Laver, Rod

Laver, Rod (Rodney George Laver) (lā'vur) [key], 1938–, Australian tennis player. He left school at age 15 to pursue tennis and in 1962 became the first male grand-slam winner in tennis since Don Budge in 1938. Noted for his extraordinarily powerful serve, Laver turned professional in 1962. He won the grand slam again in 1969, the only person ever to do so twice. In 1971 he became the first professional tennis player to pass the $1 million mark in total earnings.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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