At courtside, Laver has prime view of history in the making
WHEN Rolex Testimonees Jannik Sinner and Qinwen Zheng made history at last year’s Australian Open, there was someone special among the 14,820 spectators who was in the front row watching the pair’s big breakthroughs.
Rod Laver is 86 years old and frequently travels all over the world to attend tennis tournaments, but it is the Rolex Testimonee’s home Grand Slam that will forever hold a special place in his heart.
After all, the centre court at Melbourne Park was named in his honour in 2000, and this year Rod Laver Arena celebrates a quarter-century of greatness and success.
Sinner won the first of his two Grand Slam singles titles at the 2024 Australian Open en route to achieving the world No 1 ranking, while Zheng reached her first Grand Slam singles final at the event prior to her gold medal win at the Paris Olympics in the summer.
Zheng, a 22-year-old from China, reflected on the experience of playing in front of Laver and many other Rolex Testimonees past and present.
“It was a special moment having different generations of tennis players and members of the Rolex family on the same court. Rod Laver is a legend and for him to be attending these tournaments is amazing. I think I have seen him every year at different Grand Slams. He’s always there watching tennis and you can really see the love and passion that he still has for the sport.”
Zheng made her WTA Tour debut in 2021 and has since won four Tour titles, one WTA Challenger title and eight ITF singles titles.
She was named the WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2022.
In Melbourne, she will compete alongside fellow Testimonees including Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Sloane Stephens and Belinda Bencic, who is set to return to Grand Slam competition for the first time since becoming a mother.
As for Sinner, the 23-year-old capped a momentous 2024 by winning the ATP Finals and guiding Italy to a second consecutive Davis Cup victory in November.
Looking ahead to his Australian Open defence, Sinner said: “Every season has its own story, and you never know what will happen. But for us, it always starts in Australia, which I’m very happy about. I always feel good playing at Melbourne Park. I really love the people and the fans. There is a great energy.”
Joining Sinner in the men’s singles draw will be fellow Testimonee and four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune, Ben Shelton and Joao Fonseca.
Role model
Laver has served as a consummate professional for several generations of players, both when he was an active player and long into his retirement. He remains the only player to have completed two calendar Grand Slams – winning all four Grand Slams in the same year – in 1962 and again in 1969.
The latter is a feat that is unmatched in the Open Era.
This year is a notable one for Laver, for it marks 65 years since he won his first Grand Slam title, at his home championships in 1960.
Since then, he has continued to witness the remarkable evolution of tennis and Rolex’s growing relationship with the sport firsthand.
“Rolex being part of the Australian Open is important for tennis and for our country on the global stage. It’s an incredible partnership and one that I have seen thrive over many years,” he said. “I feel honoured that Australia has recognised my tennis achievements by putting my name on that beautiful big stadium. In many ways, it’s like a continuation of my years playing.”
Whoever triumphs in Melbourne, it’s a given that Laver will be sitting at courtside to observe their pursuit of excellence and the crowning of new champions.
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