Tony Roche
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Country (sports) | ![]() |
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Residence | Turramurra, NSW, Australia |
Born | Wagga Wagga, Australia | 17 May 1945
Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) |
Turned pro | 1968 (amateur tour from 1963) |
Retired | 1979 |
Plays | Left-handed (one-handed backhand) |
Prize money | $529,199 |
Int. Tennis HoF | 1986 (member page) |
Singles | |
Career record | 235–114 (Open era) |
Career titles | 26 (7 ATP) |
Highest ranking | No. 2 (1969, Lance Tingay)[1] |
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) |
Last updated on: 23 May 2012. |
Anthony "Tony" Dalton Roche (born 17 May 1945) is a former professional Australian tennis player, native of Tarcutta. He played junior tennis in the New South Wales regional city of Wagga Wagga.[2] He won one Grand Slam singles title and thirteen Grand Slam doubles titles, and was ranked as high as World No. 2 by Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph in 1969.[1] He also coached multi-Grand Slam winning World No. 1s, Ivan Lendl, Patrick Rafter, Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt and former World No. 4, Jelena Dokić.
Roche was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1990.
Playing career
Roche started to play tennis at school when he was nine. His father, a butcher, and mother were recreational tennis players and encouraged his interest.[3] Roche grew up playing in Australia under the tutelage of Harry Hopman, who also coached other Australian tennis players such as Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall.
A left-hander, Roche had a successful singles and double career. He won one singles Grand Slam tournament, the 1966 French Open at Roland Garros, defeating István Gulyás in the final. He was five times the runner-up at Grand Slam tournaments: the French Championships in 1965 and 1967, losing to Fred Stolle and Roy Emerson respectively, Wimbledon in 1968, losing to Rod Laver, and the US Open in 1969 and 1970, losing to Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall. With compatriot John Newcombe, he won 12 Grand Slam men's doubles tournaments.
In January 1968, Roche turned professional, signing with World Championship Tennis, joining other pros like Cliff Drysdale, Nikola Pilić, and Roger Taylor to form the "Handsome Eight".[4][5][6]
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, 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 six consecutive years.
Coaching career
After completing his playing career Roche has developed a highly successful career as a tennis coach. He was the coach of the Denver Racquets who won the first World Team Tennis in competition 1974.[7] 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 world no. 1 Roger 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 French Open). He also coached two-time Grand Slam singles titlist Lleyton Hewitt, who was aiming to get his career back on track after a number of unsuccessful years on the ATP Tour.[8] On the day of her first round match against Alisa Kleybanova at the 2010 Australian Open, which she eventually lost in straight sets, former world no. 4, Jelena Dokić, requested an hour-long session from Roche as last minute training.
Tony Roche also coaches many junior players at Sydney Olympic Park, in preparation for their ATP junior qualification pro tours, starting in November.
Honours
Roche entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame alongside doubles partner and close friend John Newcombe in 1986.[9]
Major finals
Grand Slam finals
Singles: 6 (1 title, 5 runners-up)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final | |
Runner-up | 1965 | French Championships | Clay | ![]() |
6–3, 0–6, 2–6, 3–6 | |
Winner | 1966 | French Championships | Clay | ![]() |
6–1, 6–4, 7–5 | |
Runner-up | 1967 | French Championships | Clay | ![]() |
1–6, 4–6, 6–2, 2–6 | |
↓ Open Era ↓ | ||||||
Runner-up | 1968 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() |
3–6, 4–6, 2–6 | |
Runner-up | 1969 | US Open | Grass | ![]() |
9–7, 1–6, 2–6, 2–6 | |
Runner-up | 1970 | US Open | Grass | ![]() |
6–2, 4–6, 6–7, 3–6 |
Doubles: 15 (13 titles, 2 runners-up)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
Runner-up | 1964 | French Championships | Clay | ![]() |
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5–7, 3–6, 6–3, 5–7 |
Winner | 1965 | Australian Championships | Grass | ![]() |
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3–6, 4–6, 13–11, 6–3, 6–4 |
Winner | 1965 | Wimbledon Championships | Grass | ![]() |
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7–5, 6–3, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 1966 | Australian Championships (2) | Grass | ![]() |
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9–7, 3–6, 8–6, 12–14, 10–12 |
Winner | 1967 | Australian Championships (2) | Grass | ![]() |
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3–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–8, 8–6 |
Winner | 1967 | French Championships | Clay | ![]() |
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6–3, 9–7, 12–10 |
Winner | 1967 | US Championships | Grass | ![]() |
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6–8, 9–7, 6–3, 6–3 |
↓ Open Era ↓ | ||||||
Winner | 1968 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | ![]() |
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3–6, 8–6, 5–7, 14–12, 6–3 |
Winner | 1969 | French Open (2) | Clay | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
Winner | 1969 | Wimbledon (3) | Grass | ![]() |
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7–5, 11–9, 6–3 |
Winner | 1970 | Wimbledon (4) | Grass | ![]() |
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10–8, 6–3, 6–1 |
Winner | 1971 | Australian Open (3) | Grass | ![]() |
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6–2, 7–6 |
Winner | 1974 | Wimbledon (5) | Grass | ![]() |
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8–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
Winner | 1976 | Australian Open (4) | Grass | ![]() |
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7–6, 6–4 |
Winner | 1977 | Australian Open (January) (5) | Grass | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–4 |
Mixed doubles: 5 (2 titles, 3 runners-up)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
Runner-up | 1965 | Wimbledon Championships | Grass | ![]() |
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10–12, 3–6 |
Winner | 1966 | Australian Championships | Grass | ![]() |
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6–1, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 1967 | Australian Championships | Grass | ![]() |
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7–9, 4–6 |
↓ Open Era ↓ | ||||||
Runner-up | 1969 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | ![]() |
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2–6, 3–6 |
Winner | 1976 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() |
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6–3, 2–6, 7–5 |
Grand Slam record
Australian Championships/Open
- Men's Doubles champion: 1965, 1967, 1971, 1976, 1977 (Jan.)
- Men's Doubles runner-up: 1966
- Mixed Doubles champion: 1966
- Mixed Doubles runner-up: 1967
French Championships/Open
- Singles champion: 1966
- Singles runner-up: 1965, 1967
- Men's Doubles champion: 1967, 1969
- Men's Doubles runner-up: 1964
Wimbledon
- Singles runner-up: 1968
- Men's Doubles champion: 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974
- Mixed Doubles champion: 1976
- Mixed Doubles runner-up: 1965, 1969
U.S. Championships/Open
- Singles runner-up: 1969, 1970
- Men's Doubles champion: 1967
Open-Era singles titles (9)
Outcome | No. | Date | Championship | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1. | 1968 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
3–6, 4–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 2. | 1969 | Hobart, Australia | Grass | ![]() |
3–6, 6–0, 4–6, 1–6 |
Winner | 1. | 1969 | Sydney, Australia | Grass | ![]() |
6–4, 4–6, 9–7, 12–10 |
Winner | 2. | 1969 | Auckland, New Zealand | Grass | ![]() |
6–1, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 3. | 1969 | Philadelphia WCT, U.S. | Carpet | ![]() |
5–7, 4–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 4. | 1969 | Rome, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 6–4, 2–6, 7–5, 3–6 |
Winner | 3. | 1969 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | ![]() |
6–1, 5–7, 8–6, 7–5 |
Runner-up | 5. | 1969 | US Open, New York | Grass | ![]() |
9–7, 1–6, 2–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 6. | 1969 | Wembley, UK | Carpet | ![]() |
4–6, 1–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 7. | 1970 | Philadelphia WCT, US | Carpet | ![]() |
3–6, 6–8, 2–6 |
Winner | 4. | 1970 | Gstaad, Switzerland | Clay | ![]() |
7–5, 7–5, 6–3 |
Winner | 5. | 1970 | Boston, US | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 8. | 1970 | US Open, New York | Grass | ![]() |
6–2, 4–6, 6–7, 3–6 |
Winner | 6. | 1972 | Washington WCT, US | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 7–6, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 9. | 1974 | Bombay, India | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 3–6, 6–7 |
Runner-up | 10. | 1975 | Nottingham, England | Grass | ![]() |
1–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
Winner | 7. | 1976 | Charlotte WCT, US | Carpet | ![]() |
6–3, 3–6, 6–1 |
Winner | 8. | 1976 | Sydney Outdoor, Australia | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 11. | 1977 | Brisbane, Australia | Grass | ![]() |
7–6, 1–6, 1–6, 5–7 |
Winner | 9. | 1978 | London/Queen's Club, England | Grass | ![]() |
8–6, 9–7 |
Doubles titles (18)
Outcome | No. | Date | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1. | 1968 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
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3–6, 8–6, 5–7, 14–12, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 1. | 1968 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | ![]() |
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4–6, 4–6, 5–7 |
Runner-up | 2. | 1968 | Hobart, Australia | Grass | ![]() |
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5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 3. | 1969 | Philadelphia WCT, U.S. | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–8, 4–6 |
Winner | 2. | 1969 | French Open, Paris | Clay | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
Winner | 3. | 1969 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
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7–5, 11–9, 6–3 |
Winner | 4. | 1970 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
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10–8, 6–3, 6–1 |
Winner | 5. | 1970 | Louisville, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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8–6, 5–7, 6–4 |
Winner | 6. | 1971 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Grass | ![]() |
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6–2, 7–6 |
Winner | 7. | 1971 | Miami WCT, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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7–6, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 4. | 1971 | Chicago WCT, U.S. | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–7, 6–4, 6–7 |
Winner | 8. | 1971 | Rome, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–4 |
Winner | 9. | 1971 | Tehran WCT, Iran | Clay | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–7, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 5. | 1972 | Richmond WCT, U.S. | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–7, 6–7 |
Runner-up | 6. | 1972 | Philadelphia WCT, U.S. | Carpet | ![]() |
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3–6, 7–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 7. | 1972 | Charlotte WCT, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–4, 6–7 |
Runner-up | 8. | 1972 | Las Vegas WCT, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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DEF |
Winner | 10. | 1972 | St. Louis WCT, U.S. | Carpet | ![]() |
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7–6, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 9. | 1972 | Washington WCT, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
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6–3, 3–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 11. | 1972 | Boston WCT, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–3, 1–6, 7–6 |
Winner | 12. | 1974 | Toronto WCT, Canada | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–3, 2–6, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 10. | 1974 | Monte Carlo WCT, Monaco | Clay | ![]() |
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6–7, 6–4, 6–7, 3–6 |
Winner | 13. | 1974 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
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8–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 11. | 1974 | Sydney Indoor, Australia | Hard (i) | ![]() |
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4–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 14. | 1976 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Grass | ![]() |
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7–6, 6–4 |
Winner | 15. | 1976 | Charlotte WCT, U.S. | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–3, 7–5 |
Winner | 16. | 1977 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Grass | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 12. | 1977 | Richmond WCT, U.S. | Carpet | ![]() |
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4–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 13. | 1977 | Toronto Indoor WCT, Canada | Carpet | ![]() |
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4–6, 1–6 |
Winner | 17. | 1977 | Sydney Indoor, Australia | Hard (i) | ![]() |
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6–7, 6–3, 6–1 |
Winner | 18. | 1978 | Sydney Indoor, Australia | Hard (i) | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–3 |
References
- ^ a b United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). Official Encyclopedia of Tennis (First Edition), p. 428.
- ^ "Roche, Tony". Sporting Hall of Fame. Museum of the Riverina. Retrieved 1 May 2007. [dead link]
- ^ "Big break for leading junior". Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 8 May 1963. p. 54 Supplement: Teenagers' Weekly. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^ "Newcombe: One Of 'Biggest Pacts'". St. Petersburg Times. 3 January 1968.
- ^ "Tennis Stars Sign". The Age. 5 January 1968.
- ^ Wind, Herbert Warren (1979). Game, Set, and Match : The Tennis Boom of the 1960s and 70s (1. ed. ed.). New York: Dutton. pp. 65–70. ISBN 0525111409.
{{cite book}}
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has extra text (help) - ^ "World Tennis title is better thrill than expected". The Prescott Courier. 27 August 1974.
- ^ "Lleyton Hewitt hires celebrated tennis coach Tony Roche". International Herald Tribune. 18 July 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2007.
- ^ "Hall of Famers – Tony Roche". International Tennis Hall of Fame.
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