Rod Laver

Best 100 Athletes List

Rod Laver's record stands as perhaps the greatest of his sport of all time. Although he has less wins in the four majors in tennis, he achieved what no man has done before or after his career. He won 2 Grand Slams (All four Majors in one year). He did this even though he was inelligible to compete in Major Championships between 1963 and 1968 as he turned profesional and the Majors were only open to amateurs. Whereas this may have made his 1962 win look less of an achievement as many players were missing due to the professional / amateur status in that year, his 1969 Grand Slam was won in the first year of the open era when all players were able to compete.

It could be argued that between the ages of 25 and 30 he was unable to compete in 20 Majors (An age when most tennis players are at their prime), yet he still managed to win 11 Majors in his career. Roger Federer and Pete Sampras both won the majority of their Majors during tis age range. Had Laver been able to compete during his best years, he may have won a further 10 Majors (Around the same percentage of majors the other named players won during their golden years). This makes Rod Laver perhaps the greatest of all time. No other man has won a Grand Slam in the open era of tennis.