Who Is Rod Laver? Age, Biography and Wiki
Rod Laver was born on August 9, 1938, which makes him 86 years old as of 2025. Widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Laver is the only player in history to achieve the Grand Slam twice, completing this remarkable feat in 1962 and 1969. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1981 and has continued to inspire both fans and players alike throughout his illustrious career.
| Occupation | Tennis Players |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 9, 1938 |
| Age | 86 Years |
| Birth Place | Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | Australia |
Popularity
Rod Laver's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Rod Laver stands tall at an impressive height of 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) and weighed approximately 165 lbs (75 kg) during his peak playing days. Even in his advanced years, Laver maintains a fit appearance, embodying the dedication to fitness that epitomized his professional career.
Although of average height and medium build (1.73 m), Laver developed a technically complete serve-and-volley game, with aggressive groundstrokes to back it up. Commentator Dan Maskell described him as "technically faultless". His left-handed serve was well disguised and wide swinging.
His groundstrokes on both flanks were hit with topspin, as was the attacking topspin lob, which Laver developed into a weapon. His stroke technique was based on quick shoulder turns, true swings, and accurate timing. His backhand, often hit on the run, was a point-ender that gave him an advantage. Laver was very quick and had a strong left forearm.
Rex Bellamy wrote, "The strength of that wrist and forearm gave him blazing power without loss of control, even when he was on the run and at full stretch. The combination of speed and strength, especially wrist strength, enabled him to hit ferocious winners when way out of court." At the net, he had forcing volleys, often hit as stroke volleys.
Especially on the backhand, he could hit sharp underspin angles as well. He was difficult to lob, because of his springing agility, and when forced to retreat, he could come up with a vicious counterpunch.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Rod Laver is happily married to his wife, Mary Laver. The couple has been together for several decades and remains a quintessential example of love and partnership in the public eye. While specific details regarding Laver's dating history prior to Mary are private, it's well-known that he values family and cherishes the time spent with loved ones.
Net Worth and Salary
Rod Laver's estimated net worth in 2025 is around $20 million. His wealth is attributed to a successful tennis career, numerous endorsements, and various business ventures. Laver's appearance in exhibitions, tennis clinics, and speaking engagements also contributes to his substantial earnings.
Career, Business and Investments
Rod Laver's career spanned decades and included significant milestones, such as winning a total of 11 Grand Slam singles titles. Post-retirement, Laver has engaged in various business endeavors, including tennis academies and mentoring young athletes. His investments in sports-related businesses and endorsement deals with major brands have solidified his financial standing.
Laver was a teenager when he left school to pursue a tennis career that lasted 24 years. He was coached in Queensland by Charlie Hollis and later by the Australian Davis Cup team captain Harry Hopman, who gave Laver the nickname "Rocket".
Social Network
Rod Laver is active on several social media platforms, where he shares updates on tennis, personal insights, and memorabilia from his past. He has a strong presence on Twitter and Instagram, connecting with fans and fellow players, fostering a love for the sport that has defined his life.
In 1964, Laver and Rosewall both won seven important titles (in minor tournaments Laver won four and Rosewall won three), but Laver won 17 of 24 matches against Rosewall and captured the two most prestigious titles, the US Pro Championships over Gonzales and the Wembley Championships over Rosewall.
In Tennis Week, Raymond Lee described the Wembley match, where Laver came from 5–3 down in the fifth set to win 8–6, as possibly their best ever and one that changed tennis history. Lee regards this win as the one that began and established Laver's long reign as world number one. The other prestige title, the French pro, was won by Rosewall.
Rosewall finished top of the official points table in 1964 and after winning at Wembley, Laver said "I've still plenty of ambitions left and would like to be the world's No. 1. Despite this win, I am not there yet – Ken is."
Education
While Rod Laver’s formal education details are not widely publicized, he had a great upbringing that emphasized sports and physical education. The skills he honed at an early age in Australia laid the foundation for his future success in tennis.
On 27 July 1998, Laver suffered a stroke while being interviewed by ESPN-TV in the United States for their SportsCentury 20th Century sports retrospective series. He was hospitalised for a month and suffered from memory and speech difficulties after the stroke, but recovered over the course of the following year.
