Tony Roche: Wimbledon champ of the future?

This newsreel clip shows Junior Hardcourt Champion Tony Roche in a practice game with professional champion Lew Hoad.

Roche went on to make the Wimbledon final once, in 1968, where he was defeated by fellow Australian Rod Laver in straight sets. Roche won a Grand Slam singles title – the French Championship in 1966 – but was runner-up at Grand Slam events five times.

He was an accomplished doubles player, with 13 Grand Slam titles, mostly paired with John Newcombe. After retirement as a player, Roche had a very successful coaching career working with Ivan Lendl, Pat Rafter, Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt.

Lew Hoad, also seen in this clip, won four Grand Slam singles titles (including twice at Wimbledon) and had a string of titles as a doubles player. 

Please note this clip is silent. The NFSA holds the picture negative only for this newsreel rather than the final version, with voice-over narration, that would have screened in cinemas at the time.