Rod Laver's Shocking Grand Slam Secret REVEALED!

The Untold Story of Rod Laver's Grand Slam Struggles

John McEnroe, a tennis legend himself, has shed light on a little-known fact about his idol, Rod Laver: the financial constraints that hampered Laver's Grand Slam ambitions in the 1960s. While Laver boasts an impressive 11 Grand Slam titles and 8 Pro major titles, McEnroe argues that Laver could have achieved even more had circumstances been different.

During an appearance on the ‘Served’ podcast, McEnroe explained that unlike today's lucrative professional tennis circuit, the sport offered little financial reward in the 1960s. Laver, with a family to support, was compelled to turn professional. However, this decision came at a steep price.

The Pro Barrier

“Here is the problem, unlike now, where some guys can make a tremendous living, there was no money in tennis. He had a kid, so he had to find a way to make money,” McEnroe stated. “So he had to turn pro, and when you turned pro back in the ’60s, you weren’t allowed to play the Grand Slam events, so for five years, Rod Laver played zero Grand Slam events, even though he was the best player in the world.”

For five long years, Laver, arguably at the peak of his abilities, was barred from competing in the Grand Slam tournaments due to his professional status. This restriction significantly limited his opportunities to add to his already impressive trophy collection.

The Open Era and Laver's Resurgence

The landscape of tennis changed dramatically in 1968 with the advent of the ‘Open Era.’ This groundbreaking shift allowed professional players to once again compete in Grand Slam events. Laver seized this opportunity with both hands.

“In ’68, finally, tennis came to the realisation that it would be better if all the best players competed, so they opened it,” McEnroe explained. “In ’69, I think at 30, 31 years old, Rod won the Grand Slam for the second time, beating everybody, which was even more impressive than it was the first time.”

At the age of 30, Laver achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Grand Slam for the second time in his career, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. This accomplishment is even more impressive considering the prime years he lost due to the professional ban.

To complete the Grand Slam, a player must win all four major tournaments in a calendar year, a feat only two players have accomplished in the history of the men’s game.