Australian Story: Rod Laver exclusive

Australian Story features a two-part profile of the life of Rod Laver.

Introduced by Caroline Jones it includes interviews with Roger Federer, John Newcombe, Ken Rosewall, Tony Roche and family members.

In this fiftieth anniversary year of Rod Laver’s first tennis Grand Slam, Australian Story revisits a golden era in the sport when Australia ruled the courts and Rod Laver was the best of them all.

Laver, the ‘Rockhampton Rocket’ remains the player most revered by today’s top professionals. World Number One Roger Federer was overcome with public tears when he received the 2006 Australian Open trophy from Laver.

Laver reduced Roger Federer to public tears when he presented the World Number One with the 2006 Australian Open singles trophy.

Federer tells Australian Story, “he is one of the greatest legends we have in the game. What I see the most when I see video of Rod Laver is how easy he made it look.”

John Newcombe says, “Rocket was the guy who had the respect of everyone. You can see it now in the respect he has from the Roger Federers and the Nadals and all those guys. They get the fact that he was great and one of the greatest, but they can also sense that strength of humility that there is about him.”

Laver’s record of twice winning the Grand Slam (all four major singles titles in one year) remains unsurpassed. There is a consensus that it will be impossible for any player to ever dominate the sport in the way Laver did.

With access to family and friends – here and in the USA – plus interviews with some of the biggest names in tennis, and unseen archival and behind the scenes footage, Australian Story profiles his extraordinary life.

In the story of Rod and his American wife Mary, the program uncovers a very personal saga of love and devotion in the face of adversity.

Monday, October 8 at 8pm on ABC1
Monday, October 15 at 8pm on ABC1