Rod LaverRodney George "Rod" Laver MBE was born in Rockhampton in 1938, the same year that American Donald Budge completed the first Grand Slam. Rod holds the record for the most singles titles won in the history of tennis - with more than 200 career titles -and was the second man to win the Grand Slam in 1962. In 1969 he won the Grand Slam again, becoming the only male player to have won the Grand Slam in the open era. Rod remains the only player, male or female, to have claimed two Grand Slams - once as an amateur and once as a professional. He was ranked World No.1 for seven years in a row and is the last male player to have won every major twice. By the end of the 1960s he was regarded as the best tennis player in the world. In January 2000, the epicentre of Australian tennis, centre court at Melbourne Park, was named Rod Laver Arena in his honour. Rod currently lives in Carlsbad, California. Read More Read Less