Page "Ken Rosewall" Paragraph 51

Being an NTL player at the beginning of 1970 he didn't play the Australian Open held at the White City courts at Sydney in January because NTL boss, George McCall, and his players thought that the prize money was too low for a Grand Slam tournament.

In March, a tournament, sponsored by Dunlop, was organised at the same site, with a much denser field because of better prize-money and a better date.

The same class players as in the Australian Open were present and in addition not only the NTL pros participated but even some independent pros, such as Ilie Nastase, who usually did not make the trip to Australia.

Many considered this tournament as the unofficial Australian Open with Laver dominating Rosewall in five sets.

After a depleted Roland Garros without the WCT players ( this organisation having about 24 players under contract after absorbing the NTL ), all the best players met again at Wimbledon.

This time a rested Rosewall reached the final and took the young Newcombe, his 9 and a half-year-old junior, to 5 sets but ultimately succumbed: 5 – 7, 6 – 3, 6 – 2, 3 – 6, 6 – 1.

Two months later at the U. S. Open, one of the two 1970 Grand Slams with all the best players, Rosewall took revenge in their semifinal match in three straight sets before overcoming Tony Roche in the final: 2 – 6, 6 – 4, 7 – 6, 6 – 3.