Mary Laver, wife of Rod Laver, dies at 84

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Mary Laver, wife of tennis great Rod Laver, has died after a long illness. She was 84.

Rod Laver said Tuesday that Mary Laver died Monday morning at their home in Carlsbad in northern San Diego County.

They were married for 46 years and had one son, Rick, who was born three weeks after Laver won the Grand Slam in 1969. The Australian-born Laver is the only person to have won the Grand Slam twice, the first coming in 1962.

The Lavers have lived in San Diego County for 11 years. Rod Laver is 74.

Mary Bensen was born in DeKalb, Ill., on Jan. 23, 1928. She had three children from a previous marriage.