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What do Rod Laver and Grant Connell have in frequent?
Apart from being left-handed tennis gamers, that’s.
Loads, truly, even in case you already know that the tie that binds them is Vancouver, Canada’s third largest metropolis, which simply occurs to be the positioning of the 2023 Laver Cup.
Let’s begin at the start, with a residing tennis legend who wants no introduction: Rodney George Laver.
He could have retired 43 years in the past, however his identify comes up at any time when an ATP heavyweight tries to safe a Calendar Slam—one thing that hasn’t been finished for the reason that tremendously proficient Rocket Rod Laver made it occur not as soon as however twice.
And since 2017, his identify has come up much more usually with the launch of the Laver Cup: the entertaining and outstanding competitors that bears his identify.
In 2023, the sixth Laver Cup will make its Canadian debut, and Rod himself will likely be in Vancouver for the third time.
Rewind to the Seventies
Rod Laver competed in Vancouver twice in his profession. In 1970 and 1971, he was one of many stars of the World Championship Tennis (WCT) circuit.
He performed within the Rothmans Canadian Open when the indoor occasion was held on the Vancouver Agrodome, which might host as much as 5,000 spectators.
In his very first look on the match in early October, the Rocket battled his means into the ultimate and completely crushed his everlasting rival and fellow Aussie Roy Emerson (6-2, 6-1, 6-2). The 2 then teamed as much as take the doubles crown.
That yr, Laver turned the primary participant within the historical past of the game to gather greater than $200,000 in prize cash.
In 1971, Laver got here again and doubled down on the doubles title with Emerson however couldn’t do it in singles.
So, that’s the primary connection.
Mr. Vancouver
Let’s maintain Rod Laver within the locker room for a couple of minutes and get to Grant Connell.
Regardless of our large respect for Vasek Pospisil, who’s been the face of western Canada for the previous 12 years, he was preceded by a person who was actually the Mr. Vancouver of tennis.
Between 1986 and 1997, Connell had an excellent profession. He was World No.1 in doubles (November 1993) and gained at least 22 ATP titles, together with 4 with fellow Canadian Glenn Michibata.
He reached the semis of all 4 Slams and the finals in Melbourne (1990) and at Wimbledon (1993, 1994, 1996).
With Patrick Galbraith, one of many 5 companions he competed with, Connell raised the doubles trophy on the season-ending ATP Tour World Championships in 1995.
When he retired in 1997, he held the Canadian Davis Cup report of twenty-two wins and went on to captain the squad from 2001 to 2004.
Simon Larose and Grant Connell, Maastricht, Netherlands, 2004 (picture: AP)
That’s all nice, however what does it should do with Rod Laver?
Let me clarify.
Class personified
The yr was 1995. Grant Connell had a variety of Australian associates. He as soon as jokingly mentioned he frolicked with extra Australians than Canadians on the Tour.
“I used to be on the Italian Open working towards with John Fitzgerald and one other Australian, most likely Pat Rafter. Rod Laver got here to the court docket and mentioned: ‘Hey guys, do you thoughts if I hit with you?’. And, so, I obtained to hit on the identical court docket as Rod Laver, which was only a spotlight reel.”
Laver was the visitor of honour on the match in Italy, however, in accordance with Connell, the Rocket was humble, affable and exceedingly likeable.
“The epitome of a category act,” he mentioned.
When Connell suffered a stroke in February 2020, he acquired numerous messages of encouragement together with one from Rod, who’d heard the information and remembered the Canadian participant.
“A member of his membership in Newport Seaside, California, will need to have talked about it to him, and he wrote me a pleasant e mail. Rod had a stroke in 1998. In his message, he gave me a number of strategies, like tricks to recuperate. I wouldn’t say Rod Laver and I are shut associates, however he’s only a class act.”
For extra on Grant Connell, I like to recommend this touching piece by Tom Tebbutt, who stopped by for a chat with him throughout Billie Jean King Cup final April in Vancouver.
Main affect for Vancouver
When requested in regards to the Laver Cup coming to Vancouver and BC, Grant Connell doesn’t hesitate. “The format is sensible. You get one of the best of one of the best. Even when one group has a foul day, there’s no unhealthy day for spectators. There are such a lot of gamers who’re enjoyable to look at, and that’s why I feel the Laver Cup is ideal.”
Connell will doubtless be invited to participate within the actions surrounding the Laver Cup and even perhaps a pre-match ceremony. Nonetheless, the previous champion stays as humble as ever.
“The Laver Cup is much larger than a regional or a provincial occasion, but when they’re type sufficient to offer me a ticket, certain, I’ll be there!” he mentioned with amusing. “Critically, if I may help promote it—and I’ve a number of particular concepts—I’d be honoured. I need it to be a hit as a fan and as a BC resident. Vancouver has the potential to be an amazing tennis metropolis. It’s matured rather a lot and has the potential to be an ideal match for the Laver Cup.”
And the way about WTA and ATP 250 and 500 tournaments?
“We’ve been having conversations since round 1997, however that suggests having quite a few courts or venues and every kind of different issues. However the Laver Cup format matches fairly properly in Vancouver. For recurrent occasions, I don’t know,” he shared.
Earlier on, I wrote that Rod Laver performed in Vancouver twice. I ought to have mentioned he travelled there twice and performed there thrice.
Followers could do not forget that, in 1971, he competed in an exhibition match in opposition to one other Australian nice, John Newcombe, on a court docket in magnificent Stanley Park.
David Cox remembers
For those who keep in mind the Laver–Newcombe showdown in Vancouver, you’re not alone. So does David Cox: “I wasn’t there, sadly, however I noticed an image. Laver was surrounded by a bunch of juniors. Mark Roberts, who’s in control of Tennis BC, was there.”
A superb tennis participant himself, the sports activities psychologist was a part of Canada’s Davis Cup group for a very long time (24 instances), together with the years Daniel Nestor and Sébastien Lareau had been on the squad.
He was additionally a key member of Grant Connell’s group and travelled with him world wide.
On June 9, Cox was inducted into the BC Sports activities Corridor of Fame, and it was none aside from Grant Connell who offered him with the honour.
Cox didn’t watch Laver’s victory within the 1970 ultimate over Emerson, however he was at an earlier match wherein Laver was up in opposition to one other high participant and one more Australian: Ken Rosewall.
“I used to be 23 on the time. That’s was unbelievable. I feel Rod Laver gained one thing like 6-1, 6-1. And I assumed, ‘Man, that’s, like, one of the best match I’ve ever seen from a human being in my life.’”
David Cox is delighted a significant match will likely be held in his metropolis. Together with the annual Nationwide Financial institution Open in Montréal and Toronto, the competitions are supposed to encourage younger gamers. That’s precisely how he obtained into tennis.
“I keep in mind being 11 or 12 years previous, and guys like Pancho Gonzalez, Lew Hoad, Barry MacKay and Butch Buchholz performed on the Kerrisdale Enviornment in Vancouver. I used to be truly a ballboy, and I keep in mind one match throughout which there was a break within the motion, and Butch Buchholz requested me if I needed to play. As a result of I used to be younger, I had no concern, and I jumped on the court docket and performed two video games in opposition to Buchholz. I’ve by no means forgotten that,”recalled Cox.
“It supplies individuals, together with youngsters like I used to be, with a possibility to see one of the best gamers on the earth. I made a decision to play once I noticed Rosewall and Laver and Newcombe and people guys. And on the time, there wasn’t a lot tennis on TV. We didn’t comply with Wimbledon or Roland-Garros for ten hours a day on 5 totally different courts. We listened to Wimbledon on the radio in these days. After we noticed these guys stay, we might see how good they had been.”
David Cox is thrilled that Vancouver will host the distinguished competitors.
“And instantly the Laver Cup is coming to Vancouver. Nicely, it’s an occasion that might change the complexion of tennis in British Columbia as a result of there may very well be younger youngsters of seven, eight, 9 or ten years previous who resolve to play professionally. Identical to the Canadian tennis participant who as soon as got here to me and mentioned that what obtained him excited was watching Danny Nestor upset the good Stefan Edberg, sooner or later in 1991, in a Davis Cup match in Vancouver.”
That claims all of it.
Let’s hope the following 14 months go by shortly.
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