Hall of Fame to honour Laver

Newport - The International Tennis Hall of Fame will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Rod Laver's 1969 Grand Slam, the last time a man won all four of the major tournaments in the same year.

The 40th anniversary of Laver's feat will be marked with a special presentation during the hall's 2009 induction ceremony in July.

Laver, who was inducted in 1981, will be officially named a life trustee of the hall.

Hall chairperson Christopher Clouser said in a statement on Thursday that "Laver is arguably the best tennis player ever to swing a racket" and that "beyond being a great champion of tennis, he is a great person and ambassador of tennis who continues to give back to our sport."

Laver, the Australian who now lives in California, won 11 major singles titles, including Grand Slams in 1962 and 1969.