Emerson, Roy
Tennis
b. Nov. 3, 1936, Kingsway, Australia
A long jump and high jump champion in high school, Emerson was one of the most athletic of tennis players. Big, strong, and fast, he covered the court almost effortlessly and depended more than most champions on his reflexes rather than any overall strategy to beat opponents.
Emerson won 12 singles titles in grand slam events, a record that stood for more than 30 years. His first came in the 1961 Australian national championships, when he upset Rod Laver in the final match. After losing to Laver in the 1962 final, Emerson won the Australian title five years in a row, from 1963 through 1967.
He won the U. S. national singles championship in 1961 and 1963, the Wimbledon title in 1964 and 1965, and the French championship in 1963 and 1967. Emerson also won 16 doubles titles for a record total of 28 grand slam championships.
He may well have won a third straight Wimbledon championship in 1966, but he injured his shoulder while winning his fourth-round match. Although he played it out, the pain kept him from hitting the ball effectively and he was eliminated.
Emerson's greatest year was 1964, when he won 17 tournaments and 109 of 115 matches, including 55 in a row. He played on a record eight winning Davis Cup teams between 1959 and 1967, winning 22 of 24 singles matches and 13 of 15 doubles matches.
Emerson turned pro in 1968 and continued to play professionally in World Team Tennis through 1978, when he was player-coach of the Boston Lobsters.