General Anthony Dalton (Tony)
Roche
Male
Australia
1945-05-17
Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia


About

Roche was a country boy, born in the New South Wales hamlet of Tarcutta on May 17, 1945, a son of the local butcher. His backhand volley-regarded by many authorities as the best ever-was taken right out of a textbook.
With most of a glorious career behind him, it was extremely satisfying for the rugged, self-effacing Anthony Dalton Roche to make his biggest hit for Australia at 31 as a Davis Cup retread in 1977.
In 1965 and 1967, alongside John Newcombe, he has won the Cup-clinching doubles, both years against Spain. Ten years later he was recalled for singles duty before his friends and neighbors in Sydney, and came through. In a stunning opening-day victory, he turned back Adriano Panatta (6-3, 6-4, 6-4), who had led Italy to the 1976 Cup. That set the tone for a 3-1 Australian victory.
They won Wimbledon five times (1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974), the best showing of any 20th-century male pair until Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde and won a sixth in 1997. Roche, with his wicked left-handed serve and magnificent volleying, took 13 major doubles, 12 with Newcombe, setting a team record. But Tony, broad-shouldered and barrel-chested, had the groundstrokes to succeed on clay, winning the difficult Continental double in 1966, the Italian and French singles.
Paradoxically he lost three major finals on his best surface, grass, and to older countrymen whom he has idolized: Wimbledon, 1968, and the U.S., 1969, to Rod Laver; U.S., 1970, to Ken Rosewall.
Shoulder and elbow trouble curtailed a career that spanned the amateur and open eras, but he was in the World Top Ten in both, six straight years from 1965, No. 2 in 1969, and won 12 pro titles in singles, 27 in doubles. In 1968 he turned pro, signing with World Championship Tennis as one of the so-called ;Handsome Eight; along with other rookies Newcombe, Cliff Drysdale, Nikki Pilic and Roger Taylor. His prize money amounted to $529,199.

After completing his playing career Roche has developed a highly successful career as a tennis coach. He was the coach of the Denver Racquets who won the first World Team Tennis in competition 1974.
Ivan Lendl hired Roche as a full-time coach for Roche's advice on volleying. (Lendl dreamed of winning Wimbledon, and because Roche had been a fine grass court player, he sought his tutelage.)
Roche also coached former world no. 1 Patrick Rafter from 1997 to the end of his career in 2002.
Roche coached world no. 1 Roger Federer from 2005 to 12 May 2007. It is reputed this was on a "handshake agreement" with no contract; Roche was paid by the week. Federer hired Roche for the opposite reason that Lendl hired him: to work on his clay-court game (as Roche had won the French Open).
He also coached two-time Grand Slam singles titlist Lleyton Hewitt, who was aiming to get his career back on track after a number of unsuccessful years on the ATP Tour. On the day of her first round match against Alisa Kleybanova at the 2010 Australian Open, which she eventually lost in straight sets, former world no. 4, Jelena Dokić, requested an hour-long session from Roche as last minute training. Roche was also a superb Australian Davis Cup coach.

Tony Roche also coaches many junior players at Sydney Olympic Park, in preparation for their ATP junior qualification pro tours, starting in November.

He entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame alongside doubles partner and close friend John Newcombe in 1986.



Media


Archive statistics 1961 - 1980
55
1078
763


Tournament wins 1978 - Queens Club Tournament (ATP)
1976 - Charlotte (WCT Circuit)
1976 - New South Wales Championships (Amateur)
1974B - New South Wales Championships (Amateur)
1974 - Rotterdam (Grand Prix Circuit)
1972 - Washington Open (Open)
1970 - Irish Championships (Amateur)
1970 - US Pro Championships (Professional)
1970 - Gstaad (ATP)
1970 - Australian Round Robin Pro Tour (Professional)
1969 - Vienna Professional ()
1969 - New South Wales Championships (Amateur)
1969 - Auckland (ATP World Tour 250 series)
1969 - Oakland Pros (Professional)
1969 - Burger King Challenge Cup (Professional)
1969 - Senegal Pros (Professional)
1969 - Tucson Pros (Professional)
1969 - Casablanca Pros (Professional)
1969 - German International Championships ()
1968 - Vienna Professional ()
1968 - Cape Town Pros (Professional)
1968 - Johannesburg Pros (Professional)
1968 - New South Wales Pro Championships (Professional)
1968 - Madison Square Garden Pro Championships (Professional)
1967 - Knokke Le-Zoute (Amateur)
1967 - Kingston International Invitation (Amateur)
1967 - Dallas Invitation (Amateur)
1967 - Tasmanian Championships (Amateur)
1967 - New South Wales Championships (Amateur)
1967 - Australian Hard Courts Championship (Amateur)
1967 - Western Australia Championships (Open)
1967 - Roehampton Grass Courts (Amateur)
1967 - California State Championship (Open)
1967 - Mexico International (Amateur)
1967 - Caribe Hilton International Championships (Amateur)
1967 - Curacao International (Amateur)
1967 - New South Wales Hard Court Championships (Amateur)
1967 - Victorian Championships (Amateur)
1966 - Southampton Invitation (Long Island) (Amateur)
1966 - San Antonio Invitation (Amateur)
1966 - Roland Garros (Grandslam)
1966 - Mexico International (Amateur)
1966 - Altamira International Invitation (Open)
1966 - Reggio Calabria (Amateur)
1966 - Italian International Championships ()
1966 - Queensland Hardcourts (Open)
1966 - Czechoslovakian International Championships (Open)
1966 - New South Wales Hard Court Championships (Amateur)
1966 - Eastern Grass Court Championships (Amateur)
1965 - Central Coast (Open)
1965 - South West Districts VIC ()
1965 - Queensland Hardcourts (Open)
1965 - Irish Championships (Amateur)
1963 - Vietnam Championships (Amateur)
1963 - New South Wales Hard Court Championships (Amateur)


Tournaments Australian Indoors - 1980 South Pacific - 1980 Australian Open - 1979 South Australian Championships - 1979 New South Wales Championships - 1979 River Oaks Tournament - 1979 Australian Open - 1978 Wimbledon - 1978 New South Wales Championships - 1978 Pacific Coast Championship - 1978 Queens Club Tournament - 1978 Queensland Championships - 1978 Japan Open - 1978 Washington Indoor - 1978 World Cup - 1978 Australian Indoors - 1978 Dayton Classic - 1978 South Pacific - 1978 Las Vegas Indoor - 1978 Tokyo Indoor - 1978 Australian Open - 1977-2 South Australian Championships - 1977(2) Australian Open - 1977 US International Indoor Championships - 1977 River Oaks Tournament - 1977 Abierto Mexicano - 1977 Richmond Indoor Championships - 1977 Charlotte - 1977 Philadelphia Open - 1977 WCT - London - 1977 Toronto Indoor - 1977 World Cup - 1977 Australian Indoors - 1977 South Pacific - 1977 Perth Open - 1977 Australian Open - 1976 Wimbledon - 1976 New South Wales Championships - 1976 Indian Wells - 1976 Charlotte - 1976 Philadelphia Open - 1976 Toronto Indoor - 1976 Washington Indoor - 1976 World Cup - 1976 Denver - 1976 Gunze World Open - 1976 WCT - Memphis - 1976 WCT - Caracas - 1976 Australian Open - 1975 Wimbledon - 1975 US Open - 1975 New South Wales Championships - 1975 Japan International Championships - 1975 Nottingham - 1975 Richmond Indoor Championships - 1975 Philadelphia Open - 1975 Hong Kong Open - 1975 Baltimore International Indoors - 1975 Manila International - 1975 Australian Indoors - 1975 Gunze World Open - 1975 Perth Open - 1975 New South Wales Championships - 1974B Australian Open - 1974 Wimbledon - 1974 Monte Carlo - 1974 US Open - 1974 New South Wales Championships - 1974 Pacific Coast Championship - 1974 German International Covered Court Championships - 1974 ABN AMRO Rotterdam - 1974 Richmond Indoor Championships - 1974 Indian International Championships - 1974 Philadelphia Open - 1974 Toronto Indoor - 1974 Washington Indoor - 1974 WCT - Miami - 1974 Rotterdam - 1974 Australian Indoors - 1974 Gunze World Open - 1974 Johannesburg Open - 1974 Queens Club Tournament - 1973 Queensland Championships - 1973 Surrey Championships - 1973 Charlotte - 1973 Glenwood Manor Invitation - 1973 Las Vegas - 1973 Australian Open - 1972 River Oaks Tournament - 1972 US Pro Championships - 1972 Richmond Indoor Championships - 1972 Charlotte - 1972 Washington Open - 1972 Philadelphia Open - 1972 Colonial Pro Invitation - 1972 WCT - St. Louis - 1972 Toronto Indoor - 1972 Louisville Open - 1972 WCT-Quebec - 1972 WCT - Chicago - 1972 WCT - Miami - 1972 Denver - 1972 Las Vegas - 1972 WCT-Cleveland - 1972 Australian Open - 1971 Wimbledon - 1971 Irish Championships - 1971 Italian International Championships - 1971 British Hard Court Championships - 1971 West of England Championships - 1971 Charlotte - 1971 Philadelphia Open - 1971 WCT - Chicago - 1971 Rothman International Tournament - 1971 Aventura Classic - 1971 World Cup - 1971 WCT Dallas - 1971 Aryamehr Cup - 1971 Australian Open - 1970 Wimbledon - 1970 US Open - 1970 Victorian Championships - 1970 Irish Championships - 1970 Pacific Southwest Championships - 1970 US International Indoor Championships - 1970 British Hard Court Championships - 1970 US Pro Championships - 1970 German International Championships - 1970 Gstaad - 1970 Philadelphia Open - 1970 Atlanta Open - 1970 Australian Round Robin Pro Tour - 1970 Montgomery Ward Cup - 1970 Dallas Morning News Classic - 1970 Howard Hughes Pro Invitation - 1970 National Tennis Classic - 1970 WCT - Vancouver - 1970 Australian Open - 1969 Wimbledon - 1969 Roland Garros - 1969 US Open - 1969 New South Wales Championships - 1969 Italian International Championships - 1969 Pacific Southwest Championships - 1969 US Pro Championships - 1969 German International Championships - 1969 South African Championships - 1969 British Covered Court Championships - 1969 Natal Championships - 1969 Tasmanian Championships - 1969 Madison Square Garden Fields - 1969 Auckland - 1969 Burger King Challenge Cup - 1969 Wembley Professional Championships - 1969 Oakland Pros - 1969 Los Angeles Professional Championships - 1969 Garden Challenge Trophy Open - 1969 Japan Professional Championships - 1969 Dutch National Professional Championships - 1969 Philadelphia Open - 1969 Milwaukee Pros - 1969 Colonial Pro Invitation - 1969 Chicago Planters Pro Tourney - 1969 Atlanta Open - 1969 Howard Hughes Open - 1969 Senegal Pros - 1969 Tucson Pros - 1969 SPOGA cup - 1969 Paris Indoor - 1969 Casablanca Pros - 1969 Vienna Professional - 1969 Stockholm Open - 1969 Wimbledon - 1968 US Open - 1968 Pacific Southwest Championships - 1968 US Pro Championships - 1968 German International Championships - 1968 French Professional Championship - 1968 Madison Square Garden Pro Championships - 1968 New South Wales Pro Championships - 1968 Kansas City Vass Championships - 1968 St. Louis Vass Championships - 1968 Miami Pro Championships - 1968 Shreveport LA Pro Championships - 1968 Houston Pro Championships - 1968 New Orleans Pro Championships - 1968 Orlando Professional Championships - 1968 Tulsa Pro Championships - 1968 San Diego Pro Championships - 1968 Los Altos Hills Pro Championships - 1968 Bakersfield Pro Championships - 1968 Fresno Pro Championships - 1968 Evansville Pro Tennis Classic - 1968 WCT Twin Cities Championships - 1968 Buffalo Pro Championships - 1968 Baltimore Pro Championships - 1968 Transvaal Pros - 1968 Johannesburg Pros - 1968 Durban Pros - 1968 East London Pros - 1968 Port Elizabeth Pros - 1968 Cape Town Pros - 1968 Kimberley Pros - 1968 Wembley Professional Championships - 1968 Cannes Pro Championship Second edition - 1968 Vienna Professional - 1968 Australian Open - 1967 Wimbledon - 1967 South Australian Championships - 1967 Roland Garros - 1967 Victorian Championships - 1967 New South Wales Championships - 1967 California State Championship - 1967 Nassau Bowl - 1967 Queens Club Tournament - 1967 Italian International Championships - 1967 Pacific Southwest Championships - 1967 River Oaks Tournament - 1967 German International Championships - 1967 Queensland Championships - 1967 Deauville - 1967 Championships of Wales - 1967 Conde de Godo - 1967 Roehampton Grass Courts - 1967 Northern Lawn Tennis Association Tournament - 1967 Australian Hard Courts Championship - 1967 Tasmanian Championships - 1967 New South Wales Hard Court Championships - 1967 Western Australia Championships - 1967 Kingston International Invitation - 1967 Altamira International Invitation - 1967 Colombia International - 1967 Mexico International - 1967 Curacao International - 1967 Caribe Hilton International Championships - 1967 Dallas Invitation - 1967 Knokke Le-Zoute - 1967 San Antonio Invitation - 1967 Hoylake & West Kirby - 1967 Australian Open - 1966 Wimbledon - 1966 South Australian Championships - 1966 Roland Garros - 1966 US Open - 1966 Victorian Championships - 1966 New South Wales Championships - 1966 Nassau Bowl - 1966 Newport Casino - 1966 Pacific Coast Championship - 1966 Eastern Grass Court Championships - 1966 US Clay Courts - 1966 Western States Championships - 1966 Queens Club Tournament - 1966 Italian International Championships - 1966 Pacific Southwest Championships - 1966 River Oaks Tournament - 1966 Queensland Championships - 1966 Southampton Invitation (Long Island) - 1966 Czechoslovakian International Championships - 1966 Australian Hard Courts Championship - 1966 Metropolitan Grass Court Championships of Sydney - 1966 Napoli - 1966 Villa d'Este - 1966 Pennsylvania Lawn Tennis Championship - 1966 New South Wales Hard Court Championships - 1966 Western Australia Championships - 1966 Altamira International Invitation - 1966 Colombia International - 1966 Mexico International - 1966 Caribe Hilton International Championships - 1966 Reggio Calabria - 1966 Queensland Hardcourts - 1966 San Antonio Invitation - 1966 Trinidad International - 1966 Australian Open - 1965 Wimbledon - 1965 South Australian Championships - 1965 Roland Garros - 1965 Victorian Championships - 1965 Swiss International Championships - 1965 Austrian International Championships - 1965 Irish Championships - 1965 Queens Club Tournament - 1965 Italian International Championships - 1965 Netherlands International Championships - 1965 German International Championships - 1965 Queensland Championships - 1965 Kent Championships - 1965 Essex Championships - 1965 Baden-Baden - 1965 Metropolitan Grass Court Championships of Sydney - 1965 New South Wales Hard Court Championships - 1965 Malaysian International Championships - 1965 Queensland Hardcourts - 1965 Florence International - 1965 Central Coast - 1965 South West Districts VIC - 1965 Australian Open - 1964 Wimbledon - 1964 South Australian Championships - 1964 Roland Garros - 1964 US Open - 1964 Victorian Championships - 1964 New South Wales Championships - 1964 Canadian International Championships - 1964 Swiss International Championships - 1964 Queens Club Tournament - 1964 Italian International Championships - 1964 Pacific Southwest Championships - 1964 Championships of Berlin - 1964 Queensland Championships - 1964 Kent Championships - 1964 Metropolitan Grass Court Championships of Sydney - 1964 Auckland - 1964 New South Wales Hard Court Championships - 1964 Reggio Calabria - 1964 Queensland Hardcourts - 1964 Wimbledon - 1963 South Australian Championships - 1963 Roland Garros - 1963 US Open - 1963 Victorian Championships - 1963 New South Wales Championships - 1963 St. Moritz - 1963 Queens Club Tournament - 1963 Italian International Championships - 1963 Netherlands International Championships - 1963 German International Championships - 1963 Championships of Berlin - 1963 Queensland Championships - 1963 Kent Championships - 1963 Florida State Championship - 1963 Northern Lawn Tennis Association Tournament - 1963 Australian Hard Courts Championship - 1963 Malaysian Open - 1963 Napoli - 1963 Düsseldorf International - 1963 New South Wales Hard Court Championships - 1963 Western Australia Championships - 1963 Reggio Calabria - 1963 Gstaad - 1963 Kitzbühel - 1963 Hanover International - 1963 Philadelphia Open - 1963 Florida Gold Coast - 1963 Vietnam Championships - 1963 Elbe Cup - 1963 South Australian Championships - 1962 Victorian Championships - 1962 New South Wales Championships - 1962 Queensland Championships - 1962 Australian Hard Courts Championship - 1962 Metropolitan Grass Court Championships of Sydney - 1962 New South Wales Hard Court Championships - 1962 Mexico International - 1962 Sydney Metropolitan Hard Courts - 1962 Djakarta Invitation - 1962 New South Wales Championships - 1961 Queensland Championships - 1961 Australian Hard Courts Championship - 1961 Sydney Metropolitan Hard Courts - 1961 South Australian b - 1961

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