Rod Laver
So who was the best 'lefty' of them all? For tennis fans whose memories go back a couple of decades, there is little doubt - 'Rocket' Rod Laver. Certainly his achievement in completing two grand slams is without parallel: he is the only man to have won the Australian,
French, British and US titles all in the same year - on two occasions. In the seven years between his slams, Laver followed the path trodden by his fellow Australians
Lew Hoad , Ken Rosewall and Fred Stolle before turning professional. These were the 'wilderness years', a limbo between the virgin 'amateur' of 1962 and the winner-take-all 'player' of 1969. Barry Davies talks to Laver about those traumatic years and the important influences in his life.
Film editor DAVE GOOD Producer JEFF GODDARD