Q1. In which Australian city and on what exact date was Rod Laver born?
A. Sydney on 9 August 1938
B. Rockhampton, Queensland on 9 August 1938
C. Melbourne on 9 August 1940
D. Brisbane on 9 August 1936
Answer: B. Rockhampton, Queensland on 9 August 1938
Q2. Who gave Rod Laver the famous nickname “The Rocket”?
A. His coach Charlie Hollis
B. His rival Ken Rosewall
C. Australian Davis Cup captain Harry Hopman
D. Wimbledon commentator Dan Maskell
Answer: C. Australian Davis Cup captain Harry Hopman
Q3. What was Rod Laver’s first Grand Slam singles title and in which year?
A. Wimbledon in 1961
B. Australian Championships in 1960
C. French Championships in 1962
D. US Championships in 1962
Answer: B. Australian Championships in 1960
Q4. In the 1960 Australian Championships final, whom did Laver defeat after saving a championship point in the fourth set?
A. Roy Emerson
B. Tony Roche
C. Ken Rosewall
D. Neale Fraser
Answer: D. Neale Fraser
Q5. In what year did Rod Laver win his first Wimbledon singles title, defeating Chuck McKinley in one of the shortest men’s finals on record (53 minutes)?
A. 1961
B. 1962
C. 1963
D. 1968
Answer: A. 1961
Q6. Rod Laver became the second man in history (after Don Budge) to achieve the calendar-year Grand Slam in which year?
A. 1960
B. 1961
C. 1962
D. 1969
Answer: C. 1962
Q7. Who was Rod Laver’s opponent in the 1962 Wimbledon singles final that he won in just 52 minutes?
A. Roy Emerson
B. Martin Mulligan
C. Chuck McKinley
D. Tony Roche
Answer: B. Martin Mulligan
Q8. Why was Rod Laver barred from competing in Grand Slam tournaments between 1963 and 1967?
A. Injury
B. Age restriction
C. Political reasons
D. He had turned professional
Answer: D. He had turned professional
Q9. In 1967, Rod Laver completed the “Professional Grand Slam” by winning all three major pro titles. Which of these was NOT one of them?
A. French Pro
B. Wimbledon Pro
C. US Pro
D. Australian Pro
Answer: D. Australian Pro
Q10. Who did Rod Laver defeat in the 1968 Wimbledon final to become the first Open Era Wimbledon champion?
A. Ken Rosewall
B. Arthur Ashe
C. Tony Roche
D. John Newcombe
Answer: C. Tony Roche
Q11. Rod Laver achieved his second calendar-year Grand Slam in 1969. How many tournaments did he win that year out of the 32 he entered?
A. 12
B. 15
C. 18
D. 22
Answer: C. 18
Q12. Whom did Rod Laver defeat in the 1969 French Open final?
A. Roy Emerson
B. Ken Rosewall
C. Andrés Gimeno
D. Tom Okker
Answer: B. Ken Rosewall
Q13. In the 1969 Wimbledon final, whom did Rod Laver defeat in four sets?
A. John Newcombe
B. Tony Roche
C. Stan Smith
D. Arthur Ashe
Answer: A. John Newcombe
Q14. Who was Rod Laver’s opponent in the 1969 US Open final that completed his second Grand Slam?
A. Ken Rosewall
B. Roy Emerson
C. Tony Roche
D. Andres Gimeno
Answer: C. Tony Roche
Q15. How many Wimbledon men’s singles titles did Rod Laver win in total?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer: D. 4
Q16. What is the total number of Grand Slam singles titles Rod Laver won in his career?
A. 8
B. 9
C. 11
D. 12
Answer: C. 11
Q17. Rod Laver is the only male player in history to achieve the calendar-year Grand Slam how many times?
A. Once
B. Twice
C. Three times
D. Four times
Answer: B. Twice
Q18. What is Rod Laver’s height and dominant playing hand?
A. 5 ft 8 in (173 cm), left-handed
B. 6 ft 1 in (185 cm), right-handed
C. 5 ft 10 in (178 cm), right-handed
D. 6 ft 0 in (183 cm), left-handed
Answer: A. 5 ft 8 in (173 cm), left-handed
Q19. Which of the following best describes Rod Laver’s playing style?
A. Baseline grinder with two-handed backhand
B. Complete serve-and-volley player with powerful topspin on both sides and an attacking topspin lob
C. Pure defensive counter-puncher
D. Net-rusher with no groundstroke variety
Answer: B. Complete serve-and-volley player with powerful topspin on both sides and an attacking topspin lob
Q20. How many Davis Cup titles did Australia win with Rod Laver on the team?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 5
D. 7
Answer: C. 5
Q21. Approximately how many career singles titles (amateur + professional + Open Era) is Rod Laver credited with?
A. 100
B. 150
C. 200
D. 250
Answer: C. 200
Q22. In what year did Rod Laver become the first tennis player to earn more than US$1 million in career prize money?
A. 1969
B. 1969
C. 1970
D. 1971
Answer: D. 1971
Q23. In which year did Rod Laver suffer a serious stroke during a live ESPN interview?
A. 1995
B. 1998
C. 2002
D. 2010
Answer: B. 1998
Q24. Whom did Rod Laver marry in 1966, and how many children did they have together?
A. Mary Benson (a divorcee ten years older); one son (Rick)
B. Darlene Hard; none
C. Susan Johnson; two daughters
D. Margaret Court; one son
Answer: A. Mary Benson (a divorcee ten years older); one son (Rick)
Q25. The main stadium at Melbourne Park (home of the Australian Open) is named after Rod Laver. In what year was it officially renamed Rod Laver Arena?
A. 1988
B. 1990
C. 2000
D. 2017
Answer: C. 2000
