Rod Laver’s career is full of success in all tournaments, especially in Davis Cup. Of the five Saladeras that he conquered, today we remember the one in 1973, the season in which he returned to the team after eleven years of absence.
Of all the important dates in the career of Rod Lavernone as relevant as December 30, 1962. It was the day he turned professional, the day he assumed it was time for a change of direction, leaving behind the most beautiful tournaments on the circuit to start a new adventure where he could finally earn a living with tennis. It was very difficult for the Australian to take that step, he could not conceive of this sport without competing on the big stages, but signing the répoquer on that calendar (the four Grand Slams + Davis Cup), satisfied him in such a way that he ended up approving the jump. circuit. There was no turning back… at least, in the short term.
Laver set the bar very high in the amateur circuit, both individually and in teams. He had played the Davis Cup with his country in the last four seasons (1959-1962), becoming champion in all of them. Such was the superiority of the ‘aussies‘ – between 1950 and 1967 they won 15 of 18 editions – that Rod was not the only one who felt the end of an era. Harry Hopman, captain of 16 Australian teams in the competition, headed to Florida to set up his own academy and began working with some young American talents, one McEnroe and one Gerulaitis. The paradigm then changed in favor of yankees that, after many years of evolution and failed attempts, they reconquered the most famous team competition in the 1968 season. In the following five years, no one was going to cough at them.
And some may wonder: if the Open Era began in May 1968, why didn’t the United States encounter opposition from the Australians in the competition? It turns out that The ITF did not allow any professional to compete in the Davis Cup until 1973., a moment where the doors were once again opened to certain veterans such as Ken Rosewall or Rod Laver. The latter, despite having a double ‘Grand Slam’ in his pocket, had suffered a lot during those years as a professional. Not financially, not family-wise, but to fill the void of not being able to play the best tournaments. Even a super champion like him had unfinished business from the past, especially against the American team.
THE BIGGEST TOURNAMENT, THE BEST RIVAL
It turns out that in 1959, the first year in which he became champion with Australia, his performance was a disaster. In the final played in New York, Laver delivers the two points he plays for: first against Barry Mackay and second against Àlex Olmedo. Emerson and Fraser had to come to the rescue to prevent the local team from revalidating the title. Do you know what Rod’s reaction was after that bittersweet experience? Never lose a Davis Cup match again, not even in the doubles modality. Of course, at that time he didn’t know it. What he also did not know was whether in 1973, despite there no longer being any restrictions on being called up, the Australian captain would dare to have a 35-year-old player who was traveling the last meters of an extraordinary career.
Neal Fraser, with whom he had shared so much, was the captain at that time, so they were able to talk frankly. The coach only asked one thing: performance. If Laver showed that he still had the level, the options of returning to the team multiplied. What did the one from Rockhampton do? He stretched his schedule, doubled his efforts, but the most difficult thing was to silence the fear he had of achieving his goal. ‘Be careful what you ask for, lest it be fulfilled‘. The last thing he wanted was to disappoint his country, for everyone to see that he was no longer the same as he always was. How would his teammates receive him, those who had stood up in the years that he had gone to earn money as a professional? The last stop before knowing Fraser’s list would be the sydney tournamentwhere all doubts would be resolved.
And there arrived Laver, at 35 years old, ready to put together the cue. He consecutively beat Raúl Ramírez, then Ken Rosewall and in the final John Newcombe (3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4). He was not alone, in the corner he recovered the figure of Charlie Hollishis first coach, who we have already talked about in Break Point. After that exhibition, Fraser had no choice but to show up in the locker room and tell him what was an open secret: “Rocket, welcome to the team”. In addition to Rosewall and Newcombe, Mal Anderson, Colin Dibley and Geoff Masters completed the squad.
Of course, before meeting the Americans in the final – automatically classified by the format of the Challenge Round–, it was time to clash in the semifinals with the Czechs. A very tough tie where Laver dressed as a hero, giving his country the fifth point and getting the long-awaited ticket for the last round. Bud Collinsthe most legendary tennis journalist that this sport has ever produced, titled that triumph with great mastery: ‘Captain Fraser’s Antique Show‘. Looking at the ages of the members who would make up the final team to travel to Cleveland, it couldn’t be more accurate: Laver (35), Rosewall (39), Anderson (38) and Newcombe (29).
THE GRAND FINAL
On paper, the big favorite was the United States, with a team made up of Tom Gorman, Stan Smith y Erik Van Dillen. Even more so when they discovered the trap that awaited them on the carpet of the Cleveland Public Hall, a covered, cavernous, drafty and rather dilapidated basketball pavilion. For the first time in the history of the Davis Cup, a final was going to be played indoors, although this remained a simple anecdote. What was really notable was seeing how barely 7,000 people attended the event, a real shame for everything that was at stake. But none of these factors were enough to put out the fire in the eyes of the visiting team, absorbed in recovering the world throne. Whoever was present that weekend, surely he still hasn’t forgotten it.
As you can see, the emotion of the final was conspicuous by its absence, leaving in the memory one of those beatings that take time to evaporate. The only hint of tension for the Australians occurred off the court, when choosing which pair would compete in the double. Ken Rosewall He would be the loser, since it would again be Laver who would partner with Newcombe. That change ended up disorienting Americans. “When I saw Laver jump onto the court I thought he could help us”Stan Smith confessed after the match, believing that Rod would not be recovered from the previous day’s effort. Of course, if he helped them at all, he was going to lose all hope.
That Saturday everything was sentenced: Australia won its 23rd Davis Cup and broke the streak of his eternal rival. Dennis Ralstoncaptain of the Americans, was very honest in his speech: ‘You have simply been too good for us. You were focused on every ball, I had never seen Laver and Newcombe play like that… and I have seen them a few times‘, he commented with the humor of someone who leaves with a 0-5 against. They say that the party that night lasted until dawn, but joy was not the most present feeling. What flourished in that team, in addition to a lot of pride, was the satisfaction of having offered his country a last dance worthy of its legend.
After eleven qualifying rounds (20 wins / 4 losses) and five titles, that was the last time Rod Laver played the Davis Cup.
2023-12-01 18:30:46
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