Brisbane Tennis Trail and Roy Emerson Museum's video: Roy Emerson Statue Apologies and Tributes read out on the day

In support ofhttps://www.facebook.com/Blackbutt.History/ The length of this video is a reflection on the respect Roy enjoys as the tributes read out besides Roy's own speech. Lengthy, but enjoyable. By Paul Newman Share on Google+TweetShare on Facebook When talk turns to the identity of the greatest male player of all time the argument usually boils down to a choice between Rod Laver and Roger Federer. However, there is one other Australian who surely deserves a place in any such discussion. Roy Emerson, who celebrates his 80th birthday today, won 12 Grand Slam singles titles – one more than Laver – and 16 in doubles. His combined total is a record in men’s tennis. Emerson, who won the Gentlemen’s Singles title at The Championships in 1964 and 1965 and the doubles in 1959, 1961 and 1971, is the only man to have won all four Grand Slam titles in both singles and doubles. Australian tennis great Roy Emerson was immortalised with a life-size bronze statue in his hometown of Blackbutt on the 18th of January 2017. Thanks to the efforts of Blackbutt and District Tourism and Heritage Association with a lead role being played by Chairman Peter Rasey of Frew Park Peoples Committee, who put out a helping hand to the people of Blackbutt. The former world No.1 won 12 major singles titles and 16 Grand Slam tournament men’s doubles titles during his career. Emerson remains the only male player to have completed a career Grand Slam (winning titles at all four Grand Slam events) in both singles and doubles. For 49 years, Emerson was the only male player to have won six Australian Championships. Current world No.1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) became only the second person to achieve such a feat winning the 2016 Australian Open title this January. Djokovic sent his best wishes to Emerson after his win and said he was extremely honoured to be mentioned alongside legends of our sport. “It’s a great privilege to equal and match the record of six Australian Opens as of one of the greatest players to ever play this game,” said Djokovic. The statue was be placed outside the Roy Emerson Museum and will provide locals and tourists with an insight into this wonderfully talented tennis player, and his connection to a small town in Queensland. “We believe we have an exclusive connection to the rest of the world in Roy Emerson and proudly want to share our tales and stories of his early days growing up in the Australian bush as well as showcasing his stellar career,” says BDTHA representative Hazel Christie-Small.