Tony Roche

Anthony Dalton Roche AO MBE (born 17 May 1945), professionally known as Tony Roche is an Australian former professional tennis player.

A native of Tarcutta, Roche played junior tennis in the New South Wales regional city of Wagga Wagga. He won one Grand Slam singles title, the 1966 French Open at Roland Garros, and 15 Grand Slam doubles titles (12 of these with John Newcombe).

In 1968, Roche won the WCT/NTL combined professional championship in men's singles in the final event of the season at Madison Square Garden. He was ranked World No. 2 by Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph in 1969. 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.

Roche won one singles Grand Slam tournament, the 1966 French Open at Roland Garros, defeating István Gulyás in straight sets in the final. He was runner-up at the French Championships in 1965, where he beat Roy Emerson in four sets in the semi finals before losing to Fred Stolle and 1967, when he lost to Emerson in the final.

Professional In January 1968, Roche turned professional, signing with World Championship Tennis, joining other pros like John Newcombe, Cliff Drysdale, Nikola Pilić and Roger Taylor to form the "Handsome Eight". Roche was guaranteed $125,000 annually, an amount equivalent to the annual salary of Willie Mays, the top paid baseball player.

Roche was the leading money winner on the WCT tour in 1968. In the 1968 final in the combined WCT/NTL professional event at Madison Square Garden, Roche defeated Rod Laver in the semifinal and Pancho Gonzales in the final. At Wimbledon 1968 Roche beat Ken Rosewall in the fourth round in straight sets. "Roche played brilliantly. Rosewall never got going and netted shots that should have been winners". He lost in the final in straight sets to Rod Laver. "Roche played a more consistent game, but Laver produced the flashes of genius that won the big points".

Roche held a personal head-to-head edge over Laver during the latter's Grand Slam season of 1969, 5 to 4. At the News South Wales Open in Sydney, Roche beat Laver in the final in four sets. Rod didn't serve well "so Laver had to call upon his impromptu brilliance so many times to win points. He just couldn't keep it up against the tighter play of Roche." The following week Roche and Laver played a classic match against each other in the 1969 Australian Open at Brisbane, two days after Roche had won a five set quarter final against John Newcombe. The Laver-Roche semi final was one of the longest matches played at that stage in tennis history (they were on court for 4 hours and 45 minutes in searing heat). Roche "displayed phenomenal fighting qualities to come from two sets down to get back on level terms with Laver" but Laver won the fifth set. Roche lost in the French Open semi finals to Rosewall and the Wimbledon semi finals to Newcombe. Roche contested the final match of Laver's Grand Slam run that year, the 1969 U.S. Open final, after beating Newcombe in five sets in the semi finals in intense humidity. Laver beat Roche in four sets. The match started late due to rain and the court was dried by a helicopter to get it into a playable condition.

Roche won the U.S. Pro Championships at Longwood, Boston in 1970, defeating Laver in a hard fought five set final. He lost in the 1970 US Open final in four sets against Ken Rosewall.

Roche missed much of the 1972 and 1973 seasons due to an elbow injury to his playing arm. He had surgery and then visited a faith healer in Manila. He returned to regular play in 1974 and in December that year won his first title in more than two years when he beat Phil Dent in the final in five sets on a windy day to win the New South Wales championships. At the 1975 Australian Open, Roche led Newcombe 5-2 in the fifth set and had 3 match points before losing their semi final. After beating Ken Rosewall in the fourth round, Roche lost in five sets in the Wimbledon 1975 semi finals to Arthur Ashe.

Roche won his fourth New South Wales title (his first title was in the amateur era) by volleying well to beat Dick Stockton in the 1976 final in four sets. Perhaps one of his greatest achievements came in 1977, playing 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 in three straight sets to lead Australia to a 3–1 victory, winning the Davis Cup. One of his last great victories was in the final of Queen's in 1978, when the 33-year-old Roche beat 19-year-old John McEnroe in "as good a final as Queen's have had".

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. Ivan Lendl hired Roche in 1985 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 1966 French Championships). 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.

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. He entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame alongside doubles partner and close friend John Newcombe in 1986. In 1990 he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. He received an Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and a Centenary Medal in 2001.

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 6 (1 title, 5 runners-up)

Doubles: 15 (13 titles, 2 runners-up)

Mixed doubles: 5 (2 titles, 3 runners-up)

Grand Slam Singles performance timeline

Open-Era finals

Singles: 41 (21 titles / 20 runners-up) ResultNo.YearTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreWin 1. 1968 Sydney WCT Carpet Nikola Pilić 96–33Loss 1. 1968 Miami WCT Carpet Butch Buchholz 22–31, 26–31Loss 2. 1968 Fresno WCT Carpet Butch Buchholz 23–31, 29–31Loss 3. 1968 Baltimore WCT Carpet Dennis Ralston 0–6, 4–6Loss 4. 1968Wimbledon, London Grass Rod Laver 3–6, 4–6, 2–6Loss 5. 1968 Pretoria WCT Hard John Newcombe 9–11, 6–4, 3–6Win 2. 1968 Johannesburg WCT Hard Butch Buchholz 6-2, 9-7Loss 6. 1968 Durban WCT Hard John Newcombe 3–6, 4–6Loss 7. 1968 Port Elizabeth WCT Hard Roger Taylor 8–10Win 3. 1968 Cape Town WCT Hard Cliff Drysdale 6–2, 6–1Loss 8. 1968 Kimberley WCT Hard John Newcombe 8–10Win 4. 1968 Vienna WCT Hard (i) John Newcombe 6–4, 7–5Win 5. 1968 Madison Square Garden, New York City Carpet Pancho Gonzales 6–3, 6–4Loss 9. 1969 Hobart, Australia Grass Fred Stolle 3–6, 6–0, 4–6, 1–6Win 6. 1969 Sydney, Australia Grass Rod Laver 6–4, 4–6, 9–7, 12–10Win 7. 1969 Auckland, New Zealand Grass Rod Laver 6–1, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3Loss 10. 1969 Philadelphia WCT, U.S. Pro Indoor Carpet Rod Laver 5–7, 4–6, 4–6Win 8. 1969 Hollywood Clay Rod Laver 6–3, 9–7, 6–4Win 9. 1969 Oakland Carpet Rod Laver 4–6, 6–4, 11–9Loss 11. 1969 Rome, Italy Clay John Newcombe 3–6, 6–4, 2–6, 7–5, 3–6Win 10. 1969 Hamburg, Germany Clay Tom Okker 6–1, 5–7, 8–6, 7–5Loss 12. 1969US Open, New York Grass Rod Laver 9–7, 1–6, 2–6, 2–6Win 11. 1969 Tucson Hard Tom Okker 9–7, 6–1Win 12. 1969 Vienna Hard Tom Okker w/oLoss 13. 1969 Wembley, UK Carpet (i) Rod Laver 4–6, 1–6, 3–6Win 13. 1970 Australian round robin Grass John Newcombe 5–7, 7–5, 7–5Loss 14. 1970 Melbourne Grass John Newcombe 4–6, 4–6, 6–4 ret.Loss 15. 1970 Philadelphia WCT, US Carpet Rod Laver 3–6, 6–8, 2–6Win 14. 1970 Dublin, Ireland Grass Rod Laver 6–3, 6–1Win 15. 1970 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Tom Okker 7–5, 7–5, 6–3Win 16. 1970 Boston, US Pro Hard Rod Laver 3–6, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2Loss 16. 1970US Open, New York Grass Ken Rosewall 6–2, 4–6, 6–7, 3–6Win 17. 1972 Washington WCT, US Clay Marty Riessen 3–6, 7–6, 6–4Loss 17. 1973 Kansas City Hard Charlie Pasarell 1–6, 6–3, 3–6Loss 18. 1974 Bombay, India Clay Onny Parun 3–6, 3–6, 6–7Win 18. 1974 Sydney Grass Phil Dent 7–6, 4–6, 3–6, 6–2, 8–6Loss 19. 1975 Nottingham, England Grass Tom Okker 1–6, 6–3, 3–6Win 19. 1976 Charlotte WCT, US Carpet Vitas Gerulaitis 6–3, 3–6, 6–1Win 20. 1976 Sydney Outdoor, Australia Grass Dick Stockton 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4Loss 20. 1977 Brisbane, Australia Grass Vitas Gerulaitis 7–6, 1–6, 1–6, 5–7Win 21. 1978 London/Queen's Club, England Grass John McEnroe 8–6, 9–7

Doubles ResultNo.YearTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1. 1968Wimbledon, London Grass John Newcombe Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle 3–6, 8–6, 5–7, 14–12, 6–3Loss 1. 1968 Hamburg, Germany Clay John Newcombe Tom Okker Marty Riessen 4–6, 4–6, 5–7Loss 2. 1968 Hobart, Australia Grass Fred Stolle Mal Anderson Roger Taylor 5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1, 4–6Loss 3. 1969 Philadelphia WCT, U.S. Carpet John Newcombe Tom Okker Marty Riessen 6–8, 4–6Win 2. 1969French Open, Paris Clay John Newcombe Roy Emerson Rod Laver 4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4Win 3. 1969Wimbledon, London Grass John Newcombe Tom Okker Marty Riessen 7–5, 11–9, 6–3Win 4. 1970Wimbledon, London Grass John Newcombe Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle 10–8, 6–3, 6–1Win 5. 1970 Louisville, U.S. Hard John Newcombe Roy Emerson Rod Laver 8–6, 5–7, 6–4Win 6. 1971Australian Open, Melbourne Grass John Newcombe Tom Okker Marty Riessen 6–2, 7–6Win 7. 1971 Miami WCT, U.S. Hard John Newcombe Roy Emerson Rod Laver 7–6, 7–6Loss 4. 1971 Chicago WCT, U.S. Carpet John Newcombe Tom Okker Marty Riessen 6–7, 6–4, 6–7Win 8. 1971 Rome, Italy Clay John Newcombe Andrés Gimeno Roger Taylor 6–4, 6–4Win 9. 1971 Tehran WCT, Iran Clay John Newcombe Bob Carmichael Ray Ruffels 6–4, 6–7, 6–1Loss 5. 1972 Richmond WCT, U.S. Carpet John Newcombe Tom Okker Marty Riessen 6–7, 6–7Loss 6. 1972 Philadelphia WCT, U.S. Carpet John Newcombe Arthur Ashe Bob Lutz 3–6, 7–6, 3–6Loss 7. 1972 Charlotte WCT, U.S. Clay John Newcombe Tom Okker Marty Riessen 4–6, 6–4, 6–7Loss 8. 1972 Las Vegas WCT, U.S. Hard John Newcombe Roy Emerson Rod Laver DEFWin 10. 1972 St. Louis WCT, U.S. Carpet John Newcombe John Alexander Phil Dent 7–6, 6–2Loss 9. 1972 Washington WCT, U.S. Clay John Newcombe Tom Okker Marty Riessen 6–3, 3–6, 2–6Win 11. 1972 Boston WCT, U.S. Hard John Newcombe Arthur Ashe Bob Lutz 6–3, 1–6, 7–6Win 12. 1974 Toronto WCT, Canada Carpet Raúl Ramírez Tom Okker Marty Riessen 6–3, 2–6, 6–4Loss 10. 1974 Monte Carlo WCT, Monaco Clay Manuel Orantes John Alexander Phil Dent 6–7, 6–4, 6–7, 3–6Win 13. 1974Wimbledon, London Grass John Newcombe Bob Lutz Stan Smith 8–6, 6–4, 6–4Loss 11. 1974 Sydney Indoor, Australia Hard (i) John Newcombe Ross Case Geoff Masters 4–6, 4–6Win 14. 1976Australian Open, Melbourne Grass John Newcombe Ross Case Geoff Masters 7–6, 6–4Win 15. 1976 Charlotte WCT, U.S. Carpet John Newcombe Vitas Gerulaitis Gene Mayer 6–3, 7–5Win 16. 1977Australian Open, Melbourne Grass Arthur Ashe Charlie Pasarell Erik van Dillen 6–4, 6–4Loss 12. 1977 Richmond WCT, U.S. Carpet Ross Case Wojtek Fibak Tom Okker 4–6, 4–6Loss 13. 1977 Toronto Indoor WCT, Canada Carpet Ross Case Wojtek Fibak Tom Okker 4–6, 1–6Win 17. 1977 Sydney Indoor, Australia Hard (i) John Newcombe Ross Case Geoff Masters 6–7, 6–3, 6–1Win 18. 1978 Sydney Indoor, Australia Hard (i) John Newcombe Mark Edmondson John Marks 6–4, 6–3

Source: ATP