ROD LAVER DAY AT HOPE ISLAND TENNIS CLUB

Queenslanders are being encouraged to don their Wimbledon whites, share a snap of how they are celebrating on social media using #RodLaverDay and raise a racquet to a Queensland legend! 

Hope Island Tennis Club are celebrating Rod Laver Day on Saturday 9 July with some tennis and a sausage sizzle.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Rod Laver’s first calendar grand slam in 1962 where he won all four slams in the calendar year. July 8 also coincides with the Wimbledon finals weekend and is a great way for the local community to get involved in the traditions of Wimbledon.

Tennis Queensland General Manager, Elia Hill said, “Rod Laver Day is a fantastic way to celebrate the success and impact of Rod Laver on tennis in Queensland, as well as celebrating Wimbledon”.

 “It is a day for everyone to get involved and showcase the inclusiveness of our great game and the rich history it has in Queensland.” Elia Hill said.

Rod Laver Facts

• Rod Laver, born in Rockhampton in 1938, won 11 Grand Slam singles titles, nine Grand Slam doubles titles and 5 Davis Cup titles spanning a 24-year career as an amateur and professional player. 

• Known widely as the ‘Rocket’

• Ranked World No. 1 across nine different years (an all-time record in tennis).

• The only player to win all four grand slams in the same calendar year TWICE! 

• Laver had a long-running friendly rivalry with fellow Queenslander Roy Emerson, another great Australian champion, which spanned across 67 matches!

• Laver was inducted as a Legend of Australian Sport in 2002 and the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame in 2009.

• Centre Court at Melbourne Park is named Rod Laver Arena in his honour.

For more information on our Rod Laver Day celebrations head to our Facebook page www.facebook.com/hopeislandtennisclubinc