The Gonzales–Rosewall rivalry was a tennis rivalry between Pancho Gonzales and Ken Rosewall, widely regarded as two of the greatest tennis players of all time. This rivalry featured some of the most acclaimed matches in tennis history, and was the most prolific tennis rivalry of all time.
Gonzales is still considered to be a candidate for the greatest tennis player of all time; he was the dominant player of the 1950s and jointly holds the men's all-time record of being ranked world No. 1 for eight years (with Novak Djokovic). Rosewall succeeded Gonzales as the world's best player in 1961 and held that position either by himself or sharing it with others for six years. Rosewall was signed in 1956 by the promoter Jack Kramer, a former world No. 1 player himself, to join his small band of touring professionals in 1957. He then engaged in a round-the-world, head-to-head tour against Gonzales, the defending world champion, over the next five months, winning 26 matches but losing 50. In his 1979 autobiography Kramer included both Gonzales and Rosewall in his list of the 21 greatest players of all time.Writing in 1979, Kramer considered the best ever to have been either Don Budge (for consistent play) or Ellsworth Vines (at the height of his game). The next four best were, chronologically, Bill Tilden, Fred Perry, Bobby Riggs, and Gonzales. After these six came the "second echelon" of Rod Laver, Lew Hoad, Rosewall, Gottfried von Cramm, Ted Schroeder, Jack Crawford, Pancho Segura, Frank Sedgman, Tony Trabert, John Newcombe, Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith, Björn Borg, and Jimmy Connors. He felt unable to rank Henri Cochet and René Lacoste accurately but thought they were among the very best. Kramer, however, initially "panicked" upon signing Rosewall.He was a cute little fellow with a dink serve, who operated mostly from the baseline. That great volley of his hadn't been developed yet. I was afraid that Gorgo [Gonzales] would eat him alive and put us out of business the rest of the way. But like a lot of people I completely underestimated Rosewall.Jack Kramer, with Frank DeFord, The Game, G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, page 227 Before their opening match in Melbourne, Kramer went to Gonzales and asked him to "carry" Rosewall, giving him a better share of the gate to gain his assent. Gonzales did try to carry out his part of the deal for a few matches, but then called it off, telling Kramer that he was no longer able to play his normal game. Kramer agreed. "It was... obvious that Rosewall was not the pushover I had feared. (In fact, Gonzales only beat him 50–26, and it was always competitive.)"Ibid. page 228 Thirteen years later, in 1970, Gonzales defeated Rosewall, who was six years his junior, 6–4, 6–4, in the penultimate match they ever played—Gonzales was 42 years old at the time and Rosewall was considered to be the co-No. 1 player in the world.
In 1961 Gonzales named Rosewall as the toughest opponent he had faced, rating him above Jack Kramer, Lew Hoad, Pancho Segura, Ted Schroeder, Frank Sedgman and Frank Parker. Gonzales added: “Even with my tremendous service advantage I can only just edge him out on grass or wood. On clay courts, where my service advantage is neutralised, he has the advantage over me.”
Pancho said admiringly: “If he had my service no one would touch him.”
Head-to-head tally The following is a breakdown of their documented head-to-head results:
Player 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 Total Pancho Gonzales 51 14 5 20 4 0 0 4 7 2 2 4 3 1 117 Ken Rosewall 27 3 6 5 7 0 0 14 3 5 2 8 4 2 87
All matches: Gonzales 117-87 World Pro Tours (1957, 1960): Gonzales 70-30 All finals: Rosewall 8–7 Pro Slams: Rosewall 3–2 Grand Slams: 0–0 By surfaces played on, both indoors and outdoors:
Clay: Rosewall 16–11; Gonzales won the first five, Rosewall 16 of the last 21 Grass: Gonzales 24–14 Canvas: Gonzales 52–26 Carpet: Rosewall 7–4; none played before US Pro Indoor in mid-1965 Hard (including concrete but not canvas or carpet): Gonzales 11–8 Wood: Gonzales 14–13
Unknown: Gonzales 1-2
List of all matches