Newcombe | Ross Case Geoff Masters | 7–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 15. | 1976 | Charlotte WCT, U.S. | Carpet | John Newcombe | Vitas GerulaitisGene Mayer | 6–3, 7–5 |
| Win | 16. | 1977 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Grass | Arthur Ashe | Charlie PasarellErik van Dillen | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 12. | 1977 | Richmond WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Ross Case |  Wojtek Fibak Tom Okker | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 13. | 1977 | Toronto Indoor WCT, Canada | Carpet | Ross Case | Wojtek Fibak Tom Okker | 4–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 17. | 1977 | Sydney Indoor, Australia | Hard (i) | John Newcombe | Ross Case Geoff Masters | 6–7, 6–3, 6–1 |
| Win | 18. | 1978 | Sydney Indoor, Australia | Hard (i) | John Newcombe | Mark EdmondsonJohn Marks | 6–4, 6–3 |
