PLAYER PROFILE

Tony Roche

  • Age79
  • Born17 May 1945
  • Birth PlaceTarcutta, New South Wales
  • PlaysLeft-handed
  • Playing StatusRetired
  • Australian Tennis Hall Of Fame1998
  • International Tennis Hall Of Fame1986
“Maybe in two or three years, if he continues to improve the way he has, he could be a real contender to win the French championships.”

— Tony Roche, 21 May 2016

» Roche assesses Aussie hopes in Paris

Singles champion
French 1966

Doubles champion
Australian 1965, 1967, 1971, 1976, (January) 1977
French 1967, 1969
Wimbledon 1965, 1968-70, 1974
United States 1967

Mixed doubles champion
Australian 1966
Wimbledon 1976

Davis Cup
1964-67, 1974, 1976-78
Coach 1994-2000

Tony Roche achieved great success in doubles with his long-time partner and lifelong friend John Newcombe. The two snared 12 doubles majors together, including five Wimbledon championships in both the amateur and professional eras. Roche also won five Australian doubles, the last with Arthur Ashe. Roche possessed a lethal left-hand serve and crisp volleys – weapons that carried him to the 1966 French title – his only major singles win. He finished runner-up in five Grand Slam finals – twice at the French (1965 and 1967), twice in the United States (1969 and 1970) and once at Wimbledon (1968). All five losses were to fellow Aussies: Fred Stolle and Roy Emerson in Paris, Rod Laver at Wimbledon and the US Open, and Ken Rosewall also in New York. A keen Davis Cup player, Roche racked up a 14-5 win-loss record (7-3 singles, 7-2 doubles) and was a part of winning teams in 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1977. After retiring, Roche became a highly successful coach, guiding the careers of world No.1 players Ivan Lendl, Patrick Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt and Roger Federer.

Tony Roche in the news

Alex de Minaur accomplishes 19-year Grand Slam-first at Wimbledon 2024
Alex de Minaur at Wimbledon 2024. Picture: Getty Images
7 July, 2024

Alex de Minaur becomes the first Australian since Lleyton Hewitt to make four consecutive fourth-round appearances in a Grand Slam men's singles draw.
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Lleyton Hewitt: Rich history inspiring Australian Davis Cup team
Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt at the 2022 Davis Cup Finals in Spain. Picture: Getty Images
25 November, 2022

Adding to the nation's Davis Cup proud history is driving Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt and his team at this week's finals in Spain.
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De Minaur to lead Australia at 2021 Davis Cup Finals
Alex de Minaur at the 2019 Davis Cup Finals. Pictures: Getty Images
26 October, 2021

Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur will spearhead our national team at next month's Davis Cup Finals in Italy.
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Celebrating US Open anniversaries of Aussie champions
Margaret Court, Lleyton Hewitt, Sam Stosur and Ken Rosewall are all celebrating US Open anniversaries this year. Pictures: Getty Images
31 August, 2020

Several Australian champions - of both today and yesteryear - are celebrating significant anniversaries of US Open triumphs this year.
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