Ken Rosewall has been revealed as the face of the Australian Open 2023 coin, honouring the 70-year anniversary of his 1953 men’s singles triumph. In a fitting ‘grassroots to Grand Slam’ moment, lucky Tennis Hot Shots players from Ascot Vale Tennis Club unveiled the coin at Melbourne Park today. Rosewall remains the youngest man to have won the Australian Open men’s singles title, winning at just 18. Claiming subsequent titles in 1955 and 1971, Rosewall also won in 1972 aged 36, marking 19 years since his inaugural title – another record that remains to this day. Renowned for his enviable backhand as illustrated on the AO 2023 coin, Rosewall amassed an impressive 18 major titles across three decades including nine men’s doubles titles and a mixed doubles title at the US Open in 1956. “It’s a wonderful honour to be recognised on the Australian Open coin. Seventy years seems like a long time, but it feels just like yesterday that I was a young hopeful stepping out on court for a shot at my first major title,” Australian tennis legend Ken Rosewall said. “Tennis is a fantastic sport that brings so many opportunities and it’s great to see so many kids, and adults, picking up a racquet and getting out on court. “The Australian Summer of Tennis is such a wonderful time of year that brings back so many fond memories and it’s an honour to be back here in Melbourne for what promises to be yet another fantastic Australian Open.”
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