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.
una daniel
Guest
Loved reading your discussion guys. I go back to listening to the radio commentary of Sedgeman and Macgregor at home and on the public radio system soaking up the sun on South Melbourne beach, with Hoad and Rosewell as second string. My best friend and I travelled by 3 means of public transport to watch them practice at Kooyong. I went os for a while and returned to watch the sublime Yvonne Goolagong practice. London was the tops in the 60s. Coworkers were desperate to meet the handsome aussies and I was very popular for a while. I never made a pretence of knowing any of the players personally and was soon dropped... The free tickets to the opera, ballet and theatre were most welcome whilst available. I got to meet Joan Sutherland backstage and to watch Nurayev leap like a gazelle onto the stage. I belatedly thank those early 60s players for being so gorgeous. By Sheeks time I was married with children but I continued taking an interest in tennis and had many favourites. But I must admit no one caught my fancy as much as Pat Rafter. I loved him. The Woody,s came close. Agassi made the cut. Perhaps that was the last fling of the 'olden days'. Must mention Harry Hopman. What a great human being. And 'Come on Lleyton' cannot be lauded too much. We have been fortunate. So many memories flooding back. Una Daniel.
Rory
Guest
Almost hate to say it because I didn't enjoy his playing style but John Alexander probably should get a run in the Fourth IV over Eddo and Fitz. He had some good results and was top10 at some stage I think. Maybe even Phil Dent. Or I could propose a handy Fifth IV comprising Alexander and Dent in singles, Case and Masters in doubles.
clipper
Guest
I was thinking that any combination of the mens first and second would be formidable, so that just Laver / Rosewall wouldn't be that much greater that a 4 man team, but the same doesn't apply to the Women. A Margaret / Evonne singles and Margaret / Lesley or Evonne doubles would be far superior to any 4 women team.
Johnno
Guest
Yep sheek, good points majors and Davis cup are very different format some player lift in one format but not the other. In your list John Fitzgerald missing out on a doubles spot annoyed me lol. -Sheek do you know anything about athletics, swimming,or car racing, maybe best 10 or best 5 etc if you have time sometime.
sheek
Roar Guru
Johnno, What you are saying is true. I had written Stubbs down but when I made my final call, she slipped my mind. However, I must caution that majors records & Davis/Fed Cups aren't necessarily the last word. For the people in the know at Tennis Australia, both Rafter & Turnbull are often in their respective top 10s, although their records, especially Turnbull, might not support this.
Johnno
Guest
Clipper Forgot about Stubbsie. She reached world no 1 in doubles and won 3 GS titles, a better record than good old Wendy Turnbull or Liz Smylie who ranked highest 6.. I'd love to sneak in Alcia Molik in somewhere too she has a good doubles record. And the wildcard of them all, Jelana Dokic, she has to be pushing for a spot in singles. Dock reached a career high ranking of no 4,way back in 2002 aged 19. Dockic made wimbledon semis aged 17, in a tough era, in an area when tennis was far bigger globally than in the 70's or 80's, Dokic in my view is a better player than Wendy Turnbull,and Kelly Melville and Alicia Molik Her and Scud are the 2 wildcards of Australian tennis, both had so much talent, and could of done better,but injuries, and off field dramas got in the way. Fed Cup sides (changes) 1st doubles: Stubbs in, out Turnbull Fed Cup 2nds Singles: Dokic,Stosur in, out Judy Dalton, Kerry Reid Turnbull and Liz Smyle the doubles pair out the other 2 .
Jayden
Guest
Isn't hewitt's Singles Record 2/4 in Finals Sheek? USO 2004/5 and the AO Final, shame he was stopped by Fed so often.
clipper
Guest
Agree.that the batch of 4 captures more players - I think you'd be pretty happy with any of the top six playing singles or doubles. Surprised that Rennae Stubbs didn't make the cut for the Women's 2nd team - I would even be tempted to place her in the 1st doubles.
sheek
Roar Guru
Johnno - what clipper said. Sometimes stats can be deceiving, as in this case. Emmo made sunshine in the 60s while Laver & Rosewell were belting it out with each other for the pro champion bragging rights. Clipper, The idea is to capture as many players as possible, which is why I went with batches of four. Happy to have Newc & Rochey playing doubles.
clipper
Guest
Johnno - that's only part of the story. Emerson's titles all the in the amateur era, he never turned professional (although getting many offers) so won the vast majority of his titles when Laver, Rosewall etc were absent. Not to take away from the amazing 12 singles and multiple doubles GS victories, but this is probably why he is not mentioned in the same bracket as Laver and Rosewall. It still makes for a very handy second 11 though. Agree with you on Mark Phillipousous, deserves to be there, although not in the singles third - maybe in the doubles or singles 4th. Otherwise I think sheek has compiled a good list, although I would have Laver and Rosewall doing both the singles and doubles.
Johnno
Guest
One change to your 1st side sheek. I'd never even hear of Roy Emerson until today, but after checking the stats Emerson V Rosewell, Emerson wins. Emerson: -Highest ranking No 1 -won 12 grand slam titles all 4 Slams Rosewell -Highest ranking no 2 -Won 8 grand slams, won 3 out of the 4 Slams, never won wimbledon runner-up 4 times. Emerson was also 2 years younger too born 1936, Rosewell born 1934,though strangely many of the younger generation have heard of Rosewell , far more known and a household, Emerson barley known by anyone born after 1975- I'd say, despite Emerson's career being so good the forgotten man of Australian tennis. Both played on the pro tour into there 40's, -Hanna Mandlikova may push for a singles spot in the 2nd side the Czech aussie won 4 grand slams, and Liz Smyle was a damn good doubles player, Stosur may be a belter for a 2nd spot.
sheek
Roar Guru
Actually Sherry, A slight correction. Hoad did compete in three Wimbledons & two French 1968-72, but never made it to the quarters on any of those five occasions. Based on that punitive record, i simply can't select him. However, if I were making these selections over the entire tennis history, Hoad would be an Australian top 10.
sheek
Roar Guru
Hi Sherry, True. But these exercises include players I actually saw, either live or on TV, & read about their exploits, in my time. You will note, the selections are from 1967 to present, just about 50 years. I started following most sports in the mid-1960s. Rosewell was still playing, & continued doing so until the mid-70s. Hoad, although the same age, was no longing playing majors by the mid-60s due to injury. That's why Rosewell is included, & Hoad is excluded.
Sherry
Guest
Sheek, you took a very pleasant stroll down memory lane, thanks for that. But no mention of Lew Hoad. He and Rosewall were a wonderful doubles team but had a hard time against Sexias and Trabert. After Hoad partnered Maureen Connolly to win the '54 US mixed doubles title, Harry Hopman said that Hoad was the best singles player for one set he'd ever seen as nobody ever had a greater shot selection. And he said later that if Court at her best had played Connolly at her best, Court wouldn't have got more than 15 points a game. Great tennis days for OZ. But then there were a lot of private tennis courts for rent. Not so now.
sheek
Roar Guru
Hi RobG, Stolle's record is difficult to dismiss. Stolle - Majors singles 2/6, doubles 10/6, DC 64, 65, 66. Turned pro in 1967. Hewitt - Majors singles 2/2, doubles 1/0, DC 1999, 2003.
sheek
Roar Guru
Fair enough Johnno, I had realised I had forgotten Poo, but then forgot him again. I guess he should be in the mix somewhere, especially for his Davis Cup heroics in both 1999 & 2003.
Johnno
Guest
Sheek For mine I'd put Mark Phillipousous up to the 3rd Xi in singles, ahead of John Fitzgerald. Scud was a top 10 player, and did do the job at Davis Cup time too. John Alexander for mine maybe should be ahead of Edmonson. JA reached a career high ranking of 8, Edmonson was ranked 15 highest. Edmonson won the OZ open, but like JA's time this during the times when a lot of overseas players didn't bother come out too Kooyong. I'd also move John Fitzgerald into a doubles spot for sure. Fitzy reached a singles ranking of 25, but Doubles he reached world no 1 in 1991, including 7 grand slam titles winning every grand slam title (OZ,French,Wimbledon,US open). A no, 1 ranking, can't be ignored. Surely for mine he must take Mal Anderson's spot in doubles, as Anderson's record is untenable compared to John Fitzgerald in doubles. By gee though what depth we have in OZ tennis doubles when a bloke like Fitzgerald a former world no 1 doubles player and winner of 7 GS titles can only make in my view the 3rd XI doubles side. Sheek Fred stolle's doubles record is impressive. A former world no 1 doubles and winner of 10 doubles titles, I reckon for the balance of the squads, Stolle to partner Fitzgerald in the 3XI , and up moves Rafter to the 2nds a singles player for mine, just edging out Hewitt. My 2nd XI Singles: Emerson,Rafter Doubles: Woodies 3rd XI Singles: Scud,Hewitt Doubles:Fred Stolle,John Fitzgerald And the wildcard in all this is Pat Cash, such a talented player, but injuries etc cruelled him. Pat Cash had more natural ability I believe in doubles than both he Woodies and Fitzgerald, as Pat Cash serve volley tennis and fitness was very suited to doubles, and he did well in doubles. But I'm trying to base it on what is, and what the players actually played on statistics which I know can be misleading, but if Pat Cash devoted himself to doubles like the Woodies I reckon he would of been an all time great doubles player(he reached rank no 6 aged 19 then focused on singles most of time), but he didn't focus on doubles, it is what it is. So Cash is moved to 4th XI in singles Scud for me just lifted so much in Davis Cup, and he had more talent than Pat Cash,Hewitt,Rafter,but Scud lifted for Davis Cup a lot and his talent came out a lot, as did the other boys.Cash rallied and helped win a davis cup tie aged 18. But yep in all these squads Pat Cash is the wildcard and the unlucky player in these lists, but somebody's got to miss out
Rob G
Guest
Like the article Sheek. In my opinion Hewitt would move up to the 2nd IV in place of fred stole who would potentially grab one of the doubles positions. But what a first IV!!!!