Laver's condition improves
Tennis great off the critical list day after stroke
Posted: Tuesday July 28, 1998 07:19 PM
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Laver won four Wimbledons, three Australian titles, two U.S. championships, two French title in singles and nine Grand Slam double titles AP |
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Tennis great Rod Laver was conscious and off the critical list Tuesday, a day after he had a moderate stroke while being interviewed for a television show, a doctor said.
Laver, who turns 60 on August 9, was in serious condition in the intensive care unit at UCLA Medical Center.
"He's definitely not paralyzed," said Dr. Neil Martin, co-director of the hospital's stroke center.
However, Martin said, Laver "is not entirely out of the woods yet."
The red-haired lefty was still having some difficulty speaking and had some problems with his right arm and right leg. Surgery was not planned unless Laver's condition deteriorates, Martin told reporters during a news conference outside the hospital.
"He's in good spirits, the best possible spirits as one can expect," Martin said.
Laver will likely remain in the hospital for a week to 10 days, Martin said.
"It's impossible to say if he's going to have 100 percent recovery," Martin said. "He should improve dramatically over the next couple months."
Several family members waiting to visit Laver refused comment earlier, referring all questions to the hospital.
Dr. Neil Martin, a neurosurgeon and co-director of the UCLA Stroke Center, said Laver's "excellent physicall condition" improves his "potential recovery" AP | |
Laver, an Australian who lives in Newport Beach, California, is the only tennis player to win two Grand Slams -- as an amateur in 1962 and as a professional seven years later.
The doctor said Laver's "excellent physical condition" improves his "potential for recovery."
ESPN spokesman Rob Tobias said Laver was stricken Monday afternoon during an interview by a freelance crew at the Westwood Marquis Hotel near UCLA. The ESPN special will feature the century's greatest athletes.
Within minutes, Laver suddenly developed a severe headache, began slurring his words and having trouble with his right hand, Martin said. However, he was never unconscious, the doctor said.
"As soon as the crew saw there was a problem, they sought prompt medical attention," Tobias said. "Fortunately, UCLA Medical Center is located within a couple blocks of where the interview was being taped."
Nicknamed "Rocket" for his powerful ground strokes, Laver is the only player to have won two Grand Slams -- the Australian, French and U.S. championships and Wimbledon -- in one calendar year.
He was the world's No. 1 player in 1961, 1962, 1968 and 1969, and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1981.
Laver won 11 Grand Slam singles titles, one fewer than career leader Roy Emerson. Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras have also won 11 Grand Slam events.
Laver won Wimbledon four times, the Australian Open three times and the U.S. and French opens twice each. He also won nine Grand Slam doubles championships.
During a 23-year career, Laver won 47 pro singles titles and was runner-up 22 times. He also starred for Australia in the Davis Cup, with records of 16-4 in singles and 4-0 in doubles. During one stretch, Australia won the Davis Cup 15 times in 18 years.
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