Word: laver
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...startling series of upsets, seven of the top ten seeds were eliminated before the quarterfinals. Six of them were pros-and five of those six were beaten by amateurs. At the end, two Australian pros, Rod Laver (seeded No. 1) and Tony Roche (No. 15) turned back the amateurs' challenge and fought it out between themselves for the title, with Laver winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. But not even that all-pro final could alter the fact that in the main it was Amateur Week at Wimbledon...
...took Australia's Rod Laver, 29, currently the world's No. 1 professional, to repair the damage. In the semifinals, Laver beat Cox easily 6-4, 6-1, 6-0. Nevertheless, Giant Killer Cox had served fair warning: tennis' pros had better tend to business if they want to stay on top of the game...
...Laver's own rugged initiation into the pro ranks makes the performance of two 1967 rookies seem all the more remarkable. As an amateur, California's Dennis ("The Menace") Ralston, 24, was noted mainly for his flaming temper and his inexplicably bad play in crucial matches. More mature and confident now, Ralston, according to Rosewall, "has the potential to be one of the top players on the tour"-and so far he already is: with $27,230, he ranks No. 2 in money winnings, and he has beaten Laver six times in 16 matches. The other hot rookie...
...Rocket. With that kind of money at stake, it is no wonder that the competition is fierce. Current king of the pros is redheaded Rod ("Rocket") Laver, 28, the Australian left-hander who five years ago became the only player since Don Budge in 1938 to achieve a grand slam of amateur tennis' four top tournaments-the Australian, French, Wimbledon and U.S. championships. Laver turned pro in 1963 and learned quickly how much tougher it was to play for pay: he lost 19 out of his first 21 pro matches. Last year Laver was the tour...
Married. Rod Laver, 27, Australian tennis star, the second amateur ever to win the Australian, Wimbledon, French and U.S. titles in one year (1962), now top moneymaker on the pro circuit; and Mary Bensen, 35, California accountant; she for the second time; in San Rafael, Calif...