Andy Murray has become the oldest first-time No 1 since John Newcombe
The 29-year-old Scot takes over from Novak Djokovic as the new 'King of Tennis'
Sunday 6 November 2016 18:32, UK
Andy Murray has become the oldest first-time No 1 since John Newcombe achieved it at the age of 30 in June 1974. But who is 'Newk'?
Easily identifiable by his nickname 'Newk' and by one of the most famous facial adornments in the history of Australian sport - his moustache, here's what you need to know about one of sport's living legends.
Born in Sydney, Newcombe married his wife, Angie, a German tennis player, in 1966, but found himself exiled from the mainstream for five years after turning professional before the Open era.
A naturally gifted sportsman, Newcombe played rugby and cricket, but he gravitated towards tennis where his ultimate dream was to play for Australia and at Wimbledon.
After winning the Australian Junior championship from 1961-63, he won his first Grand Slam title in 1965 by claiming the Australian doubles title with fellow compatriot Tony Roche. They won a total of 12 major titles together, which stood as an all-time record until the Bryan brothers' era.
He won his first singles title at Wimbledon in 1967 and won the US Open later that year.
Newcombe ended up winning at the All England Club a total of three times, the US and Australian Opens twice each, plus 17 Grand Slam doubles titles and he helped win the Davis Cup five times.
Serving, volleying and a hard-driving forehand groundstrokes were the cornerstones of his game. He was perpetual motion on the court with his imposing frame and powerful flat serve which would comfortably be good enough to see him fit in the modern game.
He was so popular that he also landed a profile picture on the cover of Sports Illustrated in August 1974.
Newcombe was joint world No 1 in 1970 and 1971 but held it all by himself three years later.
After retiring in 1981, he was inducted into The Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985 and elevated to "Legend of Australian Sport" in 2014.
Newcombe in numbers...
Grand Slam Results
26-time major champion, and nine-time finalist
- Australian Open W (1973, 1975)
- French Open QF (1965, 1969)
- Wimbledon W (1967, 1970, 1971)
- US Open W (1967, 1973)
Open Era Titles
67
Open Era Record
- Overall Record: 853-296
- Singles Record: 520-181
- Doubles Record: 333-115
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