The state’s premier tennis stadium at Sydney Olympic Park has been named after NSW and Australian tennis legend Ken Rosewall.
The site of the 2000 Olympics tennis event was today crowned ‘Ken Rosewall Arena’ in honour of the Sydneysider and eight-time Grand Slam champion.
The Davis Cup legend and 1956 winner of the NSW Championships today joined Tennis NSW President Stephen Healy to unveil the new name of the 10,000 seat centre court stadium at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre.
The brand new name of the stadium comes a month before the city’s biggest annual international sporting event, the Medibank International Sydney, which begins on January 11.
“Ken Rosewall is one of Australia’s sporting legends and without question one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Ken is universally admired and respected for the manner in which he played the game -with fierce passion and commitment but fairly and in the finest traditions of the game- and for his exceptional modesty despite his extraordinary achievements,” commented Healy.
“While there are many great players from NSW, the choice by Tennis NSW of Ken Rosewall was unanimous and supported and endorsed by other great players including John Newcombe.
Tennis NSW is delighted to have our magnificent stadium forever associated with Ken Rosewall, the tennis player and the person.”
Rosewall, who had a hit today in the newly-named stadium, was deeply moved by the honour bestowed on him by Tennis NSW.
“It truly is an honour to have my name aligned to this first class tennis facility and I really feel humbled by it,” said Rosewall.
“When I think of all the amazing tennis professionals that have come out of our great state and all the previous champions both here and at White City, I really feel so proud that I have been chosen to receive this accolade.
“I feel that I am representing all the tennis players from across the state that have come through the system. It is a great honour and privilege.”
Sydney born and bred Ken Rosewall, nicknamed ‘Muscles’, is one of the most revered tennis professionals in the history of the sport.
During his illustrious career which spanned more than 20 years, Rosewall won four Australian titles (1953, 55, 71-72), two French titles (1953, 68) and two US titles (1956, 70).
He was also runner up at Wimbledon four times (1954, 56, 70, 74), with a gap of 20 years between his first and last finals appearances.
Rosewall was a member of four winning Davis Cup teams and played his last match for Australia in 1975, 22 years after he had made his debut.
In the Open-era (post 1968), Rosewall amassed 32 singles titles and 18 doubles titles. He is the second oldest player to ever win a title in the Open-era at age 43. Rosewall was also the second player, after Rod Laver, to pass one million dollars in prize money. His highest ranking in the Open era was world no. 2 on 20 April, 1975, but he was ranked no.1 prior to the advent of the computer rankings in 1973.
In 1980, Rosewall was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and in 1995, he was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame.
Rosewall is also patron of the Australian Tennis Museum, based at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre.