Editing Rod Laver (section)

== Playing style ==
[[File:1962 Italian Open - Rod Laver.jpg|thumb|Laver reaches for a backhand volley against [[Boro Jovanović|Jovanović]] during their singles semifinal match in the 1962 Italian Open.]]

Although of average height and medium build ({{convert|1.73|m|ftin|abbr=on|disp=semicolon}}), Laver developed a technically complete serve-and-volley game, with aggressive [[groundstroke]]s to back it up. Commentator [[Dan Maskell]] described him as "technically faultless".<ref>{{cite web |author1=Will Swanton |title=Who's the greatest? Laver or Federer? Who better to ask than Muscles Rosewall … |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/tennis/whos-the-greatest-laver-or-federer-who-better-to-ask-thanmuscles-rosewall-133/2009/07/02/1246127635758.html?page=2 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=3 July 2009 |access-date=20 February 2020 |archive-date=17 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017102755/http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/tennis/whos-the-greatest-laver-or-federer-who-better-to-ask-thanmuscles-rosewall-133/2009/07/02/1246127635758.html?page=2 |url-status=live }}</ref> His left-handed serve was well disguised and wide swinging. His groundstrokes on both flanks were hit with topspin, as was the attacking topspin lob, which Laver developed into a weapon. His stroke technique was based on quick shoulder turns, true swings, and accurate timing. His backhand, often hit on the run, was a point-ender that gave him an advantage. Laver was very quick and had a strong left forearm. Rex Bellamy wrote, "The strength of that wrist and forearm gave him blazing power without loss of control, even when he was on the run and at full stretch. The combination of speed and strength, especially wrist strength, enabled him to hit ferocious winners when way out of court."  At the net, he had forcing volleys, often hit as stroke volleys. Especially on the backhand, he could hit sharp underspin angles as well. He was difficult to lob, because of his springing agility, and when forced to retreat, he could come up with a vicious counterpunch.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

As an amateur, Laver was a somewhat flashy player, often a late starter. He had to learn to control his adventurous shot-making and integrate percentage tennis into his game when he turned professional. In his prime, he could adapt his style to all surfaces and to all conditions. Laver had a strong record in five-set-matches, often turning things around with subtle changes of tactics.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}