PLAYER PROFILE

Roy Emerson

  • Age88
  • Born 3 November 1936
  • Birth PlaceBlackbutt, Queensland
  • Playing StatusRetired
  • Australian Tennis Hall Of Fame1994
  • International Tennis Hall Of Fame1982

Singles champion
Australian 1961, 1963-67
French 1963, 1967
United States 1961, 1964
Wimbledon 1964-65

Doubles champion
Australian 1962, 1966, 1969
French 1960-65
United States 1959-60, 1965-66
Wimbledon 1959, 1961, 1971

Davis Cup
1959-67

Roy Emerson was a super-fit and athletic champion whose career bridged the amateur and Open eras. His haul of 28 Grand Slam titles (12 singles, 16 doubles) is a record for men’s tennis. Emerson is also the only man to win singles and doubles titles at all four majors. In 1964, his only loss in Grand Slam play came in the quarterfinals at Paris to Italy’s Nicola Pietrangeli. A vibrant figure in Australia’s golden tennis age, Emerson played in eight winning Davis Cup teams and clinched 34 of 38 Cup rubbers. A gifted doubles player – he won doubles titles at all the majors at least three times – Emerson had a reputation for making any partner look good. Not least at the French Championships, where he won the doubles six times with five different partners. Emerson was justly famous for his “no excuses” code, saying: “You should never complain about an injury. We believe that if you play, then you aren’t injured, and that’s that.”

Roy Emerson 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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Milestone US Open anniversaries for Sedgman and Emerson
Frank Sedgman (left) and Roy Emerson are celebrating milestone US Open anniversaries.
12 September, 2021

It's 70 years since Frank Sedgman swept US Open singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles, while fellow Australian Roy Emerson marks a 60-year milestone.
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Emerson, Dalton honoured on Australia Day
Roy Emerson (R) and Judy Dalton were honoured on Australia Day 2019 with Order of Australia medals (Getty Images)
26 January, 2019

Legends Roy Emerson and Judy Dalton have received Order of Australia honours, and are among several members of the Australian tennis family recognised on Australia Day.
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A Night with Novak at MCA
Novak Djokovic is a six-time Australian Open champion; Getty Images
30 December, 2016

A Night with Novak – a free sports and entertainment spectacular at Margaret Court Arena - will be a highlight of the tennis calendar in the week before the Australian Open.
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