Where are they now?: Lew Hoad
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.BETWEEN 1950 and 1967 Australia won the Davis Cup 15 times. No country bar the United States could interrupt their dominance.
Lew Hoad, handsome and powerfully built, epitomised the flair and romance of Australian tennis in that golden age. In the Davis Cup final of 1953 in Melbourne, he and Ken Rosewall defeated the Americans, Tony Trabert and Vic Seixas, against the odds. Both were only 19.
'Frank Sedgman and Ken McGregor, our one and two, had gone pro,' Hoad recalls. 'We were just kids, thrown in against two great Americans who held three of the four major singles titles between them.'
Hoad, the son of a Sydney tramway engineer, won the Australian, French and Wimbledon titles in 1956. Ironically, Rosewall denied him the Grand Slam.
After winning Wimbledon again in 1957, Hoad turned professional, but back trouble ended his career at 26. By then he had married Jennifer Staley, the Australian women's No 2. In 1968 they migrated to Spain and built the tennis camp, between Marbella and Malaga, where they live today.
The Hoads' daughters, Jane and Sally, live in Bali and Madrid respectively; their son, Peter, at the tennis camp.
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments