While Tony Roche doesn’t dominate the tennis record books like his contemporaries Rod Laver or Ken Rosewall, he has been one of the most influential figures in the sport. From reaching World No. 2 in singles and helping the sport make the transition from amateur to professional to become one of the greatest coaches, working with legends such as Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt or Ivan Lendl.
Born in the small New South Wales town of Tarcutta in 1945, Anthony Dalton Roche grew up in Wagga Wagga hitting balls under the watchful eye of his father, a local butcher. By age nine, tennis was already taking shape as a central part of his life. He eventually came under the guidance of legendary Australian coach Harry Hopman, whose other students included the likes of Laver and Rosewall.
Only three years after becoming an amateur player, he won his sole Grand Slam title at the 1966 French Open, beating István Gulyás in the final. He had previously lost a final in the same tournament in 1965, before making the jump to professional tennis.
Career achievements: Turning pro
Roche was part of the “Handsome Eight,” a group of players recruited by World Championship Tennis in 1968 to jumpstart the pro game. Roche signed on for a guaranteed $125,000 a year, putting him on par with baseball’s highest-paid player at the time.
Tony Roche playing in Wimbledon Veterans 1988 (Getty Images)
With that sum, he was the top money earner on the WCT circuit in its first year and capped 1968 with a statement win in New York, taking out Rod Laver and Pancho Gonzales to win the combined WCT/NTL season finale at Madison Square Garden.
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By 1969, Lance Tingay ranked him World No. 2. That year, he was also the only man to beat Laver five times during the Rocket’s Grand Slam season, including a gritty battle in Brisbane at the Australian Open.
The Rocket Man described Roche’s game in his book The Golden Era, as having the “possibly the best backhand volley, played with heavy top-spin, in the business.” He also praised his first serve, “a beauty.” However, he also said that he put too much “top spin”, and that “Tony had a great ability to win points, not necessarily to win matches.”
He added more trophies to his cabinet, including wins at the U.S. Pro Championships in 1970 and two New South Wales Opens, one in 1969 over Laver and another in 1976, nearly a decade later.
His partnership with John Newcombe in doubles
However, it was in doubles where Roche really stacked his resume. He won 15 Grand Slam titles, 12 of them with John Newcombe. “I always felt there was a man with immense talent and strength of character beside me,” Newcombe once said, according to Tennis Abstract. “He was a brick wall, utterly dependable.”
Tony Roche and John Newcombe at Wimbledon in the 1970s (Getty Images)
In that sense, Roche also shined in team competitions, such as the Davis Cup. One of his most memorable appearances took place in 1977, nearly ten years after his last Cup participation, he shocked Adriano Panatta in straight sets to help Australia lift the trophy again.
At 32 years old, shoulder and elbow injuries eventually forced Roche off the tour. However, he would find success in tennis as a coach, working with some of the greatest players of the 1990s and 2000s, such as Ivan Lendl, Lleyton Hewitt and, of course, Roger Federer.
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Coaching career: Helping Federer and Lendl
In 1985, Ivan Lendl sought Roche’s help for his volleying and with the goal of winning Wimbledon. During the time the pair worked together, Lendl reached two finals of the Championships, as well as three semifinals.
While Lendl could not win Wimbledon, he said in 1996 that Roche was “the best coach in the business” (via Tennis Abstract). He then worked with other Australian stars, such as Patrick Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt and Jelena Dokic.
However, he is perhaps most famous for working with Federer from 2005 and 2007, some of his most dominant seasons in the ATP Tour. Federer wanted Roche to help him get better on his clay-court game.
Roger Federer and Tony Roche look at the trophy at the Wimbledon Winners Dinner at the Savoy Hotel on July 3, 2005 in London (Getty Images)
Under Roche’s guidance, Federer became more comfortable at the net, more tactically flexible, and more aggressive on faster surfaces. Between 2005 and 2007, Federer won six more Grand Slams and made three French Open finals.
Even in 2019, Federer admitted the importance of Roche to his game. “I was able to lift [my backhand slice] up one more level when I started working with Tony Roche, who in my opinion had one of the greatest slices ever,” Federer said in 2019, according to Tennis World USA. “He explained to me how important it was to punch the ball, how important it was to not have just a defensive slice but also an offensive one, and one with variation that sets up stuff beautifully.”
Now, Roche is 79 years old, and he is still involved in tennis and sports. He has dedicated himself to mentor young talents. More recently, he has served as a mentor for his grandchild Jack Bowen, who is a rugby player.
