Rod Laver Arena

The Tennis Courts at Rod Laver

Tennis anyone?
Today is the start of the Australian Open, which takes place in Melbourne each year at Rod Laver Arena in January - the first of the world's four Grand Slam tennis tournaments. The four Grand Slam tournaments are the Australian Open (1905), French Open at Roland Garros (1891), Wimbledon (1877) and US Open (1881).

Only one person, Australian tennis player Rod Laver, has won the Grand Slam — winning all four tournaments in one year — twice.

Rod Laver Arena

Rod Laver Arena is a part of the Melbourne Park complex. Originally called Centre Court, the arena was officially renamed Rod Laver Arena in January 2000 to honour Rod Laver, a three-time winner of the Australian Open and one of Australia's greatest tennis players of all time.

Seating Plan

The arena which was finished in 1988, seats 16,820 and attracts over 1.5 million visitors per year. Since 1988, Rod Laver Arena has been best known as the venue for the Australian Open tennis finals, however it is also where almost every famous entertainer in the world has performed. The stadium’s versatile nature has seen everything from rodeos, motocross, swimming championships and basketball to children’s shows. The outside courts are available for hire and tours of Rod Laver Arena run daily.


Rod Laver Statue

Rod Laver's statue stands outside the arena and it is from this point that tours are conducted.

The Rockhampton Rocket

Rod Laver was born Rodney George Laver on 9 August 1938 in Langdale, Rockhampton (Rocky) Queensland. A skinny, sickly lad, and one of 13 children, he was raised on cattle farms and learned to play tennis on anthill courts his father built on the properties. A left-hander, he took up the game when he was six using a sawn-off wooden racquet, and was christened ‘Rocket’ by Harry Hopman because of his grit, determination and work ethic. He was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in January 1993, and into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1981 a Sport Australia Hall of Fame Legend.


Grand Slam 1969

He is the only person to have won the Grand Slam twice, in 1962 and 1969 and was also the first tennis player to become a millionaire. Laver won Wimbledon four times, Australian Open three times and the French and US Open twice.
At the time, (1962) the Grand Slam events were only open to amateur players, who were given (under the table) little more than cost of living money for their appearances in tournaments.

It was not until 1968 that the rules were changed and professional players were allowed to participate and if not for the restrictions of pre-Open era tennis, who knows how many Grand Slam titles Rod Laver would have had?

Rod Laver vs Tony Roche - Australian Open 1969

Laver (in white hat) begins his journey to the Grand Slam 1969

Transport
The free city shuttle bus stops near Rod Laver and tennis fans heading to and from the Australian Open from 18 to 31 January can catch free shuttle trams running on Route 70 from the corner of Flinders and Swanston streets to Rod Laver and Hisense arenas.

Today's Quote: Ladies, here's a hint. If you're up against a girl with big boobs, bring her to the net and make her hit backhand volleys. That's the hardest shot for the well-endowed - Billie Jean King.