Tony Roche

Infobox Tennis player
playername = Tony Roche


nickname =
country = AUS
residence = -
datebirth = birth date and age|1945|5|17
placebirth = Wagga Wagga, Australia
height = 5'10" (177 cm)
weight = 175 lbs (79 kg)
turnedpro = -
retired =
plays = Left-handed
careerprizemoney = US$529,199
singlesrecord = 235–114
singlestitles = 7
highestsinglesranking = 8 (16-Nov-75)
AustralianOpenresult = QF (1964)
FrenchOpenresult = W (1966)
Wimbledonresult = F (1968)
USOpenresult = F (1969, 1970)
doublesrecord = 208–94
doublestitles = 18
highestdoublesranking = 748 (25-Jun-84)
updated = January 26, 2007

Anthony "Tony" Dalton Roche (born May 17, 1945) is a former professional Australian tennis player, born in Tarcutta. He played junior tennis in the New South Wales regional city of Wagga Wagga.cite web
url = http://www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/museum/index.aspx?item=shof&sub=browse&cat=museum_shof&article=6HWT9TQLBZURGYOYEQRK
title = Roche, Tony
work = Sporting Hall of Fame
publisher = Museum of the Riverina
accessdate = 2007-05-01] He is also very well known for coaching multi-grand slam winning World Number Ones Ivan Lendl, Patrick Rafter, Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt.

Playing career

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 had a successful singles and double career. He won a single singles Grand Slam - the 1966 French Open at Roland Garros. He was 5 times runner-up - at Roland Garros in 1965 and 1967, Wimbledon in 1968, and US Open in 1969 and 1970. With John Newcombe dominated the men's doubles Grand Slams with a total of 12 Grand Slam titles.

In 1968 Roche turned pro, signing with World Championship Tennis, joining 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 Panatta in straight sets 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 6 straight years.

Coaching career

After completing his playing career Roche has developed a highly successful career as a tennis 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 tutelage). Roche also coached former world No. 1 Patrick Rafter from 1997 to the end of his career in 2002. Roche coached current World No. 1 Roger Federer from 2005 to May 12, 2007. It is reputed this was on a "handshake agreement" with no contract - 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). He is currently coaching two-time grand-slam winner Lleyton Hewitt, who is aiming to get his career back on track after a number of unsuccessful years on the tour. [cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/18/sports/AS-SPT-TEN-Hewitt-Roche.php|title=Lleyton Hewitt hires celebrated tennis coach Tony Roche|work=International Herald Tribune|date=2007-07-18|accessdate=2007-07-19]

Honours

Roche entered the Tennis Hall of Fame alongside doubles partner and close friend John Newcombe in 1986.

Grand Slam singles finals

Wins (1)

Runner-ups (2)

Grand Slam record

=Australian Championships/Open=

*Doubles champion: 1965, 1967, 1971, 1976 [Jan]
*Doubles finalist: 1966
*Mixed Doubles champion: 1966
*Mixed finalist: 1967

=French Championships/Open=

*Singles champion: 1966
*Singles finalist: 1965, 1967
*Doubles champion: 1967, 1969
*Doubles finalist: 1964

Wimbledon

*Singles finalist: 1968
*Doubles champion: 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974
*Mixed Doubles champion: 1976
*Mixed finalist: 1965, 1969

U.S. Championships/Open

*Singles finalist: 1969, 1970
*Doubles champion: 1967

References

External links

* [http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/players/playerprofiles/?playernumber=R073 ATP Official Profile]
* [http://www.tennisfame.com/famer.aspx?pgID=867&hof_id=197 Tennis Hall of Fame profile]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/tennis-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=132 Roche's page at Sporting-heroes.net]