I almost beaned Rod Laver tonight.

I almost beaned Rod Laver tonight.

Folks this is weird; but a true story.

Tonight I went down to the courts with my ball machine and started hitting some balls. There were some guys playing doubles in the next court but I really didn’t pay much attention. I had not seen them before and they played pretty well and were having a blast. Two guys appeared to be in their 60s or so and the others in early 40s.

They finished up and had to walk across my court by the net to get to the gate and my ball machine was firing away. I told them to go for it but keep and eye on the machine. They made the dash just as my Tennis Tutor took aim on one guy’s head. He ducked in time and they laughed about it as they headed off the court.

So the next group shows up to take their court and the guy with them comes up to me and says, “Is that Rod Laver?” I’m like, “huh?” He goes on to tell me that Rod’s daughter is married to a guy who lives in our development here in La Costa (San Diego) and it might be him.

I am thinking Whoa Neilly and walk around the clubhouse and the guys are chilling on the patio and I walk up and ask, “Are you Rod Laver?” Rod replied. “Yes I am”

I shook his hand and we chatted a bit. I apologized for my ball machine and received that hearty aussie laugh.

What a great guy and really, really strange evening.

OX

sahweeeeet!

Rod Laver lives in Carlsbad, not too far from La Costa. That's sweet, lucky man you are!

hoosierbr said:

Rod Laver lives in Carlsbad, not too far from La Costa. That's sweet, lucky man you are!

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That makes sense, I live in Carlsbad where the courts are. La Costa Resort is a few miles away. I plan to attend the Ladies Pro event there this month. It will be my first professional tennis event. Man, that will be awesome.

haha you should've asked him who was the GOAT

Amazing.

Zets147 said:

haha you should've asked him who was the GOAT

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He'd say either Sampras or Federer. He's too modest.

Crazy, I live in La Jolla, really close to Carlsbad, I never knew Laver would be hitting balls within 15 miles of where I live. That is freaking awesome. Who was he hitting with? Where does he actually live, I think I remember hearing it was in the US, likely in CA?

Did you watch him hit? How'd he hit? I saw some footage of him recently hitting, I think the poor guy suffered a stroke and lost some control over one of his legs so he doesn't move well anymore, but perhaps his strokes are still there?

Oxford said:

That makes sense, I live in Carlsbad where the courts are. La Costa Resort is a few miles away. I plan to attend the Ladies Pro event there this month. It will be my first professional tennis event. Man, that will be awesome.

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BTW, where were the courts you were playing at?

Oxford said:

I am thinking Whoa Neilly and walk around the clubhouse and the guys are chilling on the patio and I walk up and ask, “Are you Rod Laver?” Rod replied. “Yes I am?”

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Strange reply. He must be losing his mind a bit.

teedub said:

Crazy, I live in La Jolla, really close to Carlsbad, I never knew Laver would be hitting balls within 15 miles of where I live. That is freaking awesome. Who was he hitting with? Where does he actually live, I think I remember hearing it was in the US, likely in CA?

Did you watch him hit? How'd he hit? I saw some footage of him recently hitting, I think the poor guy suffered a stroke and lost some control over one of his legs so he doesn't move well anymore, but perhaps his strokes are still there?

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Well, that's the sad part...:sad:

I was so focused on working on my form and backhand that I never really checked out what the guys were doing on the next court. Hopefully I will have another chance.

hoosierbr said:

BTW, where were the courts you were playing at?

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http://www.lacostavalleyhoa.com/index.php

stormholloway said:

Strange reply. He must be losing his mind a bit.

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OOPS? Typo? Maybe I am losing mine?

Does he still have that massive tennis left forearm?
We have Nadal (biceps), they had Laver.
:grin:

That's one heck of an experience. Unforgettable, even.

Imagine if Rod Laver did get beaned?

Zets147 said:

haha you should've asked him who was the GOAT

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He has already answered that question.

I went to high school with his son. Rod did a fundraiser for the school and played with a rotating cast for two or so hours. I got to be his doubles partner for one game, only hit the ball twice. He’s a class act and a gentleman.

An old thread, but what a great story.

Reminds me of his story and interview on a local Australian TV Program a few years back. His Grand-daughter wanted to talk one of his Wimbledon Trophies to her School for Show and Tell. He asked her which one she wanted to take because he has four of them. She said she wanted the one from his GRAND SLAM year. He then asked her, which one, the '62 or the '69? LOL.

Definitely a True Gentleman. In my books, he always was the GOAT ... and he always will be ... until someone else comes along and wins at least two GRAND SLAMS!

Thought OP said boned at first

He goes to SD to visit The Sureshs™ quite often.

You might be surprised to know that back in the day this pair formed one of the greatest Doubles combinations in the history of the sport.

Their secret, revealed many years after their retirement, was for Laver to position himself at the net and win every point with his prodigious volleying.

The Sureshs™ still plays. Reports about his retirement are greatly exaggerated.

Great story. I love TTW for stuff like this.

Turbo-87 said:

He goes to SD to visit The Sureshs™ quite often.

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In fact, he has taken up residence locally to be near me, just like Taylor Frtiz, Coco Vandeweghe and Brandon Nakashima.