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He was a young boy when he left school to pursue a career in tennis, a career that would last 23 years. A left-hander, his began playing at a time when tennis players were given what amounted to little more than cost of living money. When American business tycoon, Lamar Hunt, formed a professional tennis tour, it changed the game forever, even for Rod Laver who was already approaching the end of his career. There was much resistance by the tournament operators to paying "professional" players prize money and as a result, Rod Laver did not play at the US Open, the Wimbledon championships or any of the other great championships for five years after he turned professional in 1963. Nevertheless, with the start of what is now called the "Open era" in tennis that began in 1968, Laver still became the first tennis player to surpass the $1 million mark in lifetime prize money.

There is no question that had Laver been allowed to play during that five-year period when he was at his best, he would have won many more Grand Slam championships and might well have won nine Wimbledon titles in a row. Despite these setbacks, in his illustrious career, Laver still won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. His victories include winning the Australian Open singles championship in 1962. That same year he won the US Open singles championship and repeated as winner in 1969. In addition, he won the French Open singles championship twice and the Wimbledon singles title 4 times.

Rod Laver won the singles Grand Slam in tennis in 1962, becoming only the second person (and first man) in tennis history to accomplish the feat since the American player Don Budge did it in 1938. He defeated Roy EmersonRoy Stanley Emerson born November 3, 1936 in Blackbutt, Queensland, Australia, was a champion tennis player. Born on a farm in Australia, his family moved to the city of Brisbane where he was able to receive better tennis instruction. In 1961, Roy Emerson in the Australian and French Open finals, Marty Mulligan at Wimbledon and Emerson again in the U.S. Open to complete his Grand Slam. However, Laver's greatest accomplishment is that he did it again in 1969For other uses, see Number 1969. For the movie, see 1969 (movie). Events January January 1 Australian media baron Rupert Murdoch purchases the largest selling British Sunday newspaper The News Of The World January 5 The Derry Riots leave over 100 people i, the only person to ever do it twice. That year he defeated Andres Gimeno in the Australian Open final, Ken RosewallKen Robert Rosewall born November 2, 1934 in Sydney, Australia, was a champion tennis player. He was born into a family that played tennis and owned tennis courts. A natural left-hander, Rosewall's father taught him to play right-handed. Perhaps as a resu in the French Open, John NewcombeJohn David Newcombe born May 23, 1944 in Sydney, Australia, was a tennis champion. A natural athlete, as a boy John Newcombe played several sports until devoting himself to tennis. He was the Australian junior champion in 1961, 1962 and 1963 and became a at Wimbledon and Tony Roche in the U.S. Open to complete his second Grand Slam.

In 1981, Rod Laver was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, in Newport, Rhode Island. In his native country Australia, Melbourne's major tennis facility the Rod Laver Arena is named in his honour, and hosts the Australian Open tennis tournament.

In July 1998, Laver suffered a major stroke while being interviewed by ESPN for a series on greatest athletes of the 20th century. Characteristically, tennis played an important role in his recovery.

In 2003, Rod Laver, along with fellow Australian tennis superstar Margaret Smith Court, were honoured with their portrait on a postage stamp by the "Australia Post Australian Legends Award".