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Tony Roche
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Country |  Australia |
|
| Residence | - | |
| Date of birth | May 17, 1945 (age 61) | |
| Place of birth | Wagga Wagga, Australia | |
| Height | 5'10 (177 cm) | |
| Weight | 175 lbs (79 kg) | |
| Turned Pro | - | |
| Plays | Left-handed | |
| Career Prize Money | US$529,199 | |
| Singles | ||
| Career record: | 235-114 | |
| Career titles: | 7 | |
| Highest ranking: | 8 (16-Nov-75) | |
| Grand Slam results | ||
| Australian Open | - | |
| French Open | W (1966), F (1965, 1967) | |
| 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 has played in the Australian Open, French Open, US Open and Wimbledon. He won the Roland Garros (French Open) in 1966; and achieved the runner-up of Roland Garros (in 1965 and 1967), Wimbledon (in 1968), and U.S. Open (in 1969 and 1970).
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 was a strong force on the circuit as both a singles and a doubles player (alongside John Newcombe he won 12 Grand Slam doubles titles, making him one of the best doubles players of all time). In 1968 Roche turned pro, signing with the World Championship Tennis association, banding with 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 Panatt in straight sets(6-3,6-4,6-4)to lead Australia to a 3-1 victory, winning them the Davis Cup. Shoulder and elbow injuries cut short his career after having finished in the top 10 for 6 straight years. Since then, Roche has been very involved in tennis as a part/full-time 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 tutalage). Roche also coached Patrick Rafter from 1997 to the end of his career in 2002. Currently Roche has been coaching World No. 1 Roger Federer on a "handshake deal" with no contract and 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). Roche entered the Tennis Hall of Fame alongside doubles partner and close friend John Newcombe in 1986.
Contents |
| Year | Championship | Opponent in final | Score in final |
| 1966 | French Championships |  Istvan Gulyas |
6-1, 6-4, 7-5 |
| Year | Championship | Opponent in final | Score in final |
| 1965 | French Championships |  Fred Stolle |
6-3, 0-6, 2-6, 3-6 |
| 1967 | French Championships | Roy Emerson |
1-6, 4-6, 6-2, 2-6 |
| ↓ Open Era ↓ | |||
| 1968 | Wimbledon | Rod Laver |
3-6, 4-6, 2-6 |
| 1969 | U.S. Open | Rod Laver |
9-7, 1-6, 2-6, 2-6 |
| 1970 | U.S. Open | Ken Rosewall |
6-2, 4-6, 6-7, 3-6 |
- Doubles champion: 1965, 1967, 1971, 1976[Jan]
- Doubles finalist: 1966
- Mixed Doubles champion: 1966
- Mixed finalist: 1967
- Singles champion: 1966
- Singles finalist: 1965, 1967
- Doubles champion: 1967, 1969
- Doubles finalist: 1964
- Singles finalist: 1968
- Doubles champion: 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974
- Mixed Doubles champion: 1976
- Mixed finalist: 1965, 1969
- Singles finalist: 1969, 1970
- Doubles champion: 1967