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In December of 1967 the British LTA endorsed Open Tennis. For the whole 1968 season, at least in Britain–including Wimbledon–it was decided there would be no reference to “amateurs” or “professionals.”
What were the feelings of the unassuming player who was expected to acquire the official–and true–title of World Champion? Rod Laver, the man who fervently believed that drama is best reserved for the tennis court, responded simply: “This will raise the quality of the game and clear it up a bit.”
As an amateur, Laver had already won the Grand Slam in 1962, but now he saw a chance for a first in the game’s history. He planned to become the first winner of a second Grand Slam, with the difference that now it would be also be a first Open Grand Slam.
Laver knew that this time it would be much harder: the field was tougher and deeper. From beginning to end it was a battle, and one that required his Houdini escape act several times.
Australia
At the beginning, in Australia, the biggest hurdle turned out to be Tony Roche in the semi-final. Roche was another tough butcher’s son from the outback and a fellow left-hander who…