Tony Roche

Anthony Dalton Roche, AO, MBE (born 17 May 1945) is an Australian former professional tennis player, a native of Tarcutta. He played junior tennis in the New South Wales regional city of Wagga Wagga.[4] 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.[3] He also coached multi-Grand Slam winning world No. 1s Ivan Lendl, Patrick Rafter, Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt, and former World No. 4 Jelena Dokic.

For the English television, radio and film comedy writer, see Tony Roche (writer).

Tony Roche
AO, MBE
Full nameAnthony Dalton Roche
Country (sports) Australia
ResidenceTurramurra, NSW, Australia
Born (1945-05-17) 17 May 1945
Wagga Wagga, Australia
Height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Turned pro1968 (amateur tour from 1963)
Retired1979
PlaysLeft-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize moneyUS$ 529,199
Int. Tennis HoF1986 (member page)
Singles
Career record753-297 (71.7%) [1]
Career titles46 [2]
Highest rankingNo. 2 (1969, Lance Tingay)[3]
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian OpenSF (1965, 1967, 1969, 1975)
French OpenW (1966)
WimbledonF (1968)
US OpenF (1969, 1970)
Doubles
Career record208–94 (Open era)
Career titles18 (Open era)
Highest rankingNo. 1 (1965)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian OpenW (1965, 1967, 1971, 1976, 1977)
French OpenW (1967, 1969)
WimbledonW (1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974)
US OpenW (1967)
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
Australian OpenW (1966)
WimbledonW (1976)
Team competitions
Davis CupW (1965, 1966, 1967, 1977)

Playing career
Tony Roche at the Amsterdam tournament in 1969

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 of Harry Hopman, who also coached other Australian tennis players such as Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall.

Tony Roche at Wimbledon circa 1983 in Mixed Doubles

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".[6][7][8]

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 player-coach of the Denver Racquets who won the first World Team Tennis in competition 1974, and he was named WTT Coach of the Year.[9] Ivan Lendl hired Roche in 1985 as a full-time coach for Roche's advice on volleying.[10][11] 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.[12]

Honours

Roche was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1981 and an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2001.[13][14] He entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame alongside doubles partner and close friend John Newcombe in 1986.[15] In 1990 he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.[16] He received an Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and a Centenary Medal in 2001.[17][18]

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 6 (1 title, 5 runners-up)
Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Loss1965French ChampionshipsClay Fred Stolle6–3, 0–6, 2–6, 3–6
Win1966French ChampionshipsClay István Gulyás6–1, 6–4, 7–5
Loss1967French ChampionshipsClay Roy Emerson1–6, 4–6, 6–2, 2–6
↓ Open Era ↓
Loss1968WimbledonGrass Rod Laver3–6, 4–6, 2–6
Loss1969US OpenGrass Rod Laver9–7, 1–6, 2–6, 2–6
Loss1970US OpenGrass Ken Rosewall6–2, 4–6, 6–7, 3–6

Doubles: 15 (13 titles, 2 runners-up)
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss1964French ChampionshipsClay John Newcombe Roy Emerson
Ken Fletcher		5–7, 3–6, 6–3, 5–7
Win1965Australian ChampionshipsGrass John Newcombe Roy Emerson
Fred Stolle		3–6, 4–6, 13–11, 6–3, 6–4
Win1965Wimbledon ChampionshipsGrass John Newcombe Ken Fletcher
Bob Hewitt		7–5, 6–3, 6–4
Loss1966Australian Championships (2)Grass John Newcombe Roy Emerson
Fred Stolle		9–7, 3–6, 8–6, 12–14, 10–12
Win1967Australian Championships (2)Grass John Newcombe Bill Bowrey
Owen Davidson		3–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–8, 8–6
Win1967French ChampionshipsClay John Newcombe Roy Emerson
Ken Fletcher		6–3, 9–7, 12–10
Win1967US ChampionshipsGrass John Newcombe Bill Bowrey
Owen Davidson		6–8, 9–7, 6–3, 6–3
↓ Open Era ↓
Win1968Wimbledon (2)Grass John Newcombe Ken Fletcher
Ken Rosewall		3–6, 8–6, 5–7, 14–12, 6–3
Win1969French Open (2)Clay John Newcombe Roy Emerson
Rod Laver		4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4
Win1969Wimbledon (3)Grass John Newcombe Tom Okker
Marty Riessen		7–5, 11–9, 6–3
Win1970Wimbledon (4)Grass John Newcombe Ken Rosewall
Fred Stolle		10–8, 6–3, 6–1
Win1971Australian Open (3)Grass John Newcombe Tom Okker
Marty Riessen		6–2, 7–6
Win1974Wimbledon (5)Grass John Newcombe Robert Lutz
Stan Smith		8–6, 6–4, 6–4
Win1976Australian Open (4)Grass John Newcombe Ross Case
Geoff Masters		7–6, 6–4
Win1977Australian Open (January) (5)Grass Arthur Ashe Charlie Pasarell
Erik van Dillen		6–4, 6–4

Mixed doubles: 5 (2 titles, 3 runners-up)
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss1965Wimbledon ChampionshipsGrass Judy Tegart Margaret Smith
Ken Fletcher		10–12, 3–6
Win1966Australian ChampionshipsGrass Judy Tegart Robyn Ebbern
William Bowrey		6–1, 6–3
Loss1967Australian ChampionshipsGrass Judy Tegart Lesley Turner
Owen Davidson		7–9, 4–6
↓ Open Era ↓
Loss1969Wimbledon (2)Grass Judy Tegart Ann Haydon
Fred Stolle		2–6, 3–6
Win1976WimbledonGrass Françoise Dürr Rosemary Casals
Dick Stockton		6–3, 2–6, 7–5

Grand Slam Singles performance timeline
Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# A NH
(W) Won; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent; (NH) not held. SR=strike rate (events won/competed)
Tournament19631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979Career 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

Open-Era finals

Singles
Result No. Year Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 1. 1968 Wimbledon, London Grass Rod Laver 3–6, 4–6, 2–6
Loss 2. 1969 Hobart, Australia Grass Fred Stolle 3–6, 6–0, 4–6, 1–6
Win 1. 1969 Sydney, Australia Grass Rod Laver 6–4, 4–6, 9–7, 12–10
Win 2. 1969 Auckland, New Zealand Grass Rod Laver 6–1, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
Loss 3. 1969 Philadelphia WCT, U.S. Carpet Rod Laver 5–7, 4–6, 4–6
Loss 4. 1969 Rome, Italy Clay John Newcombe 3–6, 6–4, 2–6, 7–5, 3–6
Win 3. 1969 Hamburg, Germany Clay Tom Okker 6–1, 5–7, 8–6, 7–5
Loss 5. 1969 US Open, New York Grass Rod Laver 9–7, 1–6, 2–6, 2–6
Loss 6. 1969 Wembley, UK Carpet (i) Rod Laver 4–6, 1–6, 3–6
Loss 7. 1970 Philadelphia WCT, US Carpet Rod Laver 3–6, 6–8, 2–6
Win 4. 1970 Dublin, Ireland Grass Rod Laver 6–3, 6–1
Win 5. 1970 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Tom Okker 7–5, 7–5, 6–3
Win 6. 1970 Boston, US Hard Rod Laver 3–6, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2
Loss 8. 1970 US Open, New York Grass Ken Rosewall 6–2, 4–6, 6–7, 3–6
Win 7. 1972 Washington WCT, US Clay Marty Riessen 3–6, 7–6, 6–4
Loss 9. 1974 Bombay, India Clay Onny Parun 3–6, 3–6, 6–7
Loss 10. 1975 Nottingham, England Grass Tom Okker 1–6, 6–3, 3–6
Win 8. 1976 Charlotte WCT, US Carpet Vitas Gerulaitis 6–3, 3–6, 6–1
Win 9. 1976 Sydney Outdoor, Australia Grass Dick Stockton 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Loss 11. 1977 Brisbane, Australia Grass Vitas Gerulaitis 7–6, 1–6, 1–6, 5–7
Win 10. 1978 London/Queen's Club, England Grass John McEnroe 8–6, 9–7

Doubles
Result No. Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1. 1968 Wimbledon, London Grass John Newcombe Ken Rosewall
Fred Stolle		 3–6, 8–6, 5–7, 14–12, 6–3
Loss 1. 1968 Hamburg, Germany Clay John Newcombe Tom Okker
Marty Riessen		 4–6, 4–6, 5–7
Loss 2. 1968 Hobart, Australia Grass Fred Stolle Mal Anderson
Roger 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 Emerson
Rod 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 Gimeno
Roger Taylor		 6–4, 6–4
Win 9. 1971 Tehran WCT, Iran Clay John Newcombe Bob Carmichael
Ray 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 Ashe
Robert 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 Alexander
Phil 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
Robert 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 Robert Lutz
Stan Smith		 8–6, 6–4, 6–4
Loss 11. 1974 Sydney Indoor, Australia Hard (i) John Newcombe Ross Case
Geoff 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 Gerulaitis
Gene Mayer		 6–3, 7–5
Win 16. 1977 Australian Open, Melbourne Grass Arthur Ashe Charlie Pasarell
Erik 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 Edmondson
John Marks		 6–4, 6–3

References
  1. Garcia, Gabriel. "Tony Roche: Career match record". thetennisbase.com. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  2. Garcia, Gabriel. "Tony Roche: Career tournament results". thetennisbase.com. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  3. United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). Official Encyclopedia of Tennis (First Edition), p. 428.
  4. "Sporting Hall of Fame – Roche, Tony". www.wagga.nsw.gov.au. Museum of the Riverina. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  5. "Big break for leading junior". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 8 May 1963. p. 54 Supplement: Teenagers' Weekly. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  6. "Newcombe: One Of 'Biggest Pacts'". St. Petersburg Times. 3 January 1968.
  7. "Tennis Stars Sign". The Age. 5 January 1968.
  8. Wind, Herbert Warren (1979). Game, Set, and Match : The Tennis Boom of the 1960s and 70s (1. ed.). New York: Dutton. pp. 65–70. ISBN 0525111409.
  9. "World Tennis title is better thrill than expected". The Prescott Courier. 27 August 1974.
  10. "How Ivan Lendl Reinvented Himself". International Tennis Hall of Fame. 20 December 2018.
  11. "Rewind 1985: The Rise of Ivan Lendl and the Fall of John McEnroe". Bleacher Report. 11 August 2009.
  12. "Lleyton Hewitt hires celebrated tennis coach Tony Roche". International Herald Tribune. 18 July 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2007.
  13. "Roche, Anthony Dalton, MBE". It's an Honour. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  14. "ROCHE, Anthony Dalton (Tony), AO". It's an Honour. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  15. "Hall of Famers – Tony Roche". International Tennis Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 13 August 2010.
  16. "Tony Roche AO MBE". Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  17. "Roche, Tony: Australian Sports Medal". It's an Honour. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  18. "ROCHE, Tony Dalton: Centenary Medal". It's an Honour. Retrieved 17 December 2013.

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