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When I was first exposed to tennis in the mid-60s, Australia had ruled the tennis world for the entire 10 years of my life – plus a few years before as well.
Between 1950-67 Australia won the Davis Cup 15 out of a possible 18 times, being runner-up on the other three occasions. It was great to be a tennis fan back in those days.
The cracks began to appear in the early 1970s, as the stars of the ’50s and ’60s approached their 30s. The production line began to falter, combined with increasing interest from Eastern European countries.
As late as 1973 Australia demonstrated it was still the best tennis nation on Earth when it put its best team together. That year Rod Laver and John Newcombe beat the USA 5-0 all by themselves, each playing the two singles matches and combining in the doubles. Team members Ken Rosewell and Tony Roche weren’t required, cooling their heels on the sidelines.
When selecting my best tennis teams, I’ve adopted the Davis Cup approach of selecting two singles players and a doubles pair, which I call my First IV, Second IV, etc. This way I’ve been able to capture and recognise a greater number of players.
Sheek’s Aussie tennis First IV
Singles: Rod Laver and Ken Rosewell
Doubles: John Newcombe and Tony Roche
Captain/Coach: Harry Hopman
Laver’s place is indisputable and so is Rosewell’s, despite being in his mid-30s by the end of the 60s.
The major doubles record of Newcombe-Roche and Woodbridge-Woodforde is remarkably similar, but Newcombe and Roche were also superior singles players, giving them the plum position.
Individually, Newcombe’s major doubles record was 17/4 and Roche’s 13/2. Together it was 12/2. Woodbridge’s majors double record was 16/4 and Woodforde’s 12/4. Together it was 11/4.
However, Newcombe’s majors singles record was 7/3 and Roche’s was 1/5. Neither Woodbridge nor Woodforde made a major singles final.
Guiding the Aussies Davis Cup team in the 60s Hopman appeared as old as time, but he still remains the best manager Australian tennis has produced.
Sheek’s Aussie tennis Second IV
Singles: Roy Emerson and Fred Stolle
Doubles: Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde
Captain/Coach: Neale Fraser
Emerson dominated tennis in the 60s after Rosewell and Laver had defected to the professional circuit.
Stolle was still a fine player in the late ’60s and none who have followed have been able to surpass his record (apart from those already mentioned). Woodbridge-Woodforde were pipped as the doubles pair for the First IV.
Sheek’s Aussie tennis Third IV
Singles: Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt
Doubles: Pat Cash and Mal Anderson
Despite enduring injuries, Rafter was highly regarded, while Hewitt’s courage is legendary.
Although Cash and Anderson weren’t a recognised doubles pairing (coming from different eras) they had to be included for their overall records. Both enjoyed Davis Cup and majors doubles success with other players.
Sheek’s Aussie tennis Fourth IV
Singles: Mark Edmondson and John Fitzgerald
Doubles: Paul McNamee and John McNamara
Edmondson and Fitzgerald were gutsy players who often performed above their ability.
The two Macs are probably recognised as our best doubles combination of the past 50 years after Newk/Rochey and the Woodies.
With the women I have a First and Second IV.
Sheek’s Aussie women’s tennis First IV
Singles: Margaret Smith-Court and Evonne Goolagong-Cawley.
Doubles: Lesley Turner-Bowrey and Wendy Turnbull.
Court and Cawley are obvious choices, while Bowrey and Turnbull are the next best women’s players of the past 50 years.
Lesley Turner married fellow Australian tennis player Bill Bowrey. Turnbull was lionised for her speed and high energy on court.
Sheek’s Aussie women’s tennis Second IV
Singles: Judy Tegart-Dalton and Kerry Melville-Reid
Doubles: Helen Gourlay-Cawley and Dianne Fromholtz-Balestat
Regrettably, the women’s depth falls away much more quickly than the men’s. Of interest, both Evonne Goolagong and Helen Gourlay married unrelated men named Cawley.
So there you have it, my suggestions of the best Australian men and women tennis players of the past 50 years.
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