How old is Rod Laver? Unveiling the age of tennis legend Rod Laver, a look into his life and career

How old is Rod Laver? Unveiling the age of tennis legend Rod Laver, a look into his life and career

Lenah Ann
updated at October 12, 2023 at 12:41 PM

Rod Laver is a retired Australian tennis player who was ranked as the undisputed world champion for five years, from 1965 to 1969. During the start of his career, he was regarded as the top amateur player in 1961 and 1962. He holds the record for most singles titles won by a player in history at 198. Laver dominated the 60s with 1,473 wins and 407 defeats, rivalling stars like Ken Rosewall and Pancho Gonzales.

Rod Laver's photos
Rod Laver poses with the Laver Cup at Rogers Arena on 21 September 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Photo: Matthew Stockman (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

The renowned legend has numerous awards and achievements to his name, including 11 Grand Slam singles titles and 8 Pro Majors titles. He accomplished the Grand Slam in singles twice; the latter remains the only instance of a man doing so during the Open Era. Additionally, in 1967, he achieved the Pro Slam, winning all three professional majors in a year.

Rod Laver's profile and bio summary

Full name

Rodney George Laver

Date of birth

9 August 1938

Age

85 years of age (as of October 2023)

Place of birth

Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

Nationality

Australian

Ethnicity

White

Zodiac sign

Leo

Religion

Christianity

Parents

Roy and Melba Roffey

Height

5 feet 8 inches or 173 centimetres

Weight

150 pounds or 68 kilograms

Hair colour

Blond

Eye colour

Brown

Relationship status

In a relationship

Spouse

Susan Johnson

Kid(s)

Rick

Profession

Former professional tennis player

Active years

1962-1979

Highest ranking

Number 1 in 1961

Net worth

Approximately $20 million

Awards and achievements

French Open, Wimbledon Championships, US Open, Australian Open, International Tennis Hall of Fame and Davis Cup

Social media presence

X (Twitter)

How old is Rod Laver?

The renowned former tennis champion (age 85 years as of October 2023) was born on 9 August 1938 in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, to Roy and Melba Roffey. Not much is known about his childhood background except he was raised alongside his three siblings.

How tall is Rod Laver?

The tennis legend stands at a height of 5 feet 8 inches or 173 centimetres tall and weighs 150 pounds or 68 kilograms.

Rod Laver's career achievements
Rodney waits to present the Laver Cup Trophy to Team World at Rogers Arena on 24 September 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Photo: Jeff Vinnick (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Rod Laver's career

The retired tennis legend began playing tennis at a young age, and his career continued for over two decades before his retirement. Since going professional in 1963, many pundits and fans widely considered him the greatest of all time.

His career and grand slam victories attest to his excellence. In addition, he has a victory rate of 78.4% in the Open Era and 200 lifetime title victories. This is his 72nd career victory in the Open Era.

He won the first open Wimbledon championship when the Open competitions were created in 1968, and his winning streak continued into the 1970s. In 1971, he became the first professional tennis player to cross the $1 million mark in career prize money.

Laver, at 38, withdrew from professional tennis in 1976, having won a remarkable 200 singles championships. However, he continued participating at various levels, notably with the World Side Tennis League's San Diego side and retired in 1979.

Rod Laver's career achievements

The Hall of Famer bagged numerous honours and achievements during his days as a professional tennis player. His career achievements include;

Rod Laver's wife
Rod Laver and Susan Johnson pose during the Laver Cup Gala at Rogers Arena on 21 September 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Photo: Matthew Stockman (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images
  • Tennis Hall of Fame
  • Wimbledon- 1961, 1962, 1968, 1969
  • Australian Open- 1960, 1962, 1969
  • French Open- 1962, 1969
  • US Open- 1962, 1969
  • MBE Award
  • Australian Sports Medal
  • Rod Laver Arena
  • Companion of the Order of Australia

Rod Laver's net worth

According to various online sources, the renowned legend is worth approximately $20 million as of October 2023. He made most of his fortune during his time as a professional tennis player and through various brands and endorsement deals.

Rod Laver's wife

The legendary former tennis player married his long-term girlfriend, Mary Benson, in 1966 when he was 28. The couple share a son named Rick; his wife was a divorcee from a previous marriage where she had three children.

They tied the knot in San Rafael, California, in a wedding ceremony that close friends and family attended. In 2004, his wife, Mary, was diagnosed with cancer, and her health began to deteriorate despite undergoing various medications. She passed away in November 2012 at 84.

How old is Rod Laver?
Rodney poses with a Laver Cup Uniqlo jacket ahead of the Laver Cup at Rogers Arena on 20 September 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Photo: Matthew Stockman
Source: Getty Images

As of October 2023, Rodney is in a relationship with Susan Johnson. They met during the 1990s, and it was not until 2018 that they officially started dating.

Rod Laver made history by dominating all court types of his era, including grass, clay, hard, carpet, and wood. He also helped Australia win five Davis Cup championships at a period when the Davis Cup was regarded as important as the four major championships. The Rod Laver Arena and the Laver Cup tournament are named after him.

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Authors
Lenah Ann photo
Lenah Ann
Lenah Ann is a Kenyan-based content creator with 2 years of experience. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media and Communication from Dedan Kimathi, Kenya in 2021.