Australian tennis great Ken Rosewall – the oldest man to win a major – is unfazed if the record slips from his grasp.
Rosewall had a prodigiously successful career spanning decades and famously won the Australian Open 19 years apart – as an upcoming teenager 70 years ago and then twice in the sport’s open era.
Rosewall’s record as the oldest slam winner, achieved courtesy of a straight sets victory win over Mal Anderson more than 50 years ago, is yet to be surpassed even as titans of the sport – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – have stayed dominant deep into their 30s.
Ken Rosewall at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club. Credit:Scott McNaughton
Federer is retired but went close, his final major triumph at the 2018 Australian Open leaving him about eight months shy of Rosewall, who was triumphant at Kooyong in 1972, aged 37 years, one month and 24 days.
Twenty-times major winner Federer narrowly lost to Djokovic at Wimbledon the following year in a history-shaping result, losing 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 13-12 (7-3).
But it’s Nadal, 36, however, who looks the most likely player to grab Rosewall’s record, even though 35-year-old Djokovic, winner of 21 majors, is widely expected to at some point pass Nadal (22 majors).
The numbers are of some interest to Rosewall, a member of the country’s golden generation of players and affectionately known as ‘Muscles’, who maintains strong interest in the game.
“Well, I don’t mind, records are meant to be broken anyway,” said Rosewall, with a glint in his eye while being interviewed at Kooyong, the spiritual home of Australian tennis.
If Nadal – who exited the Australian Open in the second round due to a hip flexor strain – wins this year’s Roland Garros, it will come not long after his 37th birthday.
Ken Rosewall has been watching the Australian Open. Credit:Scott McNaughton
Octogenarian Rosewall is being recognised at this year’s Australian Open on the 70th anniversary of the first of his eight grand slam singles titles – victory at the Australian championships in January, 1953. On top of nine major doubles titles, it’s brilliant return for a career of more than two decades near the top of tennis, but one shaped by the crossover of the amateur and professionals eras.
Rosewall’s face appears on this year’s official tournament coin, recognising his achievement as the youngest ever men’s winner of the Australian Open.
Now 88, Rosewall said the win including beating Australia’s Mervyn Rose in the final, 6-0, 6-3, 6-3, surprised plenty, but it wasn’t overly celebrated.
“No fantastic celebrations – we were conservative in those days,” he said.
Modestly, he said the field was weakened by missing some of the world’s best, often a reality in Australia until the tournament moved to Melbourne Park in the late 1980s.
Rosewall was the same age as another star youngster, Lew Hoad, but, before the tournament, he didn’t really give himself a chance.
“I think for both of us we hoped to do well,” he said.
“Lew’s game was a bit up and down, depending on this temperament of the day. On his good days he could get beat anyone. On other days he just didn’t bother too much.
“In the semi-final I played [American] Vic Seixas … who I’d played before, and I’d had a win over Vic.
“Then I was in the final against Merv Rose. I forgot who beat Lou. I’d played Merv several times, we were good friends, but he was always too good for me.
“But not on this day.
“I stared quite well and surprised everybody because I won the tournament – surprised myself, and surprised my parents.”
Rosewall was back at Kooyong on Saturday for the first time in about five years, partly because the COVID-19 pandemic affected his ability to travel. A much-loved figure, he was stopped by plenty of onlookers whose Saturday morning casual hit-ups were interrupted by the presence of a great.
Rosewall is still sharp and watches plenty of tennis – he’s a fan of injured young gun Carlos Alcaraz, and keeps close tabs on Australia’s fortunes under Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt. But he does lament some parts of the modern game, particularly how, on some surfaces and at different times, points are being elongated.
“I’m not too excited by the surfaces they play on now,” he said.
“I think [it’s] a combination of the synthetic strings and the racquets, and also the balls that are produced.
“You can’t deny the ability of the players, they’re all very good. But from a tennis spectator’s point of view, you’re seeing a lot of the same.
“When you play on grass or other surfaces it takes up risk going to the net, but usually nobody really wanted to win too many points from the back of the court. In the early days that’s why our longest matches were across about three hours – that was the longest match.”
Rosewall’s name rightfully adorns the stadium at the home of the sport in New South Wales – Homebush in Sydney’s west.
Reflecting on his tennis journey that originated from humble beginnings but coincided with the start of Australia’s golden period, having his name up in lights is not something he ever thought about.
“I was happy to be one of the group, you know,” he said.
“We have a lot of history in Sydney and unfortunately, it’s been shattered a little bit by the demise of White City [the former tennis venue].
“That’s where so many great matches were played.”
