Emerson–Laver rivalry

The Emerson–Laver rivalry was a tennis rivalry between Roy Emerson and Rod Laver. The two Queenslanders first met on the senior amateur tour in 1958 and dominated the amateur circuit until 1962, before Laver went pro. When open tennis arrived in 1968, Emerson went pro and resumed his prolific rivalry with Laver.

Rod Laver (World No. 1
19 Major singles)
Roy Emerson (World No. 1
12 Major singles)

Analysis

The statistics shows a strong dominance of Laver over Emerson, two years his senior. He dominated him in the amateur era and the open era over all surfaces. Emerson spent his best years in the amateur circuit, and during 5 years he could not face Laver.

Head-to-head tallies

The following is a breakdown of their documented head-to-head results:

Player195819591960196119621963–196719681969197019711972197319741975Total
Australia Rod Laver 1 0 2 10 7 0 6 6 6 7 0 5 0 1 51
Australia Roy Emerson 0 2 1 5 4 0 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 21
  • All Matches: Laver 51-21
  • All Finals: Laver 22–10
  • Grand Slams: Laver 7–2

List of all matches
No. Date Event Round Surface Winner Score
11958Queensland ChampsQuarterfinalGrassLaver6–3, 6–1, 8–6
21959–09Queensland ChampsSemifinalGrassEmerson7–9, 6–4, 8–6, 10–12, 6–3
31959–11New South Wales ChampsSemifinalGrassEmerson6–0, 3–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3
41960–01Australian ChampionshipsSemifinalGrassLaver4–6, 6–1, 9–7, 3–6, 7–5
51960–07Wimbledon ChampionshipsQuarterfinalGrassLaver6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4
61960–10Queensland ChampsSemifinalGrassEmerson6–1, 2–6, 6–2, 7–9, 6–3
71961-01-30Australian ChampionshipsFinalGrassEmerson1–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–4
81961-02-06New Zealand ChampsFinalGrassLaver4–6, 6–3, 6–2, 3–6, 7–5
91961-02-20Mexican ChampsFinalEmerson4–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–2
101961-02-26Saint Andrews InvitationalFinalGrassLaver4–6, 6–4, 6–3
111961–03Altamira Invitational, CaracasSemifinalHardLaver9–7, 2–6, 6–3
121961BarranquillaSemifinalLaver6–3, 6–2, 6–4
131961-04-10River Oaks ChampsFinalClayLaver7–5, 7–5, 1–6, 6–3
141961-04-29British Hard CourtFinalClayEmerson8–6, 6–4, 6–0
151961-08-20Kitzbuhel Alpenland ChampsFinalClayEmerson6–3, 6–3, 3–6, 0–6, 6–2
161961-08-27PoertschachFinalClayLaver2–6, 6–3, 7–5
171961-09-09U.S. ChampionshipsFinalGrassEmerson7–5, 6–3, 6–2
181961-10-23Queensland Hard Court ChampsFinalClayLaver7–5, 6–3
191961-10-30Queensland ChampsFinalGrassLaver4–6, 4–6, 6–0, 8–6, 6–3
201961-12-04Victorian ChampsFinalGrassLaver4–6, 8–6, 9–7, 6–3
211961-12-18New South Wales ChampFinalGrassLaver8–6, 6–3, 3–6, 4–6, 6–4
221962–01Australian ChampionshipsFinalGrassLaver8–6, 0–6, 6–4, 6–4
231962-03-11Montego Bay ChampsFinalEmerson8–6, 7–5, 4–6, 3–6, 6–2
241962-03-19Altamira Invitational, CaracasFinalHardLaver9–7, 6–2, 6–0
251962-04-01Caribe Hilton International, San JuanFinalEmerson7–5, 7–5
261962-04-08Saint Petersburg InvitationalFinalEmerson6–1, 6–4, 6–1
271962-04-09River Oaks Champ, TexasFinalClayLaver6–1, 7–5, 7–5
281962-05-07Italian ChampsFinalClayLaver6–2, 1–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–1
291962-05-21French ChampionshipsFinalClayLaver3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 9–7, 6–2
301962-06-18Queen's Club ChampFinalGrassLaver6–4, 7–5
311962-08-27U.S. ChampionshipsFinalGrassLaver6–2, 6–4, 5–7, 6–4
321962-09-24Pacific Southwest, Los AngelesFinalHardEmerson16–14, 6–3
331968–04-13Hollywood ProSemifinalEmerson6–4, 6–1
341968-04-18Paris Pro NTLRound 1Laver7–5, 6–2
351968-04-21BordeauxEmerson6-4, 6–4
361968–05-17M.S.G. Pro Champs, New YorkSemifinalIndoorLaver6–2, 6–2
371968–07-19NTL Los AngelesSemifinalHardLaver7–5, 6–2
381968-08-03HonoluluOne-night standHard (O)Emerson6-4, 4-6, 6-4
391968-08-04HonoluluOne-night standHard (O)Laver6-3, 1-6, 14-12
401968-09-30Midland ProSemifinalEmerson6–4, 6–4
411968–10-23São PauloRound RobinLaver6–1, 10–8
421968–10-28La PazRound RobinLaver6–4, 6–2
431968-11-01LimaRound RobinEmerson8–6, 6–4
441968-11-10South American Open, Buenos AiresFinalClayEmerson9–7, 6–4, 6–4
451968-11-15Wembley ProRound 1Emerson6–3, 9–7
461969–01Australian OpenRound 3GrassLaver6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 9–7
471969MiamiQuarterfinalLaver5–7, 6–3, 6–4
481969TokyoRound RobinEmerson6–4, 6–5
491969-05-12M.S.G. Invitational New YorkFinalIndoorLaver6–2, 4–6, 6–1
501969–09U.S. OpenQuarterfinalGrassLaver4–6, 8–6, 13–11, 6–4
511969–12BasleOne night standindoorLaver6–3, 6–8, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
521969–12Madrid Prosemi-finalindoorLaver10–4 (pro-set)
531970PhiladelphiaRound 3Laver4–6, 6–3, 6–4
541970Las VegasSemifinalLaver6–3, 3–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
551970Saint LouisSemifinalLaver4–6, 7–5, 6–3
561970-08-10Bretton WoodsFinalClayLaver6–3, 6–3
571970-08-17National Invitation WCT, Fort Worth TexasFinalHardLaver6–3, 7–5
581970-09-28Rothman's International WCT, VancouverFinalLaver6–2, 6–1, 6–2
591971Champions Tennis Classic, PhiladelphiaRound RobinLaver6–2, 6–3, 7–5
601971Champions Tennis Classic, New HavenRound RobinLaver6–3, 5–7, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
611971-04-03MiamiSemifinalLaver2–6, 6–3, 7–5
621971-08QuebecQuarterfinalLaver3–6, 7–6, 7–6
631971-08Fort WorthSemifinalLaver6–1, 6–4
641971-08-25Baton RougeFinalLaver6–7, 7-5, 6-1
651971San FranciscoRound 3Laver6–7, 6–4, 6–0
661973–01Miami WCTQuarterfinalHardLaver6–4, 3–6, 6–2
671973-01-30Richmond WCTFinalCarpetLaver6–4, 6–3
681973-02-11Toronto WCTFinalCarpetLaver6–3, 6–4
691973Brussels WCTSemifinalLaver4–6, 6–4, 6–1
701973WCT Finals DallasRound 1Laver6–4, 6–2, 6–1
711975–03WCT São PauloRound 2CarpetLaver6–3, 6–2
721975–06-04MontrealChallenge MatchCarpetEmerson6–2, 3-6, 6–2

See also

Sources
  • Joe McCauley, The History of Professional Tennis, London 2001
  • World Tennis (The US Magazine)
  • World of Tennis (Annuals edited by John Barrett)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.