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Roy Stanley Emerson (born November 3 1936, in Blackbutt, Queensland, Australia) is a former champion tennis player. During his career, he won a total of 12 Grand Slam singles titles and 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles. He is the only male player in the history of the game to have won singles and doubles titles at all four Grand Slams, and his 28 Grand Slam crowns stand as an all-time record for a male player. Most of his titles were won in the final years of the period where the Grand Slam events were only open to amateur player, just before the start of the 'Open Era' when professionals were admitted into tennis' most prestigious events.

Emerson was born on a farm in Australia. His family later moved to the city of Brisbane, where he attended Brisbane Grammar School and was able to receive better tennis instruction. Emerson won his first Grand Slam doubles title in 1959 at Wimbledon (partnering Neale Fraser). In 1961, he captured his first Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Championships, beating compatriot Rod Laver in four sets in the final. Later that year, Emerson claimed his second Grand Slam singles crown when he again beat Laver in the final of the US Championships.

Affectionately known as "Emmo" on the tour, the six-foot right-hander was known for training hard and always being ready for strenuous matches because of his outstanding level of fitness. He was primarily a serve-and-volley style player, but was also able to adapt to the rigors of slow courts, allowing him to enjoy success on all surfaces.

From 1963 to 1967, Emerson won five consecutive Australian Championships men's singles titles. His six Australian singles crowns are a record for a male player.

1963 also saw Emerson capture his first French Championships singles title, beating Pierre Darmon in the final.

Emerson's first Wimbledon singles title came in 1964, with a final victory over Fred Stolle. Emerson won 55 consecutive matches during 1964, and finished the year with 109 victories out of 115 matches. He won three of the year's four Grand Slam events that year (failing to win only the French Open).

Emerson was the world's No. 1 ranked amateur player in 1964 and 1965. In 1965, he successfully defended his Australian and Wimbledon singles crowns. He was the heavy favourite to win Wimbledon again in 1966, but during his fourth round match he skidded while chasing the ball and crashed into the umpire's stand, injuring his shoulder. He still finished the match, but was unable win.

Emerson's last Grand Slam singles title came at the French Championships in 1967 - the year before the Open Era began. His 12 Grand Slam singles titles stood as an all-time men's record until 2000, when it was surpassed by Pete Sampras.

Emerson's final Grand Slam doubles title was won in 1971 at Wimbledon (parnering Rod Laver). His 16 Grand Slam doubles crowns were won with five different partners. From 1960-1965, he won six consecutive French Open men's doubles titles.

Emerson was also a member of a record eight Davis Cup winning teams between 1959 and 1967.

Emerson's 12 singles and 16 doubles titles make him one of the leading players in Grand Slam history. However it is arguable whether he should be considered to be one of the all-time great players. All his Grand Slam singles titles were won against an amateur field at a time when many of the world's best players had turned professional and were unable to compete in the Grand Slams. He came into the French Open in 1968 as defending-champion and lost in the quarter-finals to Pancho Gonzales, who had been the most dominant player in the professional ranks for much of the 1950s and 60s, but was almost 40 years old by the time the Open Era began. Emerson in never managed to beat Gonzales in the 12 times they met.

Emerson now resides in Newport Beach, California and has a home in Gstaad, Switzerland, where he holds a tennis clinic each summer. His son, Antony, was an All-American in tennis at the University of Southern California and played on the professional tour briefly. Roy and Antony won the United States Hard Court Father-and-Son title in 1978.

Roy Emerson was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1982.

Grand Slam singles finals

Wins (11)

Year     Championship               Opponent in Final       Score in Final
1961     Australian Championships   Rod Laver               1-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4
1961     US Championships           Rod Laver               7-5, 6-3, 6-2 
1963     Australian Championships   Ken Fletcher            6-3, 6-3, 6-1 
1963     French Championships       Pierre Darmon           3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 
1964     Australian Championships   Fred Stolle             6-3, 6-4, 6-2 
1964     Wimbledon                  Fred Stolle             6-4, 12-10, 4-6, 6-3  
1964     US Championships           Fred Stolle             6-2, 6-2, 6-4 
1965     Australian Championships   Fred Stolle             7-9, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-1 
1965     Wimbledon                  Fred Stolle             6-2, 6-4, 6-4 
1966     Australian Championships   Arthur Ashe             6-4, 6-8, 6-2, 6-3
1967     Australian Championships   Arthur Ashe             6-4, 6-1, 6-1 
1967     French Championships       Tony Roche              6-1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2

Runner-ups (3)

Year     Championship               Opponent in Final       Score in Final
1962     Australian Championships   Rod Laver               8-6, 0-6, 6-4, 6-4 
1962     French Championships       Rod Laver               3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 9-7, 6-2 
1962     US Championships           Rod Laver               6-2, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 

Grand Slam doubles finals

• Australian Championships / Australian Open:
  • Men's Doubles champion – 1962, 1966, 1969
  • Men's Doubles runner-up – 1958, 60, 61, 64, 65
  • Mixed Doubles runner-up – 1956

• French Championships / French Open:
  • Men's Doubles champion – 1960-65
  • Men's Doubles runner-up – 1959, 67-69
  • Mixed Doubles runner-up – 1960

• Wimbledon:
  • Men's Doubles champion – 1959, 61, 71
  • Men's Doubles runner-up – 1964, 67

• US Championships / US Open:
  • Men's Doubles champion – 1959-60, 1965-66
  • Men's Doubles runner-up – 1970

External links

• International Tennis Hall of Fame profile
• wikinfo.org article
• Davis Cup record

• 1936 births
• Australian tennis players