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- published: 01 Jul 2008
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- author: Roberto Gradini
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- 1994 Australian Open
- 1995 Australian Open
- 1995 Davis Cup
- 1998 Australian Open
- 2000 Australian Open
- Albert Costa
- Albert Portas
- Alberto Mancini
- Alex Olmedo
- All England Club
- Andre Agassi
- Andrei Cherkasov
- Andrei Chesnokov
- Andrei Pavel
- Andriy Medvedev
- Andrés Gómez
- Andy Murray
- Andy Roddick
- Anemia
- Arthur Ashe
- ATP Awards
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- ATP tour
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- Australian Open
- Austria
- Bill Tilden
- Björn Borg
- BNP Paribas Masters
- Bobby Riggs
- Bogotá
- Boris Becker
- Brazil
- Brian Teacher
- Bridgette Wilson
- Bud Collins
- Budge Patty
- Canada Masters
- Carlos Moyà
- Carlos Moyá
- CBS News
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- Centre Court
- Champions Cup Boston
- Chile
- Chris Woodruff
- Christian Saceanu
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- Church of Greece
- Cincinnati Masters
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- David Nalbandian
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- Defamation
- Dehydration
- Dick Savitt
- Don Budge
- Ellsworth Vines
- Emilio Sánchez
- ESPN
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- Frank Sedgman
- Fred Perry
- French Championships
- French Open
- George Bastl
- Germany
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- Grand Slam (tennis)
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- Greg Rusedski
- Guillermo Cañas
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- Guy Forget
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- Ilie Năstase
- Indian Wells Masters
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- Ivan Lendl
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Australia
Australia (
/əˈstreɪljə/), officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent as well as the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north; the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east.
For at least 40,000 years before European settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who belonged to one or more of roughly 250 language groups. After discovery by Dutch explorers in 1606, Australia's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain in 1770 and settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales from 26 January 1788. The population grew steadily in subsequent decades; the continent was explored and an additional five self-governing Crown Colonies were established.
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Australian Open
The Australian Open is a major tennis tournament held annually over the last fortnight of January in Melbourne, Australia. First held in 1905, the tournament is chronologically the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events of the year – the other three being the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. It features men's and women's singles; men's, women's, and mixed doubles and junior's championships; as well as wheelchair, legends and exhibition events. Since 1988 the tournament has been played on hard courts at Melbourne Park.
The Australian Open typically has very high attendance – second only to the US Open – and was the first Grand Slam tournament to feature indoor play during wet weather or extreme heat with its two primary courts, Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena, equipped with retractable roofs.
The Australian Open is managed by Tennis Australia, formerly the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia (LTAA), and was first played at the Warehouseman's Cricket Ground in Melbourne in 1905. This facility is now known as the Albert Reserve Tennis Centre.
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Austria
Austria (
i/ˈɒstriə/ or /ˈɔːstriə/; German: Österreich [ˈøːstɐˌʁaɪç] (
listen)), officially the Republic of Austria (German: Republik Österreich (help·info)), is a landlocked country of roughly 8.47 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Hungary and Slovakia to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The territory of Austria covers 83,855 square kilometres (32,377 sq mi) and has a temperate and alpine climate. Austria's terrain is highly mountainous due to the presence of the Alps; only 32% of the country is below 500 metres (1,640 ft), and its highest point is 3,798 metres (12,461 ft). The majority of the population speak local Austro-Bavarian dialects of German as their native language, and German in its standard form is the country's official language. Other local official languages are Burgenland Croatian, Hungarian and Slovene.
The origins of modern-day Austria date back to the time of the Habsburg dynasty when the vast majority of the country was a part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Austria became one of the great powers of Europe and, in response to the coronation of Napoleon I as the Emperor of the French, the Austrian Empire was officially proclaimed in 1804. In 1867, the Austrian Empire was reformed into Austria-Hungary.
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Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital (Spanish pronunciation: [boɣoˈta] ( listen)), from 1991 to 2000 called Santafé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district and no longer belongs administratively to that department. Bogotá is the most populous city in the country, with 7.363.782 inhabitants as of 2010. Bogotá and its metropolitan area, which includes municipalities such as Chía, Cota, Soacha, Cajicá and La Calera, had a population of 7,881,156 in 2005.
In terms of land area, Bogotá is the largest city in Colombia, and one of the biggest of Latin America. It figures amongst the thirty largest cities of the world and it is the third-highest capital city in South America (after La Paz and Quito) at 2,625 metres (8,612 ft) above sea level. With its many universities and libraries, Bogotá has become known as "The Athens of South America". Bogotá owns the largest moorland of the world, which is located in the Sumapaz Locality. The city ranked 54th in the 2010 Global Cities Index and is listed as global city of the Beta+ kind by the GaWC.
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Brazil
Brazili/brəˈzɪl/ (Portuguese: Brasil, IPA: [bɾaˈziw]), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: República Federativa do Brasil, listen (help·info)), is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people. It is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas and the largest lusophone country in the world.
Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of 7,491 km (4,655 mi). It is bordered on the north by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French overseas region of French Guiana; on the northwest by Colombia; on the west by Bolivia and Peru; on the southwest by Argentina and Paraguay and on the south by Uruguay. Numerous archipelagos form part of Brazilian territory, such as Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, Saint Peter and Paul Rocks, and Trindade and Martim Vaz. It borders all other South American countries except Ecuador and Chile.
Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 until 1815, when it was elevated to the rank of kingdom and the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves was formed. The colonial bond was in fact broken in 1808, when the capital of the Portuguese colonial empire was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, after Napoleon invaded Portugal.Independence was achieved in 1822 with the formation of the Empire of Brazil, a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system. The country became a presidential republic in 1889, when a military coup d'état proclaimed the Republic, although the bicameral legislature, now called Congress, dates back to the ratification of the first constitution in 1824. Its current Constitution, formulated in 1988, defines Brazil as a Federal Republic. The Federation is formed by the union of the Federal District, the 26 States, and the 5,564 Municipalities.
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Centre Court
Centre Court is the main court at the Wimbledon Championship, the 3rd annual Grand Slam event of the tennis calendar. It is situated adjacent to Aorangi Terrace and is home to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Its only regular use is for the two weeks a year that the Championships take place, but it is arguably the most famous tennis venue in the world. Centre Court has a premier box that the Royal Family uses, as well as other distinguished guests, and is also known by its postcode SW19.
A retractable roof was installed in 2009, enabling play to continue during rain. Centre Court will also host the tennis competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics along with No. 1 Court and No. 2 Court.
The name "Centre Court" derives from the location of the principal court at the All England Croquet Club's original site off Worple Road, Wimbledon – where the main court was located in the centre of all the other courts. The name was kept when the club relocated to its present site in 1922.. It wasn't until a further four courts were added in 1980 that Centre Court's location in the grounds matched its name.
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Chile
Chile (i/ˈtʃɪliː/ or /ˈtʃɪleɪ/), officially the Republic of Chile (Spanish: República de Chile [reˈpuβlika ðe ˈtʃile] ( listen)), is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow strip of land between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far south. Along with Ecuador, it is one of two countries in South America that do not border Brazil. Chilean territory includes the Pacific islands of Juan Fernández, Salas y Gómez, Desventuradas and Easter Island. Chile also claims about 1,250,000 square kilometres (480,000 sq mi) of Antarctica, although all claims are suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.
Chile's distinctive shape—4,300 kilometres (2,700 mi) long and on average 175 kilometres (109 mi) wide—makes it the longest country in the world, north to south, with the fifth lengthiest coastline at over 78 thousand kilometers. The diverse climate of Chile ranges from the world's driest desert in the north—the Atacama—through a Mediterranean climate in the centre, humid subtropical in Easter Island, to an Oceanic climate, including alpine tundra and glaciers in the east and south. The northern desert contains great mineral wealth, principally copper. The relatively small central area dominates in terms of population and agricultural resources, and is the cultural and political center from which Chile expanded in the late 19th century when it incorporated its northern and southern regions. Southern Chile is rich in forests and grazing lands, and features a string of volcanoes and lakes. The southern coast is a labyrinth of fjords, inlets, canals, twisting peninsulas, and islands.
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Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia (Czech and Slovak: Československo, Česko-Slovensko) was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992. From 1939 to 1945, the state did not de facto exist because of its forced division and partial incorporation into Nazi Germany, but the Czechoslovak government-in-exile nevertheless continued to exist during this period. In 1945, the eastern part of Carpathian Ruthenia was taken over by the Soviet Union. On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Form of state:
Neighbours:
Topography:
The country was of generally irregular terrain. The western area was part of north-central European uplands. The eastern region was composed of northern reaches of Carpathian Mountains and Danube River basin lands.
Climate:
The weather was predominantly continental, but varied from the moderate temperature of Western Europe in the west, to more severe weather of Eastern Europe and the western Soviet Union in the east.
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French Championships
The French Open, often referred to as Roland Garros (French: Les internationaux de France de Roland-Garros or Tournoi de Roland-Garros, IPA: [ʁɔlɑ̃ ɡaʁɔs]), named after the famous French aviator Roland Garros, is a major tennis tournament held over two weeks between late May and early June in Paris, France, at the Stade Roland Garros. It is the premier clay court tennis tournament in the world and the second of the four annual Grand Slam tournaments – the other three are the Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon. Roland Garros is the only Grand Slam held on clay and ends the spring clay court season.
It is one of the largest events in tennis, and the most watched French event in the world. Because of the slow playing surface and the five-set men's singles matches without a tiebreak in the final set, the event is widely considered to be the most physically demanding tennis tournament in the world.
Currently, the 2012 French Open is being conducted from May 27 to June 10, 2012 in Paris.
Officially named in French Les internationaux de France de Roland-Garros or Tournoi de Roland-Garros (the "French Internationals of Roland Garros" or "Roland Garros Tournament" in English), the tournament is often referred to in English as the "French Open" and alternatively as "Roland Garros", which is the designation used by the tournament itself in all languages, including English. In French, a hyphen is inserted after death, hence the French spelling "Roland-Garros".
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French Open
The French Open, often referred to as Roland Garros (French: Les internationaux de France de Roland-Garros or Tournoi de Roland-Garros, IPA: [ʁɔlɑ̃ ɡaʁɔs]), named after the famous French aviator Roland Garros, is a major tennis tournament held over two weeks between late May and early June in Paris, France, at the Stade Roland Garros. It is the premier clay court tennis tournament in the world and the second of the four annual Grand Slam tournaments – the other three are the Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon. Roland Garros is the only Grand Slam held on clay and ends the spring clay court season.
It is one of the largest events in tennis, and the most watched French event in the world. Because of the slow playing surface and the five-set men's singles matches without a tiebreak in the final set, the event is widely considered to be the most physically demanding tennis tournament in the world.
Currently, the 2012 French Open is being conducted from May 27 to June 10, 2012 in Paris.
Officially named in French Les internationaux de France de Roland-Garros or Tournoi de Roland-Garros (the "French Internationals of Roland Garros" or "Roland Garros Tournament" in English), the tournament is often referred to in English as the "French Open" and alternatively as "Roland Garros", which is the designation used by the tournament itself in all languages, including English. In French, a hyphen is inserted after death, hence the French spelling "Roland-Garros".
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Germany
Germany (i/ˈdʒɜrməni/), officially the Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland, pronounced [ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant] ( listen)), is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate. With 81.8 million inhabitants, it is the most populous member state and the largest economy in the European Union. It is one of the major political powers of the European continent and a technological leader in many fields.
A region named Germania, inhabited by several Germanic peoples, was documented before AD 100. During the Migration Period, the Germanic tribes expanded southward, and established successor kingdoms throughout much of Europe. Beginning in the 10th century, German territories formed a central part of the Holy Roman Empire. During the 16th century, northern German regions became the centre of the Protestant Reformation while southern and western parts remained dominated by Roman Catholic denominations, with the two factions clashing in the Thirty Years' War, marking the beginning of the Catholic–Protestant divide that has characterized German society ever since. Occupied during the Napoleonic Wars, the rise of Pan-Germanism inside the German Confederation resulted in the unification of most of the German states into the German Empire in 1871 which was Prussian dominated. After the German Revolution of 1918–1919 and the subsequent military surrender in World War I, the Empire was replaced by the Weimar Republic in 1918, and partitioned in the Treaty of Versailles. Amidst the Great Depression, the Third Reich was proclaimed in 1933. The latter period was marked by Fascism and World War II. After 1945, Germany was divided by allied occupation, and evolved into two states, East Germany and West Germany. In 1990 Germany was reunified.
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Greece
Greecei/ˈɡriːs/ (Greek: Ελλάδα, Ellada, IPA: [eˈlaða] ( listen) historically in Katharevousa and Ancient Greek: Ἑλλάς, Hellas, IPA: [eˈlas] and [helːás] respectively), officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία, Elliniki Dimokratia, IPA: [eliniˈci ðimokraˈtia]), is a country in Southern Europe, politically considered part of Western Europe.Athens is the capital and the largest city in the country (its urban area also including Piraeus). The population of the country is around 11 million.
Greece has land borders with Albania, the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the east. The Aegean Sea lies to the east of mainland Greece, the Ionian Sea to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Greece has the 11th longest coastline in the world at 13,676 km (8,498 mi) in length, featuring a vast number of islands (approximately 1,400, of which 227 are inhabited), including Crete, the Dodecanese, the Cyclades, and the Ionian Islands among others. Eighty percent of Greece consists of mountains, of which Mount Olympus is the highest at 2,917 m (9,570 ft).
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Haiti
Haitii/ˈheɪti/ (French: Haïti [aiti]; Haitian Creole Ayiti [ajiti]), officially the Republic of Haiti (République d'Haïti; Repiblik Ayiti), is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti (land of high mountains) was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island. The country's highest point is Pic la Selle, at 2,680 metres (8,793 ft). The total area of Haiti is 27,750 square kilometres (10,714 sq mi) and its capital is Port-au-Prince. Haitian Creole and French are the official languages.
Haiti's regional, historical, and ethno-linguistic position is unique for several reasons. It was the first independent nation of Latin America and the Caribbean, the first black-led republic in the world, and the second republic in the Americas when it gained independence in 1804 as part of a successful slave revolution lasting nearly a decade. In 2012, Haiti announced its intention to seek associate membership status in the African Union. Haiti is the only predominantly Francophone independent nation in the Americas. It is one of only two independent nations in the Americas (along with Canada) to designate French as an official language; the other French-speaking areas are all overseas départements, or collectivités, of France.
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Houston, Texas
Houston ( /ˈhjuːstən/) (Alibamu: Yosti ) is the largest city in the state of Texas, and the fourth-largest city in the United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of 656.3 square miles (1,700 km2). Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown, which is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the United States, with 6.08 million people as of July 1st, 2011.
Houston was founded in 1836 on land near the banks of Buffalo Bayou. It was incorporated as a city on June 5, 1837, and named after then-President of the Republic of Texas—former General Sam Houston—who had commanded at the Battle of San Jacinto, which took place 25 miles (40 km) east of where the city was established. The burgeoning port and railroad industry, combined with oil discovery in 1901, has induced continual surges in the city's population. In the mid-twentieth century, Houston became the home of the Texas Medical Center—the world's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions—and NASA's Johnson Space Center, where the Mission Control Center is located.
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Monte-Carlo Masters
The Monte-Carlo Masters (as of 2012[update] sponsored by Rolex) is an annual tennis tournament for male professional players held in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, a commune that borders on Monaco. The event is part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour. The tournament is played on clay courts and is held every year in the April-May period.
The Monte Carlo tennis championship was first held in 1897. It became an "Open" event in 1969. Between 1970 and 1989 it was a major tournament of the Grand Prix Tour as part of the Grand Prix Championship Series top tier events, before becoming an ATP Championship Series Single Week tennis event.
Beginning in 2009, Monte Carlo became the only ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament to not have a mandatory player commitment. Most of the top players still elect to play the event.
Rafael Nadal has won the title 8 consecutive times between 2005 and 2012, making him the only player in the open era to win 8 consecutive titles at the same tournament.
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Philadelphia
Philadelphia ( /ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə/) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States, with a population of 1,526,006 as of the 2010 U.S. Census. Philadelphia is also the commercial, cultural, and educational center of the Delaware Valley, home to 6 million people and the country's fifth-largest metropolitan area. The Philadelphia metropolitan division consists of five counties in Pennsylvania and has a population of 4,008,994. Popular nicknames for Philadelphia are Philly and The City of Brotherly Love, the latter of which comes from the literal meaning of the city's name in Greek (Greek: Φιλαδέλφεια ([pʰilaˈdelpʰeːa], Modern Greek: [filaˈðelfia]) "brotherly love", compounded from philos (φίλος) "loving", and adelphos (ἀδελφός) "brother").
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Potomac, Maryland
Potomac is a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, named for the nearby Potomac River. The population was 44,822 at the 2000 census. The Potomac area is known for its very affluent and highly-educated residents. In 2009 CNNMoney.com listed Potomac as the fourth most affluent town in the United States. Potomac is also the seventh most top-educated American small town according to Forbes. Many Potomac residents work in Washington, D.C.
The land which is now Potomac Village was first settled by Edward Offutt in 1714 after he was granted a 600-acre (2.4 km2) land grant "Clewerwell" by Lord Baltimore. His grant of land was by the Tehogee Indian Trail, an Indian trade route built by the Canaze Indian nation in 1716. Throughout the 18th century, what became known as Offutts Crossroads was a small, rural community which served planters and travelers. In the 19th century, a few small dwellings had been built along with a tavern established in 1820. By the time of the Civil War, the community contained two general stores, a blacksmith shop, and a post office which served a community of 100.
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Romania
Romania (i/roʊˈmeɪniə/ roh-MAY-nee-ə; dated: Roumania; or Rumania;Romanian: România [romɨˈni.a] ( listen)) is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea. Romania shares a border with Hungary and Serbia to the west, Ukraine and Moldova to the northeast and east, and Bulgaria to the south.
At 238,400 square kilometers (92,000 sq mi), Romania is the ninth largest country of the European Union by area, and has the seventh largest population of the European Union with over 19 million people. Its capital and largest city is Bucharest, the tenth largest city in the EU with about two million people.
The Kingdom of Romania emerged when the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia were united under Prince Alexander Ioan Cuza in 1859. Independence from the Ottoman Empire was declared on 9 May 1877, and was internationally recognized the following year. At the end of World War I, Transylvania, Bukovina and Bessarabia united with the Kingdom of Romania. Greater Romania emerged into an era of progression and prosperity that would continue until World War II. By the end of the War, many north-eastern areas of Romania's territories were occupied by the Soviet Union, and Romania forcibly became a socialist republic and a member of the Warsaw Pact.
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Russia
Russiai/ˈrʌʃə/ or /ˈrʊʃə/ (Russian: Россия, tr. Rossiya; IPA: [rɐˈsʲijə] ( listen)), also officially known as the Russian Federation (Russian: Российская Федерация, tr. Rossiyskaya Federatsiya; IPA: [rɐˈsʲijskəjə fʲɪdʲɪˈratsɨjə] ( listen)), is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects. From northwest to southeast, Russia shares borders with Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland (both via Kaliningrad Oblast), Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, and North Korea. It also has maritime borders with Japan by the Sea of Okhotsk, and the US state of Alaska by the Bering Strait. At 17,075,400 square kilometres (6,592,800 sq mi), Russia is the largest country in the world, covering more than one eighth of the Earth's inhabited land area. Russia is also the eighth most populous nation with 143 million people. It extends across the whole of northern Asia and 40% of Europe, spanning nine time zones and incorporating a wide range of environments and landforms. Russia has the world's largest reserves of mineral and energy resources and is the largest producer of oil and natural gas globally. Russia has the world's largest forest reserves and its lakes contain approximately one-quarter of the world's fresh water.
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Serbia
Serbiai/ˈsɜrbiə/, officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian: Република Србија / Republika Srbija, pronounced [rɛpǔblika sř̩bija]), is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans. Serbia borders Hungary to the north; Romania and Bulgaria to the east; the Republic of Macedonia to the south; and Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro to the west; additionally, it borders Albania through Kosovo, whose status as part of Serbia is disputed. Serbia covers an area of 88,361 km2 and has a population of just over 7.1 million, while the capital and largest city is Belgrade.
The arrival of the Serbs to the Balkans in the 7th century, established several states, eventually forming the Serbian Empire in the 14th century. By the 16th century, Serbia was conquered and occupied by the Ottoman Empire, at times interrupted by the Habsburgs. In the early 19th century the Serbian revolution re-established the country as the region's first constitutional monarchy, which subsequently expanded its territory and pioneered the abolition of feudalism in the Balkans. The former Habsburg crownland of Vojvodina united with Serbia in 1918. Following World War I, Serbia formed Yugoslavia with other South Slavic peoples which existed in several forms up until 2006, when the National Assembly of Serbia declared independence and the legal succession to the former State Union. In February 2008 the parliament of UNMIK-governed Kosovo, Serbia's southern province, declared independence, with mixed responses from international governments.
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Spain
Spain (i/ˈspeɪn/ SPAYN; Spanish: España, pronounced: [esˈpaɲa] ( listen)), officially the Kingdom of Spain (Spanish: Reino de España), is a sovereign state and a member of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar; to the north and north east by France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay; and to the northwest and west by the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal.
Spanish territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, and two autonomous cities in North Africa, Ceuta and Melilla, that border Morocco. Furthermore, the town of Llívia is a Spanish exclave situated inside French territory. With an area of 504,030 square kilometres (194,610 sq mi), it is the second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union after France, and the fourth largest country in Europe after Russia, Ukraine and France.
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Sweden
Sweden (i/ˈswiːdən/ SWEE-dən; Swedish: Sverige [ˈsværjɛ] ( listen)), officially the Kingdom of Sweden (Swedish: Konungariket Sverige (help·info)), is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland, and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Øresund.
At 450,295 square kilometres (173,860 sq mi), Sweden is the third largest country in the European Union by area, with a total population of about 9.4 million. Sweden has a low population density of 21 inhabitants per square kilometre (54 /sq mi) with the population mostly concentrated to the southern half of the country. About 85% of the population live in urban areas. Sweden's capital city is Stockholm, which is also the largest city.
Sweden emerged as an independent and unified country during the Middle Ages. In the 17th century, the country expanded its territories to form the Swedish Empire. The empire grew to be one of the great powers of Europe in the 17th and early 18th century. Most of the conquered territories outside the Scandinavian Peninsula were lost during the 18th and 19th centuries. The eastern half of Sweden, present-day Finland, was lost to Russia in 1809. The last war in which Sweden was directly involved was in 1814, when Sweden by military means forced Norway into a personal union. Since then, Sweden has been at peace, practicing "non-participation in military alliances during peacetime and neutrality during wartime". However, Sweden has been a member of the European Union since 1 January 1995 and is a member of the OECD.
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Switzerland
Switzerland (German: die Schweiz[ˈʃvaɪts]; French: Suisse [sɥis(ə)]; Italian: Svizzera [ˈzvit͡sːɛra]; Romansh: Svizra [ˈʒviːtsrɐ] or [ˈʒviːtsʁːɐ]), in its full name the Swiss Confederation (Latin: Confoederatio Helvetica, hence its abbreviation CH), is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in western Europe, where it is bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east.
Switzerland is a landlocked country geographically divided between the Alps, the Swiss Plateau and the Jura, spanning an area of 41,285 km2 (15,940 sq mi). While the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, the Swiss population of approximately 8 million people is concentrated mostly on the Plateau, where the largest cities are to be found. Among them are the two global cities and economic centres of Zurich and Geneva.
The Swiss Confederation has a long history of armed neutrality—it has not been in a state of war internationally since 1815—and did not join the United Nations until 2002. It pursues, however, an active foreign policy and is frequently involved in peace-building processes around the world. Switzerland is also the birthplace of the Red Cross and home to a large number of international organizations, including the second largest UN office. On the European level, it is a founding member of the European Free Trade Association and is part of the Schengen Area – although it is notably not a member of the European Union, nor the European Economic Area.
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United States
The United States of America (commonly abbreviated to the United States, the U.S., the USA, America, and the States) is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to the east and Russia to the west, across the Bering Strait. The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also possesses several territories in the Pacific and Caribbean.
At 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km2) and with over 312 million people, the United States is the third or fourth largest country by total area, and the third largest by both land area and population. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. The U.S. economy is the world's largest national economy, with an estimated 2011 GDP of $15.1 trillion (22% of nominal global GDP and over 19% of global GDP at purchasing-power parity). Per capita income is the world's sixth-highest.
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US Open (tennis)
The US Open Championship, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881. Since 1987, the US Open has been chronologically the fourth and final tennis major comprising the Grand Slam each year; the other three are the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. It is held annually in August and September over a two-week period (the weeks before and after Labor Day weekend). The main tournament consists of five different event championships: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles, with additional tournaments for senior, junior, and wheelchair players. Since 1978, the tournament has been played on acrylic hard courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York City.
The US Open has tiebreaks in every set, including the last set. The other three Grand Slam tournaments have tiebreaks in every set other than the last set (i.e. the fifth set for men and third set for women), and therefore their last set continues indefinitely until a two-game lead is reached.
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Albert Costa
Albert Costa i Casals (born 25 June 1975, in Lleida) is a former professional tennis player from Spain. He is best remembered for winning the men's singles title at the French Open in 2002.
Costa began playing tennis at the age of five. He first came to the tennis world's attention as an outstanding junior player. In 1993, he reached the French Open junior final and won the Orange Bowl. He turned professional later that year and quickly established a reputation as a strong clay court player. In 1994, he won two challenger series events and was named the ATP's Newcomer of the Year.
Costa won his first top-level singles title in 1995 at Kitzbühel, beating the "king of clay", Thomas Muster, in a five set final. Costa won three further titles in 1996. In 1997, he won another two singles titles and was part of the Spanish team that won the World Team Cup. He won another two singles titles in 1998, including the Tennis Masters Series event in Hamburg. Three further titles followed in 1999.
In 2000, Costa helped Spain win its first Davis Cup. He also captured a bronze medal in the men's doubles at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, partnering Álex Corretja.
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Albert Portas
Albert Portas Soy (born November 15, 1973, in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain) is a former professional tennis player.
Portas turned professional in 1994. He reached his career-high ranking on October 1, 2001 at 19th in the world.
His only top-level singles title came at the Hamburg Masters in 2001, a tournament in which his mastery of the drop shot (key to his defeat of Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final) earned him the nickname "Drop Shot Dragon". According to the BBC, Lleyton Hewitt said of Portas that "He sure hits a lot of drop shots but he hits them so well, as well as anyone I have faced."
He coached WTA player Daniela Hantuchová from November 2008 to February 2009.
LQ = lost in the qualifiers WR = Win Ratio, the ratio of tournaments won to those played A = Did not play in tournament
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Alberto Mancini
Alberto César Mancini (born May 20, 1969 in Posadas, Misiones) is a former professional tennis player from Argentina. He turned professional in 1987. In 1988, he won his first top-level singles title at Bologna, and his first tour doubles title at St. Vincent.
Mancini won the two most significant titles of his career in 1989. In April that year he won the Monte Carlo Open, defeating Boris Becker in the final 7–5, 2–6, 7–6, 7–5. In May he won the Italian Open, beating Andre Agassi in the final 6–3, 4–6, 2–6, 7–6, 6–1, saving match point in the fourth set. Both events were part of the Grand Prix Championship Series. Mancini also reached the quarter-finals of the 1989 French Open, his career-best performance at a Grand Slam event.
Mancini reached the final of the Italian Open again in 1991, but was forced to retire during the final against Emilio Sánchez with the score at 6–3, 6–1, 3–0. The last major final of Mancini's career was at the Lipton International players Championships in Florida in 1992, where he lost to Michael Chang 7–5, 7–5.
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Alex Olmedo
Alejandro "Alex" Rodríguez Olmedo (born March 24, 1936 in Arequipa) is a former tennis player from Peru with American citizenship, who was ranked as the top amateur player in the world in 1959. Although born and raised in Peru, he came to Southern California and was mentored by Perry T. Jones, President of the Southern California Tennis Association at the Los Angeles Tennis Club (LATC). George Toley recruited him to play for the University of Southern California (USC), as he wrote in his book "The Golden Age of College Tennis, 2009". Olmedo graduated with a Business Degree from USC. While there, he won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Singles and Doubles Championships in 1956 and 1958. (In 1957, USC was excluded from NCAA competition.)
Perry T. Jones became Davis Cup Captain in 1958 and recruited Olmedo to play on the team. He represented the U.S. in Davis Cup competition in 1958 and 1959, winning in both singles and doubles – achieving 2 of the 3 points required to win the Cup. His teammates were Ham Richardson and Barry MacKay, when they won the Cup in 1958. Even though he was not a U.S. citizen, he was technically eligible to represent the U.S. in Davis Cup because he had lived in the country for at least five years and because his country of citizenship, Peru, did not have a Davis Cup team. His participation was very controversial, however. Sports columnist Arthur Dailey at the New York Times wrote, "This would seem to be the saddest day in the history of American tennis. A few more such rousing victories and the prestige of this country in tennis will sink to a new low." Olmedo himself refused to file for U.S. citizenship, said he was content to remain a Peruvian citizen, and denied he was ducking U.S. citizenship to avoid being drafted into the Army. Still, many Americans "took a dim view of the largest nation in the competition stooping to borrow a little player from Peru to win the Cup".
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Andre Agassi
Andre Kirk Agassi ( /ˈɑːndreɪ ˈæɡəsi/; born April 29, 1970) is a retired American professional tennis player and former world no. 1. Generally considered by critics and fellow players to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Agassi has been called the best service returner in the history of the game. Described by the BBC upon his retirement as "perhaps the biggest worldwide star in the sport's history", Agassi's performances, along with his unorthodox apparel and attitude, have seen him cited as one of the most charismatic players in the history of the game, and credited for helping revive the popularity of tennis during the 1990s.
In singles tennis, Agassi is an eight-time Grand Slam champion who competed in 15 Grand Slam finals, and an Olympic gold medalist. A multi-surface specialist, he is the first of two male players to have achieved a singles Career Golden Slam, and one of four to have achieved a singles Career Grand Slam in the Open Era (one of seven in history). He was the first male player to win all four Grand Slams on three different surfaces (hard, clay and grass), and is the last American male to win the French Open (1999) and the Australian Open (2003). Agassi also won 17 ATP Masters Series titles, the 1990 ATP Tour World Championships, and was part of a winning Davis Cup team in 1990 and 1992. He is the only male singles player in history to have won all four Grand Slam tournaments, the Olympic gold medal and the ATP Tour World Championships: a distinction dubbed as a "Career Super Slam" by Sports Illustrated.
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Andrei Cherkasov
Andrei Cherkasov (Russian: Андрей Черкасов; born July 4, 1970 in Ufa) is a former professional tennis player from Russia.
Born in Ufa, Soviet Union, Cherkasov first came to the tennis world's attention as an outstanding junior player. In 1987, he was ranked the World No. 3 junior player and finished runner-up in the boy's singles at the US Open (lost to David Wheaton in the final).
Cherkasov turned professional in 1988. In 1990, Cherkasov claimed his first top-level singles titles when he won the inaugural Kremlin Cup in Moscow, defeating Tim Mayotte in the final 6–2, 6–1. He also reached the quarter-finals of the 1990 Australian Open and US Open.
1991 saw Cherkasov successfully defend his Kremlin Cup title, saving two match points in a 7–6, 3–6, 7–6 win in the final against Jakob Hlasek. Cherkasov reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 13 in June that year.
In 1992, Cherkasov was a quarter-finalist at the French Open and won a men's singles Bronze Medal at the Olympic Games in Barcelona, notably rallying from 2 sets down to beat Pete Sampras in the third round.
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Andrei Chesnokov
Andrei Eduardovich Chesnokov (Russian: Андрей Эдуардович Чесноков; born February 2, 1966) is a former professional tennis player from Russia.
Chesnokov's highest singles ranking was World No. 9 in 1991. The biggest tournament victories of his career came at the Monte Carlo Open in 1990, and at the Canadian Open in 1991 (both Tennis Masters Series events).
Chesnokov's best performance at a Grand Slam event came at the French Open in 1989, where he reached the semi-finals before being eliminated by the eventual champion Michael Chang.
The most famous match in Chesnokov's career took place on 24 September 1995 in the semi-final of the 1995 Davis Cup against Germany. In the fifth set of the final deciding match of the semi-final, playing against Michael Stich, Chesnokov saved nine match points before emerging the winner, the final score being: 6-4, 1-6, 1-6, 6-3, 14-12. The next day President of Russia Boris Yeltsin awarded Chesnokov with Order of Courage.
During his career, Chesnokov won seven top-level singles titles and earned prize-money totalling US$3,084,188. He retired from the professional tour in 1999.
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Andrei Pavel
Andrei Pavel (born January 27, 1974 in Constanţa) is a tennis coach and former professional tennis player from Romania. He is currently coaching the world top-50 tennis player, Tamira Paszek.
Andrei began playing tennis at age eight, and moved to Germany at age sixteen.
Pavel has turned professional in 1995. He has won three singles titles, including the ATP Masters Series tournament in Montreal/Toronto in 2001. He has also won seven doubles titles, the latest title being the Open Seat Barcelona, in 2007.
Pavel played what John McEnroe considers to be the best first round match at a Grand Slam he has ever seen at the U.S Open in August 2006, where he lost to Andre Agassi in four sets; 6–7(4), 7–6(8), 7–6(6), 6–2; taking three and half hours. Had Pavel won, it would have been Agassi's last match in a professional tournament.
His best single result over the course of his career took place in 2001, when he captured the Masters Series title in Montreal. For his efforts during that week alone, Pavel earned $400,000. When playing Andy Murray in the Australian Open in 2009, Pavel was forced to retire from the game in the second set due to a recurring back injury. He had lost the previous set. Andrei entered the 2009 French Open, where he was defeated by Tommy Haas 6–1, 6–4, 6–4.
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Andriy Medvedev
Andriy (Andrei) Medvedev (Ukrainian: Андрій Медведєв, born 31 August 1974 in Kiev), is a former professional tennis player from Ukraine. Medvedev made a splash on the international tennis scene when, as a 17-year-old, he won titles in Genoa and Stuttgart. His most successful tournament was the Hamburg Masters (formerly the German Open), which he won three times. He reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 4.
In the late 1990s, Medvedev's form and results began to founder until he unexpectedly reached the final of the 1999 French Open after having defeated Pete Sampras and Gustavo Kuerten en route. Medvedev dominated the first two sets of the final against Andre Agassi before Agassi mounted a come-from-behind victory, which allowed him to complete a career Grand Slam. Afterwards Medvedev did not score further notable results, and retired from the tour in 2001.
One main rival of Medvedev's was Sergi Bruguera. While their head-to-head record ended deadlocked at five each, Bruguera was able to win their two most important matches — the semi-finals and quarter-finals of the 1993 and 1994 French Open, both matches in straight sets. Medvedev lost all six times to the eventual French Open champion (1992–95, 1997 and 1999).
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Andrés Gómez
Andrés Gómez Santos (born February 27, 1960, in Guayaquil, Ecuador) is a former professional tennis player from Ecuador. He is best remembered for winning the men's singles title at the French Open in 1990.
Gómez turned professional in 1979. Early success in his career came mainly in doubles competition. He won five doubles titles in 1980, and seven in 1981.
In 1986, Gómez attained the World No. 1 doubles ranking. He won seven doubles events that year, including the US Open men's doubles title (partnering Slobodan Živojinović). Gómez won a second Grand Slam men's doubles title in 1988 at the French Open (partnering Emilio Sánchez).
His first top-level singles title came in 1981 in Bordeaux. He then the won the Italian Open in 1982, beating Eliot Teltscher in the final (6–2, 6–3, 6–2), and again in 1984, when he defeated Aaron Krickstein in four sets (2–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–2).
The crowning achievement of Gómez's career came in 1990 when he reached his first (and only) Grand Slam singles final at the French Open. There he faced 19 year-old Andre Agassi who, like Gómez, was playing in his first Grand Slam singles final. The up-and-coming American star was considered the favourite, but Gómez seized the moment and claimed the title with a four-set win (6–3, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4). Gómez reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 4 later that year.
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Andy Murray
Andrew "Andy" Murray (born 15 May 1987) is a Scottish professional tennis player, ranked No. 4 in the world, and was ranked No. 2 from 17 to 31 August 2009. Murray achieved a top-10 ranking by the Association of Tennis Professionals for the first time on 16 April 2007. He has been runner-up in three Grand Slam finals: the 2008 US Open, the 2010 Australian Open and the 2011 Australian Open, losing the first two to Roger Federer and the third to Novak Djokovic. In 2011, Murray became only the seventh player in the Open Era to reach the semi-finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments in one year.
Andy Murray was born to Will and Judy in Glasgow, Scotland. His maternal grandfather, Roy Erskine, was a professional footballer who played reserve team matches for Hibernian and in the Scottish Football League for Stirling Albion and Cowdenbeath. Murray's brother, Jamie, is also a professional tennis player, playing on the doubles circuit. Following the separation of his parents when he was nine years old, Andy and Jamie lived with their father. Murray later attended Dunblane High School. Murray is in a five-year relationship with Kim Sears, who is regularly seen attending his matches. The relationship ended briefly in 2009 before they reconciled a short time later in 2010.
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Andy Roddick
Andrew Stephen "Andy" Roddick (born August 30, 1982) is an American professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. He is currently the third highest-ranked American player, behind Mardy Fish and John Isner.
He became a Grand Slam singles champion when he won the title at the 2003 US Open, defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero in the finals, which currently makes him the last North American male player to win a grand slam singles event. Roddick has reached four other Grand Slam finals (Wimbledon in 2004, 2005 and 2009, and the US Open in 2006), losing to Roger Federer each time. He is married to Brooklyn Decker, a Sports Illustrated swimwear model and actress.
Roddick was born in Omaha, Nebraska to Jerry and Blanche Roddick. Roddick's father was a businessman and his mother was a school teacher. She now directs the Andy Roddick Foundation. Roddick has two older brothers, Lawrence and John (All-American tennis player at University of Georgia (1996–98) and head tennis coach at the University of Oklahoma), who were both promising tennis players at a young age.
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Arthur Ashe
Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. (July 10, 1943 – February 6, 1993) was a former World No. 1 professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States. Ashe, an African American, was the first black player ever selected to the United States Davis Cup team and the only black man to ever win the singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open, or Australian Open. He is also remembered for his efforts to further social causes.
Born in Gum Spring, Virginia, to parents Arthur Ashe Sr. and Mattie Cordell Cunningham Ashe, Arthur and his younger brother, Johnnie, suffered a tragic loss when their mother died suddenly from heart related complications during routine surgery. Arthur Ashe first attended Maggie L. Walker High School, being coached by Ronald Charity, and later coached by Robert Walter Johnson. Tired of having to travel great distances to play Caucasian youths in segregated Richmond, Ashe accepted an offer from a St. Louis tennis official to move there and attend Sumner High School. Young Ashe was recognized by Sports Illustrated for his playing.
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Austria
Austria (i/ˈɒstriə/ or /ˈɔːstriə/; German: Österreich [ˈøːstɐˌʁaɪç] ( listen)), officially the Republic of Austria (German: Republik Österreich (help·info)), is a landlocked country of roughly 8.47 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Hungary and Slovakia to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The territory of Austria covers 83,855 square kilometres (32,377 sq mi) and has a temperate and alpine climate. Austria's terrain is highly mountainous due to the presence of the Alps; only 32% of the country is below 500 metres (1,640 ft), and its highest point is 3,798 metres (12,461 ft). The majority of the population speak local Austro-Bavarian dialects of German as their native language, and German in its standard form is the country's official language. Other local official languages are Burgenland Croatian, Hungarian and Slovene.
The origins of modern-day Austria date back to the time of the Habsburg dynasty when the vast majority of the country was a part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Austria became one of the great powers of Europe and, in response to the coronation of Napoleon I as the Emperor of the French, the Austrian Empire was officially proclaimed in 1804. In 1867, the Austrian Empire was reformed into Austria-Hungary.
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Bill Tilden
William Tatem Tilden II (February 10, 1893 - June 5, 1953), nicknamed "Big Bill," was an American tennis player. He is often considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Tilden was the World No. 1 player for seven years, he won 14 Majors including ten Grand Slams and four Pro Slams. Bill Tilden dominated the world of international tennis in the first half of the 1920s. During his 18 year amateur period of 1912-30, he won 138 of 192 tournaments, and had a match record of 907-62, a winning percentage of 93.6 percent.
Tilden was born into a wealthy Philadelphia family bereaved by the death of three older siblings. He lost his semi-invalid mother when he was 18 and, even though his father was still alive and maintained a large house staffed with servants, was sent a few houses away to live with a maiden aunt. The loss at 22 of his father and older brother marked him deeply. After several months of deep depression, and with encouragement from his aunt, tennis, which he had taken up starting at age five, became his primary means of recovery. According to his biographer, Frank Deford, because of his early family losses Tilden spent all of his adult life attempting to create a father-son relationship with a long succession of ball boys and youthful tennis protégés, of whom Vinnie Richards was the most noted. In spite of his worldwide travels, Tilden lived at his aunt's house until 1941 when he was 48 years old.
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Björn Borg
Björn Rune Borg (Swedish pronunciation: [bjœːɳ bɔrj] ( listen); born 6 June 1956) is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles (a record shared with Roger Federer) and six French Open singles titles (a record shared with Rafael Nadal). He is considered by many to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
During his relatively brief pro career, Borg won 41% of the Grand Slam singles tournaments he entered (11 of 27) and 89.81% (141–16) of the Grand Slam singles matches he played. His winning rate across all surfaces (carpet, clay, hard, and grass) was 82.72% (608-127), and his winning percentage at Wimbledon was 92.73% (51–4); both are records for an entire career. He is one of four players in the open era to win both Wimbledon and the French Open in the same year and the only player to do so for three consecutive years. He is the first player to win two Grand Slams without dropping a set (a record shared with Rafael Nadal). He also won three year-end championship titles, including two Masters Grand Prix titles and one WCT Final title. In addition, he won 15 Championship Series titles (1974–1980) the precursors to the current Masters 1000.
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Bobby Riggs
Robert Larimore "Bobby" Riggs (February 25, 1918 – October 25, 1995) was a 1930s–40s tennis player who was the World No. 1 or the co-World No. 1 player for three years, first as an amateur in 1941, then as a professional in 1946 and 1947. He played his first professional tennis match on December 26, 1941.
After being mostly forgotten for many years, he gained far more fame in 1973 at the age of 55 by challenge matches against two of the top female players in the world. "The Battle of the Sexes" match against Billie Jean King was one of the most famous tennis events of all time, in which he lost the $100,000 winner take all prize.
Riggs was born in Los Angeles, the son of a minister and one of six siblings. He was an excellent table tennis player as a boy and when he began playing tennis at age 11, he was quickly befriended and then coached by Esther Bartosh, who was the third-ranking woman player in Los Angeles. Depending entirely on speed and ball control, he soon began to win boys (through 15 years old) and then juniors (through 18 years old) tournaments. Although it is sometimes said that Riggs was one of the great tennis players nurtured at the Los Angeles Tennis Club (LATC) by Perry T. Jones and the Southern California Tennis Association. Riggs writes in his autobiography that for many years Jones considered Riggs to be too small and not powerful enough to be a top-flight player. (Kramer, however, said in his autobiography that Jones turned against Riggs "for being a kid hustler".) After initially helping Riggs, Jones then refused to sponsor him at the important Eastern tournaments. With the help of Bartosh and others, Riggs played in various National Tournaments and by the time he was 16 was the fifth-ranked junior player in the United States. The next year, he won his first National Championship, winning the National Juniors by beating Joe Hunt in the finals. That same year, 1935, he met Hunt in 17 final-round matches and won all 17 of them.
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Boris Becker
Boris Franz Becker (born 22 November 1967) is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from Germany. He is a six-time Grand Slam singles champion, an Olympic gold medalist, and the youngest-ever winner of the men's singles title at Wimbledon at the age of 17. Becker also won five major indoor championships titles including three ATP Masters World Tour Finals (played eight finals, second all-time to Ivan Lendl, who played nine) and one WCT Finals and one Grand Slam Cup. He also won five Masters 1000 series titles and eight Championship Series titles. Tennis Magazine put Becker in 18th place on its list of the 40 greatest tennis players from 1965 to 2005.
Becker was born in Leimen, West Germany, the only son of Elvira (née Pisch), who was raised in Czechoslovakia. His parents were Catholic, and part of his mother's family were Jewish. His father Karl-Heinz, an architect, founded the tennis centre (Tennis-Club Blau-Weiß 1964 Leimen e. V.) in Leimen, where Becker learned the game.
Becker turned professional in 1984, under the guidance of Romanian-born coach, Günther Bosch, and with Ion Ţiriac as manager and won his first professional doubles title that year in Munich. As a West German teenager, Becker won his first top-level singles title in June 1985 at Queen's Club and two weeks later on 7 July, became the first unseeded player and the first German to win the Wimbledon singles title, defeating Kevin Curren in four sets. At the time, he was the youngest ever male Grand Slam singles champion at &1000000000000001700000017 years, &10000000000000227000000227 days (a record later broken by Michael Chang in 1989, who won the French Open when he was &1000000000000001700000017 years, &10000000000000110000000110 days). Two months after his triumph, Becker became the youngest winner of the Cincinnati Open.
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Brian Teacher
Brian David Teacher (born December 23, 1954) is a 6' 3" right handed American former professional male tennis player. He reached a career-high ranking World No. 7 in 1981.
Teacher is best remembered for his singles championship at the Australian Open in 1980. He won the final over Kim Warwick of Australia in straight sets (7-5, 7-6, 6-2), becoming the first Jewish male to win a singles title in a Grand Slam event since the 1950s.
With his Grand Slam victory, Teacher is one of only five American players in the Open era to have won a single Grand Slam event (along with Chang, Gerulaitis, Roddick & Tanner). Seven more Americans have one more than one slam (Smith, Ashe, Courier, Connors, Agassi, McEnroe & Sampras).
Following his playing career, he became a ATP & WTA touring coach working with, among others, Andre Agassi & Greg Rusedski. Under his tutelage, Rusedski made a run from #85 in the world to the top ten and the U.S. Open finals. Teacher also coached world #1 doubles players Jim Grabb, Richey Renenberg, Daniel Nestor, & Max Mirnyi. On the women's side, he coached WTA tour player Marissa Irvin.
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Bridgette Wilson
Bridgette Leann Wilson-Sampras (born September 25, 1973) is an American actress, singer and model. A Miss Teen USA in 1990, Wilson holds several acting roles in television and movies, including the role of Veronica Vaughn in the movie Billy Madison, the role of Elsa Shivers in the movie I Know What You Did Last Summer, and the role of Sonya Blade in the movie Mortal Kombat. She married tennis player Pete Sampras in 2000.
Wilson was born in Gold Beach, Oregon, the daughter of Kathy and Dale Wilson. Her sister Tracy Wilson, is also an actress (as a child, Tracy made her debut in the movie Resurrection, which co-starred Ellen Burstyn). Bridgette was crowned Miss Teen USA in 1990 in Biloxi, Mississippi; she is the second contender from Oregon to win the crown.
After her reign as Miss Teen USA, Wilson became an actress and appeared in: Santa Barbara, Saved By The Bell (playing "Ginger"), The Last Action Hero (as Jack Slater's daughter Whitney), Billy Madison (playing Adam Sandler's teacher/girlfriend Veronica Vaughan), Higher Learning (cameo as a university student), Mortal Kombat (playing Sonya Blade), Nixon (cameo as a nightclub performer), I Know What You Did Last Summer (as Sarah Michelle Gellar's ill-fated elder sister), House on Haunted Hill (as Melissa Marr), Buying the Cow, The Suburbans, Love Stinks, Nevada, Sweet Evil (as a psychopathic surrogate mother), Extreme Ops (as a world-champion snowboarder) and The Wedding Planner. Wilson also appeared on an episode of CSI Miami as a woman whose husband is killed by a package delivered to their house.
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Bud Collins
Arthur Worth "Bud" Collins, Jr. (born June 17, 1929 in Lima, Ohio) is an American journalist and television sportscaster, best known for his tennis commentary. Collins is married to photographer Anita Ruthling Klaussen.
Collins is a 1947 graduate of Berea High School in Berea, Ohio and a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College, where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. After his U.S. Army service, Collins decided to attend Boston University graduate school. From 1959–1963 he served as the tennis coach at Brandeis University, where one of his players was Abbie Hoffman.
Collins started writing for the Boston Herald as a sportswriter while he was a student at Boston University. In 1963, he moved to the Boston Globe and also began doing tennis commentary for Boston's Public Broadcasting Service outlet, WGBH. From 1968-72, he worked for CBS Sports during its coverage of the US Open tournament, moving to NBC Sports in 1972 to work that network's Wimbledon coverage. He also teamed with Donald Dell to call tennis matches for PBS television from 1974-77.
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Budge Patty
John "Budge" Edward Patty (born February 11, 1924) is a former American male tennis player. He was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States.
1950 Wimbledon Championships – Men's Singles
In 1950, he won the men's singles championship at both Wimbledon and the French Championships. Only two other American men have achieved this double victory: Don Budge in 1938 and Tony Trabert in 1955.
He was inducted in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1977.
Patty attended Los Angeles High School. He now lives in Lausanne, Switzerland, with his wife, Marcina.
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Carlos Moyà
Carlos Moyá Llompart (Catalan: Carles Moyà, Spanish: Carlos Moyá; born 27 August 1976) is a retired former World No. 1 tennis player from Spain. He was the French Open singles champion in 1998 and was the singles runner-up at the 1997 Australian Open. In 2004, he helped his country win the Davis Cup. He currently resides in Switzerland.
Moyá was born in Palma, Spain. He began playing tennis at six with his parents. He turned professional in 1995 and won his first tour title later that year in Buenos Aires. He previously dated Italian Flavia Pennetta. The two split in 2007. He is dating Spanish actress Carolina Cerezuela, with whom he has a daughter, Carla, born by C-section on 18 August 2010 at the USP Clínica Palmaplanas in Palma, Majorca.
In 1997, Moyá reached his first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open, defeating World No. 3 Michael Chang in the semifinals in straight sets, before losing in straight sets to Pete Sampras.
In 1998, Moyá won the French Open. He defeated the tournament favourite, Marcelo Ríos in the quarterfinals, and fellow-Spaniard Álex Corretja in the final with a straight-sets win. He also won his first Tennis Masters Series tournament that year at Monte Carlo. He reached the semifinals of the US Open, losing to Mark Philippoussis. He concluded the year by finishing runner-up at the ATP World Championships (now known as the Tennis Masters Cup), where he lost in a five-set final to Corretja, having won the first two sets.
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Carlos Moyá
Carlos Moyá Llompart (Catalan: Carles Moyà, Spanish: Carlos Moyá; born 27 August 1976) is a retired former World No. 1 tennis player from Spain. He was the French Open singles champion in 1998 and was the singles runner-up at the 1997 Australian Open. In 2004, he helped his country win the Davis Cup. He currently resides in Switzerland.
Moyá was born in Palma, Spain. He began playing tennis at six with his parents. He turned professional in 1995 and won his first tour title later that year in Buenos Aires. He previously dated Italian Flavia Pennetta. The two split in 2007. He is dating Spanish actress Carolina Cerezuela, with whom he has a daughter, Carla, born by C-section on 18 August 2010 at the USP Clínica Palmaplanas in Palma, Majorca.
In 1997, Moyá reached his first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open, defeating World No. 3 Michael Chang in the semifinals in straight sets, before losing in straight sets to Pete Sampras.
In 1998, Moyá won the French Open. He defeated the tournament favourite, Marcelo Ríos in the quarterfinals, and fellow-Spaniard Álex Corretja in the final with a straight-sets win. He also won his first Tennis Masters Series tournament that year at Monte Carlo. He reached the semifinals of the US Open, losing to Mark Philippoussis. He concluded the year by finishing runner-up at the ATP World Championships (now known as the Tennis Masters Cup), where he lost in a five-set final to Corretja, having won the first two sets.
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Chris Woodruff
Chris Woodruff (born January 3, 1973) is an American former professional male tennis player. He hails from Knoxville, Tennessee and was trained at the Knoxville Racquet Club.
Woodruff attended the hometown University of Tennessee where in 1993 he won the NCAA single's title by defeating Wade McGuire of Georgia. He remains the only individual champion the school has ever had. He was also an All-American in 1992.
After winning the collegiate crown, Woodruff began his professional career.
Woodruff won two singles titles during his career, and his first was also his biggest: The Canadian Open in 1997, an ATP Masters Series event. After winning that title he posted the highest ranking of his career: World No. 29 on August 25, 1997. He also won the 1999 Newport, Rhode Island event at the Tennis Hall of Fame.
He was named to the United States Davis Cup team in 2000, joining Andre Agassi after Pete Sampras and Todd Martin both were forced to drop out, and won his match against Wayne Black to help erase a 2–1 deficit and advance to the second round. He reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open in the year 2000 before losing to Pete Sampras in straight sets.
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Christian Saceanu
Christian Saceanu (born July 8, 1968 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania) is a retired tennis player from Germany, who turned professional in 1986. The right-hander won two singles titles (1988, Bristol and 1991, Rosmalen) in his career. Saceanu reached his highest singles ATP-ranking on March 7, 1988, when he became the number 60 of the world.
Saceanu began playing tennis when he was nine. He was ranked No. 1 in the Rumanian 14s and one year later moved with his family to West Germany where he won the German National Singles title in 1986. In that same year he was ranked No. 1 in the 18s .
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Christo van Rensburg
Christo van Rensburg (born 23 October 1962 in Uitenhage, South Africa) is a former professional tennis player from South Africa.
Van Rensburg turned professional in 1983. He won his first tour doubles title later that year at Cleveland.
Van Rensburg won 20 top-level doubles titles during his career, including one Grand Slam men's doubles title at the Australian Open in 1985, partnering Paul Annacone. He also won two ATP singles titles at Orlando in 1987, and at Johannesburg in 1989. Van Rensburg's career-high rankings were World No. 19 in singles (achieved in 1988) and World No. 5 in doubles (achieved in 1987). His career prize-money totalled $1,928,431. He retired from the professional tour in 1995.
Van Rensburg is one of only two men to beat Pete Sampras in straight sets at Wimbledon (doing so in 1990, where Sampras was the No. 12 seed), the other being 1996 Champion Richard Krajicek.
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Cédric Pioline
Cédric Pioline (born 15 June 1969) is a retired French professional tennis player who played on the professional tour from 1989 to 2002. He reached the men's singles final at the 1993 US Open and at Wimbledon in 1997. On both occasions, he was beaten by Pete Sampras in straight sets.
Pioline's career-high singles ranking was World No. 5, achieved in 2000.
Pioline won five singles titles in his career, the biggest at the ATP Masters Series event in Monte Carlo in 2000 – his last ever final on the professional tour. In addition to his finals appearances at the US Open and Wimbledon, he reached 10 other singles finals, including at Monte Carlo in 1993 and 1998. Pioline also competed for France in Davis Cup, winning the cup in 1996 and 2001. After retiring from tennis, he became a tennis administrator. As of October 2008, he is the tournament director of the ATP Masters Series event in Paris and plays on the senior ATP tour.
Cédric grew up in a family of athletes. His native Romanian mother, Adriana, born in Câmpina, was a volleyball player; she was part of the Romanian national team at 1956 Volleyball World Championships Finals, but her team lost in the finals against the Soviet Union, and took home the silver medal. His father, Maurice, also a professional volleyball player, who met his mother while at a volleyball match in Paris; they started dating, and later they married. The couple had two sons: Denis, who was their first child; and, three years later, Cédric.
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David Nalbandian
David Pablo Nalbandian (born January 1, 1982) is an Argentine professional tennis player and former world no. 3. He was runner-up at the 2002 Wimbledon Championships and the winner of the Tennis Masters Cup in 2005.
David Nalbandian was born in the small city of Unquillo in Córdoba Province, Argentina. His mother is of Italian descent and his father is of Armenian descent. He turned a professional tennis player at the age of 18.
He turned professional in 2000. In 2001, he finished in the ATP top 50 for the first time. He finished 2002 as the no. 1 Argentine and South American for the first time in his career, winning two ATP titles and reaching the Wimbledon final, where he lost to Lleyton Hewitt.
Nalbanian was not able to return to the Wimbledon final in 2003, as he was knocked out in the round of 16 by hometown favourite Tim Henman. He did however make an impressive run at the U.S. Open, taking out both of the Wimbledon finalists 20th seed Mark Philippoussis, and the second seed Roger Federer along the way to a semifinal matchup with Andy Roddick. It was the second time in less than a month that he had met Roddick in a high-stakes match, having lost to him in the final of the Rogers Cup a few weeks earlier. Nalbandian started strongly, taking a two sets to love lead, and held a match point in the third-set tiebreak. There was a little bit of controversy during the match, when a fan yelled "out" at 7–7 in the tiebreak, causing Nalbandian to mishit his following shot when he thought the linesman was the one who called it. Roddick took the point and eventually prevailed in the tiebreak. Ultimately, he was unable to finish the match off and eventually lost 6–7, 3–6, 7–6, 6–1, 6–3. He finished 2003 ranked #8 in the world.
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Dick Savitt
Richard "Dick" Savitt (born March 4, 1927) is a 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 metres) and 185-pound (84 kg) right-handed American male former tennis player.
Savitt was ranked World No. 2 in 1951. That year, at the age of 24, he won both the Wimbledon Singles Championship and the Australian Singles title. He retired the following year.
Savitt is one of three American men who have won both the Australian and British Championships in one year, following Don Budge (1938) and preceding Jimmy Connors (1974).
Savitt is Jewish, and was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. He taught himself tennis at the age of 14, but never took a tennis lesson in his life. The self-taught Savitt played tennis well enough, however, to make the finals of the New Jersey Boys Championship and, for two years afterward, the National Boys Tennis Tournament before moving up to the junior ranks.
His first love was basketball, though, and when his family moved to Texas, he was an All-State forward and a co-captain of his El Paso, Texas high school basketball team in 1944. In 1945 Savitt entered the Navy, and played on a service basketball team.
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Don Budge
John Donald ("Don" or "Donnie") Budge (June 13, 1915 – January 26, 2000) was an American tennis champion who was a World No. 1 player for five years, first as an amateur and then as a professional. He is most famous as the first player, male or female, and only American male to win in a single year the four tournaments that comprise the Grand Slam of tennis and second male player to win all 4 Grand Slams in his career after Fred Perry. He won 10 Majors of which six Grand Slams and four Pro Slams, the latter achieved on three different surfaces. Budge was considered to have the best backhand in the history of tennis, at least until the emergence of Ken Rosewall in the 1950s and 1960s.
Born in Oakland, California, Budge was the son of a Scottish immigrant and former football player - his father had played several matches for the Rangers reserve team before emigrating to the United States. Growing up, he played a variety of sports before taking up tennis. He was tall and slim and his height would later help what is still considered one of the most powerful serves of all time.[citation needed] Budge studied at the University of California, Berkeley in late 1933 but left to play tennis with the U.S. Davis Cup auxiliary team.
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Ellsworth Vines
Henry Ellsworth Vines, Jr. (September 28, 1911 – March 17, 1994) was an American tennis champion of the 1930s, the World No. 1 player or the co-No. 1 for four years in 1932, 1935, 1936 and 1937, able to win Pro Slam titles on three different surfaces. He later became a professional golfer.
Vines attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, where he played on the freshman basketball team. Many believe that Mercer Beasley started him on his tennis career at age 14 in Pasadena. He was mentored by Perry T. Jones through the Los Angeles Tennis Club and the Southern California Tennis Association.
In the amateur ranks Vines won three Grand Slam tournaments, the Wimbledon Championships in 1932 and the U.S. Championships in 1931 and 1932 and he reached the final of Wimbledon in 1933. He played his first professional tennis match on January 10, 1934 and then became undoubtedly the leading pro player until 1938 (and the World No. 1 or No. 2 in the combined amateur-professional rankings). In 1934 and 1935 he won almost all the great pro events and the two big annual tours. Vines won five professional majors, which were the Wembley Pro in 1934, 1935 and 1936, the French Pro in 1935 and the US Pro in 1939. Vines also won the Paris Indoor (not to be confused with the French Pro) in 1934 and Southport Pro in 1935.
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Frank Sedgman
Frank Arthur Sedgman, born 29 October 1927, in Mont Albert, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, was a tennis player who was arguably the World No. 1 in 1952. In his 1979 autobiography Jack Kramer, the long-time tennis promoter and great player himself, included Sedgman in his list of the 21 greatest players of all time. Sedgman, Kramer wrote, "was as quick as anybody who ever played the game, but he couldn't keep the heat on."
In a four-year span from 1949 through 1952 Sedgman won 22 Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, three fewer than John Newcombe and six fewer than Roy Emerson won over longer periods of time. In both singles and doubles, Sedgman was the major force in the first three years of the Australian domination of the Davis Cup matches in which they won 15 victories in an 18-year span from 1950 through 1967.
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Fred Perry
Frederick John Perry (18 May 1909 – 2 February 1995) was a championship-winning English tennis and table tennis player who won 10 Majors including eight Grand Slams and two Pro Slams. Perry won three consecutive Wimbledon Championships between 1934 and 1936 and was World No. 1 four years in a row. Perry also became the last British player to win the men's Wimbledon championship in 1936.
Perry was the first player to win all four Grand Slam singles titles (though not all in the same year) and completed this "Career Grand Slam" at the age of 26. Although Perry began his tennis career aged 18, he was also a Table Tennis World Champion in 1929.
In 1933, Perry helped lead the Great Britain team to victory over France in the Davis Cup; the team's first success since 1912, followed by wins over the United States in 1934, 1935, and a fourth consecutive title with victory over Australia in 1936.
Perry was acclaimed across the tennis world, but was not universally admired in his homeland, and was widely ostracised by the tennis establishment for turning professional after completing a hat-trick of Wimbledon singles triumphs. After becoming disillusioned with the class-conscious nature of the Lawn Tennis Club of Great Britain, the working-class Perry moved to the United States before becoming a naturalised US citizen in 1938. In 1942, he was drafted into the US Air Force during the Second World War.
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Goran Ivanišević
Goran Ivanišević (Croatian pronunciation: [ɡǒran iʋanǐːʃɛʋitɕ]; born 13 September 1971) is a retired Croatian professional tennis player. He is the only person to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon as a wildcard. He achieved this in 2001, having previously been runner-up at the championships in 1992, 1994 and 1998. Ivanišević is famous for his strong serve, which is considered among the greatest to date. His career-high singles ranking was World No. 2 (behind Pete Sampras) in 1994. He is the reigning Legends under 45 French Open doubles Champion.
Goran is the son of Srđan and Gorana (née Škaričić). He turned professional in 1988 and later that year, with Rudiger Haas, won his first career doubles title in Frankfurt, but he focused more on his singles career, yet had some success in doubles, winning nine titles and reaching a career high ranking of 20.
Ivanišević made his first significant impact on the tour in 1990, knocking Boris Becker out of the first round of the French Open men's singles; he went on to reach the quarter-finals. He was also, with Petr Korda, the runner-up in the French Open men's doubles. At that year's Wimbledon, Ivanišević reached the semi-finals, where he lost to Becker in four sets. Ivanišević also won his first tour singles title in 1990 at Stuttgart and helped Yugoslavia win the World Team Cup. He played in eight ties for Yugoslavia in the Davis Cup before quitting the team after the Croatian declaration of independence in 1991. Yugoslavia lost its subsequent tie against France 5–0.
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Greg Rusedski
Gregory "Greg" Rusedski (born 6 September 1973, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is a British Canadian former tennis player who turned professional in 1991 and played until his retirement on 7 April 2007, at the age of 33. He is a former British No. 1 and ATP World No. 4.
Rusedski now provides commentary and analysis on the BBC's Wimbledon coverage.
Rusedski's first career singles tournament title was at the Hall of Fame Championship in Newport, Rhode Island in 1993.
Rusedski reached the singles final of the US Open in 1997, where he lost to Pat Rafter in four sets, (shortly thereafter reaching his career high rank of World No. 4). He also won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.
In 1998, Tim Henman eclipsed Rusedski as Britain's number one tennis player. Rusedski, however, won the Grand Slam Cup in 1999.
Rusedski was defeated in the second round of Wimbledon in 2005 by Joachim Johansson of Sweden 7–6, 3–6, 6–4, 7–6. Following that disappointment, Rusedski had a successful July. He successfully defended his title at the Hall of Fame Championship, defeating Vince Spadea in the final. This was the first time he had successfully defended a title and the third time he had won the championship. He then reached the semifinals at both the RCA Championships in Indianapolis, losing to Taylor Dent, and the Canada Masters tournament in Montreal, losing to Andre Agassi.
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Guillermo Cañas
Guillermo Ignacio Cañas (born November 25, 1977), often referred to as Willy Cañas, is a retired Argentine professional tennis player. He was born in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, and named after Argentine tennis star Guillermo Vilas. His highest singles ranking was 8th (June 2005). Upon his retirement from competition, Cañas currently serves as a coach to Ernests Gulbis. He also runs his own tennis academy, the "Cañas Tennis Academy," located at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park on Key Biscayne, Florida.
Cañas played a defensive counter-punching game from the baseline, and utilised his retrieving skills in order to frustrate opponents. He used a double-handed backhand.
After being suspended in August 2005 as a result of a positive drugs test, Cañas returned to the circuit on September 2006 at the challenger of Belém, Brazil.
Cañas holds a record of 5 victories and 2 defeats (3:1 in singles) in Davis Cup matches.
Cañas started playing at age 7. He turned professional in 1995, and began playing on the juniors circuit, enjoying some successes; these included a runner-up appearance at Surbiton, United Kingdom, and a win in the doubles event at the Italian Junior Championships, partnering Martín García.
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Guillermo Vilas
Guillermo Apolinario Vilas (born 17 August 1952, in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina) is a retired and former World No. 2 professional tennis player from Argentina. He was, however, thought to be the true World No. 1 in 1977 by several sources and publications, as well as through the current ATP-ranking system. Vilas was the second Latin-American to win a Grand Slam tournament.
Raised in the seaside resort of Mar del Plata, Vilas was a southpaw and played his first tour event in 1969. He was in the year-ending top ten from 1974 through 1982. He was a clay-court specialist but also played well on hard, grass, and carpet surfaces.
He won four Grand Slam titles: the 1977 French Open and the 1977 US Open (both played on clay) and the 1978 and 1979 Australian Open (both played on grass). He was also the runner-up at the French Open three times (1975, 1978, and 1982) and at the Australian Open once (January 1977).
In 1974 he won the year end Masters Grand Prix title. In addition he won five Championship Series titles (1975–80) the precursors to the current Masters 1000.
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Gustavo Kuerten
Gustavo Kuerten (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɡusˈtavu ˈkiɾtẽ]; born September 10, 1976) is a retired former World No. 1 tennis player from Brazil. He won the French Open three times between 1997 and 2001, and was the Tennis Masters Cup champion in 2000.
Kuerten suffered many problems with injuries which led him to miss a number of tournaments between 2002 and 2005. After a few failed attempts of comebacks, he retired from top-level tennis in May 2008.
Kuerten is also known as "Guga" (pronounced: [ˈɡuɡɐ]), an affectionate nickname which is a common abbreviation of the name "Gustavo" in Portuguese-speaking countries. He is a polyglot who speaks fluent Portuguese, Spanish, English and French.[citation needed]
Kuerten was born in Florianópolis in southern Brazil. He comes from an ethnically German family. He began playing tennis when he was six, an early start to a life and career marked by family tragedy. His father, a former amateur tennis player, died of a heart attack in 1985 while umpiring a junior tennis match in Curitiba, when Kuerten was only eight years old. His older brother, Raphael, is currently his business manager. His youngest brother suffered prolonged oxygen deprivation and consequently irreparable brain damage during birth, and as a result suffered from mental retardation and severe physical disability until his death in 2007. Kuerten was deeply affected by his brother's daily struggles, later donating the entire prize money from one tournament he has won every year of his professional career so far to a hometown NGO that provides assistance for people suffering from similar disabilities. He gave every trophy he won to his younger brother as a souvenir, including the three miniature replicas of the French Open men's singles trophy. His favourite football team is brazilian Avaí Futebol Clube.
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Guy Forget
Guy Forget (French pronunciation: [ɡi fɔʁʒe]; born 4 January 1965 in Casablanca, Morocco) is a French former professional tennis player. During his career, he helped France win the Davis Cup in both 1991 and 1996. Since retiring as a player, he has served as France's Davis Cup team captain.
Forget first came to the tennis world's attention as an outstanding junior player who won the French Open junior title in 1982. He turned professional later that year.
His breakthrough year on the professional tour was 1986 when he made it to the fourth round of Roland Garros, his best grand slam at that point, and won his first top-level singles title in Toulouse, and was also part of the French team which won the World Team Cup. Forget also won six doubles titles in 1986, reaching his career-high doubles ranking of World Number 3 in August that year, finishing in the runner-up spot with partner Jakob Hlasek at the 1990 ATP Tour World Championships tournament.
In 1987 Forget and Yannick Noah finished runners-up in the men's doubles at the French Open. In 1990, Forget partnered Jakob Hlasek to win the ATP Tour World Championships doubles title.
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Henri Cochet
Henri Jean Cochet (14 December 1901 – 2 April 1987) was a champion tennis player, one of the famous "Four Musketeers" from France who dominated tennis in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Born in Villeurbanne, Rhône, Cochet won ten amateur majors and one pro major during his singles career. He was the World No. 1 player for three consecutive years, 1928 through 1930.
Jack Kramer, the long-time tennis promoter, and a great player himself, in his 1979 autobiography included Cochet in his list of the 21 greatest players of all time.
The Four Musketeers were inducted simultaneously into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island in 1976. Cochet died at age 85 in Paris.
French Championships
Wimbledon
U.S. Championships
World Hard Court Championships
World Covered Court Championships
§: the French Championship was a non-international event in 1922 and didn't become a major until 1925 when the tournament opened up its doors to players who weren't members of French tennis clubs.
French Pro
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Ilie Năstase
Ilie Năstase (Romanian pronunciation: [iˈli.e nəsˈtase], born July 19, 1946, in Bucharest, Romania) is a Romanian former professional tennis player, one of the world's top players of the 1970s. Năstase was the World No. 1 tennis player between 1973 (August 23) and 1974 (June 2). He is one of the five players in history to win more than 100 ATP professional titles (57 singles and 45 in doubles). He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1991. Năstase won seven Grand Slam titles: two in singles, three in men's doubles, and two in mixed doubles. He also won four Masters Grand Prix year end championship titles and seven Championship Series titles (1970–73) the precursors to the current Masters 1000. In 2005, Tennis magazine ranked him as the 28th-best player of the preceding forty years. He is the second male player to win a Grand Slam without dropping a set and the first one to achieve this feat at French Open (1973).
At the beginning of his career in 1966 Năstase travelled around the world competing with his good friend Ion Ţiriac. Together, they represented Romania in the Davis Cup competition, being three times runners up: in 1969, 1971 and 1972.
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Ivan Lendl
Ivan Lendl (born March 7, 1960) is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player. Originally from Czechoslovakia, he became a United States citizen in 1992. He was one of the game's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Lendl captured eight Grand Slam singles titles. He competed in 19 Grand Slam singles finals, record surpassed by Roger Federer in 2009. He reached at least one Grand Slam final for 11 consecutive years, a record shared with Pete Sampras, with the male primacy of 8 consecutive finals in a slam tournament (a record shared with Bill Tilden at US Open). Before the formation of the ATP Lendl reached a record 12 year-end championships (equaled by John McEnroe). He won two WCT Finals titles and five Masters Grand Prix titles, with the record of 9 consecutive finals. He also won a record 22 Championship Series titles (1980–89) the precursors to the current ATP Masters 1000. Lendl first attained the world no. 1 ranking on February 28, 1983 and bolstered his claim to the top spot when he defeated John McEnroe in the 1984 French Open final. For much of the next five years, Lendl was the top ranked player until August 1990 (with a break from September 1988 to January 1989 when Mats Wilander was at the top). He finished four years ranked as the world's top player (1985–1987 and 1989) and was ranked no. 1 for a total of 270 weeks and set a new record previously held by Jimmy Connors, since broken by Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. In 2011 he became Andy Murray's coach.
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Ivan Ljubičić
Ivan Ljubičić (pronounced [ǐv̞an ʎûbitʃitɕ]; born March 19, 1979) is a retired Croatian tennis player. His career-high ATP ranking was no. 3.
Tall and powerfully built, he was noted for his strong serve. He achieved his best results in indoor tournaments played on carpet or hardcourt. Mostly a baseliner, he approached the net selectively (Ljubičić was a good volleyer and plays doubles occasionally). On his backhand, he used a slice or a drop-shot to great effect to draw a player or put him out of position. Relying heavily on his serve, he held well but was a comparatively weak returner, producing many sets ending in tie-breaks. Ljubičić used the Head Youtek Extreme Pro Racquet, after using the Babolat Pure Drive for most of his professional career.
Ljubičić previously served as the ATP Player Council president and strongly voiced his opinion on many issues, such as the possible downgrading of current Masters Series tournaments in Monte Carlo and Hamburg.[citation needed]
Ljubičić and Mario Ančić are only the second doubles team ever to defeat Bob and Mike Bryan in Davis Cup history, the other team being France's Arnaud Clément and Michaël Llodra. Ljubičić helped Croatia win the 2005 Davis Cup, where they triumphed over the Slovakian Davis Cup team in the final.
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Jack Kramer
John Albert Kramer (August 1, 1921 - September 12, 2009) was an American tennis player of the 1940s and 1950s. A World No. 1 player for a number of years, he is a possible candidate for the title of the greatest tennis player of all time. He was considered the father and the leading promoter of the professional tennis tours. He was a relentless advocate for the establishment of Open Tennis between amateur and professional players. Open Tennis lost by five votes in 1960, but became a reality in 1968. In 1970, he created the Mens Grand Prix points system. In 1972, he helped found the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) with Donald Dell and Cliff Drysdale, and was the first Executive Director. He was unpaid at his request. In that role, he was the leader of an ATP boycott of Wimbledon in 1973, for the banning of Nikola Pilić from the tournament. Tall and slim, he was the first world-class player to play "the Big Game", a consistent serve-and-volley game, in which he came to the net behind all of his serves, including the second serve. He was particularly known for his powerful serve and forehand, as well as his ability to play "percentage tennis", which he learned from Cliff Roche, a retired Railroad Engineer, at the Los Angeles Tennis Club (LATC). This strategy maximized his efforts on certain points and in certain games during the course of a match to increase his chances of winning. The key was to hold serve at all costs.
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Jaime Yzaga
Jaime Yzaga Tori (born October 23, 1967 in Lima, Peru) is a former professional tennis player from Peru.
Yzaga played on the professional tour from 1984 to 1996.
Yzaga reached career-high rankings of World No. 18 in singles and World No. 54 in doubles (both in 1989). He was a quarter-finalist at the Australian Open in 1991, and at the US Open in 1994, reaching the final eight by defeating a dominant Pete Sampras in 5 sets, in the previous round. He had earlier been the first ever opponent of Pete Sampras in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament, in the first round of the U.S. Open in 1988, also winning that match in 5 sets. Since retiring as a player, Yzaga has served as captain of Peru's Davis Cup team.
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Jan Kodeš
Jan Kodeš (Czech: Jan Kodeš; born March 1, 1946, in Prague, Czechoslovakia) is a right-handed Czech former tennis player who won three Grand Slam events in the early-1970s.
Kodeš's greatest success was on the clay courts of the French Open. He won the title there in 1970, beating Željko Franulović in the final, and in 1971, defeating Ilie Năstase in the final. He also won Wimbledon on grass in 1973, although 13 of the top 16 players, and 81 players in total, did not play the tournament that year because of a boycott over the ILTF banning Nikola Pilic from that Wimbledon. Kodeš beat home favorite Roger Taylor in the semifinals 8–9, 9–7, 5–7, 6–4, 7–5 and Alex Metreveli in the final 6–1, 9–8, 6–3.
Kodeš never played the Australian Open but he was twice the runner-up at the US Open, in 1971 and 1973.
Kodeš reached his highest tour ranking of World No. 4 in September 1973. During his career, he won a total of 8 top-level singles titles and 17 doubles titles.
He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1990.
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Jason Stoltenberg
Jason Stoltenberg (born 4 April 1970, in Narrabri, Australia) is a former professional tennis player from Australia.
Stoltenberg began playing tennis at age ten on an antbed (crushed termite mound) court where his father owned a cotton farm in the Far West (the bush) of New South Wales. He was an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder. In 1987, he won the boys' singles title at the Australian Open and was ranked the World No. 1 junior player. He turned professional later that year, and reached his first tour singles final in 1989 at Livingston, New Jersey.
Stoltenberg's first top-level title was won in 1993 at Manchester. He was also part of the Australian team which finished runners-up in that year's Davis Cup, losing in the final to Germany.
Stoltenberg's best performance at a Grand Slam event came in 1996, when he reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon before being knocked-out by eventual champion Richard Krajicek.
During his career, Stoltenberg won four top-level singles titles and five doubles titles. His career-high rankings were World No. 19 in singles and No. 23 in doubles. His career prize money totalled US$3,305,212. His last singles title came in 1997 at Coral Springs, Florida. He retired from the professional tour in 2001.
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Jay Berger
Jay Berger (born November 26, 1966, in Fort Dix, New Jersey) is a former professional tennis player from the United States. He won three singles and one doubles title on the ATP Tour and reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 7 in April 1990.
Berger was the USTA Boys’ 18s National Champion in 1985.[1][2]. He also won the 1985 Florida State Junior Championship. He had the best finish of any reigning Boys’ 18s National Champion at the US Open during the Open Era when he reached the 4th round in 1985.
Berger was an All-American at Clemson University in 1985 and 1986, where he recorded a 91–22 singles record in two seasons. His 80.5% career winning percentage in singles play places 3rd all-time at Clemson.
Berger turned professional in 1985. He played on the tour from 1985–91.
He won his first top-level singles title in 1986 at Buenos Aires. In 1988, he captured both the singles and doubles titles at São Paulo. In March he upset world # 2 Mats Wilander, 6–0, 7–5, in Orlando, Florida. In March 1989 Berger upset world # 3 Boris Becker, 6–1, 6–1, in Indian Wells. In May he upset world # 3 Mats Wilander, 6–3, 6–4, in Rome. In August Berger beat world # 3 Stefan Edberg, 6–4, 6–2, at Indianapolis.
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Jim Courier
James Spencer "Jim" Courier, Jr. (born August 17, 1970) is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won four Grand Slam singles titles, two at the French Open and two at the Australian Open. He holds the record for being the youngest man to have reached the finals of all four Grand Slam singles tournaments, at the age of 22 years and 11 months. He also won five Masters 1000 series titles.
Jim was raised in Dade City, Florida and though he excelled at youth sports in general, after a certain point it became clear that tennis was where his true talent lay. As a junior player in the 1980s, Courier attended the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy and won the prestigious Orange Bowl in 1986 and 1987, as well as the French Open junior doubles title in 1987.
Courier turned professional in 1988 and made his Grand Slam breakthrough at the 1991 French Open when he defeated Stefan Edberg and Michael Stich to reach his first Grand Slam final. In the final, he defeated his former Bollettieri Academy roommate Andre Agassi in five sets to win his first Slam. He made the quarterfinals of Wimbledon before losing to eventual champion Stich. At the US Open, he defeated defending champion Pete Sampras in the quarterfinals and then Jimmy Connors in the semifinals before losing the final to Edberg.
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Jimmy Connors
James Scott "Jimmy" Connors (born September 2, 1952, in East St. Louis, Illinois) is a former world no. 1 tennis player from the United States. He is regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Connors won eight Grand Slam singles titles and two Grand Slam doubles titles with Ilie Năstase. He was also a runner-up seven times in Grand Slam singles, a doubles runner-up with Năstase at the 1973 French Open, and a mixed doubles runner-up with Chris Evert at the 1974 US Open. He held the top ranking for a then-record 160 consecutive weeks from July 29, 1974 to August 22, 1977 and an additional eight times during his career for a total of 268 weeks
In 1974, Connors became the second male in the open era to win three or more Grand Slam singles titles in a calendar year (Rod Laver being the first in 1969 and having been joined since by Mats Wilander, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic). Connors is also the only man to win U.S. Open singles championships on grass, clay, and hard courts.
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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (French pronunciation: [(d)ʒo vilfʁid t͡sɔŋɡa]; born (1985-04-17)April 17, 1985) is a French professional tennis player. He was born in Le Mans, to a French mother, Évelyne, and a Congolese father, Didier, who moved to France in the 1970s to play handball. Tsonga is a member of the Tennis Club de Paris (TCP). His current career-high singles ranking is World No. 5, which he achieved on February 27, 2012.
Tsonga rose to fame by virtue of his performance in the 2008 Australian Open when, as an unseeded player, he reached the final, having defeated four seeded players along the way, including earning a straight sets win over the then world number two Rafael Nadal in the semifinals. Tsonga eventually lost to the then world no. 3 Novak Djokovic in the final in four sets, after winning the first set, the only set Djokovic dropped during the tournament.
Tsonga followed this up by winning his first ATP Masters Series championship at the 2008 Paris Masters, thus qualifying for the 2008 Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, China. His best performances in a major tournament since 2008 are semifinal appearances in the 2010 Australian Open and 2011 Wimbledon Championships. He also reached the final of the 2011 ATP World Tour Finals where he lost to five-time and defending champion Roger Federer.
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Johan Kriek
Johan Kriek (born April 5, 1958) is a South African-American professional male tennis player and founder of the Global Water Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to delivering clean water to the world's neediest communities. Kriek won two Australian Opens and reached the semifinals at the French Open and US Open, as well as the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. He won 14 professional singles and 8 doubles titles, reaching an all-time high ranking of no. 7 in the world. Kriek’s most memorable wins include victories over Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, and Björn Borg.
Currently Kriek and his wife Daga Mrozek Kriek run the The Johan Kriek Tennis Academy in Virginia, where they reside with their daughter, Karolina.
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John McEnroe
John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. (born February 16, 1959) is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles (three at Wimbledon and four at the US Open), nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title. McEnroe also won a record eight season ending championships, comprising five WCT Finals titles and three Masters Grand Prix titles from twelve final appearances at these two events, a record he shares with Ivan Lendl. He posted the best single season win-loss record in the Open Era in 1984 at 96.47% (82/3). In addition he won 19 Championship Series top tier events of the Grand Prix Tour that were the precursors to the current Masters 1000.
He is best remembered for his shot-making artistry and superb volleying; for his famous rivalries with Björn Borg, Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl; for his confrontational on-court behavior which frequently landed him in trouble with umpires and tennis authorities; and for the catchphrase "You cannot be serious!" directed toward an umpire during a match at Wimbledon in 1981. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999, and is regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
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John Newcombe
John David Newcombe, AO, OBE (born 23 May 1944 in Sydney) is a former World No. 1 tennis player.
He won seven Grand Slam singles titles, A natural athlete, Newcombe played several sports as a boy until devoting himself to tennis. He was the Australian junior champion in 1961, 1962, and 1963 and was a member of Australia's Davis Cup winning team in 1964. He won his first Grand Slam title in 1965 by taking the Australian Championships doubles title with fellow Australian Tony Roche. That same year, the duo won the Wimbledon doubles title. They teamed to win the Australian doubles championship three more times, Wimbledon another four times and the US Championships in 1967, the French Championships in 1967, and the French Open in 1969. They won 12 Grand Slam titles, more than any other men's team in tennis history.
Newcombe's powerful serve and volley was the backbone of his attacking game. He frequently came up with a second-serve ace. He was the top ranked amateur in the world in 1967 according to Lance Tingay, although Rex Bellamy ranked him second behind Roy Emerson. As a professional, Newcombe was the joint world number one player in 1970 and 1971. In singles play, he was a two-time winner of the Australian Open, a three-time winner of Wimbledon, and a two-time winner of the US Open.
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Juan Carlos Ferrero
Juan Carlos Ferrero Donat (born 12 February 1980) is a professional tennis player, and a former World No. 1 player, from Spain. He captured the men's singles title at the 2003 French Open, and in September of that year, became the 21st player to hold the World No. 1 ranking. He was also the runner-up at the 2002 French Open and the 2003 US Open. His nickname is "Mosquito" due to his speed and his slight physical build.
Ferrero began playing tennis at age seven with his father, Eduardo, who often travels with son. He has two sisters, Ana and Laura and admires the play of former No. 1 and two-time Roland Garros champion Jim Courier. Ferrero's inspiration has been his mother, Rosario, who died from cancer when he was 17. In July 2007, he bought an old cottage in Bocairente, 50 minutes south from Valencia and refurbished it into "Hotel Ferrero", which features 12 luxury suites. He is also a joint owner of the Valencia Open 500 tournament together with David Ferrer. His fitness trainer is Miguel Maeso, and he is coached by Antonio Martinez (since 1989) and Salvador Navarro (since May 2008), who travels with him most of the time.
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Karel Nováček
Karel Nováček (born 30 March 1965) is a retired Czech former top ten tennis player. Born in Prostějov, Czechoslovakia (Czech Republic). Nováček now lives in Boca Raton, Florida, United States.
In his career, Nováček won 13 singles titles and 6 doubles titles. His highest singles ranking was World No. 8, which he achieved on 18 November 1991.
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Karol Kučera
Karol Kučera (born March 4, 1974 in Bratislava) is a retired ATP professional male tennis player from Slovakia. He is a former top 10 player and has been ranked as high as World No. 6.
Kučera turned professional in 1992. He was a member of the Czechoslovakian Galea Cup teams in 1991 and 1992 and the 1992 European championship squad. In 1993 he qualified for his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros.
In 1995 when Kučera won his first ATP title in Rosmalen. In 1996 he played in the Summer Olympics in Atlanta where he lost to eventual gold medalist Andre Agassi.
A year later he won his second ATP title in Ostrava defeating Magnus Norman. He was runner-up in two other tournaments in Nottingham on grass to Greg Rusedski and Stuttgart Outdoor to Sergi Bruguera on clay.
Kučera's best year was in 1998, where he finished the year in the top 10, ranked World No. 8, which qualified him in the ATP Tour World Championship in Hannover. During the year Kučera won 2 titles in Sydney defeating Tim Henman and New Haven defeating Goran Ivanišević.
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Ken Rosewall
Kenneth Robert ("Ken") Rosewall AM MBE (born 2 November 1934) is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles (and completed the Pro Grand Slam in 1963). Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam. He is considered to be one of the top male tennis players of all time. He had a renowned backhand and enjoyed a long career at the highest levels from the early 1950s to the early 1970s. He was one of the two best male players for about nine years and was the World No. 1 player for a number of years in the early 1960s. He was ranked among the top 20 players, amateur or professional, every year from 1952 through 1977. Rosewall is the only player to have simultaneously held Pro Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces (1962-1963). He was the first male player during the open era to win a Grand Slam without dropping a set (1971 Australian Open).
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Laurence Doherty
Hugh Laurence "Laurie" Doherty (8 October 1875 in Wimbledon, London – 21 August 1919 in Broadstairs, Kent) was an English tennis player and younger brother of Reggie Doherty. He was an Olympic gold medalist in the sport.
Doherty was the shorter of the two brothers, at 5-foot-10, who played championship tennis in their native England and at Wimbledon at the turn of the century.
He was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he played for the Cambridge University Lawn Tennis Club.
Known as "Little Do", Doherty won Wimbledon five consecutive times in singles and eight times in doubles with his brother. In 1903, he became the first tennis player to win a Grand Slam tournament outside of his native country by beating defending champion William Larned at the U.S. Championships 6–0, 6–3, 10–8. He also won Queens indoor six times in a row (1901–1906) and The South of France Championships (Nice) seven times in a row (1900–1906). He gave up tennis for golf in 1906 and distinguished himself in that sport as well.
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Lew Hoad
Lewis Alan ("Lew") Hoad (Glebe, New South Wales, 23 November 1934 – 3 July 1994 in Fuengirola, Spain) was a former World No. 1 tennis player.
In his 1979 autobiography, Jack Kramer, the long-time tennis promoter and great player himself, ranks Hoad as one of the 21 best players of all time. For five straight years, beginning in 1952, he was ranked in the world top 10 for amateurs, reaching the World No. 1 spot in 1956. Hoad turned professional in July 1957.
In 2012 Rod Laver, writing for Melbourne newspaper the Herald Sun, ranked Lew as the greatest player of the "Past Champions" era of Tennis. Laver described his strengths of "Power, Volleying and Explosiveness" as justification of his accolade.
Hoad won four majors as an amateur, and won the 1959 Tournament of Champions as a professional.
With his movie-star good looks, powerful physique, and outgoing personality, Hoad became a tennis icon in the 1950s. As Kramer says,
Strength played an important part of Hoad's game, as he often drove for winners rather than rallying and waiting for the right opportunity. Although he assaulted his opponents, he also had the skill to win the French Championships on the slower clay court. According to Kramer, "Hoad had the loosest game of any good kid I ever saw. There was absolutely no pattern to his game.... He was the only player I ever saw who could stand six or seven feet behind the baseline and snap the ball back hard, crosscourt. He'd try for winners off everything, off great serves, off tricky short balls, off low volleys. He hit hard overspin drives, and there was no way you could ever get him to temporise on important points."
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Lleyton Hewitt
Lleyton Glynn Hewitt ( /ˈleɪtən ˈhjuːɨt/; born 24 February 1981) is an Australian professional tennis player and former world no. 1, who has a current ATP ranking of 176.
Hewitt is the youngest male ever to be ranked no. 1 at the age of 20. His career achievements include winning the 2000 US Open men's doubles, the 2001 US Open and 2002 Wimbledon men's singles, and back-to-back Tennis Masters Cup titles (2001 and 2002). In 2005, TENNIS Magazine put Hewitt in 34th place on its list of the 40 greatest tennis players since 1965.
Hewitt might well have followed in the footsteps of his Australian rules football-playing father Glynn. Instead, he became one of the youngest winners of an Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tournament when, as an almost unknown youngster, he won the 1998 Next Generation Adelaide International, defeating Andre Agassi in the semifinals. Only Aaron Krickstein winning Tel Aviv in 1983 and Michael Chang winning San Francisco in 1988 were younger when claiming their first ATP title. Hewitt then left Immanuel College to concentrate on his tennis career.. He was an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder.
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Magnus Norman
Magnus Norman (born 30 May 1976 in Filipstad) is a retired Swedish professional tennis player who is best known for being the runner-up at the 2000 French Open and for briefly being ranked World No. 2. He won 12 singles titles, including the 2000 Tennis Masters Series tournament in Rome, Italy.
Norman reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 2 on 12 June 2000. This ranking resulted from his success during the first half of the year: he reached the semifinals of the 2000 Australian Open, won the Rome Masters, beating Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil, and was the runner-up at the French Open, where Kuerten took revenge. His decline began late that year at the Sydney Olympics, when he lost in the third round to Frenchman Arnaud di Pasquale in straight sets (di Pasquale went on to win the bronze medal).
Norman underwent corrective surgery for a heart valve condition in 1998. He retired due to hip and knee injuries in 2004. Magnus is the former coach of Thomas Johansson and Robin Söderling. He is now running his own tennis academy called the Good to Great Tennis Academy.
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Manuel Orantes
Manuel Orantes Corral (born February 5, 1949 in Granada, Spain) was a tennis player in the 1970s and 1980s. He won the US Open in 1975, beating defending champion Jimmy Connors in the final. Orantes reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 2.
On September 7, 1975, he defeated top-seeded Jimmy Connors in the finals of the US Open at Forest Hills, New York to win his only Grand Slam title. A year earlier, he was runner-up to Björn Borg in the final of the French Open, taking a two-set lead before Borg won the last three sets for the loss of just two games.
Overall, he won 33 singles titles, including Rome (1972), Hamburg (1972 & 1975), Canada (1975) and the Masters in 1976. He also reached 35 finals, the biggest being the French Open (1974), Cincinnati (1973), Monte Carlo (1970), Canada (1973 & 1974), Rome (1973 & 1975), and Hamburg (1976 & 1977).
He was a stalwart member of the Spanish Davis Cup team from 1967 to 1980, earning a record of 60-27 in Davis Cup match play. He also was a member of the Spanish team which won the inaugural World Team Cup in 1978.
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Marat Safin
Marat Mikhailovich Safin (Russian: Марат Михайлович Сафин, Tatar: Марат Мөбин улы Сафин, Marat Möbin uğlı Safin) (born January 27, 1980) is a Russian politician and retired tennis player of Tatar descent. Safin won two grand slams and reached the World No. 1 ranking during his career. He was also famous for his emotional outbursts and sometimes fiery temper on court. Safin also holds the record for most broken racquets in a year with 87. Safin is the older brother of former World No. 1 WTA player Dinara Safina (Dinara Mikhailovna Safina) (Russian: Динара Михайловна Сафина), born April 27, 1986 in Moscow. They are the first brother-sister tandem in tennis history to both achieve No. 1 rankings.
Safin began his professional career in 1997, and held the No. 1 world ranking for a total of 9 weeks between November 2000 and April 2001. He won his first Grand Slam title at the 2000 U.S. Open after defeating Pete Sampras, and won the 2005 Australian Open, defeating Australian Lleyton Hewitt in the final. Safin helped lead Russia to Davis Cup victories in 2002 and 2006. Despite his dislike of grass courts, he became the first Russian man to reach the semi-finals of Wimbledon at the 2008 Wimbledon Championships. At the time of his final Grand Slam appearance at the US Open on September 2, 2009, Safin was No. 58 in the official world men's tennis rankings.
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Marcelo Ríos
Marcelo Andrés Ríos Mayorga (born December 26, 1975) is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Chile. Nicknamed El Chino ("Chinaman") and El zurdo de Vitacura ("Vitacura's Lefty"), he became the first Latin American player to reach the top position on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) singles rankings in 1998. He held the World No. 1 ranking for six weeks. He has held the top ranking in both juniors and seniors. He was the first player to win the three clay-court Masters Series tournaments (Monte Carlo, Rome, and Hamburg) since the format began in 1990. He is the only male player in the open era to have been World No. 1 while never managing to win a Grand Slam singles tournament in his career. He did reach the 1998 Australian Open final, losing to Petr Korda.
He retired prematurely in 2004, after being overtaken by a back injury. He played his last ATP level tournament while only 27 years old at the 2003 French Open.
Ríos began playing tennis at the age of 11 at the Sport Francés golf club in Vitacura (Greater Santiago), adjacent to his house.
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Mark Edmondson
Mark Edmondson (sometimes mistakenly spelt Edmundson) (born 24 June 1954 in Gosford, New South Wales) is a former professional Australian male tennis player.
Edmondson is best remembered for his victory at the Australian Open in 1976, in which he was unseeded in the tournament and beat three-time Wimbledon champion John Newcombe. He is the last Australian to date to win the men's singles at the Australian Open. This win was particularly notable because he is the lowest-ranked winner of a major since the ATP rankings were introduced in 1973. He was ranked 212th at the time.
Eddo has won six career singles titles and 34 in doubles, including five major titles.
NH = tournament not held.
A = did not participate in the tournament.
NH = tournament not held.
A = did not participate in the tournament.
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Mark Philippoussis
Mark Anthony Philippoussis (Greek: Μαρκ Φιλιππούσης; born 7 November 1976) is an Australian tennis player. He turned professional in 1994. His father is Greek, while his mother is of Italian ancestry.
He has had a minor career in modelling and starred in the American reality television dating show Age of Love. He is nicknamed 'the Scud', after the Scud missile. He was educated at Maribyrnong College. His career-high singles ranking was World No. 8.
Philippoussis was born in Melbourne and was educated at Maribyrnong College.
Coached by his father, Nick, the right-hander has played tennis since he was six years of age. He was an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder. He was briefly coached by former 1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash, which ended in an acrimonious split in 2000. In 1994, he finished third in single ranking for juniors. Philippoussis also finished as junior doubles champion with Ben Ellwood in Australia, Wimbledon, and Italy. He turned professional in 1994.
In 1995, at the age of 19, he was the youngest player in the year-end top 50. In 1996, he reached the 4th round of the Australian Open upsetting Pete Sampras in the 3rd round and in doubles with Patrick Rafter. On 25 May 1997, he recorded a personal best 229.0 km/h (142.3 mph) serve in a game he lost to Albert Costa. During the height of his career, Mark was known as having one of the fastest serves in the game.
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Mats Wilander
Mats Wilander (born 22 August 1964, in Växjö, Sweden) is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Sweden. From 1982 through 1988, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles (three at the French Open, three at the Australian Open, and one at the US Open), and one Grand Slam men's doubles title (at Wimbledon). He won three of the four Grand Slam singles events in 1988 and finished that year ranked World No. 1. Although he never won the singles title at Wimbledon, Wilander twice won the Australian Open when that tournament was still played on grass courts. This makes Wilander one of only five men (along with Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer) to have won Grand Slam singles titles on grass courts, hard courts, and clay courts. He and Rafael Nadal are the only men in tennis history to have won at least two Grand Slam singles titles on each of the three surfaces. Wilander won his fourth career Grand Slam singles title at the age of 20, the youngest man in history to have achieved that feat. In addition he also won eight Championship Series titles (1983–88) the precursors to the current Masters 1000.
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Michael Chang
Michael Te-Pei Chang (born February 22, 1972) is a former American professional tennis player. He is best remembered for becoming the youngest-ever male player to win a Grand Slam singles title when he won the French Open in 1989 at the age of 17.
Known for his on-court speed and fighting spirit, Chang is considered by many observers to have been one of the best tennis counterpunchers of all time. He also introduced the jumping two-handed backhand. He remained in the top 10 of the ATP world rankings for several years in the 1990s, peaking at world no. 2.
Chang was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008.
Chang first came to the tennis world's attention as an outstanding junior player who set numerous "youngest-ever" records. He won his first national title, the USTA Junior Hard Court singles, at the age of 12. Aged 13, he won the Fiesta Bowl 16s. Two years later, aged 15, Chang won the USTA Boys 18s Hardcourts and the Boys 18s Nationals, and became the youngest player to win a main draw match at the US Open when he defeated Paul McNamee in four sets in the first round. A month later he reached the semifinals at Scottsdale, Arizona to become the youngest player to reach the semifinal stage of a top-level professional tournament. He won his first top-level singles title in 1988 at San Francisco, aged 16 years and 7 months.
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Michael Stich
Michael Detlef Stich (born October 18, 1968 in Pinneberg, Schleswig-Holstein) is a former professional tennis player from Germany. He is best remembered for winning the men's singles title at Wimbledon in 1991. He also won the men's doubles titles at both Wimbledon and the Olympic Games, and was a singles runner-up at the 1994 US Open and the 1996 French Open. Stich won 18 singles titles and 10 doubles titles. His career-high singles ranking was World No. 2 in 1993.
Stich was raised in Elmshorn, Schleswig-Holstein. He turned professional in 1988 and won his first top-level singles title in 1990 at Memphis, Tennessee.
Stich won Wimbledon in 1991. He defeated the defending champion and World No. 1 Stefan Edberg in the semifinals, 4–6, 7–6, 7–6, 7–6, without breaking his service once. Then in the final, he beat his compatriot and three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker in straight sets.
In 1992, Stich teamed with John McEnroe to win the men's doubles title at Wimbledon in a five-set and five-hour final that stretched into Monday (the day after the tournament normally ends) and ended with a 19–17 final set. Then at the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Stich teamed with Becker to win the men's doubles gold medal. Stich also won the 1992 Grand Slam Cup, defeating Michael Chang in the final.
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Michiel Schapers
Michiel Schapers (born 11 October 1959 in Rotterdam) is a former tennis player from the Netherlands.
Turning professional in 1982, Schapers represented his native country at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, where he was defeated in quarter-finals by eventual winner Miloslav Mečíř of Czechoslovakia.
In 1987 at Wimbledon, he was the only player to take a set against eventual champion Pat Cash in their third round match. His most famous victory was over reigning Wimbledon champion Boris Becker in the second round of the 1985 Australian Open. Schapers went on to reach the quarter-finals, his best singles result at a Grand Slam, and later equaled that result at the 1988 Australian Open. In 1988 he reached the final of the mixed doubles at the French Open together with Brenda Schultz-McCarthy in which they lost to Lori McNeil and Jorge Lozano.
The right-hander Schapers reached his highest singles ATP-ranking on 25 April 1988, when he became the number 25 of the world. After his playing career ended he became a coach. From 1998 until 2000 he was the captain of the Dutch Davis-cup team.
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Milos Raonic
Milos Raonic ( /ˈmiːloʊʃ ˈraʊnɪtʃ/ MEE-lohsh ROW-nich;Serbian: Милош Раонић, Miloš Raonić [mîloʃ râonitɕ]; born December 27, 1990) is a Canadian professional tennis player who lives in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada.
Born in what is now Podgorica, Montenegro, Raonic moved to Canada with his family at the age of 3. He speaks his native Serbian and English. Raonic is Canada's highest ATP ranked male singles player since computer rankings began in 1973. He qualified for his first grand slam event at the 2010 U.S. Open. In 2011 he rose from World No. 152 to No. 37 in a month, after he reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and won his first ATP title at the 2011 SAP Open. Raonic, who prefers to play on hard courts, plays an all-court game but is most notable for his serve, which is powerful and accurate. Since late 2010 he has been coached by former Spanish pro player Galo Blanco in Barcelona.
Raonic's first ITF-sanctioned junior tennis event was the qualifying draw for the Canadian ITF Group 4 Championships in October 2003, where he lost in the first round to fellow Canadian Kirill Sinitsyn 6–7, 3–6. His next junior circuit action was a year later at the Canadian ITF Championships 1 event, where he lost in the first round of the main draw 4–6, 4–6 to compatriot Peter Marrack. In doubles at the same event he and partner Sheharyar Wali, also Canadian, reached the second round.
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Neale Fraser
Neale Andrew Fraser AO MBE (born 3 October 1933) is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Australia, born in Melbourne, Victoria, the son of a Victorian judge.
He began playing tennis at age 11 and attended St Kevin's College, Melbourne (Class of 1950) where he became Captain of Tennis at the school.[citation needed]
Fraser won the Wimbledon singles in 1960 and the US Championships singles in 1959 and 1960. Fraser failed to win the Australian Championships, finishing as runner-up on three occasions (1957, 1959 and 1960) and held a championship point in the 1960 final. Team play – doubles and Davis Cup – proved nearest to Fraser's heart. In doubles, Fraser took three Australian (1957, 1958, and 1962), French (1958, 1960, and 1962) and US (1957, 1959, and 1960) titles, and two Wimbledon (1959, and 1961) with three different partners, Ashley Cooper, Lew Hoad, and Roy Emerson.
Fraser was also successful in the mixed doubles, winning the Australian in 1956 with Beryl Penrose, Wimbledon in 1962, and the US from 1958 to 1960 with Margaret Osborne duPont. He holds the distinction of having won the US National (now Open) singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles in 1959 and then successfully defending those titles a year later. Since that time, no one has equalled that feat in a single year, let alone successively.
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Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Serbian: Новак Ђоковић or Novak Đoković; pronounced [nɔ̂ʋaːk dʑɔ̂ːkɔʋitɕ] ( listen); born 22 May 1987) is a Serbian professional tennis player who has been ranked World No. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) since 4 July 2011. He has won five Grand Slam singles titles: the 2008, 2011 and 2012 Australian Open, the 2011 Wimbledon Championships, and the 2011 US Open. By winning three Majors in 2011, Djokovic became the sixth male player in the open era to win three Majors in a calendar year.
He is the first male player representing Serbia to win a Major singles title and the youngest player in the open era to have reached the semifinals of all four Grand Slam events, separately and consecutively. Amongst other titles, he won the Tennis Masters Cup in 2008 and was on the team which won the 2010 Davis Cup. He also won the bronze medal in singles at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He has won 11 Masters 1000 series titles placing him joint fourth on the all time list. Djokovic has quickly moved up in the rankings of history. Tennis Channel ranked him number 40 , and former player Pat Cash said he is one of the greatest ever.
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Pat Cash
Patrick Hart "Pat" Cash (born 27 May 1965) is a retired Australian professional tennis player who won the men's singles title at Wimbledon in 1987.
Cash first came to the tennis world's attention as a junior player in the early 1980s. He was awarded a scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport. He was ranked the top junior player in the world in 1981, and in 1982 he won the junior titles at both Wimbledon and the US Open. He turned professional in 1982 and won his first top-level singles title that year in Melbourne.
Cash established a reputation on the tour as a hard-fighting serve-and-volleyer and for wearing his trademark black-and-white checked headband and his cross earring.
In 1983, Cash became the youngest player to play in a Davis Cup final. He won the decisive singles rubber against Joakim Nyström as Australia defeated Sweden 3–2 to claim the cup.
In 1984, Cash reached the men's singles semi-finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open. He lost in three sets in the Wimbledon semi-finals to John McEnroe and was defeated in the semi-finals at the US Open by Ivan Lendl, who won their match in a fifth set tiebreaker. This day regarded as the greatest day in US open history featured the 3 set thriller women's final Evert v Navratilova and a McEnroe v Connors 5 set marathon creating the day now known as 'Super Saturday'
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Patrick Rafter
Patrick "Pat" Michael Rafter (born 28 December 1972) is an Australian former World No. 1 tennis player. He twice won the men's singles title at the US Open and was twice the runner-up at Wimbledon. Rafter was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2006. He was known for his natural serve-and-volley style of play. He became the first man in the Open Era to win Montreal/Toronto, Cincinnati and the US Open in the same year (1998); this achievement has been dubbed the American Summer Slam.
Rafter turned professional in 1991 and won his first career singles title in 1994 in Manchester. Prior to 1997, this was the only ATP singles title he had won.
Rafter's breakthrough came in 1997. At that year's French Open he reached the semifinals, falling in four sets to Sergi Bruguera. Then he surprised many by winning the US Open, defeating Greg Rusedski in a four-set final and Andre Agassi and Michael Chang, among others, in earlier rounds; he was the first non-American to win the title since Stefan Edberg in 1992. This was his first Grand Slam title, and catapulted him ahead of Chang to finish the year ranked #2 in the world, behind only Pete Sampras. The unexpected nature of his U.S. Open title led many, including Hall-of-famer and four-time U.S. Open champion John McEnroe to criticise Rafter as a "one-slam wonder".
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Pete Sampras
Peter "Pete" Sampras (/ˈsæmprəs/; born August 12, 1971) is a retired Greek–American tennis player and former world number 1. During his 15-year tour career, he won 14 Grand Slam singles titles and became recognized as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Sampras debuted on the professional tour in 1988 and played his last top-level tournament in 2002 when he won the US Open, defeating rival Andre Agassi in the final. He was the year-end world no. 1 for six consecutive years (1993–1998), a record for the open era. His seven Wimbledon singles championships are also an Open Era record. He spent 286 weeks at no. 1, the most of any male player. His five US Open singles titles is an Open Era record shared with former world no. 1 players Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer. Sampras is the last American male to win Wimbledon (2000) and the ATP World Tour Finals (1999).
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Petr Korda
Petr Korda (born 23 January 1968) is a former professional tennis player from the Czech Republic. He is best known for winning the Australian Open in 1998 and for testing positive for the banned substance, nandrolone, following a match at Wimbledon that same year.
Korda was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
He first came to the tennis world's attention as a promising junior player. In 1985, he partnered with fellow Czech Cyril Suk to win the boy's doubles title at the French Open. Korda and Suk ranked the joint-World No. 1 junior doubles players that year.
Korda turned professional in 1987. He won his first career doubles title in 1988, and his first top-level singles title in 1991. Korda was involved in four Grand Slam finals during his career — two in singles and two in doubles.
In 1990, Korda and Goran Ivanišević finished runners-up in the men's doubles at the French Open. In 1992, he rose to the men's singles final at the French Open, where he was defeated in straight sets by defending champion Jim Courier 7–5, 6–2, 6–1. In 1996, he teamed-up with Stefan Edberg to win the men's doubles title at the Australian Open.
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Rafael Nadal
Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera (Catalan: [rəˈfɛɫ nəˈðaɫ pəˈɾeɾə]; Spanish: [rafaˈel naˈðal paˈɾeɾa]) (born 3 June 1986) is a Spanish professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. As of 28 May 2012 (2012 -05-28)[update], he is ranked No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time; his success on clay has earned him the nickname "The King of Clay", and has prompted many experts to regard him as the greatest clay court player of all time.
Nadal has won ten Grand Slam singles titles, including a record six French Open titles (tied with Bjorn Borg), the 2008 Olympic gold medal in singles, a record 21 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments, and also was part of the Spain Davis Cup team that won the finals in 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011. He completed the Career Grand Slam by winning the 2010 US Open, being the seventh player in history, and the youngest in the open era, to achieve it. He is the second male player to complete the Career Golden Slam (winner of the four grand slams and the Olympic Gold medal) after only Andre Agassi.
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René Lacoste
Jean René Lacoste (July 2, 1904 - October 12, 1996) was a French tennis player and businessman. He was nicknamed "the Crocodile" by fans because of his tenacity on the court; he is also known worldwide as the namesake of the Lacoste tennis shirt, which he introduced in 1929.
Lacoste was one of The Four Musketeers with Jean Borotra, Jacques Brugnon, and Henri Cochet, French tennis stars who dominated the game in the 1920s and early 1930s. He won seven Grand Slam singles titles in the French, American, and British championships but never made the long trip to Australia to play in their championships. He was the World No. 1 player for both 1926 and 1927.
In 1933, Lacoste founded La Société Chemise Lacoste with André Gillier. The company produced the tennis shirt which Lacoste often wore when he was playing, which had a crocodile (often thought to be an alligator) embroidered on the chest.
In 1963, Lacoste created a sensation in racquet technology by patenting the first tubular steel tennis racquet. Until then, racquets had almost always been made of wood. This new racquet's strings were attached to the frame by a series of wires, which wrapped around the racquet head. The racquet was marketed in Europe under the Lacoste brand, but in the United States it was marketed by Wilson Sporting Goods and achieved critical acclaim and huge popularity as the Wilson T-2000, used by American tennis great Jimmy Connors.
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Richey Reneberg
Richey Reneberg (born October 5, 1965 in Phoenix, Arizona) was an American professional male tennis player.
He attended Southern Methodist University, where he was a three-time All-American and reached the 1986 National Collegiate Athletics Association finals.
He was the Association of Tennis Professionals Newcomer of the Year when he turned professional in 1987.
He and his partner Jim Grabb were ranked World No. 1 in doubles and won the 1992 US Open doubles title. His career-high singles ranking in the ATP Tour was World No. 20. He won a second doubles Grand Slam with Jared Palmer at the 1995 Australian Open.
The right-hander represented the United States at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was defeated as the eleventh seed in the first round by India's Leander Paes. He also played on the American Davis Cup team.
A = did not attend tournament
NH = tournament not held
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Robby Ginepri
Robert Louis ("Robby") Ginepri (born October 7, 1982) is an American professional tennis player.
Robby Ginepri is of Luxembourgish ancestry. He attended Joseph Wheeler High School, located in Marietta, Georgia. He graduated as a member of the class of 2001.
Ginepri had a breakout year in 2005. In August, he reached the semifinals of an ATP Masters Series tournament for the first time in his career, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He beat 2005 French Open runner-up Mariano Puerta in the first round, David Ferrer in the second round, 1998 French Open champion Carlos Moyà in the third round, and two-time Grand Slam singles titlist Marat Safin in the quarterfinals. He then lost to World No. 1 Roger Federer in the semifinals.
His summer hardcourt record was 14–3 when he arrived two weeks later at the US Open as an unseeded player. After defeating Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the first round, and Andy Roddick's conqueror, Gilles Müller, in the second round, both in straight sets, Ginepri then put together three consecutive five set wins, defeating Tommy Haas in the third round, Richard Gasquet in the fourth round, and Guillermo Coria in the quarterfinals. He then lost to Andre Agassi in the semifinals in five sets. Ginepri thus became the first player in the open era to play four consecutive five-set matches at the US Open.
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Roberto Carretero
Roberto Carretero (born 30 August 1975 in Madrid) is a Spanish former professional tennis player. He won one singles title, the 1996 Hamburg AMS.
Carretero, a former junior French Open Champion shocked the tennis world by winning the title in Hamburg as a virtually unknown player ranked outside the top 300. En route to the title he defeated two top 100 players, two top 20 players (Washington and Boetsch), and most notably, Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the semi-finals, and Àlex Corretja in the final. After winning the title, Carretero lost in the first round of Roland Garros and did not have any significant results other than winning a Challenger tournament held in Sopot, Poland in 1999.
He retired from professional tennis after the 2001 season.
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Robin Söderling
Robin Bo Carl Söderling (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈrɔbɪn ˈsøːdəɭɪŋ]; born 14 August 1984 in Tibro) is a professional tennis player from Sweden who is currently ranked number 67 in the ATP rankings. Söderling reached successive French Open finals in 2009 and 2010. In both tournaments, he defeated the defending champion and number 1 seed en route to the final — Rafael Nadal in 2009 (becoming the first and, to date, only player to defeat Nadal at the French Open), and Roger Federer in 2010 (ending Federer's record streak of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals). He has also won one Masters 1000 event, the 2010 Paris Masters.
Söderling speaks English, Swedish and a bit of German. His father Bo is a lawyer and mother Britt-Inger, a housewife. Söderling's sister, Sandra, is a teacher. He is engaged to Jenni Moström. The couple are expecting their first child in late-September 2012.
Söderling began playing tennis at the age of five. He made his first steps in international tennis in November 1998 in Luxembourg when at the age of 14 he played his first official junior tournament, losing the opening match to Fred Hemmes, Jr. In his first full year in the junior tour (2000), he achieved four tournament victories and in 2001 attained three more titles in the juniors including the Orange Bowl. In the same year Söderling achieved fourth place in the year-end ranking and played in his first ATP tournament in Stockholm, winning his first match 6–3 6–3 against Ramón Delgado.
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Rod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE (born 9 August 1938) is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for most singles titles won in history of tennis, with 200 career titles. He was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970 (from 1964 to 1967 in the professional circuit) . He is the only tennis player to have twice won the Grand Slam (all four major singles titles in the same year) – first as an amateur in 1962 and second as a professional in 1969. He is the only male player and was the first player, male or female, to have won the Grand Slam during the open era (in 1988 Steffi Graf also achieved this feat). Laver won a total of twenty major tournaments, including eleven Grand Slam tournament titles and nine Pro Slam titles. In 1967, Laver also won the Professional Grand Slam. In addition he won nine Championship Series titles (1970–75) the precursors to the current Masters 1000. Laver won and excelled on all the surfaces of his time (grass, clay and wood/parquet), and was ranked as the best professional player in the world during the five-year period he was excluded from the Grand Slam tournaments. Rod Laver is the second and last male player to win each major title twice in his career. Only Roy Emerson and Margaret Court had won all four Grand Slam tournaments twice before Laver in the history of tennis. Laver is regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Within his slams there are also 6 in doubles and 3 in mixed doubles.
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Roger Federer
Roger Federer (German pronunciation: [ˈfeːdəʁɐ]) (born 8 August 1981) is a Swiss professional tennis player who held the ATP No. 1 position for a record 237 consecutive weeks from 2 February 2004 to 18 August 2008. Federer has occupied the #1 ranking for 285 overall weeks, one week short of the record 286 weeks held by Pete Sampras. As of 28 May 2012, he is ranked World No. 3. Federer has won a men's record 16 Grand Slam singles titles. He is one of seven male players to capture the career Grand Slam and one of three (with Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal) to do so on three different surfaces (clay, grass, and hard courts). He is the only male player in tennis history to have reached the title match of each Grand Slam tournament at least five times and also the final at each of the nine ATP Masters 1000 Tournaments. Many sports analysts, tennis critics, and former and current players consider Federer to be the greatest tennis player of all time.
Federer has appeared in an unprecedented 23 career Grand Slam tournament finals, including a men's record ten in a row, and appeared in 18 of 19 finals from the 2005 Wimbledon Championships through the 2010 Australian Open, the lone exception being the 2008 Australian Open. He holds the record of reaching the semifinals or better of 23 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments over five and a half years, from the 2004 Wimbledon Championships through the 2010 Australian Open. At the 2012 Australian Open, he reached a record 31st consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal. During the course of his run at the 2012 French Open in Roland Garros, Federer eclipsed Jimmy Connors long standing record of 233 match wins in Grand Slam tournaments when he defeated Adrian Ungur in a second round match.
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Roscoe Tanner
Roscoe Tanner (born October 15, 1951) is an American former professional tennis player, who turned pro in 1972 and reached a career high world singles ranking of World No. 4 on July 30, 1979.
Tanner was famous for his big left-handed serve, which was clocked at 153 mph at Palm Springs in 1978 during the final against Raúl Ramírez. He is also known for winning the men's singles title at the first of two Australian Open tournaments held in 1977. Tanner won the tournament held in January, Vitas Gerulaitis won the December tournament. Tanner also reached the Wimbledon final in 1979, losing the final to Björn Borg in five sets.
Tanner has been in the news in recent years for his legal problems.
Leonard Roscoe Tanner III was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, graduated from the Baylor School, and with teammate Sandy Mayer, helped to lead Stanford University's rise to the number one ranking in collegiate tennis in 1973. Tanner played number one singles, with Mayer playing number two. The team also featured Rick Fisher, Stanley Pasarell, Jim Delaney, James "Chico" Hagey, Gery Groslimond, Pat DuPre, Tim Noonan and Paul Sidone. Of the winning 1973 Stanford tennis team, Tanner, Mayer and DuPre were all brothers in the Zeta Psi fraternity.
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Roy Emerson
Roy Stanley Emerson (born 3 November 1936) is an Australian former World No. 1 tennis player who won 12 Grand Slam tournament singles titles and 16 Grand Slam tournament men's doubles titles. He is the only male player to have won singles and doubles titles at all four Grand Slam events. His 28 Major titles are an all-time record for a male player. Most of his titles were won in the final years of the period where the Major tournaments were open only to amateur players, just before the start of the open era when professionals were admitted into tennis's most prestigious events. Roy Emerson is the first male player to win each Major title at least twice in his career. In the history of tennis, only Margaret Court achieved this feat before him. He is one of only seven men to win all four Majors in his career (the others are Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal). He was the first male player to win 12 Majors (this was surpassed by Pete Sampras (14) and Roger Federer (16)). Tennis critics and former and current tennis players consider Emerson to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
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Sammy Giammalva, Jr.
Sammy Giammalva Jr. (born March 24, 1963, in Houston, Texas), is a former professional tennis player from the United States.
During his career he won 2 singles titles and 4 doubles titles. He achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 28 in 1985 and a career-high doubles ranking of World No. 22 in 1984.
Giammalva's father Sam played top-level amateur tennis and participated on two Davis Cup winning teams for the U.S. His older brother Tony was also a touring pro.
Giammalva left the Grand Prix tour in 1989 and enrolled in Rice University.
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Sergi Bruguera
Sergi Bruguera i Torner (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈsɛrʒi βɾuˈɣeɾə turˈne]) (born 16 January 1971, in Barcelona, Spain) is a former professional tennis player from Spain. He is best remembered for winning consecutive men's singles titles at the French Open in 1993 and 1994.
Bruguera was Spain's national junior champion in 1987. He turned professional in 1988. In his first full year on the tour, 1989, he won the Cairo Challenger title as a qualifier (defeating Jordi Arrese in the final) and reached the semi-finals in Rome. He finished 1989 ranked World No. 26, and was named the ATP's Newcomer of Year.
Bruguera earned a reputation as a top clay court player in the early 1990s, winning titles in Estoril, Monte Carlo, and Athens in 1991, and in Madrid, Gstaad, and Palermo in 1992.
In 1993, following wins over Pete Sampras and Andrei Medvedev, Bruguera reached his first Grand Slam final at the French Open, where he faced two-time defending champion and the current World No. 2 Jim Courier. Courier was overwhelmingly favoured to win his third title, but ultimately Bruguera won a gruelling five-set final. The victory was one of five titles Bruguera captured that year. The following year Bruguera defended his title at the French Open, defeating, once again, Courier and Medvedev and fellow Spaniard Alberto Berasategui in the final.
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Sjeng Schalken
Sjeng Schalken (born 8 September 1976 in Weert) is a former professional tennis player from the Netherlands.
A right-handed baseliner with a single-handed backhand, Schalken's game is characterised by his consistency of both wings and his continental technique on both the forehand and backhand. The latter is his major weapon, a rallying shot that is also capable of being struck for winners either cross-court or down the line. The player he admired most while growing up was Ivan Lendl.
Schalken is known for his placid on-court demeanour, seemingly reacting in the same manner whether trailing or leading. But as a junior and a young pro he had an explosive temper that, he has stated, hindered him in many matches and caused him to lose through not thinking clearly. Only in 1999 did he manage to suppress his emotional side while on court and develop a more level-headed temperament, although he was disqualified from the Nasdaq-100 Open in 2004 for verbally abusing the umpire.
Schalken turned tennis professional in 1994 having been an outstanding junior, winning the US Open junior event in 1994. He won his first career title on clay in Valencia at the age of 19, defeating Gilbert Schaller in the final. He was the youngest winner on tour for that year, 1995, and the next year as well when he defeated Younes El Aynaoui in the final in Jakarta for his second title. Schalken managed to win at least one ATP tournament eight out of nine years from 1995 to 2003, the sole exception being 1998.
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Stan Smith
Stanley Roger "Stan" Smith (born December 14, 1946 in Pasadena, California) is a former American tennis player and two time Grand Slam singles champion who also, with his partner Bob Lutz, formed one of the most successful doubles teams of all time. Together, they won many major titles all over the world. In 1970, Smith won the first year end championship Masters Grand Prix title. Smith's two major singles titles were the 1971 US Open (over Jan Kodeš in the final), and 1972 Wimbledon (over Ilie Năstase in the final). In 1972, he was the year-ending World No. 1 singles player. In 1973, he won his second and last year end championship title at the Dallas WCT Finals. In addition, he won four Grand Prix Championship Series titles. His name is also used in a popular brand of tennis shoes. In his early years he improved his tennis game through lessons from Pancho Segura and the Pasadena Tennis Patrons.
Smith played collegiate tennis at the University of Southern California, under Coach George Toley, where he was a three-time All-American and won the 1968 NCAA singles championship and the 1967 and 1968 doubles titles. At USC, Smith was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
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Stefan Edberg
Stefan Bengt Edberg (born 19 January 1966 in Västervik, Sweden) is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player (in both singles and doubles) from Sweden. A major proponent of the serve-and-volley style of tennis, he won six Grand Slam singles titles and three Grand Slam men's doubles titles between 1985 and 1996. He also won one season-ending championship title, the Masters Grand Prix. In addition he won four Masters Series titles and four Championship Series titles.
Edberg first came to the tennis world's attention as a junior player. He won all four Grand Slam junior titles in 1983 to become the first-ever player to achieve the "Junior Grand Slam". Later that year as a professional, Edberg won his first career doubles title in Basel. Edberg accidentally caused the death of Dick Wertheim with an errant serve during the 1983 US Open.
In 1984, Edberg won his first top-level singles title in Milan. Edberg also won the tennis tournament at the 1984 Summer Olympics when the sport was an exhibition event and partnered with fellow Swede Anders Järryd to reach the final of the US Open. Edberg also reached the French Open doubles final with Järryd in 1986 and consequently was World No. 1 in doubles in that year.
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Sébastien Grosjean
Sébastien René Grosjean (French pronunciation: [sebastjɛ̃ ʁəne ɡʁoˈʒɑ̃]; born May 29, 1978, Marseille, France) is a retired tennis player from France. His career-high ATP Entry ranking is World No. 4 (achieved on October 28, 2002). He retired from tennis on May 27, 2010.
Grosjean joined the professional tour in 1996. In 2003 and 2004 he reached the final of the Queen's London Tournament. In the same two years, he also reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon. He finished 2001 as the No. 1 player from his country and for the first time in the top 10 becoming the first Frenchman to finish a year in the top 10 since Cédric Pioline in 1993. In 2001, Grosjean won the Davis Cup with the French team.
Grosjean is known for his extreme forehand, his best shot, he utilizes something of a western grip, which is hit at high velocities. He has appeared in four Grand Slam semifinal matches. As well as his two Wimbledon runs, he also reached the French Open semi-finals in 2001. His most famous chance was at the 2001 Australian Open against Arnaud Clément. Grosjean led two sets to love and had a match point in the fourth set before Clément prevailed. This was long considered the worst 'choke' in five-set history, until the 2004 French Open final.
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Thomas Enqvist
Thomas Karl Johan Enqvist (born 13 March 1974 in Stockholm) is a former professional tennis player from Sweden.
He was quickly touted as the only Swede who could follow in the footsteps of Stefan Edberg and Björn Borg, and was ranked as high as No. 4 (which he attained in 1999) on the ATP Rankings.
Enqvist was a force on the Swedish Davis Cup team. In 1998, he helped Sweden reach the finals of the Davis Cup for the fourth time in five years.
Throughout his career, Enqvist finished a year ranked in the top 10 four times and won at least one ATP title for six consecutive years. In 1998 he underwent surgery in Stockholm to remove a small piece of bone from his right foot and had surgery on his right shoulder to repair a repetitive strain injury. Despite his surgeries, Enqvist posted some impressive victories, including wins over Pete Sampras, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and Andy Roddick.
Enqvist won a total of 19 singles titles, the biggest being ATP Masters Series titles at Paris (1996), Stuttgart (1999) and Cincinnati (2000). He also won one doubles title.
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Thomas Johansson
Karl Thomas Conny Johansson (born 24 March 1975), commonly known as Thomas Johansson, is a former Swedish professional tennis player. He is a former Australian Open singles champion and Olympic silver medalist in doubles.
Johansson began to play tennis at age five with his father, Krister. In 1989, became European 14s singles champion and won doubles title (with Magnus Norman). Even when he injured his right elbow while playing Orange Bowl 16s in 1991, he reached the final, losing to Spain's Gonzalo Corrales. He finished No. 10 in the 1993 world junior rankings.
That same year he joined the pro tour for the first time. He has managed to win 9 top-level singles titles and 1 doubles title, including the 1999 Canada Masters (df. Yevgeny Kafelnikov) and the 2002 Australian Open Grand Slam championship, which he unexpectedly won (on his 25th attempt at winning a Grand Slam title) after defeating his heavily favored opponent, Marat Safin, in four sets, 3–6 6–4 6–4 7–6. Johansson became the first Swedish player to win a Slam since Stefan Edberg won the 1992 U.S. Open title, and the first Swede to claim the Australian since Mats Wilander in 1988.
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Tim Gullikson
Timothy Ernest "Tim" Gullikson (September 8, 1951 – May 3, 1996) was a tennis player and coach who was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin in the United States.
In 1977, he won three tour singles titles and was named the ATP's Newcomer of the Year. During his career as a tennis player, Gullikson won 15 top-level doubles titles, ten of them partnering with his identical twin brother, Tom Gullikson. The brothers were runners-up in the men's doubles competition at Wimbledon in 1983. Tim also won a total of four top-level singles titles. His career-high rankings were World No. 15 in singles (in 1979) and World No. 6 in doubles (in 1984). After retiring from the professional tour in 1986, Gullikson continued to play tennis in seniors events, winning the 35-over singles title at Wimbledon in 1991.
After retiring as a player, Gullikson turned his talents to coaching. He worked with several professional players, including Martina Navratilova, Mary Joe Fernandez and Aaron Krickstein. Gullikson is probably best remembered for his work with Pete Sampras, who won four Grand Slam singles titles and reached the World No. 1 ranking during the period Gullikson was his coach from the start of 1992 until 1995.
wn.com/Tim_Gullikson -
Tim Henman
Timothy Henry "Tim" Henman OBE (born 6 September 1974) is a retired English professional tennis player and former British Number One. Henman played a serve-and-volley style of tennis that suited the grass courts of Wimbledon. He was the first player from the United Kingdom since Roger Taylor in the 1970s to reach the semi-finals of the Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship. Henman never reached the finals of any Grand Slam but having reached six Grand Slam semi-finals, won 15 career ATP titles (11 in singles and 4 in doubles), and been ranked number 4 in the world, Henman was one of Britain's most successful open era male tennis players. He retired after helping Great Britain defeat Croatia in a Davis Cup match played in September 2007. Nicknamed "Tiger Tim", Henman is worth £17 million and remains a celebrity among the public.
Tim Henman comes from a talented sporting family: his father Tony, a solicitor, was accomplished at various sports, including tennis and squash. His mother Jane, a dress designer, played Junior Wimbledon and introduced Tim and his older brothers Michael and Richard to tennis as soon as they could walk on the family's grass tennis court. His great grandfather played at Wimbledon. His maternal grandfather, Henry Billington, played at Wimbledon between 1948 and 1951, plus representing Britain in the Davis Cup in 1948, 1950 and 1951. In 1901 his maternal great-grandmother, Ellen Stanwell-Brown (or Ellen Mary Stowell-Brown), was reputedly the first woman to serve overarm at Wimbledon. His maternal grandmother, Susan Billington, appeared regularly at Wimbledon in the 1950s, playing mixed doubles on Centre Court with her husband Henry, reaching the third round of the ladies' doubles in 1951, 1955 and 1956.
wn.com/Tim_Henman -
Tim Mayotte
Timothy "Tim" Mayotte (born August 3, 1960, in Springfield, Massachusetts) is a former professional tennis player from the United States.
A tall serve-and-volleyer, Mayotte learned to play the game on the public courts of Forest Park in his hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts. He played tennis for Stanford University in the early-1980s and won the NCAA singles title in 1981.
Mayotte won his first top-level professional singles title in 1985 at the inaugural Lipton International Players Championships (now known as the Miami Masters). Other career highlights included winning the Queen's Club Championships in London in 1986, capturing the Paris Indoor title in 1987, and winning the men's singles Silver Medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.
His best performances in Grand Slam tournaments came in reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 1982 and the Australian Open in 1983. He also reached the quarter-finals of the US Open.
During his career, Mayotte won 12 singles titles and 1 doubles title. His career-high singles ranking was World No. 7. His career prize-money earnings totalled $2,663,672. His final career singles title was won in 1989 at Washington DC. Mayotte retired from the professional tour in 1992.
wn.com/Tim_Mayotte -
Todd Martin
Todd Christopher Martin (born July 8, 1970, in Hinsdale, Illinois) is a former professional tennis player from the United States.
Martin played tennis for two years at Northwestern University before turning professional in 1990. His parents lived in Lansing, Michigan, where Martin went to nearby East Lansing High School. At Northwestern, he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He won his first top-level singles title in 1993 at Coral Springs, Florida. Martin traveled with good friend David Helfer for much of the '92 season. Helfer went on to play at Kalamazoo College.
Coached by Robert Van't Hof, 1994 proved to be a breakout year for Martin. At the year's first Grand Slam tournament, he reached the men's singles final at the Australian Open, where he lost in straight sets to world no. 1 Pete Sampras, 6-7, 4-6, 4-6. At Wimbledon, he made it to the semifinals, before falling to the eventual champion Sampras; the set that Martin took from Sampras in the match was the only set that Sampras lost during the entire tournament. Martin's third Grand Slam semifinal of 1994 came at the US Open, where he again fell to the eventual champion, this time Andre Agassi. He also captured singles titles at Queen's Club and the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis, the latter of which was the first back-to-back titles.
wn.com/Todd_Martin -
Todd Woodbridge
Todd Andrew Woodbridge, OAM (born 2 April 1971) is an Australian former tennis player. He was born in Sydney and went to school in the ACT at Lyneham High School (The Best High School of all) then turned professional in 1988. He is best known for his successful Doubles partnerships with Mark Woodforde and later Jonas Björkman. He is among the most successful doubles players of all time, having won 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles (nine Wimbledons, three US Opens, three Australian Opens and one French Open), and a further six Grand Slam mixed doubles titles (three US Opens, one Wimbledon, one French Open, one Australian Open). Additionally, he was a gold medalist with Woodforde at the 1996 Summer Olympics to complete a career Golden Slam. In total he has won a record 83 ATP doubles titles.
In 2002, he was inducted into the Australian Institute of Sport 'Best of the Best'.
He is best known as one of the top doubles players in the world for most of the 1990s and into the early 2000s (decade). His primary doubles partnerships were first with fellow Australian Mark Woodforde and later with Swede Jonas Björkman. Woodbridge and Woodforde are often referred to as "The Woodies" in the tennis world. Woodbridge also had a career high singles ranking of 19 after reaching the semifinals of Wimbledon in 1997, beating Patrick Rafter before losing to Pete Sampras. He did however have the distinction of being one of the few players to beat Sampras at Wimbledon, knocking him out in the first round in 1989.
wn.com/Todd_Woodbridge -
Tommy Haas
Tommy Haas (born 3 April 1978 as Thomas Mario Haas) is a German and recently naturalized American professional tennis player. He has competed on the ATP Tour since 1996. After breaking into the World Top 100 in 1997, and reaching a career-high singles ranking of World No. 2 on 13 May 2002, Haas's career has been interrupted by injuries: whilst a professional, he has twice dropped out of the world rankings due to being inactive for twelve months. His first period of injury saw him miss the whole of the 2003 season, and he did not return to the world's top ten until 2007. He also missed over a year's tennis between February 2010 and June 2011, but has since returned to play on the Tour.
Haas has never won a Grand Slam tournament, his best result being three-time semi-finalist at the Australian Open and one semi-final at Wimbledon. He has won thirteen career titles in singles and doubles, including one Masters tournament, and has a silver medal from the 2000 Summer Olympics.
His equipment include Solfire, Lacoste and Nike for his clothes and shoes, respectively. He switched to using Head racquets in 2009 after using Dunlop Sport racquets for most of his career.
wn.com/Tommy_Haas -
Tony Trabert
Marion Anthony (Tony) Trabert (born August 16, 1930 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is a retired American tennis champion and long-time tennis author, TV commentator, instructor, and motivational speaker. In his 1979 autobiography Jack Kramer, the long-time tennis promoter and great player himself, included Trabert in his list of the 21 greatest players of all time.
Trabert was a stand-out athlete in Tennis and Basketball at the University of Cincinnati, and was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. In 1951, he won the NCAA Championship Singles title. He was coached by George Menefee. He was also a starter on the basketball team. Previously, at Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, he had been state singles champion three times and played guard on the 1948 basketball team that won the district championship.
Trabert honed his tennis skills on the courts of the Cincinnati Tennis Club with the help of another member of that club, fellow International Tennis Hall of Famer Billy Talbert. Talbert became Trabert's mentor. The first win Trabert posted over Talbert came in the final of Cincinnati's international tennis tournament (now known as the Cincinnati Masters) in 1951. Both were enshrined into the Cincinnati Tennis Hall of Fame in 2002. Barry MacKay was enshrined in 2003.
wn.com/Tony_Trabert -
Wayne Ferreira
Wayne Richard Ferreira (born 15 September 1971 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is a former professional tennis player from South Africa.
As a junior player, Ferreira was ranked the world's No. 1 junior doubles player and No. 6 junior singles player. He won the junior doubles title at the US Open in 1989.
Ferreira turned professional in 1989. He won his first ATP doubles title in Adelaide in 1991.
1992 was Ferreira's breakthrough year on the tour. He started out by reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open. In June he won his first ATP singles title at Queen's Club, London. His second singles title came just a few weeks later at Schenectady, New York. He also teamed-up with compatriot Piet Norval to win the men's doubles silver medal for South Africa at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.
After a quieter year in 1993 in which he didn't win any singles titles, Ferreira came back strongly in 1994 to win a career-best five singles titles. He then won another four events in 1995.
The biggest titles of Ferreira's career came at Toronto in 1996 and Stuttgart in 2000 (both Tennis Masters Series events).
wn.com/Wayne_Ferreira -
Yannick Noah
Yannick Noah (born 18 May 1960 in Sedan, Ardennes) is a former professional tennis player from France. He is best remembered for being the last French and first black man to win the French Open in 1983, and as a highly-successful captain of France's Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams. Since his retirement from the game, Noah has remained in the public eye as a very popular music performer and as the co-founder, with his mother, of a charity organization for underprivileged children. Noah is also the father of Joakim Noah of the NBA Chicago Bulls.
Noah turned professional in 1977, and won his first top-level singles title in 1978 in Manila.
Noah became France's most prominent tennis hero in 1983, becoming the first Frenchman in 37 years to win the French Open. He dropped only one set during the two-week long tournament, and defeated the defending-champion Mats Wilander in straight sets in the final, 6–2, 7–5, 7–6. Noah also became only the second black male to win a Grand Slam singles event (after Arthur Ashe). He remains the last Frenchman to have won the French Open men's singles title.
wn.com/Yannick_Noah -
Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Kafelnikov (Russian: Евгений Александрович Кафельников; IPA: [jɪvˈɡʲenʲɪj ɐlʲɪˈksandrəvʲɪtɕ ˈkafʲɪlʲnʲɪkəf]; born 18 February 1974) is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Russia. He won two Grand Slam singles titles, which were the 1996 French Open and the 1999 Australian Open. He also won four Grand Slam doubles titles, and the men's singles gold medal at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. He also helped Russia win the Davis Cup in 2002. He is the last man to have won both the singles and men's doubles titles at the same Grand Slam tournament, which he did at the 1996 French Open.
Since retiring, Kafelnikov cashed three times at the 2005 World Series of Poker. He also played golf on the European PGA tour at the 2005 and 2008 Russian Open. He stated that he was there not to make up the numbers, before finishing last by 20 odd shots in 2005 (and second to last in 2008).
He now works as a commentator for Russian TV covering tennis. During the 2008 Miami Masters, Kafelnikov coached Marat Safin in the absence of Hernán Gumy.
wn.com/Yevgeny_Kafelnikov -
Àlex Corretja
Àlex Corretja i Verdegay (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈaləks kuˈrɛdʒə]) (born 11 April 1974, in Barcelona, Spain) is a former professional tennis player from Spain. During his career, he finished runner-up twice at the French Open (in 1998 and 2001). He won the ATP Tour World Championships in 1998 and reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 2 in 1999. He also played a key role in helping Spain win its first-ever Davis Cup title in 2000. He became a temporary coach of British tennis player Andy Murray in April 2008 for the duration of the clay-court season and resumed the role in 2009. On 29 March 2011, Corretja and Murray parted company on a mutual agreement.
Corretja first came to the tennis world's attention as a promising junior player who won the Orange Bowl 16s title in 1990. He turned professional in 1991 and won his first top-level singles title in 1994 at Buenos Aires. His first doubles title came in 1995 at Palermo.
In 1996, Corretja faced Pete Sampras in an epic five-set quarterfinal match at the US Open. Pete Sampras threw up in the fifth set tiebreak, where Corretja held a match point later on, but he eventually lost to Sampras in 4 hours and 9 minutes 6–7, 7–5, 7–5, 4–6, 6–7.
wn.com/Àlex_Corretja
Sampras, Pete Filmography
- Signature Series: Vitas Gerulaitis (2011)
- Signature Series: Pete Sampras (2008)
- Champions of Wimbledon (2008)
- Agassi: Between the Lines (2007)
- Unstrung (2007)
- Record Breakers (2005)
- 16th Annual American Century Championship (2005)
- Les 40 ans de la 2 (2004)
- The Journeymen (2004)
- No Strings (2003)
- Wimbledon: A History of the Championships (2000)
- Wimbledon: Official Film 2000 (2000)
- Wimbledon: Official Film 1999 (1999)
- Wimbledon Official Film 1998 (1998)
- Die Nacht der Stars (1996)
- The 1993 US Open Tennis Championships (1993)
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Pete Sampras: The king of swing!
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 6:05
- Updated: 19 Nov 2012
The greatest tennis player of all-time.
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras_The_king_of_swing!
Roger Federer vs Pete Sampras MSG Highlights
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:32
- Updated: 21 Nov 2012
match between Roger Federer and Pete Sampras. Roger won 6:3, 6:7 (4:7), 7:6 (8:6).
http://wn.com/Roger_Federer_vs_Pete_Sampras_MSG_Highlights
Pete Sampras v Andre Agassi - An Incredible Selection of Rallies Pt 1
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 15:12
- Updated: 19 Nov 2012
Sampras and Agassi played an incredible level of tennis with some of the best rallies ever played in the 2001 US Open quarterfinal
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras_v_Andre_Agassi_An_Incredible_Selection_of_Rallies_Pt_1
Pete Sampras v Andre Agassi - 1999 Wimbledon final extended highlights Pt 1
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 14:20
- Updated: 16 Nov 2012
Sampras plays one of the best matches of his career in the final against Agassi.
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras_v_Andre_Agassi_1999_Wimbledon_final_extended_highlights_Pt_1
Pete Sampras - Andre Agassi 1995 Canadian Open Final
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 108:22
- Updated: 12 Nov 2012
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras_Andre_Agassi_1995_Canadian_Open_Final
1995 Australian Open: Sampras breaks down
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:36
- Updated: 16 Nov 2012
During the fifth set of the 1995 Australian Open Men's Singles quarterfinal, Pete Sampras (USA) suddenly became emotional and fought back tears on court as opponent Jim Courier (USA), commentators and fans alike wondered what had overcome the star American; it was later revealed that coach Tim Gullikson was battling cancer.
http://wn.com/1995_Australian_Open_Sampras_breaks_down
2011 PETE SAMPRAS def. ANDRE AGASSI Madison Square Garden
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 49:48
- Updated: 15 Nov 2012
I have more uploads like this on my YouTube Channel.
http://wn.com/2011_PETE_SAMPRAS_def_ANDRE_AGASSI_Madison_Square_Garden
Pete Sampras v Andre Agassi - 1999 Wimbledon final extended highlights Pt 2
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 14:56
- Updated: 21 Oct 2012
Sampras plays one of the best matches of his career in the final against Agassi.
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras_v_Andre_Agassi_1999_Wimbledon_final_extended_highlights_Pt_2
Pete Sampras SLAMS Andre Agassi!
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:59
- Updated: 18 Nov 2012
Tennis legend Pete Sampras spoke VERY HIGHLY about Roger Federer... and in the process he kinda slammed his old rival, Andre Agassi!
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras_SLAMS_Andre_Agassi!
Pete Sampras
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:49
- Updated: 13 Oct 2012
Some highlights of the Grand Slam career of Pete Sampras in HD.
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras
Pete Sampras (Beyond the Glory) Documentary
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 41:09
- Updated: 16 Nov 2012
such a real champion !!!!
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras_Beyond_the_Glory_Documentary
Pete Sampras "Slam Dunks"
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:22
- Updated: 20 Nov 2012
Pete Sampras displays his signature shot, the overhead jump smash (aka tennis slam dunk).
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras_Slam_Dunks
Pete Sampras v Pat Rafter 2000 Wimbledon final highlights Pt 1
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 14:59
- Updated: 16 Nov 2012
Sampras and Rafter played a great match which lasted over 3hrs. Sampras won his 7th Wimbledon title and 13th Major title, then a record.
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras_v_Pat_Rafter_2000_Wimbledon_final_highlights_Pt_1
Pete Sampras vs Andre Agassi US Open 2002 Final Highlights HD
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 8:56
- Updated: 20 Nov 2012
www.facebook.com
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras_vs_Andre_Agassi_US_Open_2002_Final_Highlights_HD
Utilize Mental Tennis Tactics Of Legend Pete Sampras
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:19
- Updated: 13 Nov 2012
www.TennisMindCamp.com Are you a player that plays with a lot of emotion? Do you scream out "Yes!", "whooo hooo" or jump into the air with your fist held high when you make a great shot? Well, that could be your problem right there. Andy's too. What I've noticed from watching Andy Roddick over the years is that what tends to fuel his fire and gets him going... ...is a lot of the time what causes him to short-circuit which usually ends with him falling short in so many of his matches. It's his emotion. It makes him too volatile. Don't get me wrong, having drive is great and Andy is one of my favorites, but too much of it can actually end up being your own self-inflicted knockout blow. Check out this video tennis lesson above to see what I mean and get the quick and easy way Pete Sampras uses to achieve the perfect inner-balance to get the win.
http://wn.com/Utilize_Mental_Tennis_Tactics_Of_Legend_Pete_Sampras
Pete Sampras great shots selection against Mark Philippoussis (Davis Cup 1997 SF)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 8:25
- Updated: 28 Sep 2012
Pete Sampras great shots selection against Mark Philippoussis in Davis Cup 1997 semifinal in Washington. Sampras won 6:1, 6:2, 7:6(5). Philippoussis had his chances only in the 3rd set. He wasted one set point at 5:4 (40:30) on Pete`s serve. He had also 6:5 (30:0) on Sampras serve and 5:4 lead in the tiebreaker. Sampras was playing his best tennis in that match and also against Rafter in the next rubber match. He was on the different planet in September 1997...
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras_great_shots_selection_against_Mark_Philippoussis_Davis_Cup_1997_SF
2012- Marion Bartoli Warming Up Pete Sampras
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:08
- Updated: 21 Nov 2012
Marion Bartoli fulfills her childhood dream by warming up with Pete Sampras before his exhibition match at the 2012 Bank of the West Classic.
http://wn.com/2012_Marion_Bartoli_Warming_Up_Pete_Sampras
Pete Sampras great shots selection against Stefan Edberg (Kooyong Classic 1995 SF)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 8:13
- Updated: 25 Oct 2012
Pete Sampras great shots selection against Stefan Edberg in Kooyong Classic 1995 exhibition semifinal. Sampras won 6:3, 6:7(4), 6:2. Sampras was leading even 4:2 in the 2nd set.
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras_great_shots_selection_against_Stefan_Edberg_Kooyong_Classic_1995_SF
Pete Sampras - Classic Collection of Forehands Pt 2
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:36
- Updated: 17 Oct 2012
a collection of nice forehands from Sampras matches of yore
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras_Classic_Collection_of_Forehands_Pt_2
Pete Sampras first Grand Slam title (US Open 1990)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 6:50
- Updated: 19 Nov 2012
In this clip you can see Pete`s Sampras road to win his first Grand Slam title (US Open, September 9, 1990) at the age of 19 years and 28 days. Short highlights from Pete`s matches against Thomas Muster (4R), Ivan Lendl (QF), John McEnroe (SF) and Andre Agassi (FINAL). Pete was seeded as number "12" in that tournament. Music: Whitney Houston "One moment in time" (RIP Whitney).
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras_first_Grand_Slam_title_US_Open_1990
Pete Sampras great shots selection against Marat Safin (Australian Open 2002 4R)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 8:02
- Updated: 25 Oct 2012
Pete Sampras great shots selection against Marat Safin in Australian Open 2002 4th round. Safin won 6:2, 6:4, 6:7(5), 7:6(8). Safin was a break up in the 3rd set, but Sampras came back and won in the tiebreaker. Unfortunately in the 4th set Pete wasted two set points in another tiebreaker at 6:5 and 8:7 on Safin serve (also had 3:0 and 4:2 lead in the TB). Missing two games in the 2nd set and all 3rd set (except the tiebreaker).
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras_great_shots_selection_against_Marat_Safin_Australian_Open_2002_4R
![Cincinnati 1993 Semifinal - Stefan Edberg vs Pete Sampras [FULL MATCH]](http://web.archive.org./web/20121121235940im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TUj7wOWuR5Y/default.jpg "Cincinnati 1993 Semifinal - Stefan Edberg vs Pete Sampras [FULL MATCH]")
Cincinnati 1993 Semifinal - Stefan Edberg vs Pete Sampras [FULL MATCH]
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 79:00
- Updated: 30 Aug 2012
[Follow Stefan Edberg at stefanstennis.free.fr In a thrilling third set tie-break, Stefan Edberg defeats Wimbledon champion and World n.1 Pete Sampras in the semifinal of the Thriftway Championship in Cincinnati in 1993. The Swede was down one set and trailing 1-4 in the second.
http://wn.com/Cincinnati_1993_Semifinal_Stefan_Edberg_vs_Pete_Sampras_FULL_MATCH_
Pete Sampras great shots selection against Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Paris indoor 1997 SF)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 7:23
- Updated: 18 Oct 2012
Pete Sampras great shots selection against Yevgeny Kafelnikov in Paris indoor 1997 semifinal. Sampras won 7:6(2), 6:3. Kafelnikov was serving for the 1st set at 5:4 (30:30). In the 2nd set Sampras was leading 3:0 with two breaks, Kafelnikov cut the lead to 3-2, but Pete broke him again in the ninth game to close the match.
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras_great_shots_selection_against_Yevgeny_Kafelnikov_Paris_indoor_1997_SF
Photo: AP / Pablo Martinez Monsivais
20 Nov 2012
Article by WN.com Correspondent Dallas Darling President Barack Obama's whirlwind tour of southeast Asia and meetings with dignitaries will have to walk a tightrope between either appearing to endorse...
Photo: AP / Hatem Moussa
19 Nov 2012
Gaza/Jerusalem - Israel bombed dozens of targets in the Gaza Strip on Monday and said that while it was prepared to step up its offensive by sending in troops, it preferred a diplomatic solution that...
Photo: AP / Pablo Martinez Monsivais
19 Nov 2012
Yangon, November 19: Newly re-elected US President Barack Obama arrived here Monday to kick off his visit to Myanmar, becoming the first sitting US president to visit the Southeast Asian nation. As...
Photo: AP / Sebastian D'souza
21 Nov 2012
MUMBAI, India - India executed the lone surviving gunman from the 2008 terror attack on Mumbai early Wednesday, India's home ministry said. Ajmal Kasab, a Pakistani citizen, was one of 10 gunmen who...
Photo: EC / EC
19 Nov 2012
BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The shadow banking system - blamed for aggravating the financial crisis - grew to a new high of $67 trillion globally last year, a top regulatory group said, calling...
Vikings looking to put the squeeze on Bears QBs
21 Nov 2012
Dayton Daily News
The lasting image from the Bears' trip to San Francisco was 49ers defensive end Aldon Smith running amok. And now Chicago's battered offensive line gets to face Jared Allen, Chad Greenway and the Vikings on Sunday at Soldier Field. No, Minnesota (6-4) is not in San Francisco's class for creating...(size: 12.2Kb)
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The lasting image from the Bears' trip to San Francisco was 49ers defensive end Aldon Smith running amok. And now Chicago's battered offensive line gets to face Jared Allen, Chad Greenway and the Vikings on Sunday at Soldier Field. No, Minnesota (6-4) is not in San Francisco's class for creating...(size: 12.5Kb)
San Francisco Chronicle
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A popular question asked during SEC games this season has been: Do you have any service? The increasing number of fans unhappy their smartphones and tablets aren't working has become a priority for the mighty Southeastern Conference. The need for more bandwidth at stadiums is...(size: 5.6Kb)
Seattle Post
Directs holiday funding to support communities through trucking industry nonprofit organization Mississauga, Ontario (PRWEB) November 21, 2012 Trailer Wizards Ltd., Canada’s nationwide leader in trailer rentals and trailer sales, this week announced a five thousand dollar sponsorship agreement with...(size: 2.1Kb)
Public High League capsule
21 Nov 2012
STL Today
A look at the 2012-13 boys Public High League: Star power: There is a new team in the Public High League this year -- Madison Prep -- and with the addition of the Bears come two of the area’s top guards in seniors Martavian Payne and Kevin Baker. Madison, which opened when Imagine Prep was closed...(size: 8.8Kb)
New York Daily News
It was the most thankful of times and the most thankless of times. This is a tale of two New York Cities as experienced in one Staten Island neighborhood called Midland...(size: 1.1Kb)
Top 5 Reactions to the Guy Fieri Review
21 Nov 2012
LA Weekly
Unless you've been living under a rock (or, you know, having a full and robust life that exists outside the vortex that is the internet) you'll know that last week the New York Times restaurant critic Pete Wells reviewed Food Network star Guy Fieri's new Times Square restaurant Guy's American...(size: 3.3Kb)
Memphis tennis event gets new name
21 Nov 2012
The Tribune San Luis Obispo
Crash on Hwy. 101 near SLO backs up traffic to Pismo Beach Friends remember hit-and-run victim as 'a beautiful young man' SLO City Council OKs new SLO Brew location Phillies in search of power surge for 2013 Los Osos business rebuilds camper van for Navy veteran Jodi Fisher of Cayucos dies with...(size: 12.4Kb)
Online dating safety tips
21 Nov 2012
Chicago Tribune
Online dating services and police offer these safety tips: •Always meet in public and stay in a public place. •Tell a friend and drive yourself to and from the first...(size: 1.2Kb)
Happy birthday to Junior and The Man
21 Nov 2012
MLB
The odds must be incalculable, even for Nate Silver. Here we are, the day before Thanksgiving, and two of the 50 greatest players in baseball history are celebrating birthdays -- No. 92 for Stan Musial, No. 43 for Ken Griffey Jr. And here's the crazy part: The Man and The Kid share the same...(size: 4.8Kb)
Huffington Post
Children don't generally respond well to having their toys taken away, but if those toys are replaced with cardboard boxes, it turns out kids don't mind so much....(size: 6.2Kb)
_1,_cropped.jpg) |
|
| Country |  United States |
|---|---|
| Residence | Los Angeles, California |
| Born | (1971-08-12) August 12, 1971 (age 40) Potomac, Maryland |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg)[1] |
| Turned pro | 1988 |
| Retired | 2002 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Career prize money | US$ 43,280,489 |
| Int. Tennis HOF | 2007 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 762–222 (77.44%) |
| Career titles | 64 |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (April 12, 1993) |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1997) |
| French Open | SF (1996) |
| Wimbledon | W (1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000) |
| US Open | W (1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2002) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | W (1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999) |
| Olympic Games | 3R (1992) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 64–70 |
| Career titles | 2 |
| Highest ranking | No. 27 (February 12, 1990) |
| Grand Slam Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (1989) |
| French Open | 2R (1989) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1989) |
| US Open | 1R (1988, 1989, 1990) |
| Last updated on: July 5, 2008. | |
Peter "Pete" Sampras (/ˈsæmprəs/; born August 12, 1971) is a retired Greek–American tennis player and former world number 1. During his 15-year tour career, he won 14 Grand Slam singles titles and became recognized as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Sampras debuted on the professional tour in 1988 and played his last top-level tournament in 2002 when he won the US Open, defeating rival Andre Agassi in the final. He was the year-end world no. 1 for six consecutive years (1993–1998), a record for the open era. His seven Wimbledon singles championships are also an Open Era record. He spent 286 weeks at no. 1, the most of any male player. His five US Open singles titles is an Open Era record shared with former world no. 1 players Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer. Sampras is the last American male to win Wimbledon (2000) and the ATP World Tour Finals (1999).[2]
Contents |
Tennis career[link]
Early life and career[link]
Pete Sampras was born in Potomac, Maryland, and is the third child of Sammy and Georgia Sampras. His mother immigrated from Sparta, Greece, and his father was born in the United States to a Greek father and a Jewish mother.[3][4] Greek culture played a big role in his upbringing.[4][5] Pete attended regular services of the Greek Orthodox Church on Sundays.[6] From an early age, Sampras showed signs of outstanding athletic ability. At the age of 3, Sampras discovered a tennis racket in the basement of his home and spent hours hitting balls against the wall. In 1978, the Sampras family moved to Palos Verdes, California, and the warmer climate there allowed seven-year-old Pete to play more tennis. From early on, his great idol was Rod Laver, and at 11, Sampras met and played with him.[7] The Sampras family joined the Jack Kramer Club, and it was here that Sampras's talent became apparent. He was spotted by Peter Fischer, a pediatrician and tennis enthusiast, who coached Sampras until 1989.[7][8] Fischer was responsible for converting Sampras's double-handed backhand to single-handed with the goal of being better prepared to win Wimbledon.[9][10]
1988–1990[link]
Sampras turned professional in 1988, at the age of 16, and finished the year ranked world number 97 after starting the year at world number 893.[11] His first professional match was a loss to Sammy Giammalva, Jr. at the February Ebel U.S. Pro Indoor in Philadelphia. However, just one week later at the Lipton International Players Championships in Miami, Sampras defeated two top-40 players before losing to world number 18 Emilio Sánchez. He did not defeat another top-40 player for almost six months, when he defeated world number 39 Michiel Schapers at a US Open warm-up tournament in Rye Brook, New York. In his first Grand Slam singles match, Sampras lost to world number 69 Jaime Yzaga of Peru in the first round of the US Open, 7–6(2), 7–6(4), 4–6, 5–7, 2–6. Sampras did not advance past the quarterfinals in his next three tournaments, although he did record wins over world number 79 Jim Courier in their first career match-up, and world number 8 Tim Mayotte.[12]
The following year, Sampras slightly improved his ranking to a year-ending world number 81.[13] He lost in the first round of the 1989 Australian Open to Christian Saceanu and the first round of Wimbledon to Todd Woodbridge, 5-7, 6-7(5), 7-5, 3-6. He won a Grand Slam singles match for the first time at the French Open, before losing in the second round to eventual champion, 17-year-old Michael Chang, 1-6, 1-6, 1-6, in their first career match-up. At the US Open, Sampras defeated defending champion and fifth-seeded Mats Wilander in the second round, 5–7, 6–3, 1–6, 6–1, 6–4, before losing to world number 13 Jay Berger in the fourth round. To end the year, Sampras lost in the first round of four consecutive tournaments.[14]
Sampras finished 1990 at world number 5, having started the year ranked world number 61 just prior to the start of the Australian Open.[15] He lost to Wilander in the quarterfinals of the tournament in Sydney. At the Australian Open, Sampras upset twelfth-ranked Mayotte in the first round, 7–6(6), 6–7(5), 4–6, 7–5, 12–10, before losing to thirteenth-ranked Yannick Noah in the fourth round in four sets. His first professional singles title came in February at the Ebel U.S. Pro Indoor in Philadelphia, where he defeated sixth-ranked Andre Agassi, eighth-ranked Mayotte, and eighteenth-ranked Andrés Gómez in the final. This title elevated his ranking into the top 20 for the first time. Sampras did not play the French Open and again lost in the first round of Wimbledon, this time to Christo van Rensburg, 6-7(4), 5-7, 6-7(3). Sampras played seven consecutive weeks during the North American summer hard-court season. He defeated John McEnroe in the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open, but then lost to Chang in the semifinals. He also reached the semifinals of the tournament in Los Angeles, where he lost to world no. 2 Stefan Edberg. He did not advance past the quarterfinals in his next three tournaments, losing to Chang, Richey Reneberg, and Goran Ivanišević. In September, he captured his first Grand Slam title at the US Open. Along the way, he defeated sixth-ranked Thomas Muster in the fourth round and third-ranked Ivan Lendl in a five-set quarterfinal, breaking Lendl's streak of eight consecutive US Open finals. He then defeated 20th-ranked McEnroe in a four-set semifinal to set up a final with fourth-ranked Agassi. Sampras beat Agassi in straight sets to become the US Open's youngest-ever male singles champion at the age of 19 years and 28 days.[16] He played five more tournaments and won the Grand Slam Cup to complete his year.[17]
1991–1992[link]
Sampras in 1991 captured the first of his five career titles at the year-end Tennis Masters Cup. Upon entering the US Open as the defending champion that year, he caused controversy when, after losing in the quarterfinals to Jim Courier, Sampras said that he was not disappointed and felt relieved that the pressure to defend his title was no longer on him. This led to widespread criticism, which included disparaging remarks from Courier and Jimmy Connors.[18]
In 1992, Sampras reached the quarterfinals of the French Open for the first of three consecutive years, made it to the Wimbledon semifinals, and was the runner-up at the US Open to Stefan Edberg. Sampras later stated that his loss in the US Open final that year was a "wake-up call" and that he needed to figure out how to become the world number 1.[19] He also played doubles with John McEnroe on the US team that won the Davis Cup, duplicating the feat in 1995.
1992 was also the year when Sampras made his only appearance at a Summer Olympics. The tennis event was played on clay, which was considered his worst surface. Nonetheless, Sampras had a solid showing in Barcelona, advancing to the third round before giving up a two-set lead and losing to Andrei Cherkasov of Russia.
1993–1996[link]
Sampras reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in early 1993 and matched the previous year's quarterfinal performance at the French Open. In April 1993, Sampras attained the world number 1 ranking for the first time. His rise to the top of the rankings spot was controversial because he had not recently won any Grand Slam titles,[20] but he justified his ranking three months later by claiming his first Wimbledon title, beating former world number 1 Jim Courier in the final. This was followed by his second US Open title. He finished the year as the clear no. 1 and set a new ATP Tour record that year by becoming the first player to serve more than 1,000 aces in a season.
Except for a loss in the 1996 quarterfinals to eventual winner Richard Krajicek, Sampras continued to win at Wimbledon for the rest of the decade, becoming the most successful male player in Wimbledon history.[21]
Sampras won the first of his two Australian Open titles in 1994, defeating American Todd Martin in the final. In 1995, Sampras experienced one of the most emotional matches of his career, when he played Courier in the quarterfinals.[22] Sampras's longtime coach and close friend, Tim Gullikson, had mysteriously collapsed during the tournament and was forced to return to the United States. Gullikson was later diagnosed with brain cancer to which he succumbed the following year. Saddened by Gullikson's illness, Sampras began visibly weeping during the match, but managed to win. He lost the final to Agassi. Paul Annacone took over as Sampras's full-time coach after Gullikson's illness made it impossible for him to continue coaching.
Sampras's best surface was undoubtedly the fast-playing grass courts.[23] He was also known for his all-round game and strong competitive instinct. He won back-to-back US Open titles in 1995 and 1996, despite vomiting on the court at 1–1 in the tiebreak due to dehydration in the 1996 quarterfinals against Àlex Corretja. Sampras's only real weakness was on clay courts, where the slow surface tempered his natural attacking serve-and-volley game. His best performance at the French Open came in 1996, when he lost a semifinal match to the eventual winner, Yevgeny Kafelnikov. Despite his limited success at Roland Garros, Sampras did win some significant matches on clay. He won a 1992 clay court tournament in Kitzbühel, defeating Alberto Mancini in the final. He won the prestigious Italian Open in 1994, defeating Boris Becker in the final, and two singles matches in the 1995 Davis Cup final against Russians Andrei Chesnokov and Yevgeny Kafelnikov in Moscow. Sampras also won a 1998 clay court tournament in Atlanta, defeating Jason Stoltenberg in the final.
1997[link]
Sampras won his second and final Australian Open title in January, defeating Carlos Moyà in the final.[24] In July, he won Wimbledon for the fourth time, defeating Cédric Pioline in the final.[25] Sampras also won singles titles in San Jose, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Munich, and Paris, and the ATP Tour World Championships in Hanover, Germany. He became the only player to win both the Grand Slam Cup and the ATP Tour World Championships in the same year.
He had a 10–1 win–loss record against top-10 opponents and was undefeated in eight singles finals. He held the world number 1 ranking for the entire year and joined Jimmy Connors (1974–1978) as the only male players to hold the year-end world number 1 ranking for five consecutive years. His prize money earnings of US$6,498,211 for the year was a career high.
1998[link]
In 1998, Sampras's no. 1 ranking was challenged by Chilean player Marcelo Ríos. (In 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997, Sampras had dominated the ATP tour.) Sampras failed to defend his Australian Open title, losing in the quarterfinals to Karol Kučera,[26] and won Wimbledon only after a hard-fought five-set victory over Goran Ivanišević. Sampras lost a five-set US Open semifinal to the eventual winner Patrick Rafter, after leading the match two sets to one. He lost another semifinal at the Tennis Masters Cup to eventual champion Àlex Corretja. Nevertheless, Sampras finished the year as the top-ranked player for the sixth year in a row.
1999[link]
1999 also started out disappointingly, as Sampras withdrew from the Australian Open and failed to win a title during the early part of the season. However, he then went on a 24-match winning streak, including the Stella Artois Championships, Wimbledon (equaling Roy Emerson's record of 12 Grand Slam singles titles), Los Angeles, and Cincinnati. His victory over Agassi in the Wimbledon final is often cited as one of Sampras's greatest performances (despite this, he lost his no. 1 ranking to Agassi the following day, when ATP Tour rankings were updated). That run ended when he was forced to retire from the RCA Championships and the US Open because of a herniated disc in his back. Sampras's ranking was hurt through a combination of withdrawing from the Australian and US Opens, tournaments in which he had strong performances during the previous year, and the resurgence of longtime rival Andre Agassi, putting an end to Sampras' six consecutive years of finishing as the world number 1. Agassi took over the top ranking and held it for the rest of the season, but Sampras recovered and managed to beat him in the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup for the fifth and final time, enabling Sampras to place third in the rankings.
2000s[link]
Sampras reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in early 2000 (falling to the eventual champion Agassi in a five-set match) and won the Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida for the third time in March. He then won a record-breaking 13th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, battling through tendonitis in his right shin and a painful back injury in the process. This victory was his eighth consecutive win in a Grand Slam final (starting at 1995 Wimbledon), which remains a record in the Open Era. After this victory, Sampras did not win another title for more than two years. He lost in the finals of the 2000 and 2001 US Open to Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt, respectively, leading many to speculate that Sampras would never capture another major title. At the 2001 Wimbledon Championships, Sampras lost to Roger Federer, who was 19 at the time, 6–7(7), 7–5, 4–6, 7–6(2), 5–7, in the fourth round, ending Sampras's 31-match winning streak at Wimbledon. The match also marked the first and only time that the two men ever played each other on the ATP tour.
2002[link]
In 2002, Sampras suffered an early exit from Wimbledon, losing in the second round to no. 145 fast-court specialist George Bastl of Switzerland. Sampras had a relatively poor summer leading up to the US Open. Greg Rusedski, whom Sampras had defeated in a long five-set third round match at the US Open, said that Sampras was "a step and a half slower" and predicted that Sampras would lose his next match. Sampras, however, then defeated two young stars, Tommy Haas in the fourth round and Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals. He then defeated Sjeng Schalken in the semifinals to reach his third straight US Open final, and eighth US Open final overall, tying Ivan Lendl's all-time record. This time, he faced Agassi, whom he had met in his very first Grand Slam final 12 years earlier. After a four-set battle between the two veterans, Sampras claimed a then-record 14th Grand Slam singles title and matched Jimmy Connors's record of five US Open singles championships.
He played no tour events in the following 12 months, but did not officially announce his retirement until August 2003, just prior to the US Open.[27] He chose not to defend his title there, but his retirement announcement was timed so that he could say farewell at a special ceremony organized for him at the Open.[28] At the time of his retirement, many regarded Sampras as the greatest player of all time.[29][30]
Sampras won 64 top-level singles titles (including 14 Grand Slam titles, 11 Super 9 / ATP Masters Series titles, and five Tennis Masters Cup titles) and two doubles titles. He was ranked the world number 1 for a record 286 weeks and was year-end no. 1 for a record six consecutive years from 1993 through 1998.
Rivalry with Andre Agassi[link]
Main article: Agassi-Sampras rivalry
Sampras won 20 of the 34 matches he played against Agassi.[31]
The 1990 US Open was their first meeting in a Grand Slam tournament final. Agassi was favored because he was ranked world number 4, compared to the world number 12 ranking of Sampras and because Agassi had defeated Sampras in their only previously completed match. However, Agassi lost the final to Sampras in straight sets.
Their next meeting in a Grand Slam was at the 1992 French Open, where they met in the quarterfinals. Although Sampras was higher ranked, Agassi prevailed in straight sets. Their next Grand Slam meeting was at the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 1993, where Agassi was the defending champion and Sampras was the newly minted world number 1. Sampras prevailed in five sets, and went on to win his first Wimbledon championship.
With both Sampras and Agassi participating, the U.S. won the Davis Cup in 1995. Notable Sampras-Agassi matches of 1995 included the finals of the Australian Open, the Newsweek Champions Cup, the Lipton International Players Championships, the Canadian Open, and the US Open, with Sampras winning the Newsweek Champions Cup and the US Open.
The next time Sampras and Agassi met in a Grand Slam final was at Wimbledon in 1999, where Sampras won in straight sets. For both, it was considered a career rejuvenation, as Sampras had suffered a string of disappointments in the last year while Agassi was regaining his status as a top-ranked player after winning the French Open. Sampras forfeited the world number 1 ranking to Agassi when injury forced Sampras to withdraw from that year's US Open. They faced each other twice in the season-ending ATP Tour World Championships, with Sampras losing the round-robin match, but winning the final.
They played each other only once in 2000. The top-ranked Agassi defeated world number 3 Sampras in the semifinals of the Australian Open, 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(0), 7–6(5), 6–1.
In arguably their most memorable match, Sampras defeated Agassi in the 2001 US Open quarterfinals 6–7(7), 7–6(2), 7–6(2), 7–6(5). There were no breaks of serve during the entire match. Reruns of the match are frequently featured on television, especially during US Open rain delays.
The final of the 2002 US Open was their first meeting in a US Open final since 1995. The match also was notable because they had defeated several up-and-coming players en route to the final. Sampras had defeated world number 3 Tommy Haas in the fourth round and future world number 1 Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals, while Agassi had defeated world number 1 and defending champion Lleyton Hewitt in the semifinals. Sampras defeated Agassi, 6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 6–4. This was the final ATP tour singles match of Sampras's career.
On August 2010 Sampras played an exhibition game with Andre Agassi at the indoor arena Coliseo Cubierto El Campin in Bogotá, Colombia.
Rivalry with Patrick Rafter[link]
Sampras won 12 of the 16 matches he played against Rafter, including eight of their first nine.[32] Their rivalry began to truly develop after Rafter shocked the tennis world by winning the 1997 US Open, a tournament that many expected Sampras to win, having won in 1995 and 1996. The win catapulted Rafter to the year-end no. 2 rankings behind Sampras. Many, including seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe believed Rafter to be a "one-slam wonder", since it was only his second career ATP title.[33]
In 1998, after Rafter defeated Sampras in the Cincinnati Masters final, Sampras, at the time winner of 11 Grand Slams, when asked about the difference between himself and Rafter, famously stated "Ten grand slams", that a controversial line-call cost him the match, and that a player had to come back and win another Grand Slam title in order to be considered great.[34] The two met in the semifinals of the 1998 US Open, with Rafter winning in five sets. Sampras cited a leg injury as the reason Rafter won, an attitude that upset the generally mild-mannered Aussie: "He really does say some funny things at the wrong time", said Rafter, "We are out there busting our guts and he doesn't show a lot of respect at the end of the day. He tries to play down the reason why he lost, giving no respect to the other player, and that is what really upsets me about him and the reason I try to piss him off as much as I can."[35]
Following his successful defense of his 1997 U.S. Open title by defeating Mark Philippoussis in the 1998 final, when asked about Sampras' earlier comments about having to win another Grand Slam in order to be considered great, Rafter replied: "Maybe you can ask him that question, if he thinks that now. For me, I won another Slam, and it hasn't sunk in yet. It's very, very exciting for me, especially to repeat it".[34] For his part, Sampras said about Rafter, "When I see him holding the US Open trophy, it pisses me off."[36]
After losing for a third consecutive time against Rafter, Sampras won their final four meetings, including a four-set victory in the 2000 Wimbledon final, after being down a set and trailing in the second-set tiebreaker. The victory gave Sampras his 13th Grand Slam title, breaking the record of 12 by Roy Emerson and at that time giving Sampras the most Grand Slam titles in history, until his record was eclipsed by Roger Federer following the 2009 Wimbledon final.
Equipment[link]
Sampras used one racket type, the Wilson Pro Staff Original, for his entire professional career – a racket first introduced in 1983. He played with Babolat natural gut, with all his rackets re-strung before each match (used or not) at 75 lbs tension (more or less depending on conditions). His rackets had weight added to bring them close to 400 g, but the proper frame was a production model manufactured from St. Vincent, an island factory in the Caribbean. The handles were custom-built.[37]
Post-retirement, Sampras has used the slightly modified Pro Staff Tour 90 and in 2008 had a new version of the original Pro Staff produced, with in-between head size of 88 square inches and heavier weight at 349 grams unstrung.[38]
Since mid-2010,[39] however, Sampras has been spotted at multiple exhibitions playing with a Babolat Pure Storm Tour, along with Babolat's popular RPM Blast strings.[40]
"I need a little more pop...I need it if I'm going to play some tennis," he said after playing Gael Monfils in an exhibition at the SAP Open.[41]
During a good part of 2011, Sampras used a racquet that was painted all black, with Tourna Grip and Tourna Dampener.
Post-retirement activity[link]
On April 6, 2006, three and a half years after his retirement, Sampras resurfaced and played his first exhibition match in River Oaks, Houston, Texas against 23-year-old Robby Ginepri. Ginepri won the match 6–3, 7–6(10). Sampras later announced that he would be playing in World Team Tennis events.
2007 saw Sampras announcing that he would play in a few events on the Outback Champions Series, a group of tournaments for former ATP players who have met certain criteria during their careers.[42] Sampras won his first two events on tour, defeating Todd Martin in both finals (one of which included Sampras's first trip to his ancestral homeland, Greece).[43] Many observers noted that despite his lengthy layoff from competitive tournaments, Sampras still possessed many of the previous skills he had displayed while on the ATP tour, with tennis legend John McEnroe going as far as to say that Sampras would be worthy of a top five seeding at Wimbledon were he to enter the tournament.[44]
On November 20, 2007, Sampras lost the first of three exhibition matches in Asia against Roger Federer losing 6–4, 6–3 in Seoul, Korea.[45] Two days later in Kuala Lumpur, Sampras again lost to Federer, 7–6(6), 7–6(5). However, Sampras was able to win the last match of the series, winning 7–6(8), 6–4.[46]
On February 18, 2008, in an exhibition match during the SAP Open, Sampras defeated another active player, former world No. 2 Tommy Haas. Sampras dispatched the German, 6–4, 6–2 in 43 minutes.[47]
On March 10, 2008, Sampras played another exhibition match against world No. 1 Roger Federer at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Sampras once again lost the match 6–3, 6–7(4), 7–6(6).[48]
In 2009, Sampras won two Outback Champions Series titles. He defeated McEnroe in the final of the Champions Cup Boston in February and Patrick Rafter in the final of The Del Mar Development Champions Cup in March.[49]
Sampras was present at the 2009 Wimbledon final between Andy Roddick and Roger Federer to witness Federer eclipse his mark of 14 major titles and become the most successful man in Grand Slam history. Sampras's record of 14 majors had lasted for seven years.
The following year, along with Federer, Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal, he played an exhibition doubles match at Indian Wells to raise money for the people of Haiti that had been affected by the earthquake.
In November 2010, Sampras reported that many of his trophies and other memorabilia had been stolen from a West Los Angeles public storage facility.[50] The loss included only one of his 14 Grand Slam title trophies, from his first Australian Open victory,[51] but also included two Davis Cups, an Olympic ring and six trophies for finishing top in the year-end rankings.[52] Most of the stolen items have since been recovered and returned.[53]
On November 17, 2011, Sampras played an exhibition match against Milos Raonic who won the match 7-6, 6-1. Sampras’s serve approached 200 km/h throughout the night, whereas Raonic regularly topped that mark and reached speeds up to 222 km/h.[54]
Playing style[link]
Sampras was an all-court player who would often serve and volley. Possessing an all-around skill, in the early years of his career, when not serving, his strategy was to be offensive from the baseline, put opponents in a defensive position, and finish points at the net. In his later years, he became even more offensive and would either employ a chip-and-charge strategy; just chip back the return and run up to the net, waiting for a volley or try to hit an offensive shot on the return and follow his return to the net.[citation needed]
He was known for producing aces on critical points, even with his second serves.[55][56] He had an accurate and powerful first serve, one of the best of all time.[57] His second serve was nearly as powerful as his first, possibly his most dangerous weapon. He had great disguise on both his first and second serves.[citation needed]
Sampras was able to hit winners from both his forehand and backhand wings from all over the court. He was also especially known for having arguably the best "running forehand" of all time.[citation needed] He was able to catch attacks wide to his forehand using his speed and hitting a forehand shot on the run. When successfully executed, he won many points outright or put opponents immediately on the defensive, due to the extreme pace and flat nature of the shot.[citation needed] He also popularized the jump smash, or "slam dunk", where he jumps and then hits the smash in mid-air.[citation needed]
Many players tried (especially late in his career) to serve a high "kicker" out to the Sampras backhand in an attempt to draw a weak return.[citation needed] A similar tactic was employed by many players in rallying Sampras; they would play shot after shot to the Sampras backhand, hoping to wear him down.[citation needed] Still, most of the time, he will handle them with either topspin or slice backhand deep to his opponent's court to change defense to attack.[citation needed]
Personal and family life[link]
Sampras's older sister Stella is the women's tennis head coach at UCLA,[58] and his younger sister, Marion, is a teacher in Los Angeles. His older brother, Gus, has been tournament director at the Scottsdale ATP event, but from 2007 he became president of the firm managing Pete's business activities.[59]
On September 30, 2000, Sampras married American actress and former Miss Teen USA, Bridgette Wilson.[60] On November 21, 2002, their son Christian Charles was born.[61] On July 29, 2005, the couple welcomed their second son, Ryan Nikolaos.[62]
Sampras has β-thalassemia, a genetic trait that sometimes causes mild anemia.[63]
Career statistics[link]
Main article: Pete Sampras career statistics
Records and achievements[link]
Records[link]
- These records were attained in Open Era of tennis.
- Records in bold indicate peer-less achievements.
- ^ Denotes consecutive streak.
| Championship | Years | Record accomplished | Player tied |
| Grand Slam | 1995–2000 | 8 consecutive wins in Grand Slam finals | Stands alone |
| Grand Slam | 1993–2000 | 8 consecutive years winning 1+ title | Björn Borg Roger Federer |
| Grand Slam | 1992–2002 | 11 consecutive years reaching 1+ final | Ivan Lendl |
| Wimbledon | 1993–2000 | 7 titles overall[64] | Stands alone |
| Wimbledon | 1993–2000 | 7 finals overall | Boris Becker Roger Federer^ |
| Wimbledon—US Open | 1990–2002 | Wimbledon (7) & US Open (5) titles combination | Stands alone |
| US Open | 1990–2002 | 5 titles overall | Jimmy Connors Roger Federer^ |
| US Open | 1990–2002 | 8 finals overall[65] | Ivan Lendl^ |
| US Open | 1990 | Youngest US Open champion[66] | Stands alone |
| No. 1 Ranking | 1993–2000 | 286 total weeks[67] | Stands alone |
| Year–End No. 1 | 1993–1998 | 6 years^[1][66] | Stands alone |
Professional Awards[link]
- ATP Player of the Year: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998.[68]
- ITF World Champion: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998.[69]
Other achievements[link]
 |
This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (March 2009) |
- Sampras is the only male player to win the same Grand Slam tournament (Wimbledon) 7 times in the span of 8 years.
- Sampras is the only male player to have won at least three consecutive Wimbledon singles titles twice (1993–95 and 1997–2000).
- Sampras is the only male player in the history of tennis to win his first and last Grand Slam 12 non calender years apart and 13 calender years apart (1990 & 2002 US Open).
- Only Sampras (1997–2000), Federer (2003–07), and Borg (1976–80) have won at least four consecutive Wimbledon singles titles. During the open era, only Borg (1978–81 French Open and 1976–80 Wimbledon), Sampras (1997–2000 Wimbledon), Federer (2003–07 Wimbledon and 2004–08 US Open), and Rafael Nadal (2005–08 French Open) have won at least one Grand Slam tournament four consecutive times.
- Ken Rosewall and Sampras are the only men to have won Grand Slam singles titles as a teenager, in their 20s, and in their 30s.
- Sampras won 40 of the 42 singles matches he played on Wimbledon's Centre Court and 63 of the 70 singles matches he played at the All England Club.
- Sampras is the only male player during the open era who played in at least seven singles finals at two different Grand Slam tournaments (8 US Open and 7 Wimbledon).
- Sampras is the only Greek American to win a Grand Slam
Other Awards[link]
Summary of professional awards.[70]
- U.S. Olympic Committee "Sportsman of the Year" in 1997. He was the first tennis player to receive this award.[71]
- GQ Magazine's Individual Athlete Award for Man of the Year in 2000.
- Selected the No. 1 player (of 25 players) in the past 25 years by a panel of 100 current and past players, journalists, and tournament directors to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the ATP in 1997.
- Voted 48th athlete of Top 50 Greatest North American Athletes of ESPN's SportsCentury (also youngest on list).
- In 2005, TENNIS Magazine named Sampras the greatest tennis player for the period 1965 through 2005, from its list, "The 40 Greatest Players of the TENNIS Era".
See also[link]
References[link]
- ^ a b Pete Sampras at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- ^ "Top 10 Men's Tennis Players of All Time". Sports Illustrated. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1009/top.ten.tennis/content.1.html. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
- ^ "Sampras visits ancestral home for first time". Associated Press. MSNBC. May 15, 2007. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18682181/. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
- ^ a b Higdon, David (October 2, 1996). "Questions from the Net: Your Top Ten Questions to Pete Sampras". Tennisserver.com. http://www.tennisserver.com/netgame/netgame_10_2_96.html. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
- ^ Nick Green (Sunday July 1, 2007). "The tennis champion on meeting his Hollywood actress wife, beating Agassi and those famous on-court tears". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/jul/01/tennis.features. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
- ^ Srinivasan, Archana (2007). Biographies of Bio-Sporting Legends. Sura Books. p. 80. ISBN 81-7478-644-9.
- ^ a b "The King of Swing. Pete Sampras". Petesampras.com. http://www.petesampras.com/sampras2.html. Retrieved February 22, 2008.
- ^ Spadea, Vince; with Dan Markowitz (2006). Break Point: The Secret Diary of a Pro Tennis Player. ECW Press. pp. 36, p. 125. ISBN 1-55022-729-7.
- ^ Shifrin, Joshua (2005). 101 Incredible Moments in Tennis: The Good, the Bad and the Infamous. Virtualbookworm.com Publishers. p. 229. ISBN 1-58939-820-3.
- ^ Robson, Douglas (June 24, 2008). "One-handed backhand now a rarity in post-Henin era". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2008-06-23-tennis-backhands_N.htm. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ "Ranking History of Pete Sampras for 1988". ATP Official website. http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/players/playerprofiles/rankhistory.asp?playernumber=S402&selyear=1988. Retrieved November 28, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "1988 Player Activity for Pete Sampras". ATP Official website. http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/players/playerprofiles/playeractivity.asp?prevtrnnum=0&year=1988&query=Singles&selTournament=0&player=S402&x=8&y=8. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
- ^ "Ranking History of Pete Sampras for 1989". ATP Official website. http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/players/playerprofiles/rankhistory.asp?playernumber=S402&selyear=1989. Retrieved November 28, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "1989 Player Activity for Pete Sampras". ATP Official website. http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/players/playerprofiles/playeractivity.asp?prevtrnnum=0&year=1989&query=Singles&selTournament=0&player=S402&x=6&y=4. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
- ^ "Ranking History of Pete Sampras for 1990". ATP Official website. http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/players/playerprofiles/rankhistory.asp?playernumber=S402&selyear=1990. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
- ^ Srinivasan, 2007, Bio-Sporting Legends, p. 83.
- ^ "1990 Player Activity for Pete Sampras". ATP Official website. http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/players/playerprofiles/playeractivity.asp?prevtrnnum=0&year=1990&query=Singles&selTournament=0&player=S402&x=10&y=8. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
- ^ Schwartz, Larry. "Sampras competes against best – ever". ESPN. http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016453.html. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
- ^ "Upon Hall of Fame Induction, Sampras Says a Loss Spurred Wins". The Associated Press. July 15, 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/15/sports/tennis/15tennis.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=sampras+open+1992&st=nyt&oref=slogin. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
- ^ Sampras, Pete; Peter Bodo (2008). A Champion's Mind: Lessons from a Life in Tennis. Crown Publishing Group. p. 92. ISBN 0-307-38329-6.
- ^ Most current Wimbledon Titles.
- ^ Bud Collins (January 26, 1995). "Old friends battle it out to the death". Archived from the original on August 8, 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20090808231306/http://geocities.com/hovav13/art-The_Night_Pete_Cried.html. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
- ^ Based on total wins per surface.
- ^ White, Derrick (27 January 1997). "Tennis: Sampras barely breaks sweat". The Independent (Independent Print Limited). http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis-sampras-barely-breaks-sweat-1285366.html. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
- ^ Roberts, John (7 July 1997). "Tennis: Wimbledon '97 – Sparkling Sampras reigns supreme". The Independent (Independent Print Limited). http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis-wimbledon-97--sparkling-sampras-reigns-supreme-1249417.html. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
- ^ "Sport: Tennis – Pistol Pete fired from Open". BBC News (British Broadcasting Corporation). January 27, 1998. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/tennis/51026.stm. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
- ^ Jim Litke (2003). "Sampras: '100 Percent Retired'". CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-207_162-569619.html. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
- ^ Jim Litke (2003). "Sampras: '100 Percent Retired'". CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-207_162-569619.html. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
- ^ Raymond Lee (September 14, 2007). "Greatest Player Of All Time: A Statistical Analysis". Tennis Week. http://www.tennisweek.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=503656. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
- ^ "40 Greatest Players of the Tennis Era". Tennis magazine. http://www.tennis.com/features/40greatest/40greatest.aspx?id=194. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
- ^ "Sampras-Agassi Head-to-Head Matches". ATP Official website. http://www.atptennis.com/3/en/players/headtohead/?player1=Sampras%2C+Pete&player2=agassi. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
- ^ Sampras-Rafter Career Head-To-Head
- ^ Tennis: Rafter learns the mind game
- ^ a b Rafter Grandly Slams U.S. Open Criticism
- ^ There's a Little Tension in Sampras, Rafter Rackets
- ^ Sampras slight raises stakes for 'Pat-trick'
- ^ "Q & A with Nate Ferguson, Sampras' personal stringer". Tennis Warehouse. August 1999. Archived from the original on March 29, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080329104018/http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Features/9908NateFerguson.html. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
- ^ "Wilson K Factor KPro Staff 88 Racquet Review". Tennis Warehouse. http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Reviews/KPS88/KPS88Review.html. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
- ^ "Eyewitness report". Tennis Warehouse. May 2010. http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=329303. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
- ^ "Pro Shop Q&A Tennis Magazine". Tennis.com. Sept. 3, 2010. http://tennisworld.typepad.com/the_pro_shop/2010/09/mailbag-pistol-petes-new-pure-storm.html. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
- ^ "Associated Press article". CBS5 San Francisco. February 7, 2011. http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/02/07/sampras-falls-to-monfils-in-exhibition-at-sap-open/. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
- ^ Ulmann, Howard (February 7, 2007). "Sampras 'to see how it goes' in Champions Series return". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2007-02-05-sampras_x.htm. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
- ^ "Pete Sampras beats Todd Martin to win Athens seniors event". Associated Press. May 20, 2007. http://www.sportsline.com/tennis/story/10190061. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
- ^ "Senior tour a crowd-pleasing idea". The Gazette. May 15, 2007. http://championsseriestennis.com/boston2007/index.php?newsid=358&page=news. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
- ^ "Federer beats Sampras in first of three exhibitions". The Associated Press. November 20, 2007. http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=3120068. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
- ^ "Third time the charm as Sampras wins in straight sets". ESPN. November 24, 2007. http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=3125171. Retrieved December 5, 2010.
- ^ "Sampras shows no mercy in beating Haas in exhibition". Associated Press. February 19, 2008. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/81271/Sampras-shows-no-mercy-in-beating-Haas-in-exhibition. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
- ^ "Clash of the Tennis Titans". The Tennis Channel. 2008. http://www.tennischannel.com/federer_sampras/. Retrieved February 22, 2008.
- ^ "2009 EVENTS". http://www.championsseriestennis.com/upcoming.php.
- ^ "Pete Sampras' tennis trophies stolen". ESPN. December 8, 2010. http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=5898060. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
- ^ "Pete Sampras tennis trophies stolen from storage depot". BBC News. December 8, 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11952061. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
- ^ Dwyre, Bill (December 7, 2010). "One of tennis' ultimate winners, Pete Sampras, suffers a major loss". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-1208-dwyre-20101208,0,1757631.column. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
- ^ http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/Sampras-stolen-trophies-turn-up-at-los-angeles-hospital-032111
- ^ http://samprasvsraonic.com/wordpress/?p=449
- ^ "Pete Sampras's serving style". http://www.tennisserver.com/set/set_03_11.html. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
- ^ "Second Serve Style and Speed". http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/tour_strokes/john_yandell/sampras_serve/sampras_serve_second_serve_part8_images/sampras_serve_second_serve_part8.html. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
- ^ "Had you written off Pistol Pete?". BBC Sport. August 19, 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/sports_talk/2202611.stm. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ Behniwal, Ajaybir (May 2, 2007). "Women's tennis nets good draw through recent wins". The Daily Bruin (ASUCLA Student Media). http://dailybruin.com/news/2007/may/02/womens_tennis_nets_good_draw_through_recent_wins/. Retrieved May 20, 2007.
- ^ "Tennis Legend Pete Sampras Forms New Company – Pure Sports Management" (PDF). Press Release. March 29, 2007. http://www.puresportsmanagement.com/files/Pure_Sports_Management_announcement.pdf. Retrieved August 24, 2007.
- ^ "Actress Brigette is Sampras love match". Associated Press. CNN. October 2, 2000. Archived from the original on May 26, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060526035920/http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/2000/fyi/news/10/02/sampras.wedding/index.html. Retrieved May 20, 2007. [dead link]
- ^ "Sampras Adds New Title: Father". The New York Times. November 26, 2002. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DEFD71F39F935A15752C1A9649C8B63&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fS%2fSampras%2c%20Pete. Retrieved May 20, 2007.
- ^ "Review 2005: Celebrity births, marriages and deaths". Manchester Evening News. December 12, 2005. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/showbiz/s/191/191185_review_2005_celebrity_births_marriages_and_deaths.html. Retrieved May 20, 2007.
- ^ "Clay soils Pete's record". BBC Sport. May 23, 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/french_open/1952120.stm. Retrieved February 22, 2008.
- ^ "Wimbledon – Records & Statistics". Wimbledon.com. http://www.wimbledon.com/heritage/history/statistics. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
- ^ "US Open Singles Record Book". USOpen.com. http://2011.usopen.org/pdf/Record_Book_Singles_Records.pdf. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
- ^ a b Buddell, James (August 26, 2011). "DEUCE – Pete Sampras – The Making Of A Champion". ATPWorldTour.com. http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE-Tennis/DEUCE-US-Open-2010/Pete-Sampras.aspx. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
- ^ Eaton, Richard (February 26, 2012). "Roger Federer happy to let Pete Sampras keep some records". National Post. http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/02/26/roger-federer-happy-to-let-pete-sampras-keep-some-records/. Retrieved 2012-03-09.
- ^ "ATP Bio:Pete Sampras". http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Sa/P/Pete-Sampras.aspx. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
- ^ Pete Sampras at the International Tennis Federation
- ^ "Bio:Pete Sampras". Gabby Awards. http://www.gabbyawards.com/the-nominees/athletics/117-pete-sampras.html. Retrieved June 26, 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "Pete Sampras Left Behind A Legacy Few Players Can Ever Match". http://www.all-about-tennis.com/pete-sampras.html. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
Further reading[link]
- Collins, Bud; H. A. Branham (1996). Sampras: A Legend in the Works. Chicago: Bonus Books. ISBN 1-56625-062-5.
- Pete Sampras and Peter Bodo (2009). Pete Sampras: The Autobiography – A Champion's Mind. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 978-1-84513-469-3.
Video[link]
- Wimbledon Classic Match: Federer vs Sampras (2001) Standing Room Only, DVD Release Date: October 31, 2006, Run Time: 233 minutes, ASIN: B000ICLR98.
- Legends of Wimbledon – Pete Sampras (2006) Standing Room Only, DVD Release Date: October 31, 2006, Run Time: 60 minutes, ASIN: B000ICLR84.
- The Netjets Showdown: Pete Sampras vs. Roger Federer (2008) Arts Alliance Amer, DVD Release Date: April 22, 2008, Run Time: 180 minutes, ASIN: B0013PVGN6.
External links[link]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pete Sampras |
- Official website
- Pete Sampras at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- Pete Sampras at the International Tennis Federation
- Pete Sampras at the Davis Cup
- Pete Sampras at the International Tennis Hall of Fame
- Text, Audio, Video of Sampras' International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Speech
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sampras, Pete |
| Alternative names | Sampras, Petros |
| Short description | Tennis player |
| Date of birth | August 12, 1971 |
| Place of birth | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
http://wn.com/Pete_Sampras
Related pages:
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This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Sampras
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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
| Benny Goodman | |
|---|---|
 from the film Stage Door Canteen (1943) |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Benjamin David Goodman |
| Also known as | "King of Swing", "The Professor", "Patriarch of the Clarinet", "Swing's Senior Statesman" |
| Born | (1909-05-30)May 30, 1909 |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | June 13, 1986(1986-06-13) (aged 77) |
| Genres | Swing, big band |
| Occupations | Musician, bandleader, songwriter |
| Instruments | Clarinet |
| Years active | 1926–1986 |
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman[1] (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".
In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America. His January 16, 1938 concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City is described by critic Bruce Eder as "the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz's 'coming out' party to the world of 'respectable' music."[2]
Goodman's bands launched the careers of many major names in jazz, and during an era of segregation, he also led one of the first well-known racially-integrated jazz groups. Goodman continued to perform to nearly the end of his life, including exploring his interest in classical music.
Contents |
Childhood and early years[link]
Goodman was born in Chicago, the ninth of twelve children of poor Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire,[1] who lived in the Maxwell Street neighborhood. His father was David Goodman, a tailor from Warsaw; his mother was Dora Grisinsky[1] (from Kaunas, Lithuania). His parents met in Baltimore, Maryland, and moved to Chicago before Benny was born.[3]
When Benny was 10, his father enrolled him and two of his older brothers in music lessons at the Kehelah Jacob Synagogue. The next year he joined the boys club band at Jane Addams' Hull House, where he received lessons from director James Sylvester. He also received two years of instruction from the classically trained clarinetist Franz Schoepp.[4] His early influences were New Orleans jazz clarinetists working in Chicago, notably Johnny Dodds, Leon Roppolo, and Jimmy Noone.[3] Goodman learned quickly, becoming a strong player at an early age: he was soon playing professionally in various bands.
Goodman attended Lewis Institute (now Illinois Institute of Technology) in 1924 as a high school sophomore, while also playing the clarinet in a dance hall band. (He was awarded an honorary LL.D. from IIT in 1968.) When Goodman was 16, he joined one of Chicago's top bands, the Ben Pollack Orchestra, with which he made his first recordings in 1926.[3]
He made his first record on Vocalion under his own name two years later. Goodman recorded with the regular Pollack band and smaller groups drawn from the orchestra through 1929. The side sessions produced scores of sides recorded for the various dimestore record labels under an array of group names, including Mills' Musical Clowns, Goody's Good Timers, The Hotsy Totsy Gang, Jimmy Backen's Toe Ticklers, Dixie Daisies, and Kentucky Grasshoppers.
Goodman's father, David, was a working-class immigrant about whom Benny said (interview, Downbeat, February 8, 1956); "...Pop worked in the stockyards, shoveling lard in its unrefined state. He had those boots, and he'd come home at the end of the day exhausted, stinking to high heaven, and when he walked in it made me sick. I couldn't stand it. I couldn't stand the idea of Pop every day standing in that stuff, shoveling it around".
On December 9, 1926, David Goodman was killed in a traffic accident. Benny had recently joined the Pollack band and was urging his father to retire, since he and his brother (Harry) were now doing well as professional musicians. According to James Lincoln Collier, "Pop looked Benny in the eye and said, 'Benny, you take care of yourself, I'll take care of myself.'" Collier continues: "It was an unhappy choice. Not long afterwards, as he was stepping down from a streetcar—according to one story—he was struck by a car. He never regained consciousness and died in the hospital the next day. It was a bitter blow to the family, and it haunted Benny to the end that his father had not lived to see the success he, and some of the others, made of themselves."[5] "Benny described his father's death as 'the saddest thing that ever happened in our family.'"[6]
Career[link]
Goodman left for New York City and became a successful session musician during the late 1920s and early 1930s (mostly with Ben Pollack's band between 1926 and 1929). A notable March 21, 1928 Victor session found Goodman alongside Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, and Joe Venuti in the All-Star Orchestra, directed by Nat Shilkret.[7][8][9] He played with the nationally known bands of Ben Selvin, Red Nichols, Isham Jones (although he is not on any of Jones's records), and Ted Lewis. He recorded sides for Brunswick under the name Bennie Goodman's Boys, a band that featured Glenn Miller. In 1928, Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller wrote the instrumental "Room 1411", which was released as a Brunswick 78.[10] He also recorded musical soundtracks for movie shorts; fans believe that Benny Goodman's clarinet can be heard on the soundtrack of One A. M., a Charlie Chaplin comedy re-released to theaters in 1934.
During this period as a successful session musician, John Hammond arranged for a series of jazz sides recorded for and issued on Columbia starting in 1933 and continuing until his signing with Victor in 1935, during his success on radio. There were also a number of commercial studio sides recorded for Melotone Records between late 1930 and mid-1931 under Goodman's name. The all-star Columbia sides featured Jack Teagarden, Joe Sullivan, Dick McDonough, Arthur Schutt, Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson, Coleman Hawkins (for 1 session), and vocalists Jack Teagarden and Mildred Bailey, and the first two recorded vocals by a young Billie Holiday.
In 1934 Goodman auditioned for NBC's Let's Dance, a well-regarded three-hour weekly radio program that featured various styles of dance music. His familiar theme song by that title was based on Invitation to the Dance by Carl Maria von Weber. Since he needed new arrangements every week for the show, his agent, John Hammond, suggested that he purchase "hot" (swing) arrangements from Fletcher Henderson, an African-American musician from Atlanta who had New York's most popular African-American band in the 1920s and early 1930s.[3]
Goodman, a wise businessman, helped Henderson in 1929 when the stock market crashed. He purchased all of Henderson's song books, and hired Henderson's band members to teach his musicians how to play the music.[11]
In early 1935, Goodman and his band were one of three bands (the others were Xavier Cugat and "Kel Murray" [r.n. Murray Kellner]) featured on Let's Dance where they played arrangements by Henderson along with hits such as "Get Happy" and "Jingle Bells" from composer and arranger Spud Murphy.[12] Goodman's portion of the program from New York, at 12:30 a.m. Eastern Time, aired too late to attract a large East Coast audience. However, unknown to him, the time slot gave him an avid following on the West Coast (they heard him at 9:30 p.m. Pacific Time). He and his band remained on Let's Dance until May of that year when a strike by employees of the series' sponsor, Nabisco, forced the cancellation of the radio show. An engagement was booked at Manhattan's Roosevelt Grill (filling in for Guy Lombardo), but the crowd there expected 'sweet' music and Goodman's band was unsuccessful.[13] The band set out on a tour of America in May 1935, but was still poorly received. By August 1935, Goodman found himself with a band that was nearly broke, disillusioned and ready to quit.
Catalyst for the Swing era[link]
In July 1935, a record of the Goodman band playing the Henderson arrangements of "King Porter Stomp" backed with "Sometimes I'm Happy", Victor 78 25090, had been released to ecstatic reviews in both Down Beat and Melody Maker.[14] In Pittsburgh at the Stanley Theater some of the kids danced in the aisles.[15] This had made little impact on the band's tour until August 19 when they arrived in Oakland to play at McFadden's Ballroom.[16] There, Goodman and his artists Gene Krupa, Bunny Berigan, and Helen Ward found a large crowd of young dancers, raving and cheering the hot music they had heard on the Let's Dance radio show.[17] Herb Caen wrote that "from the first note, the place was in an uproar."[18] One night later, at Pismo Beach, the show was another flop, and the band thought the overwhelming reception in Oakland had been a fluke.[13]
The next night, August 21, 1935 at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles, Goodman and his band began a three-week engagement. On top of the Let's Dance airplay, Al Jarvis had been playing Goodman records on KFWB radio, and Los Angeles fans were primed to hear him in person.[19] Goodman started the evening with stock arrangements, but after an indifferent response, began the second set with the arrangements by Fletcher Henderson and Spud Murphy. According to Willard Alexander, the band's booking agent, Krupa said "If we're gonna die, Benny, let's die playing our own thing."[20] The crowd broke into cheers and applause. News reports spread word of the enthusiastic dancing and exciting new music that was happening. Over the course of the engagement, the "Jitterbug" began to appear as a new dance craze,[21] and radio broadcasts carried the band's performances across the nation.[13]
The Palomar engagement was such a marked success it is often exaggeratedly described as the beginning of the swing era.[13] Donald Clarke wrote "It is clear in retrospect that the Swing Era had been waiting to happen, but it was Goodman and his band that touched it off."[13]
In November 1935 Goodman accepted an invitation to play in Chicago at the Joseph Urban Room at the Congress Hotel. His stay there extended to six months and his popularity was cemented by nationwide radio broadcasts over NBC affiliate stations. While in Chicago, the band recorded If I Could Be With You, Stompin' At The Savoy, and Goody, Goody.[13] Goodman also played three special concerts produced by jazz aficionado and Chicago socialite Helen Oakley. These "Rhythm Club" concerts at the Congress Hotel included sets in which Goodman and Krupa sat in with Fletcher Henderson's band, perhaps the first racially integrated big band appearance before a paying audience in the United States.[13] Goodman and Krupa played in a trio with Teddy Wilson on piano. Both combinations were well-received, and Wilson stayed on.
In his 1935–1936 radio broadcasts from Chicago, Goodman was introduced as the "Rajah of Rhythm."[20] Slingerland Drum Company had been calling Krupa the "King of Swing" as part of a sales campaign, but shortly after Goodman and crew left Chicago in May 1936 to spend the summer filming The Big Broadcast of 1937 in Hollywood, the title "King of Swing" was applied to Goodman by the media.[13] Goodman left record company RCA for Columbia, following his agent and soon to be brother-in-law John Hammond.
At the end of June 1936, Goodman went to Hollywood, where, on June 30, 1936 his band began CBS's "Camel Caravan," its third, and, according to Connor and Hicks, its greatest of them all, sponsored radio show, co-starring Goodman and his old boss Nat Shilkret.[7][8] By spring, 1936, bandleader Fletcher Henderson was writing arrangements for Goodman's band. He would disband his own group in 1939 and become a full-time arranger for Goodman. Other noteworthy arrangers in the Goodman band were Jimmy Mundy, 1935 to 1939 (overlapping with Henderson) and Eddie Sauter, the 1940s.
Carnegie Hall concert[link]
| “ | In bringing jazz to Carnegie, [Benny Goodman was], in effect, smuggling American contraband into the halls of European high culture, and Goodman and his 15 men pull[ed] it off with the audacity and precision of Ocean's Eleven. | ” |
|
—Will Friedwald[22] |
||
In late 1937, Goodman's publicist Wynn Nathanson attempted a publicity stunt by suggesting Goodman and his band should play Carnegie Hall in New York City. If this concert were to take place, then Benny Goodman would be the first jazz bandleader to perform at Carnegie Hall. "Benny Goodman was initially hesitant about the concert, fearing for the worst; however, when his film Hollywood Hotel opened to rave reviews and giant lines, he threw himself into the work. He gave up several dates and insisted on holding rehearsals inside Carnegie Hall to familiarize the band with the lively acoustics."[23]
The concert was the evening of January 16, 1938. It sold out weeks before, with the capacity 2,760 seats going for the top price of US$2.75 a seat, for the time a very high price.[23] The concert began with three contemporary numbers from the Goodman band—"Don't Be That Way," "Sometimes I'm Happy," and "One O'Clock Jump." They then played a history of jazz, starting with a Dixieland quartet performing "Sensation Rag." Once again, initial crowd reaction, though polite, was tepid. Then came a jam session on "Honeysuckle Rose" featuring members of the Count Basie and Duke Ellington bands as guests. (The surprise of the session: Goodman handing a solo to Basie's guitarist Freddie Green who was never a featured soloist but earned his reputation as the best rhythm guitarist in the genre—he responded with a striking round of chord improvisations.) As the concert went on, things livened up. The Goodman band and quartet took over the stage and performed the numbers that had already made them famous. Some later trio and quartet numbers were well-received, and a vocal on "Loch Lomond" by Martha Tilton provoked five curtain calls and cries for an encore. The encore forced Goodman to make his only audience announcement for the night, stating that they had no encore prepared but that Martha would return shortly with another number.[24]
By the time the band got to the climactic piece "Sing, Sing, Sing", success was assured. This performance featured playing by tenor saxophonist Babe Russin, trumpeter Harry James, and Benny Goodman, backed by drummer Gene Krupa. When Goodman finished his solo, he unexpectedly gave a solo to pianist Jess Stacy. "At the Carnegie Hall concert, after the usual theatrics, Jess Stacy was allowed to solo and, given the venue, what followed was appropriate," wrote David Rickert. "Used to just playing rhythm on the tune, he was unprepared for a turn in the spotlight, but what came out of his fingers was a graceful, impressionistic marvel with classical flourishes, yet still managed to swing. It was the best thing he ever did, and it's ironic that such a layered, nuanced performance came at the end of such a chaotic, bombastic tune."[25]
This concert has been regarded as one of the most significant in jazz history. After years of work by musicians from all over the country, jazz had finally been accepted by mainstream audiences. Recordings were made of this concert, but even by the technology of the day the equipment used was not of the finest quality. Acetate recordings of the concert were made, and aluminum studio masters were also cut.[23]
| “ | The recording was produced by Albert Marx as a special gift for his wife, Helen Ward and a second set for Benny. He contracted Artists Recording Studio to make 2 sets. Artists Recording only had 2 turntables so they farmed out the second set to Raymond Scott's recording studio.
[...] It was Benny's sister-in-law who found the recordings in Benny's apartment [in 1950] and brought them to Benny's attention. |
” |
|
—Ross Firestone[26] |
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Goodman took the newly discovered recording to his record company, Columbia, and a selection was issued on LP. These recordings have not been out of print since they were first issued. In early 1998, the aluminum masters were rediscovered and a new CD set of the concert was released based on these masters. The album released based on those masters went on to be one of the best selling live jazz albums of all time.[citation needed]
Charlie Christian[link]
Pianist/arranger Mary Lou Williams[27] was a good friend of both Columbia records producer John Hammond and Benny Goodman. She first suggested to John Hammond that he see Charlie Christian.[28]
Charlie Christian was playing at the Ritz in Oklahoma City where [...] John Hammond heard him in 1939. Hammond recommended him to Benny Goodman, but the band leader wasn't interested. The idea of an electrified guitar didn't appeal, and Goodman didn't care for Christian's flashy style of dressing. Reportedly, Hammond personally installed Christian onstage during a break in a Goodman concert in Beverly Hills. Irritated to see Christian among the band, Goodman struck up "Rose Room", not expecting the guitarist to know the tune. What followed amazed everyone who heard the 45-minute performance.[29]
Charlie was a hit on the electric guitar and remained in the Benny Goodman Sextet for two years (1939–1941). He wrote many of the group's head arrangements (some of which Goodman took credit for) and was an inspiration to all. The sextet made him famous and provided him with a steady income while Charlie worked on legitimizing, popularizing, revolutionizing, and standardizing the electric guitar as a jazz instrument.[30]
Charlie Christian's recordings and rehearsal dubs made with Benny Goodman in the early forties are widely known and were released by Columbia.
Beyond swing[link]
Goodman continued his meteoric rise throughout the late 1930s with his big band, his trio and quartet, and a sextet. By the mid-1940s, however, big bands lost a lot of their popularity. In 1941, ASCAP had a licensing war with music publishers. In 1942 to 1944 and 1948, the musician's union went on strike against the major record labels in the United States, and singers took the spot in popularity that the big bands once enjoyed. During this strike, the United States War Department approached the union and requested the production of the V-Disc, a set of records containing new and fresh music for soldiers to listen to.[31] Also, by the late 1940s, swing was no longer the dominant mode of jazz musicians.[32]
Bebop, Cool Jazz[link]
By the 1940s, jazz musicians were borrowing advanced ideas from classical music. The recordings Goodman made in bop style for Capitol Records were highly praised by jazz critics. When Goodman was starting a bebop band, he hired Buddy Greco, Zoot Sims, Wardell Gray and a few other modern players.[33]
| “ | Pianist/arranger Mary Lou Williams had been a favorite of Benny's since she first appeared on the national scene in 1936 [...]. [A]s Goodman warily approached the music of [Charlie] Parker and [Dizzy] Gillespie, he turned to Williams for musical guidance. [...] Pianist Mel Powell was the first to introduce the new music to Benny in 1945, and kept him abreast to what was happening around 52nd Street. | ” |
|
—Schoenberg[33] |
||
Goodman enjoyed the bebop and cool jazz that was beginning to arrive in the 1940s. When Goodman heard Thelonious Monk, a celebrated pianist and accompanist to bop players Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Kenny Clarke, he remarked, "I like it, I like that very much. I like the piece and I like the way he played it. [...] I think he's got a sense of humor and he's got some good things there."[33]
| “ | Benny had heard this Swedish clarinet player named Stan Hasselgard playing bebop, and he loved it ... So he started a bebop band. But after a year and a half, he became frustrated. He eventually reformed his band and went back to playing Fletcher Henderson arrangements. Benny was a swing player and decided to concentrate on what he does best. | ” |
|
—Nate Guidry[34] |
||
By 1953, Goodman completely changed his mind about bebop. "Maybe bop has done more to set music back for years than anything [...] Basically it's all wrong. It's not even knowing the scales. [...] Bop was mostly publicity and people figuring angles."[35]
Forays into classical repertoire[link]
Goodman's first classical recording dates from April 25, 1938 when he recorded Mozart's Clarinet Quintet in A major, K. 581, with the Budapest Quartet. After his bop period, Goodman furthered his interest in classical music written for the clarinet, and frequently met with top classical clarinetists of the day. In 1946, he met Ingolf Dahl, an emigre classical composer on the faculty of the University of Southern California, who was then musical director of the Victor Borge show. They played chamber music together (Brahms, Milhaud, Hindemith, Debussy) and in 1948 Goodman played in the world premiere performance of Dahl's Concerto a Tre.[36]
In 1949, when he was 40, Goodman decided to study with Reginald Kell, one of the world's leading classical clarinetists. To do so, he had to change his entire technique: instead of holding the mouthpiece between his front teeth and lower lip, as he had done since he first took a clarinet in hand 30 years earlier, Goodman learned to adjust his embouchure to the use of both lips and even to use new fingering techniques. He had his old finger calluses removed and started to learn how to play his clarinet again—almost from scratch.[37]
Goodman commissioned and premiered works by leading composers for clarinet and symphony orchestra that are now part of the standard repertoire, namely Contrasts by Béla Bartók, Clarinet Concerto No. 2, Op. 115 by Malcolm Arnold, Derivations for Clarinet and Band by Morton Gould, and Aaron Copland's Clarinet Concerto. While Leonard Bernstein's Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs was commissioned for Woody Herman's big band, it was premiered by Goodman. Woody Herman was the dedicatee (1945) and first performer (1946) of Igor Stravinsky's Ebony Concerto, but many years later Stravinsky made another recording, this time with Benny Goodman as the soloist.[38]
He made a further recording of Mozart's Clarinet Quintet, in July 1956 with the Boston Symphony String Quartet, at the Berkshire Festival; on the same occasion he also recorded Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622, with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Charles Munch. He also recorded the clarinet concertos of Weber and Carl Nielsen.[3]
Other recordings of classical repertoire by Goodman are:[39]
- Premiere Rhapsodie for Clarinet by Claude Debussy
- Clarinet Sonata No. 2 in E flat by Johannes Brahms
- Rondo from Grand Duo Concertant in E flat by Weber, and
- An arrangement by Simeon Bellison of Beethoven's Variations on a theme from Mozart's "Don Giovanni".
Touring with Armstrong[link]
After forays outside of swing, Goodman started a new band in 1953. According to Donald Clarke, this was not a happy time for Goodman.
| “ | In 1953 Goodman re-formed his classic band for an expensive tour with Louis Armstrong’s All Stars that turned into a famous disaster. He managed to insult Armstrong at the beginning; then he was appalled at the vaudeville aspects of Louis’s act [...] a contradiction of everything Goodman stood for. | ” |
|
—Donald Clarke[40] |
||
Movies[link]
Benny Goodman's band appeared as a specialty act in major musical features, including The Big Broadcast of 1937, Hollywood Hotel (1938), Syncopation (1942), The Powers Girl (1942), Stage Door Canteen (1943), The Gang's All Here (1943), Sweet and Lowdown (1944) and A Song Is Born (1948). Goodman's only starring feature was Sweet and Lowdown (1944).
Goodman's success story was told in the 1955 motion picture The Benny Goodman Story[41] with Steve Allen and Donna Reed. A Universal-International production, it was a follow up to 1954's successful The Glenn Miller Story. The screenplay was heavily fictionalized, but the music was the real draw. Many of Goodman's professional colleagues appear in the film, including Ben Pollack, Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton and Harry James.
Personality and influence[link]
Goodman was regarded by some as a demanding taskmaster, by others an arrogant and eccentric martinet. Many musicians spoke of "The Ray",[42] Goodman's trademark glare that he bestowed on a musician who failed to perform to his demanding standards. Guitarist Allan Reuss incurred the maestro's displeasure on one occasion, and Goodman relegated him to the rear of the bandstand, where his contribution would be totally drowned out by the other musicians. Vocalists Anita O'Day and Helen Forrest spoke bitterly of their experiences singing with Goodman.[43] "The twenty or so months I spent with Benny felt like twenty years," said Forrest. "When I look back, they seem like a life sentence." At the same time, there are reports that he privately funded several college educations and was sometimes very generous, though always secretly. When a friend once asked him why, he reportedly said, "Well, if they knew about it, everyone would come to me with their hand out."[44]
| "As far as I'm concerned, what he did in those days—and they were hard days, in 1937—made it possible for Negroes to have their chance in baseball and other fields." |
| —Lionel Hampton on Benny Goodman[45] |
Goodman is also responsible for a significant step in racial integration in America. In the early 1930s, black and white jazz musicians could not play together in most clubs or concerts. In the Southern states, racial segregation was enforced by the Jim Crow laws. Benny Goodman broke with tradition by hiring Teddy Wilson to play with him and drummer Gene Krupa in the Benny Goodman Trio. In 1936, he added Lionel Hampton on vibes to form the Benny Goodman Quartet; in 1939 he added pioneering jazz guitarist Charlie Christian to his band and small ensembles, who played with him until his death from tuberculosis less than three years later. This integration in music happened ten years before Jackie Robinson became the first black American to enter Major League Baseball. "[Goodman's] popularity was such that he could remain financially viable without touring the South, where he would have been subject to arrest for violating Jim Crow laws."[46] According to Jazz by Ken Burns, when someone asked him why he "played with that nigger" (referring to Teddy Wilson), Goodman replied, "I'll knock you out if you use that word around me again".
John Hammond and Alice Goodman[link]
One of Benny Goodman's closest friends off and on, from the 1930s onward was celebrated Columbia records producer John H. Hammond, who influenced Goodman's move from RCA to the newly created Columbia records in 1939.[3]
Benny Goodman dated John H. Hammond's sister Alice Frances Hammond (1913–1978) for three months. She had previously been married to British politician George Duckworth, from whom she obtained a divorce. She and Goodman married on March 14, 1942. They had two daughters, Benjie and Rachel.[3]
Both daughters studied music, though neither became the musical prodigy Goodman was.
Hammond had encouraged Goodman to integrate his band, persuading him to employ pianist Teddy Wilson. But Hammond's tendency to interfere in the musical affairs of Goodman's and other bands led to Goodman pulling away from him. In 1953 they had another falling-out during Goodman's ill-fated tour with Louis Armstrong, which was produced by John Hammond.[3]
Goodman appeared on a 1975 PBS salute to Hammond but remained at a distance. In the 1980s, following the death of Alice Goodman, John Hammond and Benny Goodman, both by then elderly, reconciled. On June 25, 1985, Goodman appeared at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City for "A Tribute to John Hammond".[47]
Later years[link]
After winning numerous polls over the years as best jazz clarinetist, Goodman was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame in 1957.
Goodman continued to play on records and in small groups. One exception to this pattern was a collaboration with George Benson in the 1970s. The two met when they taped a PBS salute to John Hammond and re-created some of the famous Goodman-Charlie Christian duets.[3]
Benson later appeared on several tracks of a Goodman album released as "Seven Come Eleven." In general Goodman continued to play in the swing style he was most known for. He did, however, practice and perform classical clarinet pieces and commissioned compositions for clarinet. Periodically he would organize a new band and play a jazz festival or go on an international tour.
Despite increasing health problems, he continued to play until his death from a heart attack in New York City in 1986 at the age of 77, in his home at Manhattan House, 200 East 66th Street. A longtime resident of Pound Ridge, New York, Benny Goodman is interred in the Long Ridge Cemetery, Stamford, Connecticut. The same year, Goodman was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.[48] Benny Goodman's musical papers were donated to Yale University after his death.[4]
He is a member of the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in the radio division.[49]
His music was featured in the 2010 documentary Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story, narrated by Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman.[50][51][52]
Discography[link]
(This discography combines LP and CD reissues of Goodman recordings under the dates of the original 78 rpm recordings through about 1950)
- A Jazz Holiday (1928, Decca)
- Benny Goodman and the Giants of Swing (1929, Prestige)
- BG and Big Tea in NYC (1929, GRP)
- Swinging 34 Vols. 1 & 2 (1934, Melodean)
- Sing, Sing, Sing (1935, Bluebird)
- The Birth of Swing (1935, Bluebird)
- Original Benny Goodman Trio and Quartet Sessions, Vol. 1: After You've Gone (1935, Bluebird)
- Stomping at the Savoy (1935, Bluebird)
- Air Play (1936, Doctor Jazz)
- Roll 'Em, Vol. 1 (1937, Columbia)
- Roll 'Em, Vol. 2 (1937, CBS)
- From Spirituals to Swing (1938, Vanguard)
- The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert Vols. 1, 2, & 3 (Live) (1938, Columbia)
- Mozart Clarinet Quintet (with Budapest String Quartet) (1938, Victor)
- Ciribiribin (Live) (1939, Giants of Jazz)
- Swingin' Down the Lane (Live) (1939, Giants of Jazz)
- Featuring Charlie Christian (1939, Columbia)
- Eddie Sauter Arrangements (1940, Columbia)
- Swing Into Spring (1941, Columbia)
- Undercurrent Blues (1947, Blue Note)
- Swedish Pastry (1948, Dragon)
- The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert (1950, Columbia)
- Sextet (1950, Columbia)
- BG in Hi-fi (1954, Capitol)
- The Benny Goodman Story Volume 1 (1955?, Decca)
- Mozart Clarinet concerto (with Boston symphomy) (1956)
- The Great Benny Goodman (1956, Columbia)
- Peggy Lee Sings with Benny Goodman (1957, Harmony)
- Benny in Brussels Vols. 1 & 2 (1958, Columbia)
- In Stockholm 1959 (1959, Phontastic)
- The Benny Goodman Treasure Chest (1959, MGM)
- Texaco's Swing into Spring 59 (1959, Cunningham & Walsh, Inc.)
- Swing With Benny Goodman And His Orchestra (1960s?, Columbia/Harmony)
- Benny Goodman in Moscow (1962, RCA Victor)
- Benny Goodman Today (London Records of (1970) Canada Ltd.)
- Benny Goodman And His Orchestra (1977)
- Benny Goodman Live at Carnegie Hall; 40th Anniversary Concert (1978)
- Live! Benny Let's Dance (1986)
- The King Swings Star Line
- Pure Gold (1992)
- 1935–1938 (1998)
- Portrait of Benny Goodman (Portrait Series) (1998)
- Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert '38 (1998)
- Bill Dodge All-star Recording (1999)
- 1941–1955 His Orchestra and His (1999)
- Live at Carnegie Hall (1999)
- Carnegie Hall: The Complete Concert (2006) Remastered again
Noted sidemen[link]
- Noni Bernardi (1911–2006), big-band musician and member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council, 1961–93
Notes[link]
- ^ a b c "Biography". Benny Goodman – The Official Website of the King of Swing. Estate of Benny Goodman. http://www.bennygoodman.com/about/biography2.html. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r443459
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Firestone 1993,[page needed]
- ^ a b "JAZZ A Film By Ken Burns: Selected Artist Biography—Benny Goodman". PBS. January 8, 2001. http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_goodman_benny.htm. Retrieved March 29, 2007.
- ^ Collier, James Lincoln (1989). Benny Goodman and the Swing Era. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-505278-1. [page needed]
- ^ Firestone 1993, pg. 42.
- ^ a b Conner, D. Russell; Hicks, Warren W. (1969) [1958 as BG-Off the Record]. BG on the Record: A Bio-Discography of Benny Goodman (2nd ed.). New Rochelle, N.Y.: Arlington House. [page needed]
- ^ a b Shilkret, Nathaniel, ed. Niel Shell and Barbara Shilkret, Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Maryland, 2005. ISBN 0-8108-5128-8
- ^ Stockdale, Robert L., Tommy Dorsey on the Side, Studies in Jazz, No. 19, Scarecrow Press, Metuchen, New Jersey, 1995.
- ^ Red Hot Jazz website, Benny Goodman's Boys: http://www.redhotjazz.com/bgb.html
- ^ Charters, Murray. "The road to Carnegie Hall". Brantford Expositor, 2009.
- ^ The Independent, August 29, 2005. Obituaries. Spud Murphy: Big-band composer and arranger. Retrieved on June 18, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Clarke, Donald. The Rise and Fall of Popular Music (A polemical history). Chapter 9: The Swing Era Begins. Retrieved on June 18, 2009.
- ^ Firestone 1993, p. 134.
- ^ Benny Goodman and the Swing Era. James Lincoln. page 163 This information is attributed to writer and historian James T. Maher
- ^ "Historic Sweet's Ballroom". Archived from the original on July 23, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070723130918/http://www.historicsweetsballroom.com/pages/info_pages/Information.PDF. Retrieved July 6, 2010. Originally a dance studio built in 1923, it was managed by Bill Sweet and turned into one of Oakland's best ballrooms. The ballroom was known as McFadden's in the 1930s and as Sands Ballroom in the 1970s. In his book Benny Goodman and the Swing Era on page 164, Collier lists both a "McFadden's Ballroom in San Francisco" and "Sweet's in Oakland" as separate engagements for Goodman, with Pismo Beach in between. However, there was never a McFadden's or Sweet's Ballroom in San Francisco, and the length of the trip to Pismo Beach was not at all convenient. While Oakland and San Francisco are about 15 miles (24 km) apart, Pismo Beach is more than 235 miles (378 km) south from both of them. Once in Pismo Beach, Los Angeles is only 175 miles (282 km) away continuing southerly and easterly. Pismo Beach was a logical place for Goodman to play while traveling from Oakland to L.A.
- ^ Selvin, Joel. San Francisco, the musical history tour, Chronicle Books, 1996, p. 138. ISBN 0-8118-1007-0
- ^ SFGate.com. May 26, 2009. Benny Goodman's music still swings. Retrieved on June 18, 2009.
- ^ Coleman, Rick. Blue Monday, Da Capo Press, 2006, p. 36. ISBN 0-306-81491-9
- ^ a b Spink, George. TuxedoJunction.net. Benny Goodman. Retrieved on June 18, 2009.
- ^ BBC (March 22, 2006). "Jitterbug". http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A8240438. Retrieved March 29, 2007.
- ^ Will Friedwald (November 20, 2006). "Arts and Letters: Peplowski Blows Back to His Roots". http://www.nysun.com/arts/peplowski-blows-back-to-his-roots/43821/. Retrieved March 29, 2007.
- ^ a b c Mike Joyce. "The 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert". http://www.jitterbuzz.com/carcon.html. Retrieved March 29, 2007.
- ^ "insert booklet", "The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert" Sony 199 2 CD reissue .
- ^ David Rickert (January 31, 2005). "Benny Goodman: "Sing, Sing, Sing"". http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=16281. Retrieved March 29, 2007.
- ^ Firestone 1993, p. 366.
- ^ Mary Lou Williams: "Swinger with a Mission", by Catherine O'Neill, "Books & Arts," 12/7/79
- ^ Charles Christian: Musician
- ^ Texas Monthly: Texas Music Source
- ^ Biography2
- ^ Big Band Era Recording Ban Of 1942
- ^ Jazz History Time Line[dead link]
- ^ a b c Schoenberg, Loren (1995). "Liner Notes". Benny Goodman: Undercurrent Blues. Capitol
- ^ Post-Gazette. May 8, 2005. Nate Guidry. A Life in Tune: New works trumpet Doc Wilson's longevity on the music scene
- ^ Firestone 1993, p. 354.
- ^ Anthony Linick, The Lives of Ingolf Dahl (Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2008), 159–61, 253, 273
- ^ Current Biography (1962). The H. W. Wilson Company. Benny Goodman
- ^ Three Cheers for Yeh!
- ^ Available on compact disc: Benny Goodman—Clarinet Classics, Pavilion Records Ltd. Pearl GEM0057
- ^ Donald Clarke. "The Rise and Fall of Popular Music". http://www.musicwebinternational.com/RiseandFall/nine.htm. Retrieved February 30, 2007. [dead link]
- ^ IMDb: The Benny Goodman Story (1955)
- ^ Firestone 1993, p. 173.
- ^ Firestone 1993, pp. 296, 301–302, 401.
- ^ Firestone 1993, pp. 296, 301–302, 401
- ^ Firestone 1993, pp. 183–184.
- ^ NNDB.com, webpage: Benny Goodman.
- ^ John S. Wilson (June 29, 1985). "JAZZ FESTIVAL; BENNY GOODMAN JOINS JOHN HAMMOND TRIBUTE". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B03E5D91E39F93AA15755C0A963948260. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
- ^ "Lifetime Achievement Award". The Recording Academy. http://www.grammy.com/Recording_Academy/Awards/Lifetime_Awards/. Retrieved April 2, 2007.
- ^ "NAB Hall of Fame". National Association of Broadcasters. http://www.nab.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Awards7&CONTENTID=11047&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm. Retrieved May 3, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ Kenneth Turan (November 19, 2010). "Movie review: 'Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story'". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/19/entertainment/la-et-jews-baseball-20101119. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
- ^ "Film". Jewsandbaseball.com. http://www.jewsandbaseball.com/film1.html. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
- ^ Scott Barancik (July 7, 2010). "New film explores our love affair with baseball". Jewish Baseball News. http://www.jewishbaseballnews.com/tag/kevin-youkilis/page/2/. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
References[link]
- Firestone, Ross (1993). Swing, Swing, Swing: The Life & Times of Benny Goodman. New York: Norton. ISBN 0-393-03371-6.
External links[link]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Benny Goodman |
- Benny Goodman official site
- Benny Goodman web biography with audio
- Benny Goodman scores, Music Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
- Benny Goodman papers (the bulk of the musician's estate) in Irving S. Gilmore Music Library of Yale University
- Benny Goodman Audio Collection, Institute of Jazz Studies, Dana Library, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ.
- Benny Goodman biography
- the Benny Goodman Sextet performing live in 1950 as regulars on the DuMont network TV series Star Time
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Goodman, Benny |
| Alternative names | Goodman, Benjamin David |
| Short description | Jazz clarinetist |
| Date of birth | May 30, 1909 |
| Place of birth | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Date of death | June 13, 1986 |
| Place of death | New York City, New York, United States |
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"Federer" redirects here. For other uses, see Federer (disambiguation).
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Roger Federer (German pronunciation: [ˈfeːdəʁɐ]) (born 8 August 1981) is a Swiss professional tennis player who held the ATP No. 1 position for a record 237 consecutive weeks from 2 February 2004 to 18 August 2008.[2] Federer has occupied the #1 ranking for 285 overall weeks, one week short of the record 286 weeks held by Pete Sampras. As of 28 May 2012, he is ranked World No. 3. Federer has won a men's record 16 Grand Slam singles titles. He is one of seven male players to capture the career Grand Slam and one of three (with Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal) to do so on three different surfaces (clay, grass, and hard courts). He is the only male player in tennis history to have reached the title match of each Grand Slam tournament at least five times and also the final at each of the nine ATP Masters 1000 Tournaments. Many sports analysts, tennis critics, and former and current players consider Federer to be the greatest tennis player of all time.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Federer has appeared in an unprecedented 23 career Grand Slam tournament finals, including a men's record ten in a row, and appeared in 18 of 19 finals from the 2005 Wimbledon Championships through the 2010 Australian Open, the lone exception being the 2008 Australian Open. He holds the record of reaching the semifinals or better of 23 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments over five and a half years, from the 2004 Wimbledon Championships through the 2010 Australian Open.[10] At the 2012 Australian Open, he reached a record 31st consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal. During the course of his run at the 2012 French Open in Roland Garros, Federer eclipsed Jimmy Connors long standing record of 233 match wins in Grand Slam tournaments when he defeated Adrian Ungur in a second round match.
Federer has won a record six ATP World Tour Finals and 20 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments. He also won the Olympic gold medal in doubles with his compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. He spent eight years (2003–2010) continuously in the top 2 in the year-end rankings and nine (2003–2011) in the Top 3, also a record among male players. His rivalry with Rafael Nadal is considered one of the greatest of all time in the sport. Federer is greatly respected by fans and by fellow players alike as shown by the fact that he has won the ATPWorldTour.com Fans' Favorite Award a record nine consecutive times (2003–2011) and the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award (which is voted for by the players themselves) a record seven times overall and six times consecutively (2004–2009, 2011). Federer also won the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2006. In 2011, he was voted the second most trusted and respected person in the world, second only to Nelson Mandela.[11][12]
As a result of Federer's successes in tennis, he was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for a record four consecutive years (2005–2008)[13] and in 2012 he topped a list of the "100 greatest tennis players of all time" (male or female) by Tennis Channel.[14] He is often referred to as the Federer Express[15] or abbreviated to Fed Express, or FedEx, the Swiss Maestro,[15] or simply Maestro.[15][16][17][18]
Contents |
Personal life[link]
Childhood and early life[link]
Federer was born in Binningen, Arlesheim near Basel, to Swiss national Robert Federer and South African-born Lynette Durand.[19] He holds both Swiss and South African citizenships.[20] He grew up in nearby Münchenstein, close to the French and German borders and speaks Swiss German, German, French and English fluently, Swiss German being his native language.[19][21][22] He was raised as a Roman Catholic and met Pope Benedict XVI while playing the 2006 Internazionali BNL d'Italia tournament in Rome.[23] Like all male Swiss citizens, Federer was subject to compulsory military service in the Swiss Armed Forces. However, in 2003 he was deemed unfit due to a long-standing back problem and was subsequently not required to fulfill his military obligation.[24] Federer himself also credits the range of sports he played as a child—he also played badminton and basketball—for his hand-eye coordination. "I was always very much more interested if a ball was involved," he says. Most tennis prodigies, by contrast, play tennis to the exclusion of all other sports.[25]
Marriage and family[link]
Federer is married to former Women's Tennis Association player Mirka Vavrinec. He met her while both were competing for Switzerland in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Vavrinec retired from the tour in 2002 because of a foot injury and has since been working as Federer's public relations manager.[26] They were married in Basel on 11 April 2009, surrounded by a small group of close friends and family at Wenkenhof Villa (municipality of Riehen).[27] On 23 July 2009, Mirka gave birth to twin girls, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva.[28]
Outreach and charitable efforts[link]
Federer supports a number of charities. He established the Roger Federer Foundation in 2003 to help disadvantaged people and to promote sports.[29][30] In 2005, he auctioned his racquet from his US Open championship to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.[31] He was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador by UNICEF in 2006.[32] At the 2005 Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, Federer arranged an exhibition involving several top players from the ATP tour and WTA tour called Rally for Relief. The proceeds from the event went to the victims of the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Since then, he has visited South Africa and Tamil Nadu, one of the areas in India most affected by the tsunami.[33] He has also appeared in UNICEF public messages to raise public awareness of AIDS. In response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Federer arranged a collaboration with fellow top tennis players Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters, Serena Williams, Lleyton Hewitt, and Sam Stosur to forgo their final day of preparation for the 2010 Australian Open to form a special charity event called Hit for Haiti, in which all proceeds went to Haiti earthquake victims.[34] He was named a 2010 Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in recognition of his leadership, accomplishments, and contributions to society.[35]
Similar to the 2010 event, Hit for Haiti, Federer organized and participated in a charity match called Rally for Relief on 16 January 2011, to benefit those that were affected by the 2010–2011 Queensland floods.
Federer is currently number 31 on Forbes top 100 celebrities as of May 2012. [36]
Tennis career[link]
Pre-1998: Junior years[link]
Main article: Roger Federer juniors years
Federer's main accomplishments as a junior player came at Wimbledon in 1998, where he won both the boys' singles tournament over Irakli Labadze,[37] and in doubles teamed up with Olivier Rochus, defeating the team of Michaël Llodra and Andy Ram.[38] In addition, Federer lost the US Open Junior tournament in 1998 to David Nalbandian. He won four ITF junior singles tournaments in his career, including the prestigious Orange Bowl, where he defeated Guillermo Coria, in the finals.[39] He ended 1998 as the junior world no. 1.
1998–2002: Early career in the ATP[link]
Main article: Roger Federer's early career
Federer's first tournament as a professional was Gstaad in 1998 (12th grade), where he faced Lucas Arnold Ker in the round of 32 and lost.[40] Federer's first final came at the Marseille Open in 2000, where he lost to fellow Swiss Marc Rosset.[41] Federer won the 2001 Hopman Cup representing Switzerland along with Martina Hingis. The duo defeated the American pair of Monica Seles and Jan-Michael Gambill in the finals. Federer's first win was at the 2001 Milan Indoor tournament, where he defeated Julien Boutter.[41] Although he won his first ever title already in 1999 on the challenger tour, winning the doubles event in Segovia, Spain together with Dutchman Sander Groen, the finals was played on Federer´s 18th birthday. In 2001, Federer made his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the French Open, and at Wimbledon that same year defeated four-time defending champion Pete Sampras to reach the quarterfinals. The most prestigious event final he reached during this period was the 2002 Miami Masters event, where he lost to Andre Agassi, on hard court.[42] In addition, Federer won his first Master Series event at the 2002 Hamburg Masters on clay, over Marat Safin; the victory made him a top-10 player for the first time.[42] Federer made 10 singles finals between 1998 and 2002, of which he won four and lost six.[40][41][42][43][44] He also made six finals in doubles. Of note are Federer and partner Max Mirnyi's defeat in the final of the Indian Wells Masters in 2002, and their victory in the same year in the final of the Rotterdam 500 series event. Federer had won the latter a year earlier with partner Jonas Björkman.[42][44]
2003–2007: Breakthrough and dominance[link]
In 2003, Federer won his first Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon, beating Mark Philippoussis.[45] Federer won his first and only doubles Masters Series 1000 event in Miami with Max Mirnyi,[46] and made it to one singles Masters Series 1000 event in Rome on clay, which he lost.[45] Federer made it to nine finals on the ATP Tour and won seven of them, including the 500 series events at Dubai and Vienna.[45] Lastly, Federer won the year-end championships over Andre Agassi.[45]
During 2004, Federer won three Grand Slam singles titles for the first time in his career and became the first person to do so since Mats Wilander in 1988. His first Grand Slam hard-court title came at the Australian Open over Marat Safin. He then won his second Wimbledon crown over Andy Roddick.[47] Federer defeated the 2001 US Open champion, Lleyton Hewitt, at the US Open for his first title there.[47] Federer won three ATP Masters Series 1000 events. One was on clay in Hamburg, and the other two were on hard surfaces at Indian Wells and in Canada.[47] Federer took the ATP 500 series event at Dubai and wrapped up the year by winning the year-end championships for the second time.[47]
In 2005, Federer failed to reach the finals of the first two Grand Slam tournaments, losing the Australian Open semifinal to eventual champion Safin and the French Open semifinal to eventual champion Rafael Nadal.[48] However, Federer quickly reestablished his dominance on grass, winning the Wimbledon Championships over Andy Roddick. At the US Open, Federer defeated Andre Agassi in the latter's last Grand Slam final.[48] Federer also took four ATP Masters Series 1000 wins: Indian Wells, Miami, and Cincinnati on hard court, and Hamburg on clay.[48] Furthermore, Federer won two ATP 500 series events at Rotterdam and Dubai.[48] Federer lost the year-end championships to David Nalbandian in the final.[48]
In 2006, Federer won three Grand Slam singles titles and reached the final of the other, with the only loss coming against Nadal in the French Open. This was the two men's first meeting in a Grand Slam final.[49] Federer defeated Nadal in the Wimbledon Championships final. In the Australian Open, Federer defeated Marcos Baghdatis,[49] and at the US Open, Federer defeated Roddick (2003 champion).[49] In addition, Federer made it to six ATP Masters Series 1000 finals, winning four on hard surfaces and losing two on clay to Nadal. Federer won one ATP 500 series event in Tokyo and captured the year-end championships for the third time in his career.[49]
In 2007, Federer reached all four Grand Slam singles finals, winning three of them. He won the Australian Open over Fernando González, Wimbledon over Rafael Nadal for the second time, and the US Open over Novak Djokovic. Federer lost the French Open to Nadal.[50] Federer made five ATP Masters Series 1000 finals in 2007, winning the Hamburg and Cincinnati titles.[50] Federer won one 500 series event in Dubai and won the year-end championships.[50]
2008 to present[link]
In 2008, Federer won one Grand Slam singles title, which came at the US Open over Briton Andy Murray.[51] Federer was defeated by Nadal in two Grand Slam finals, at the French Open, and at Wimbledon, when he was going for six straight wins to break Björn Borg's record.[51] At the Australian Open, Federer lost in the semifinals to Djokovic, which ended his record of 10 consecutive finals.[51] Federer lost twice in Master Series 1000 finals on clay to Nadal, at Monte Carlo and Hamburg.[51] However, Federer captured two titles in 250-level events at Estoril and Halle and one title in a 500 level event in Basel. In doubles, Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka won the gold medal at the Olympic Games.[52]
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Federer on the Cover of Sports Illustrated After 2009 French Open Victory |
In 2009, Federer won two Grand Slam singles titles, the French Open over Robin Söderling, and Wimbledon over Andy Roddick.[53] Federer reached two other Grand Slam finals, losing to Nadal at the Australian Open, and to Juan Martín del Potro at the US Open.[53] Federer won two more events, the first at the Madrid Masters over Nadal in the final on clay.[53] The second was in Cincinnati over Djokovic, although Federer lost to Djokovic in Basel, later in the year.[53] Federer completed a career Grand Slam by winning his first French Open title and won a men's record fifteenth Grand Slam singles title, surpassing Pete Sampras's mark of fourteen.[53]
In 2010, Federer slowed down in his milestones and achievements. The year started with a win at the Australian Open,[54] where he defeated Andy Murray in the final and improved his Grand Slam singles record to sixteen titles.[51] But at the French Open, Federer failed to reach a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time since the 2004 French Open, losing to Söderling, in the quarterfinals, and losing his no. 1 ranking.[54] At the French Open, Federer won his 700th tour match and 150th tour match on clay.[54][55] Federer was just one week away from equaling Pete Sampras's record of 286 weeks as world no. 1. In a big surprise at Wimbledon, Federer lost in the quarterfinal to Tomáš Berdych, and fell to world no. 3 in the rankings.[54][56][57] At the 2010 US Open, Federer reached the semifinals, avenging his French Open loss to Söderling in the quarterfinals, but then lost a five-set match to third seed Novak Djokovic.[54] Federer made it to four Masters 1000 finals, losing three of them (the Madrid Open, the Canadian Masters, and the Shanghai Masters) while winning the Cincinnati Masters against Mardy Fish.[58] In 2010 Federer equaled Agassi for the number of Masters wins at 17 and tied Bjorn Borg's mark for number of total titles won, moving to just one behind Sampras. Towards the middle of July, Federer hired Pete Sampras' old coach Paul Annacone to put his tennis game and career on the right path on a trial basis.[59] Federer won two lesser titles at the Stockholm Open and the Davidoff Swiss Indoors which brought his tally to 65 career titles. Lastly, Federer won the year-end championships by beating rival Rafael Nadal, for his fifth title at the event. He showed much of his old form, beating all contenders except Nadal in straight sets. Since Wimbledon 2010, Federer had a win-loss record of 34–4 and had multiple match points in two of his losses: to Novak Djokovic in the semifinal of the US Open, and to Gaël Monfils in the semifinal of the Paris Masters. Federer did not play in the 2010 Davis Cup.
The year 2011, although great by most players' standards, was a lean year for Federer. He was defeated in straight sets in the semifinals of the 2011 Australian Open by eventual champion Novak Djokovic, marking the first time since July 2003 that he did not hold any of the four Major titles. In the French Open semifinal, Federer ended Djokovic's undefeated streak of 43 consecutive wins with a stunning four-set victory. However, Federer then lost in the final to Rafael Nadal. At Wimbledon, Federer advanced to his 29th consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal, but lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. It marked the first time in his career that he had lost a Grand Slam match after winning the first two sets. At the US Open, Federer lost a much-anticipated semifinal match with Novak Djokovic, after squandering two match points in the fifth set which repeated his previous year's result against Djokovic and added a second loss from two sets up in Grand Slam play to his record. The loss at Flushing Meadows meant that Federer did not win any of the four Majors in 2011, the first time this has happened since 2002.
During this 2011 season, Federer won the Qatar Open, defeating Nikolay Davydenko in the final. However, he lost the final in Dubai to Djokovic and lost in the Miami Masters and Madrid Open semifinals to Rafael Nadal. In pulling out of the 2011 Shanghai Masters, Federer dropped out of the top 3 for the first time since June 2003.[60] Later in the season, things picked up for Federer. He ended a 10-month title drought and won the Swiss Indoors for the fifth time, defeating youngster Kei Nishikori, who had defeated an ailing Djokovic in the semifinals. Federer followed this up with his first win at the Paris Masters, where he reached his first final at the event and defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. At the 2011 ATP World Tour Finals, Federer crushed Rafael Nadal in exactly one hour en route to the semifinals,[61] where he defeated David Ferrer to reach the final at the year-end championships for the seventh time, his 100th tour-level final overall. As a result of this win, Federer also regained the world no. 3 ranking from Andy Murray. In the final, he defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for the third consecutive Sunday and, in doing so, claimed his record sixth ATP World Tour Finals title.[62]
Federer began his 2012 season with the Qatar Open, where he withdrew in the semifinals. He then played in the 2012 Australian Open, where he reached the semifinals, setting up a 27th career meeting with Nadal, a match he lost in four tight sets. He then participated in the Davis Cup representing Switzerland in the 2012 Davis Cup World Group, but Switzerland was eliminated in a home tie against the United States played on indoor clay in Fribourg. The loss included a four-set defeat for Federer at the hands of John Isner as well as a tight four-set loss with Stanislas Wawrinka in the doubles rubber against Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan. He then played the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament for the first time since winning the title in 2005. He beat del Potro in the final to clinch his second title in Rotterdam. Federer then played in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships where he defeated Andy Murray in the final, improved his record against him to 7–8, and won the championship title for the fifth time in his career. Federer then moved on to the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where he defeated Rafael Nadal in the semifinal, and defeated John Isner in the final. Federer won the title for a record fourth time, and, in doing so, equalled Rafael Nadal's record of 19 ATP Masters 1000 titles. Federer then lost in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open to Andy Roddick in three sets. Federer went on to compete at the Madrid Masters on new blue clay, where he beat Milos Raonic, Richard Gasquet, David Ferrer, Janko Tipsarevic and Tomáš Berdych in the final and regained the world no. 2 ranking from Rafael Nadal in the process. Federer then participated in the Internazionali BNL d'Italia tournament in Rome where he won over Carlos Berlocq, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Andreas Seppi en route to the semifinal, where he was defeated in straight sets by the defending champion and 2012 runner up Novak Djokovic.
Rivalries[link]
Federer vs. Nadal[link]
Main article: Federer–Nadal rivalry
Federer and Nadal have been playing each other since 2004, and their rivalry is a significant part of both men's careers.[63][64][65][66][67]
They held the top two rankings on the ATP Tour from July 2005 until 14 September 2009, when Nadal fell to World No. 3 (Andy Murray became the new No. 2).[68] They are the only pair of men to have ever finished four consecutive calendar years at the top. Federer was ranked number 1 for a record 237 consecutive weeks beginning in February 2004. Nadal, who is five years younger, ascended to No. 2 in July 2005 and held this spot for a record 160 consecutive weeks before surpassing Federer in August 2008.[69]
Nadal leads their head-to-head 18–10. However, most of their matches have been on clay. Federer has a winning record on grass (2–1) and indoor hard courts (4–0) while Nadal leads the outdoor hard courts by 5–2 and clay by 12–2.[70] Because tournament seedings are based on rankings, 19 of their matches have been in tournament finals, including an all-time record 8 Grand Slam finals.[71] From 2006 to 2008 they played in every French Open and Wimbledon final, and then they met in the 2009 Australian Open final and the 2011 French Open final. Nadal won six of the eight, losing the first two Wimbledons. Three of these matches were five set-matches (2007 and 2008 Wimbledon, 2009 Australian Open), and the 2008 Wimbledon final has been lauded as the greatest match ever by many long-time tennis analysts.[72][73][74][75] They have also played in a record 9 Masters Series finals, including their lone five hour match at the 2006 Rome Masters which Nadal won in a fifth-set tie-break having saved two match points.
Federer vs. Djokovic[link]
Main article: Djokovic–Federer rivalry
The two have met 25 times with Federer leading 14–11, and 5–4 in Grand Slam events. Djokovic is the only player besides Nadal to have defeated Federer more than once in a Grand Slam tournament since 2004, the only player besides Nadal to defeat Federer in consecutive grand slam tournaments (2010 US Open and 2011 Australian Open) and the only player besides Nadal who has "double figure" career wins over Federer. Djokovic is one of two players (the other again being Nadal) currently on tour to have defeated Federer in straight sets at a Grand Slam (2008 Australian Open and 2011 Australian Open) and the only player to do it two times.
Because of the continuously improving game and general rise of Djokovic in the last 3 years, many experts include Djokovic when talking about Nadal and Federer (all 3 have played each other at least 25 times) and Federer has cited his rivalry with Djokovic as his second favorite after his rivalry with Nadal. Experts such as John McEnroe have said that this is the beginning of a new change in tennis. Djokovic's recent back-to-back-to-back wins against Federer at the Australian Open, Dubai and Indian Wells tournament have made this rivalry even more intense. During that span, Djokovic had gone on a 43–0 winning streak dating back to the Davis Cup final the previous year. Federer ended Djokovic's perfect 41–0 season defeating him in the semifinals of the 2011 French Open, but Djokovic was able to avenge his loss at the 2011 US Open, and Federer lost with a score of 6–7, 4–6, 6–3, 6–2, 7–5.[76] Federer cited this as one of the greatest losses in his career, as he had 2 consecutive match points in set five, with his serve, and was 2 sets up before Djokovic came back in what has become one of the greatest comebacks in tennis history (according to John McEnroe). McEnroe claimed that Djokovic's crosscourt forehand return was "one of the great all-time shots in tennis history" and that the semifinal was one of the greatest matches in history. Djokovic contributed to ending Federer's eight-year streak of winning at least one Grand Slam title per year and Djokovic became the second male tennis player to have at least 10 wins against Federer (the other being Nadal).
Many experts have included the rivalry between Federer and Djokovic as one of the best hard-court rivalries in the Open Era.[77]
Federer vs. Murray[link]
Federer and Murray have met 15 times, all hard courts, with Murray leading 8–7.[78] Federer has won each of their Grand Slam matches (both were in the final) in straight sets at the 2008 US Open[79] and 2010 Australian Open,[80] but Murray leads 5–1 in ATP 1000 tournaments. They have met three times in the ATP World Tour Finals, with Murray winning in Shanghai in 2008[81] and Federer in London in 2009 and 2010.[82] Their most recent encounter was in the 2012 Dubai final where Federer was victorious. Apart from Nadal, Murray is the only other active player to have a positive head to head record against Federer.
Federer vs. Hewitt[link]
Federer and Lleyton Hewitt have played each other on 26 occasions. Early in their careers, Hewitt dominated Federer, winning seven of their first nine meetings, including a victory from two sets down in the 2003 Davis Cup semifinal which allowed Australia to defeat Switzerland. However, from 2004 onward, Federer has dominated the rivalry, winning 16 of the last 17 meetings to emerge with a 18–8 overall head-to-head record.[83] This is Federer's longest rivalry as these two first played each other as juniors in 1996. They have met in one Grand Slam final, the 2004 US Open final, where Federer won to win his first US Open title. Federer is 9–0 against Hewitt in Grand Slams, and has won six of the Grand Slams in which he has defeated Hewitt.
Federer vs. Roddick[link]
Main article: Federer–Roddick rivalry
One of Federer's longstanding rivalries is with American Andy Roddick. Federer and Roddick have met on many occasions, including in four Grand Slam finals (three at Wimbledon and one at the US Open). Federer leads 21–3, making Roddick the ATP player with the most tournament losses to Federer. Roddick lost his World No. 1 ranking to Federer after Federer won his first Australian Open in 2004.
In the 2009 Wimbledon final, Roddick lost to Federer in five sets. It included a fifth set made up of 30 games (a Grand Slam final record) and a match that was over 4 hours long. With that victory, Federer broke Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam titles.
Federer vs. Nalbandian[link]
David Nalbandian was Federer's biggest rival earlier in his career. Both players had an outstanding junior career, Federer won the Wimbledon junior title and Nalbandian won the US Open junior title (beating Federer). Even though Federer has a narrow advantage against Nalbandian, leading their meetings 11–8, Nalbandian beat Federer in their first five meetings after turning professional, including the fourth round of both the Australian Open and US Open in 2003. Their most impressive match was in the 2005 Shanghai Tennis Master Cup, where Nalbandian came back from being two sets to love down against Federer and ultimately prevailed in a fifth set tiebreak. The loss prevented Federer from tying John McEnroe's 82–3 all-time single year record, set in 1984. Nalbandian, Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Murray have beaten Federer 8 times, with only Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic recording more victories over Federer.
Playing style[link]
Federer's versatility was summarised by Jimmy Connors: "In an era of specialists, you're either a clay court specialist, a grass court specialist, or a hard court specialist...or you're Roger Federer."[84]
Federer is an all-court, all-round player known for his speed, fluid style of play, and exceptional shot making. Federer mainly plays from the baseline but is also comfortable at the net, being one of the best volleyers in the game today. He has a powerful, accurate smash and very effectively performs rare elements in today's tennis, such as backhand smash, half-volley and jump smash (slam dunk). David Foster Wallace compared the brute force of Federer's forehand motion with that of "a great liquid whip,"[85] while John McEnroe has referred to Federer's forehand as "the greatest shot in our sport."[86] Federer is also known for his efficient movement around the court and excellent footwork, which enables him to run around shots directed to his backhand and instead hit a powerful inside-out or inside-in forehand, one of his best shots. Though Federer plays with a single-handed backhand which gives him great variety. Federer's forehand and backhand slice are both known as the best ever to enter the game. He employs the slice, occasionally using it to lure the opponent to the net and pass him. Federer can also fire topspin winners and possesses a 'flick' backhand where he can generate pace with his wrist; this is usually used to pass the opponent at the net.[85] His serve is difficult to read because he always uses a similar ball toss regardless of what type of serve he is going to hit and where he aims to hit it, and turns his back to his opponents during his motion. He is often able to produce big serves on key points during a match. His first serve is typically around 200 km/h (125 mph);[87][88][89] however, he is capable of serving at 220 km/h (137 mph).[87][88] Federer is also accomplished at serve and volleying,[90] and employed this tactic especially frequently in his early career.[91] His speciality is a half-volley from the baseline which enables him to play close to the baseline and to pick up even the deeper shots very early after they bounce, giving his opponents less time to react.[citation needed] Later in his career Federer added the drop shot to his arsenal, and can perform a well-disguised one off both wings. He sometimes uses a between-the-legs shot, which is colloquially referred to as a "tweener." His most notable use of the tweener was in the semifinals of the 2009 US Open against Novak Djokovic, bringing him triple match point, on which he capitalised for a straight-set victory over the Serb.[92]
Equipment, apparel, endorsements[link]
Federer currently plays with a customised Wilson Pro Staff Six.One 90 BLX tennis racquet,[93] which is characterised by its smaller hitting area of 90 square inches, heavy strung weight of 357.2 grams, and thin beam of 17.5 millimeters. His grip size is 4 3/8 inches (sometimes referred to as L3).[94] Federer strings his racquets at 21.5 kg mains/20 kg crosses pre stretched 20%, utilizing Wilson Natural Gut 16 gauge for his main strings and Luxilon Big Banger ALU Power Rough 16L gauge (polyester) for his cross strings.[94] When asked about string tensions, Federer stated "this depends on how warm the days are and with what kind of balls I play and against who I play. So you can see – it depends on several factors and not just the surface; the feeling I have is most important."[95]
Federer is one of the highest-earning athletes in the world. He has a contract with Nike footwear and apparel.[96] For the 2006 championships at Wimbledon, Nike designed a jacket emblazoned with a crest of three tennis racquets, symbolising the three Wimbledon Championships he had previously won, and which was updated the next year with four racquets after he won the Championship in 2006.[97] In Wimbledon 2008 and again in 2009, Nike continued this trend by making him a personalised cardigan.[98] He also has his own logo, an R and F joined together.[99] Federer endorses Gillette,[100] Jura, a Swiss-based coffee machine company,[101] as well as Mercedes-Benz and NetJets. Federer also endorses Rolex watches,[102] although he was previously an ambassador for Maurice Lacroix.[103] Also in 2009 Federer became brand ambassador for Swiss chocolate makers Lindt.[104] In 2010 his endorsement by Mercedes-Benz China was extended into a global Mercedes-Benz partnership deal.[105]
Career statistics[link]
Grand Slam tournament performance timeline[link]
Main article: Roger Federer career statistics
Information in these tables is updated only once the player's participation in the tournament has concluded.
| Tournament | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | SR | W–L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | A | LQ | 3R | 3R | 4R | 4R | W | SF | W | W | SF | F | W | SF | SF | 4 / 13 | 63–9 | 87.50 |
| French Open | A | 1R | 4R | QF | 1R | 1R | 3R | SF | F | F | F | W | QF | F | 1 / 14 | 52–12 | 81.25 | |
| Wimbledon | A | 1R | 1R | QF | 1R | W | W | W | W | W | F | W | QF | QF | 6 / 13 | 59–7 | 89.39 | |
| US Open | A | LQ | 3R | 4R | 4R | 4R | W | W | W | W | W | F | SF | SF | 5 / 12 | 61–7 | 89.71 | |
| Win–Loss | 0–0 | 0–2 | 7–4 | 13–4 | 6–4 | 13–3 | 22–1 | 24–2 | 27–1 | 26–1 | 24–3 | 26–2 | 20–3 | 20–4 | 7–1 | 16 / 52 | 235–35 | 87.04 |
- Finals: 23 (16 titles, 7 runners-up)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 2003 | Wimbledon (1) | Grass |  Mark Philippoussis |
7–6(7–5), 6–2, 7–6(7–3) |
| Winner | 2004 | Australian Open (1) | Hard |  Marat Safin |
7–6(7–3), 6–4, 6–2 |
| Winner | 2004 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | Andy Roddick |
4–6, 7–5, 7–6(7–3), 6–4 |
| Winner | 2004 | US Open (1) | Hard | Lleyton Hewitt |
6–0, 7–6(7–3), 6–0 |
| Winner | 2005 | Wimbledon (3) | Grass | Andy Roddick |
6–2, 7–6(7–2), 6–4 |
| Winner | 2005 | US Open (2) | Hard | Andre Agassi |
6–3, 2–6, 7–6(7–1), 6–1 |
| Winner | 2006 | Australian Open (2) | Hard |  Marcos Baghdatis |
5–7, 7–5, 6–0, 6–2 |
| Runner-up | 2006 | French Open (1) | Clay |  Rafael Nadal |
6–1, 1–6, 4–6, 6–7(4–7) |
| Winner | 2006 | Wimbledon (4) | Grass | Rafael Nadal |
6–0, 7–6(7–5), 6–7(2–7), 6–3 |
| Winner | 2006 | US Open (3) | Hard | Andy Roddick |
6–2, 4–6, 7–5, 6–1 |
| Winner | 2007 | Australian Open (3) | Hard |  Fernando González |
7–6(7–2), 6–4, 6–4 |
| Runner-up | 2007 | French Open (2) | Clay | Rafael Nadal |
3–6, 6–4, 3–6, 4–6 |
| Winner | 2007 | Wimbledon (5) | Grass | Rafael Nadal |
7–6(9–7), 4–6, 7–6(7–3), 2–6, 6–2 |
| Winner | 2007 | US Open (4) | Hard |  Novak Djokovic |
7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–2), 6–4 |
| Runner-up | 2008 | French Open (3) | Clay | Rafael Nadal |
1–6, 3–6, 0–6 |
| Runner-up | 2008 | Wimbledon (1) | Grass | Rafael Nadal |
4–6, 4–6, 7–6(7–5), 7–6(10–8), 7–9 |
| Winner | 2008 | US Open (5) | Hard |  Andy Murray |
6–2, 7–5, 6–2 |
| Runner-up | 2009 | Australian Open (1) | Hard | Rafael Nadal |
5–7, 6–3, 6–7(3–7), 6–3, 2–6 |
| Winner | 2009 | French Open (1) | Clay |  Robin Söderling |
6–1, 7–6(7–1), 6–4 |
| Winner | 2009 | Wimbledon (6) | Grass | Andy Roddick |
5–7, 7–6(8–6), 7–6(7–5), 3–6, 16–14 |
| Runner-up | 2009 | US Open (1) | Hard |  Juan Martín del Potro |
6–3, 6–7(5–7), 6–4, 6–7(4–7), 2–6 |
| Winner | 2010 | Australian Open (4) | Hard | Andy Murray |
6–3, 6–4, 7–6(13–11) |
| Runner-up | 2011 | French Open (4) | Clay | Rafael Nadal |
5–7, 6–7(3–7), 7–5, 1–6 |
Year-End Championship performance timeline[link]
| Tournament | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | SR | W–L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YEC | NQ | NQ | NQ | NQ | SF | W | W | F | W | W | RR | SF | W | W | 6 / 10 | 39–7 | 84.78 | |
| Win–Loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 5–0 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 5–0 |
- Finals: 7 (6 titles, 1 runner-up)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 2003 | Houston |
Hard | Andre Agassi |
6–3, 6–0, 6–4 |
| Winner | 2004 | Houston |
Hard | Lleyton Hewitt |
6–3, 6–2 |
| Runner-up | 2005 |  Shanghai |
Carpet (i) | David Nalbandian |
7–6(7–4), 7–6(13–11), 2–6, 1–6, 6–7(3–7) |
| Winner | 2006 | Shanghai |
Hard (i) | James Blake |
6–0, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Winner | 2007 | Shanghai |
Hard (i) | David Ferrer |
6–2, 6–3, 6–2 |
| Winner | 2010 | London |
Hard (i) | Rafael Nadal |
6–3, 3–6, 6–1 |
| Winner | 2011 | London |
Hard (i) |  Jo-Wilfried Tsonga |
6–3, 6–7(6–8), 6–3 |
Olympic games[link]
- Finals: 1 (1 gold medal)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 2008 | Beijing |
Hard |  Wawrinka |
Aspelin Johansson |
6–3, 6–4, 6–7(4–7), 6–3 |
Records[link]
Main article: List of career achievements by Roger Federer
- These records were attained in the Open Era of tennis.
- Records in bold indicate peer-less achievements.
- Records in italics are currently active streaks.
| Time span | Selected Grand Slam tournament records | Players matched |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Wimbledon — 2009 French Open |
Career Grand Slam | Rod Laver Andre Agassi Rafael Nadal |
| 2003 Wimbledon — 2010 Australian Open |
16 titles | Stands alone |
| 2003 Wimbledon — 2011 French Open |
23 finals | Stands alone |
| 2005 Wimbledon — 2007 US Open |
10 consecutive finals | Stands alone |
| 2004 Wimbledon — 2010 Australian Open |
23 consecutive semifinals[106][107] | Stands alone |
| 2004 Wimbledon — 2012 Australian Open |
31 consecutive quarterfinals | Stands alone |
| 2004 & 2006–2007 | 3 years winning 3+ titles | Stands alone |
| 2004–2007 & 2009 | 5 years winning 2+ titles | Stands alone |
| 2006–2007 | 2 consecutive years winning 3+ titles | Stands alone |
| 2004–2007 | 4 consecutive years winning 2+ titles | Stands alone |
| 2003–2010 | 8 consecutive years winning 1+ title[107] | Björn Borg Pete Sampras |
| 2004 Australian Open — 2011 US Open |
8 consecutive years winning 20+ matches | Stands alone |
| 2003 Wimbledon — 2010 Australian Open |
4+ titles at 3 different Majors | Stands alone |
| 2003 Wimbledon — 2011 French Open |
5+ finals at all 4 Majors | Stands alone |
| 2003 Wimbledon — 2011 French Open |
6+ semifinals at all 4 Majors | Stands alone |
| 2001 French Open — 2011 US Open |
8+ quarterfinals at all 4 Majors | Stands alone |
| 2003 Wimbledon — 2008 US Open |
5 consecutive titles at 2 different Majors[107] | Stands alone |
| 2003 Wimbledon — 2007 French Open |
2+ consecutive finals at all 4 Majors | Ivan Lendl |
| 2003 Wimbledon — 2009 French Open |
5+ consecutive semifinals at all 4 Majors | Stands alone |
| 2003 Wimbledon — 2011 US Open |
7+ consecutive quarterfinals at all 4 Majors | Stands alone |
| 2003 Wimbledon — 2006 Australian Open |
First 7 finals won | Stands alone |
| 2004 Australian Open — 2010 Australian Open |
9 hard-court titles | Stands alone |
| 2006–2007 & 2009 | All 4 Major finals in 1 season | Rod Laver |
| 2006 French Open — 2009 US Open |
Runner-up finishes at all 4 Majors | Ivan Lendl |
| 2000 Australian Open — 2012 French Open |
235 match wins overall[108] | Stands alone |
| 2000 Australian Open — 2012 French Open |
50+ match wins at all 4 Majors[109] | Stands alone |
| 2006 | 27 match wins in 1 season | Stands alone |
| 2004 French Open — 2008 Wimbledon |
18 consecutive No. 1 seeds | Stands alone |
| 2006 US Open — 2007 French Open |
36 consecutive sets won | Stands alone |
| 2007 US Open | 35 consecutive service points won | Stands alone |
| 2009 Wimbledon | 50 aces in a final | Stands alone |
| 2007 US Open | $2.4 million earned at one event | Stands alone |
| 2005 Wimbledon — 2007 French Open |
2 winning streaks of 25+ matches | Stands alone |
| 2005 Wimbledon — 2009 US Open |
3 winning streaks of 20+ matches | Stands alone |
| 2004 Wimbledon — 2009 US Open |
5 winning streaks of 15+ matches | Stands alone |
| Grand Slam tournaments | Time Span | Records at each Grand Slam tournament | Players matched |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | 2004–2010 | 4 titles overall | Andre Agassi |
| Australian Open | 2006–2007 | 2 consecutive titles | Ken Rosewall Guillermo Vilas Johan Kriek Mats Wilander Stefan Edberg Ivan Lendl Jim Courier Andre Agassi Novak Djokovic |
| Australian Open | 2004–2007 | 3 titles in 4 years | Andre Agassi |
| Australian Open | 2004–2010 | 5 finals overall | Stefan Edberg |
| Australian Open | 2004–2012 | 9 consecutive semifinals | Stands alone |
| Australian Open | 2007 | Won without dropping a set[110] | Ken Rosewall |
| Australian Open | 2000–2012 | 63 match wins overall[110] | Stands alone |
| French Open | 2006–2009 | 4 consecutive finals | Björn Borg Ivan Lendl Rafael Nadal |
| French Open | 2006–2008, 2011 | 4 runner-ups[111] | Stands alone |
| French Open | 2006–2008 | 3 consecutive runner-ups | Stands alone |
| French Open | 2005–2009 | 5 consecutive semifinals | Stands alone |
| French Open—Wimbledon | 2009 | Accomplished a "Channel Slam": Winning both tournaments in the same year | Rod Laver Björn Borg Rafael Nadal |
| Wimbledon | 2003–2007 | 5 consecutive titles[112] | Björn Borg |
| Wimbledon | 2003–2009 | 7 finals overall | Boris Becker Pete Sampras |
| Wimbledon | 2003–2009 | 7 consecutive finals | Stands alone |
| Wimbledon | 2003–2009 | 7 consecutive semifinals | Stands alone |
| US Open | 2004–2008 | 5 titles overall | Jimmy Connors Pete Sampras |
| US Open | 2004–2008 | 5 consecutive titles | Stands alone |
| US Open | 2004–2009 | 40 consecutive match wins[113] | Stands alone |
| US Open | 1999–2011 | 89.71% (61–7) match winning percentage | Stands alone |
| Time span | Other selected records | Players matched |
|---|---|---|
| 2 February 2004 — 17 August 2008 |
237 consecutive weeks at No. 1[107] | Stands alone |
| 2003–2005 | 26 consecutive match victories vs. top 10 opponents | Stands alone |
| 2005–2006 | 56 consecutive hard court match victories | Stands alone |
| 2003–2008 | 65 consecutive grass court match victories[107] | Stands alone |
| 2003–2005 | 24 consecutive tournament finals won[107] | Stands alone |
| 2001–2012 | 10+ titles on grass, clay and hard courts | Stands alone |
| 2003–2009 | 11 grass court titles | Stands alone |
| 2002–2012 | 51 hard court titles | Stands alone |
| 2006 | 9 hard court titles in 1 season | Jimmy Connors |
| 1998–2012 | 315 tiebreaks won[114] | Stands alone |
| 1999–2011 | 87.18% (102–15) grass court match winning percentage[115] | Stands alone |
| 1998–2012 | 83.20% (515–104) hard court match winning percentage[116] | Stands alone |
| 2006 | 94.12% of tournament finals reached in 1 season | Stands alone |
| 2003–2011 | 6 ATP World Tour Finals titles overall[117] | Stands alone |
| 2002–2011 | 39 ATP World Tour Finals match wins[117] | Ivan Lendl |
| 2002–2012 | 32 combined Championship Masters Series finals | Stands alone |
| 2002–2012 | 44 Masters 1000 semifinals | Stands alone |
| 2000–2012 | 261 Masters 1000 match wins | Stands alone |
| 2004–2012 | 14 Masters 1000 hard court titles | Andre Agassi |
| 2004–2012 | 4 Indian Wells Masters titles[118] | Stands alone |
| 2004–2008 | 2 consecutive Olympic games as wire-to-wire No. 1 | Stands alone |
| 2005–2007 | 3 consecutive calendar years as wire-to-wire No. 1 | Stands alone |
| 2005–2007 | 3 calendar years as wire-to-wire No. 1 | Jimmy Connors |
| 2003–2010 | Ended 8 years ranked inside the top 2 | Jimmy Connors |
| 2007 | $10 million prize money earned in a season | Rafael Nadal Novak Djokovic |
| 2005–2007 | 2 winning streaks of 35+ matches | Björn Borg |
| 2004–2012 | 7 winning streaks of 20+ matches | Stands alone |
See also[link]
- Roger Federer career statistics
- List of career achievements by Roger Federer
- ATP World Tour records
- ATP World Tour Awards
- List of Grand Slam Men's Singles champions
- List of ATP number 1 ranked singles players
- 2004 Summer Olympics national flag bearers
- 2008 Summer Olympics national flag bearers
References and notes[link]
- ^ "ATP website profile of Roger Federer". ATP World Tour. http://www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/3/en/players/playerprofiles/?playernumber=F324. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
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- ^ Richard Evans (24 June 2007). "Jack the Lad". The Observer (UK). http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/story/0,,2110101,00.html. Retrieved 15 February 2009. "Jack Kramer 'is ready to anoint Roger Federer as the best he has seen'."
- ^ "Federer the greatest ever — Lloyd". BBC Sport. 7 June 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8088191.stm. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
- ^ Jago, Richard (5 June 2009). "'Roger Federer is the greatest' says Pete Sampras after record broken". The Guardian. London. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jul/05/pete-sampras-roger-federer-wimbledon. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
- ^ Barnes, Simon (8 June 2009). "Roger Federer, greatest of all time, ensures statistics back up unrivalled artistry". The Times (UK). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/simon_barnes/article6451942.ece. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
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- ^ Federer the best of all time, says Agassi
- ^ Federer the best of all time, says Ivan Lendl
- ^ Greg Garber. "Soderling rocks tennis world again". ESPN. http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/french10/columns/story?columnist=garber_greg&id=5236156. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "Federer, Mandela are world's most respected & trusted". ATP World Tour. 19 September 2011. http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2011/09/Features/Federer-Mandela-Most-Respected.aspx.
- ^ "Mandela pips Federer". Times LIVE South Africa. 21 September 2011. http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2011/09/21/mandela-pips-federer.
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- ^ Walsh, Courtney (26 January 2010). "Roger Federer express rolls Lleyton Hewitt". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/roger-federer-express-rolls-lleyton-hewitt/story-e6frg7mf-1225823460917. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
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- ^ a b René Stauffer (2007). The Roger Federer Story: Quest for Perfection. New Chapter Press. p. 4. ISBN 0-942257-39-1.
- ^ Für wen schlägt Federers Fussball-Herz?, Blick.ch, 11 September 2009
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- ^ Tennis – ATP World Tour – Roland Garros Friday – Federer Joins 700 Match Wins Club
- ^ Tennis – ATP World Tour – The Championships – Berdych Sends Federer Spinning Out
- ^ Federer joins an elite club – Rediff Sports
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- ^ "Superb Federer ends Murray dream". BBC Sport. 8 September 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7603307.stm. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- ^ "One more equals four"[dead link] australianopen.com. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ Bierley, Steve (14 November 2008). "Murray beats Federer in 3 sets". The Guardian (UK). http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/nov/14/tennis-murray-federer-masters-cup. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- ^ Ornstein, David (23 November 2010). "Federer crushes lacklustre Murray". 23 November 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/9216649.stm.
- ^ Federer versus Hewitt Head-to-Head
- ^ www.sportsfeelgoodstories.com (20 February 2009). "Roger Federer, a class act on and off the court, leads tennis revival". http://www.sportsfeelgoodstories.com/2009/02/20/roger-federer-a-class-act-on-and-off-the-court-leads-tennis-revival/. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
- ^ a b David Foster Wallace (20 August 2006). "Federer as Religious Experience". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/sports/playmagazine/20federer.html?ex=1313726400&en=716968175e36505e&ei=5090. Retrieved 21 June 2007.
- ^ Kevin Hench (7 May 2007). "Who's the best athlete in the world right now?". Fox Sports. http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/6741576?MSNHPHCP>1=10035. Retrieved 31 March 2009. [dead link]
- ^ a b Australianopen.com. "Match Statistics: Federer vs. Murray". http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/stats/day19/1701ms.html. Retrieved 16 February 2010. [dead link]
- ^ a b Wimbledon.org. "Match Statistics:Federer vs. Roddick". http://2009.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/stats/day21/1701ms.html. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
- ^ Ubha, Ravi (2 July 2008). "Federer's serve allowing him to manufacture easy points". ESPN. http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/wimbledon08/columns/story?columnist=ubha_ravi&id=3471097. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
- ^ Stephen Bierley (8 July 2003). "Serve-volley dead? No one told Federer". The Guardian (London: Guardian News and Media Limited 2010). http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2003/jul/08/tennis.wimbledon2003. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
- ^ "Best Serve and Volleyer in the 2010". http://essentialtennis.com/tournews/2010/07/best-serve-and-volleyer-in-the-world/. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
- ^ Nima Naderi (30 September 2009). "The Tale of Two Tweeners: Federer vs. Llodra". bleacherreport.com. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/264126-the-tail-of-two-tweeners-federer-vs-llodra.
- ^ "Wilson Sports". Wilson Sporting Goods. http://tennis.wilson.com/rackets/blx/rackets/player/six-one/six.one-tour-blx/. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
- ^ a b "Ask Roger — Equipment". Roger Federer Official Website. http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/fanzone/askroger/index.cfm?uNC=44884627&uPage=3&uCategoryID=3. Retrieved 29 January 2010. [dead link]
- ^ "Ask Roger; Official website". Roger Federer Official Website. http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/fanzone/askroger/index.cfm?uNC=97027562&uPage=1&uCategoryID=3. Retrieved 2 March 2007. [dead link]
- ^ "Roger Federer Sponsors". Roger Federer Official Website. http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/sponsors.html. Retrieved 2012-02-05.
- ^ Hodgkinson, Mark (27 June 2006). "More than a jacket for Federer". The Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wimbledon/2339295/More-jacket-than-racket-for-Federer.html. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
- ^ Mark Hodgkinson (27 June 2006). "More jacket than racket for Federer". London: The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/06/27/stfede27.xml. Retrieved 5 September 2007.
- ^ Bruback, Holly (29 August 2009). "The Main Characters of Tennis, and Style". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/sports/tennis/31logo.html?r=1&hp&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ "Federer beats Nadal and Sharapova — in endorsement deals". Business Insider. 25 August 2008. http://www.businessinsider.com/2008/8/federer-beats-nadal-and-maria-sharapova-in-endorsement-deals. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
- ^ "Gillette Winners". Gillette Winners. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071011142121/http://gillettewinners.com/custom/en_in/html/roger_federer.shtml. Retrieved 28 September 2007.
- ^ Weekly, A (1 July 2007). "Federer's on-court dominance still not attracting sponsors". CNNMoney.com. http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/29/commentary/sportsbiz/index.htm. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
- ^ "Roger Federer Chronometer". Europa Star. 2 April 2005. http://www.europastar.com/europastar/magazine/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000863592. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
- ^ Company > Lindt & Sprüngli, Maître chocolatier suisse depuis 1845
- ^ "Mercedes-Benz Announces Global Partnership with Roger Federer". PRNewsWire.com. 27 May 2010. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mercedes-benz-announces-global-partnership-with-roger-federer-95020244.html. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ Lilley, Drew. "Wimbledon Legends – Roger Federer". Wimbledon.com. http://www.wimbledon.com/heritage/history/legends/roger-federer. Retrieved 2012-02-05.
- ^ a b c d e f Macpherson, Paul (12 January 2010). "Roger's Records To Stand Test Of Time". ATPWorldTour.com. http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE-Tennis/DEUCE-Australian-Open-2010/Roger-Federer.aspx. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ "Federer Moves Clear Of Connors For Most Major Match Wins". ATPWorldTour.com. May 30, 2012. http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/05/22/Roland-Garros-Wednesday-Federer-Moves-Clear-Of-Connors.aspx. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
- ^ "Roger Federer equals Jimmy Connors' Grand Slam win record". CBC Sports (Associated Press). May 28, 2012. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/tennis/story/2012/05/28/sp-tennis-roger-federer-jimmy-connors-grand-slam-record.html. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
- ^ a b Petkovski, Suzi (26 January 2012). "Top 10: Fed's feats and streaks". Australian Open. http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2012-01-26/201201251327479058509.html. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
- ^ "Record Breakers". RolandGarros.com. http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/about/records.html. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
- ^ "Wimbledon – Championships History". Wimbledon.com. http://www.wimbledon.com/heritage/history/championships-history. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
- ^ "US Open Singles Record Book". USOpen.com. http://2011.usopen.org/pdf/Record_Book_Singles_Records.pdf. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
- ^ "FedEx ATP Reliability Index – Tie-breakers". ATPWorldTour.com. http://www.atpworldtour.com/Reliability-Zone/Reliability-Tie-Breakers-Career-List.aspx. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
- ^ "FedEx ATP Reliability Index – Winning percentage on Grass". ATPWorldTour.com. http://www.atpworldtour.com/Reliability-Zone/Reliability-Grass-Career-List.aspx. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
- ^ "FedEx ATP Reliability Index – Winning percentage on Hard". ATPWorldTour.com. http://www.atpworldtour.com/Reliability-Zone/Reliability-Hard-Career-List.aspx. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
- ^ a b "Tournament History". Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. http://www.atpworldtour.com/Finals/2012/About/Heritage.aspx. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
- ^ "Federer Renews Reign In Indian Wells". ATP World Tour. 18 March 2012. http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/03/11/Indian-Wells-Sunday-Federer-Tops-Isner.aspx. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
Further reading[link]
- Bowers, Chris (2007). Fantastic Federer: The Biography of the World's Greatest Tennis Player. John Blake. ISBN 1-84454-407-9.
- Stauffer, René (2007). The Roger Federer Story: Quest for Perfection. New York, N.Y: New Chapter Press. ISBN 0-942257-39-1.
Video[link]
- Wimbledon Classic Match: Federer vs Sampras Standing Room Only, DVD Release Date: 31 October 2006, Run Time: 233 minutes, ASIN: B000ICLR98.
- Wimbledon 2007 Final: Federer vs. Nadal (2007) Kultur White Star, DVD Release Date: 30 October 2007, Run Time: 180 minutes, ASIN: B000V02CU0.
- Wimbledon — The 2008 Finals: Nadal vs. Federer Standing Room Only, DVD Release Date: 19 August 2008, Run Time: 300 minutes, ASIN: B001CWYUBU.
External links[link]
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Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Roger Federer |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Roger Federer |
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Book: Roger Federer |
| Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print. | |
- Official Site
- Roger Federer Foundation
- Roger Federer on Facebook
- Roger Federer – Grand Slam History
- Sortable list of Grand Slam opponents and stats
Profiles[link]
- Roger Federer at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- Roger Federer at the International Tennis Federation
- Roger Federer at the Davis Cup
- Roger Federer at the Internet Movie Database
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34)
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Federer, Roger |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | Swiss tennis professional |
| Date of birth | 8 August 1981 |
| Place of birth | Binningen (near Basel), Switzerland) |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
http://wn.com/Roger_Federer
Related pages:
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http://es.wn.com/Roger Federer
http://ru.wn.com/Федерер, Роджер
http://cs.wn.com/Roger Federer
http://pt.wn.com/Roger Federer
http://pl.wn.com/Roger Federer
http://hi.wn.com/रोजर फ़ेडरर
http://it.wn.com/Roger Federer
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This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Federer
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
 |
|
| Full name | Andre Kirk Agassi |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Residence | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Born | (1970-04-29) April 29, 1970 (age 42) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Weight | 80 kg (180 lb) |
| Turned pro | 1986 |
| Retired | September 3, 2006 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Career prize money |
US$31,152,975 |
| Int. Tennis HOF | 2011 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 870–274 (76.05%) (on the Grand Prix tour, ATP Tour, in Grand Slams and Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 60 according to the ATP and 68 in total |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (April 10, 1995) |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1995, 2000, 2001, 2003) |
| French Open | W (1999) |
| Wimbledon | W (1992) |
| US Open | W (1994, 1999) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | W (1990) |
| Olympic Games | W (1996) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 40–42 (at ATP Tour, Grand Prix tour and Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 1 |
| Highest ranking | No. 123 (August 17, 1992) |
| Grand Slam Doubles results | |
| French Open | QF (1992) |
| US Open | 1R (1987) |
| Olympic medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's tennis | ||
| Competitor for United States |
||
| Gold | 1996 Atlanta | Singles |
Andre Kirk Agassi ( /ˈɑːndreɪ ˈæɡəsi/; born April 29, 1970) is a retired American[1][2] professional tennis player and former world no. 1.[3] Generally considered by critics and fellow players to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time,[4][5][6][7][8] Agassi has been called the best service returner in the history of the game.[6][9][10][11] Described by the BBC upon his retirement as "perhaps the biggest worldwide star in the sport's history",[8] Agassi's performances, along with his unorthodox apparel and attitude, have seen him cited as one of the most charismatic players in the history of the game, and credited for helping revive the popularity of tennis during the 1990s.[6][8][12]
In singles tennis, Agassi is an eight-time Grand Slam champion who competed in 15 Grand Slam finals, and an Olympic gold medalist. A multi-surface specialist, he is the first of two male players to have achieved a singles Career Golden Slam, and one of four to have achieved a singles Career Grand Slam in the Open Era (one of seven in history).[13][14] He was the first male player to win all four Grand Slams on three different surfaces (hard, clay and grass), and is the last American male to win the French Open (1999)[15] and the Australian Open (2003).[16] Agassi also won 17 ATP Masters Series titles, the 1990 ATP Tour World Championships, and was part of a winning Davis Cup team in 1990 and 1992.[5] He is the only male singles player in history to have won all four Grand Slam tournaments, the Olympic gold medal and the ATP Tour World Championships: a distinction dubbed as a "Career Super Slam" by Sports Illustrated.[17]
After suffering from sciatica caused by two bulging discs in his back, a spondylolisthesis (vertebral displacement) and a bone spur that interfered with the nerve, Agassi retired from professional tennis on September 3, 2006, after losing in the third round of the US Open. He is the founder of the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation,[18] which has raised over $60 million for at-risk children in Southern Nevada.[19] In 2001, the Foundation opened the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas, a K-12 public charter school for at-risk children.[20]
Contents |
1970–1985: Early life[link]
Agassi was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Emmanuel "Mike" Aghassian and Elizabeth "Betty" Agassi (née Dudley).[3][21] His father, a former Olympic boxer for Iran, is of Assyrian and Armenian descent and changed the family name to Agassi after his migration to the United States.[22][23][24][25][26] Andre Agassi's mother, Betty, is a breast cancer survivor. He has three older siblings – Rita, Philip and Tami.[27]
Mike Agassi reportedly banged on the fences with a hammer during Andre's matches when his son lost a point, screamed at officials and was ejected more than once.
In a passage from the book Open, Agassi details how his father made him play a match for money with football legend Jim Brown, in 1979, when Agassi was just 9 years old. Brown was at a Vegas tennis club complaining to the owner about a money match that was canceled. Agassi's father stepped in and told Brown that he could play his son and he would put up his house for the wager. Brown countered with a $10,000 bet; but after being warned by the club owner not to take the bet because he would lose and be embarrassed, Brown and Mike Agassi agreed that they'd set the amount after he and Andre played two sets. Brown lost those sets, 3–6, 3–6, declined the 10K wager, and offered to play the third for $500, which he lost 2–6.[28]
At age 13, Andre was sent to Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy in Florida.[29] He was meant to stay for only 3 months because that was all his father could afford. After thirty minutes of watching Agassi play, Bollettieri called Mike and said: "Take your check back. He's here for free", claiming that Agassi had more natural talent than anyone else he had seen.[30] Agassi dropped out of school in the ninth grade.[31]
International tennis career biography[link]
1986–1993[link]
 |
This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2011) |
He turned professional at the age of 16 and competed in his first tournament at La Quinta, California. He won his first match against John Austin 6–4, 6–2, but then lost his second match to Mats Wilander 1–6, 1–6. By the end of the year, Agassi was ranked world no. 91.[32] Agassi won his first top-level singles title in 1987 at the Sul American Open in Itaparica.[29] He ended the year ranked world no. 25.[29] He won six additional tournaments in 1988 (Memphis, U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships, Forest Hills WCT, Stuttgart Outdoor, Volvo International and Livingston Open),[29] and, by December of that year, he had surpassed US$1 million in career prize money after playing in just 43 tournaments—the fastest anyone in history had reached that level.[33] During the year, he set the open-era record for most consecutive victories by a male teenager, a record that would stand for 17 years until being broken by Rafael Nadal in 2005.[34] His year-end ranking was world no. 3, behind second-ranked Ivan Lendl and top-ranked Mats Wilander. Both the Association of Tennis Professionals and Tennis magazine named Agassi the Most Improved Player of the Year for 1988.[29]
In addition to not playing the Australian Open (which would later become his best Grand Slam event) for the first eight years of his career, Agassi chose not to play at Wimbledon from 1988 through 1990 and publicly stated that he did not wish to play there because of the event's traditionalism, particularly its "predominantly white" dress code to which players at the event are required to conform.
Strong performances on the tour meant that Agassi was quickly tipped as a future Grand Slam champion. While still a teenager, he reached the semifinals of both the French Open and the US Open in 1988, and made the US Open semifinals in 1989. He began the 1990s, however, with a series of near-misses. He reached his first Grand Slam final in 1990 at the French Open, where he was favored before losing in four sets to Andrés Gómez. He reached his second Grand Slam final of the year at the US Open, defeating defending champion Boris Becker in the semifinals. His opponent in the final was Pete Sampras; a year earlier, Agassi had beaten Sampras 6–2, 6–1, after which he told his coach that he felt bad for Sampras because he was never going to make it as a pro. Agassi lost the US Open final to Sampras 4–6, 3–6, 2–6.[29] The rivalry between these two American players became the dominant rivalry in tennis over the rest of the decade. Also in 1990, Agassi helped the United States win its first Davis Cup in 8 years and won his only Tennis Masters Cup, beating reigning Wimbledon champion Stefan Edberg in the final.
In 1991, Agassi reached his second consecutive French Open final, where he faced fellow Bollettieri Academy alumnus Jim Courier. Courier emerged the victor in a five set final. Agassi decided to play at Wimbledon in 1991, leading to weeks of speculation in the media about the clothes he would wear. He eventually emerged for the first round in a completely white outfit. He went on to reach the quarterfinals on that occasion, losing in five sets to David Wheaton.
Agassi's Grand Slam tournament breakthrough came at Wimbledon, not at the French Open or the US Open, where he had previously enjoyed success. In 1992, he defeated Goran Ivanišević in a five-set final.[29] Along the way, Agassi overcame two former Wimbledon champions, Boris Becker and John McEnroe. No other baseliner would triumph at Wimbledon until Lleyton Hewitt ten years later. Agassi was named the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year in 1992. Agassi once again played on the United States' Davis Cup winning team in 1992. It was their second Davis cup title in three years.
1993 saw Agassi win the only doubles title of his career, at the Cincinnati Masters, partnered with Petr Korda. Agassi missed much of the early part of that year with injuries. Although he made the quarterfinals in his Wimbledon title defense, he lost to eventual champion and world no. 1 Pete Sampras in five sets. Agassi lost in the first round at the US Open to Thomas Enqvist and required wrist surgery late in the year.
1994–1997[link]
With new coach Brad Gilbert on board, Agassi began to employ more of a tactical, consistent approach, which fueled his resurgence. Agassi started slowly in 1994, losing in the first week at the French Open and Wimbledon. Nevertheless, Agassi emerged during the hard-court season, winning the Canadian Open. His comeback culminated at the 1994 US Open with a five-set fourth-round victory against compatriot Michael Chang, and then becoming the first man to capture the US Open as an unseeded player, beating Michael Stich in the final.[29]
In 1995, Agassi shaved his balding head, breaking with his old "image is everything" style. He competed in the 1995 Australian Open (his first appearance at the event) and won, beating Sampras in a four-set final.[29] Agassi and Sampras met in five tournament finals in 1995, all on hardcourt, with Agassi winning three. Agassi won three Masters Series events in 1995 (Cincinnati, Key Biscayne, and the Canadian Open) and seven titles total.[29] He compiled a career-best 26-match winning streak during the summer hard-court circuit, which ended when he lost the US Open final to Sampras.
Agassi reached the world no. 1 ranking for the first time in April 1995. He held that ranking until November, for a total of 30 weeks. In terms of win/loss record, 1995 was Agassi's best year. He won 73 matches and lost only 9. Agassi was also once again a key player on the United States' Davis Cup winning team—the third and final Davis Cup title of Agassi's career.
1996 was a less successful year for Agassi, as he failed to reach any Grand Slam final. He suffered two early-round losses at the hands of compatriots Chris Woodruff and Doug Flach at the French Open and Wimbledon, respectively, and lost to Chang in straight sets in the Australian and US Open semifinals. At the time, Agassi blamed the Australian Open loss on the windy conditions, but later said in his biography that he had lost the match on purpose, as he did not want to play Boris Becker, whom he would have faced in that final. The high point for Agassi was winning the men's singles gold medal at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, beating Sergi Bruguera of Spain in the final, 6–2, 6–3, 6–1.[29] Agassi also successfully defended his singles titles in Cincinnati and Key Biscayne.
1997 was the low point of Agassi's career. His wrist injury resurfaced, and he played only 24 matches during the year. He would later confess that he started using crystal methamphetamine at that time, allegedly on the urging of a friend.[35] He failed an ATP drug test, but wrote a letter claiming the same friend had spiked a drink. The ATP dropped the failed drug test as a warning. In his autobiography, Agassi admitted that the letter was a lie.[36] He quit the drug soon after. He won no top-level titles and his ranking sank to world no. 141 on November 10, 1997, prompting many to believe that his run as one of the sport's premier competitors was over and that he would never again win any significant championships.[29]
1998–2003[link]
In 1998, Agassi began a rigorous conditioning program and worked his way back up the rankings by playing in Challenger Series tournaments, a circuit for pro players ranked outside the world's top 50. He also played classic matches in this period against Pete Sampras and Patrick Rafter.
In 1998, Agassi won five titles and leapt from world no. 110 to no. 6, the highest jump into the top 10 made by any player during a calendar year.[37] At Wimbledon, he had an early loss in the second round to Tommy Haas. He won five titles in ten finals and was runner-up at the Masters Series tournament in Key Biscayne, losing to Marcelo Ríos, who became world no. 1 as a result.
Agassi entered the history books in 1999 when he came back from two sets to love down to beat Andrei Medvedev in a five-set French Open final, becoming, at the time, only the fifth male player (joining Rod Laver, Fred Perry, Roy Emerson and Don Budge—these have since been joined by a sixth, Roger Federer and a seventh, Rafael Nadal) to have won all four Grand Slam singles titles during his career. Only Laver, Agassi, Federer, and Nadal have achieved this feat during the open era. This win also made him the first (of only three, the second being Roger Federer and the third being Rafael Nadal) male player in history to have won all four Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces (clay, grass, and hard courts), a tribute to his adaptability, as the other four men had won their Grand Slam titles on clay and grass courts. Agassi also became the first (of only two, the second being Rafael Nadal) male player to win the Career Golden Slam, consisting of all four Grand Slam tournaments plus an Olympic gold medal.
Agassi followed his 1999 French Open victory by reaching the Wimbledon final, where he lost to Sampras in straight sets.[29] He rebounded from his Wimbledon defeat by winning the US Open, beating Todd Martin in five sets (rallying from a two sets to one deficit) in the final. Agassi ended 1999 as the world no. 1, ending Sampras's record of six consecutive year-ending top rankings (1993–1998).[29] This was the only time Agassi ended the year at no. 1.
Agassi began the next year by capturing his second Australian Open title, beating Sampras in a five-set semifinal and Yevgeny Kafelnikov in a four-set final.[29] He was the first male player to have reached four consecutive Grand Slam finals since Rod Laver achieved the Grand Slam in 1969.[38] At the time, Agassi was also only the fourth player since Laver to be the reigning champion of three of four Grand Slam events, missing only the Wimbledon title.[39]
2000 also saw Agassi reach the semifinals at Wimbledon, where he lost in five sets to Rafter in a match considered by many to be one of the best ever at Wimbledon.[40] At the inaugural Tennis Masters Cup in Lisbon, Agassi reached the final after defeating Marat Safin, 6–3, 6–3, in the semifinals to end the Russian's hopes to become the youngest world no. 1 in the history of tennis. Agassi then lost to Gustavo Kuerten in the final, allowing Kuerten to be crowned year-end world no. 1.
Agassi opened 2001 by successfully defending his Australian Open title with a straight-sets final win over Arnaud Clément.[29] En route, he beat a cramping Rafter (7–5, 2–6, 6–7, 6–2, 6–3) in front of a sell-out crowd in what turned out to be the Aussie's last Australian Open. At Wimbledon, they met again in the semifinals, where Agassi lost another close match to Rafter, 8–6 in the fifth set. In the quarterfinals at the US Open, Agassi lost a 3 hour, 33 minute epic match[41] with Sampras, 7–6(7), 6–7(7), 6–7(2), 6–7(5),[42] with no breaks of serve during the 48-game match. Despite the setback, Agassi finished 2001 ranked world no. 3, becoming the only male tennis player to finish a year ranked in the top 3 in three different decades[43] (1980s—finishing world no. 3 in 1988 and no. 7 in 1989; 1990s—finishing world no. 4 in 1990, no. 10 in 1991, no. 9 in 1992, no. 2 in 1994 and 1995, no. 8 in 1996, no. 6 in 1998 and no. 1 in 1999; 2000s—finishing world no. 6 in 2000, no. 3 in 2001, no. 2 in 2002, no. 4 in 2003, no. 8 in 2004 and no. 7 in 2005). He also was the oldest player (age 31) to finish in the top three since 32-year old Connors finished at world no. 2 in 1984.[37]
2002 opened with disappointment for Agassi, as injury forced him to skip the Australian Open, where he was a two-time defending champion. The last duel between Agassi and Sampras came in the final of the US Open, which Sampras won in four sets and left Sampras with a 20–14 edge in their 34 career meetings. The match was the last of Sampras's career. Agassi's US Open finish, along with his Masters Series victories in Key Biscayne, Rome, and Madrid, helped him finish 2002 as the oldest year-end world no. 2 at 32 years and 8 months.[37]
In 2003, Agassi won the eighth (and final) Grand Slam title of his career at the Australian Open, where he beat Rainer Schüttler in straight sets in the final. In March, he won his sixth career and third consecutive Key Biscayne title, in the process surpassing his wife, Steffi Graf, who was a five-time winner of the event. The final was his 18th straight win in that tournament, which broke the previous record of 17 set by Sampras from 1993–1995. (Agassi's winning streak continued to 20 after winning his first two matches at the 2004 edition of that tournament before bowing to Agustín Calleri.) With the victory, Agassi became the youngest (19 years old) and oldest (32) winner of the Key Biscayne tournament. On April 28, 2003, he recaptured the world no. 1 ranking after a quarterfinal victory over Xavier Malisse at the Queen's Club Championships to become the oldest top-ranked male player since the ATP rankings began at 33 years and 13 days. He had held the world no. 1 ranking for two weeks, when Lleyton Hewitt took it back on May 12, 2003. Agassi then recaptured the world no. 1 ranking once again on June 16, 2003, which he held for 12 weeks until September 7, 2003. During his career, Agassi held the world no. 1 ranking for a total of 101 weeks.[44] Agassi's ranking slipped when injuries forced him to withdraw from many events. He did manage to reach the US Open semifinals, where he lost to Juan Carlos Ferrero and surrendered his world no. 1 ranking to Ferrero. At the year-end Tennis Masters Cup, Agassi lost in the final to Federer and finished the year ranked world no. 4. At age 33, he was the oldest player to rank in the top 5 since Connors, at age 35, was world no. 4 in 1987.[37]
2004–2006[link]
In 2004, Agassi began the year with a five-set loss in the semifinals of the Australian Open to Marat Safin; the loss ended Agassi's 26-match winning streak at the event, a record that still stands. Agassi won the Masters series event in Cincinnati to bring his career total to 59 top-level singles titles and a record 17 ATP Masters Series titles, having already won seven of the nine ATP Masters tournament—all except the tournaments in Monte Carlo and Hamburg. At 34, he became the second-oldest singles champion in Cincinnati tournament history (the tournament began in 1899), surpassed only by Ken Rosewall, who won the title in 1970 at age 35. He finished the year ranked world no. 8, the oldest player to finish in the top 10 since the 36-year-old Connors was world no. 7 in 1988.[37] Agassi also became only the sixth male player during the open era to reach 800 career wins with his first-round victory over Alex Bogomolov in Countrywide Classic in Los Angeles.
Agassi's 2005 began with a quarterfinal loss to Federer at the Australian Open. Agassi had several other deep runs at tournaments, but had to withdraw from several events due to injury. He lost to Jarkko Nieminen in the first round of the French Open. He won his fourth title in Los Angeles and reached the final of the Rogers Cup, before falling to world no. 2 Rafael Nadal. Agassi's 2005 was defined by an improbable run to the US Open final. After beating Răzvan Sabău and Ivo Karlović in straight sets and Tomáš Berdych in four sets, Agassi won three consecutive five-set matches to advance to the final. The most notable of these matches was his quarterfinal victory over James Blake, where he rallied from two sets down to win 3–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3, 7–6. His other five-set victims were Xavier Malisse in the fourth round and Robby Ginepri in the semifinals. In the final, Agassi faced Federer, who was seeking his second consecutive US Open title and his sixth Grand Slam title in two years. Federer defeated Agassi in four sets, although Agassi gave him a scare when Agassi was up a break in the third set after splitting the first two sets.
Before the 2005 Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, Agassi rolled his ankle in a racquetball accident and tore several ligaments. He was unable to walk for weeks. He nevertheless committed to the tournament, in which he was seeded third, and played Nikolay Davydenko in his first round-robin match. Agassi's movement was noticeably hindered, particularly on his backhand return of serve, and he lost in straight sets. He then withdrew from the tournament.
Agassi finished 2005 ranked world no. 7, his 16th time in the year-end top-10 rankings, which tied Connors for the most times ranked in the top 10 at year's end. In 2005, Agassi left Nike after 17 years and signed an endorsement deal with Adidas.[45] A major reason for Agassi leaving Nike was because Nike refused to donate to Agassi's charities, and Adidas was more than happy to do so.
Agassi had a poor start to 2006. He was still recovering from an ankle injury and also suffering from back and leg pain and lack of match play. Agassi withdrew from the Australian Open because of the ankle injury, and his back injury and other pains forced him to withdraw from several other events, eventually skipping the entire clay-court season, including the French Open. This caused his ranking to drop out of the top 10 for the last time.
Agassi returned for the grass-court season, playing a tune-up, and then Wimbledon. He was defeated in the third round by world no. 2 (and eventual runner-up) Rafael Nadal 6–7, 2–6, 4–6. Against conventions, Agassi, the losing player, was interviewed on court after the match.[46] At Wimbledon, Agassi announced his plans to retire following the US Open.
Agassi played only two events during the summer hard-court season, with his best result being a quarterfinal loss at the Countrywide Classic in Los Angeles to Fernando González of Chile 4–6, 6–3, 5–7. As a result, he was unseeded at the US Open.
Agassi had a short, but dramatic, run in his final US Open. Because of extreme back pain, Agassi was forced to receive anti-inflammatory injections after every match. After a tough four-set win against Andrei Pavel, Agassi faced eighth-seeded Marcos Baghdatis in the second round, who had earlier advanced to the 2006 Australian Open final and Wimbledon semifinals. Agassi won 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 5–7, 7–5, as the younger Baghdatis succumbed to muscle cramping in the final set. In his last match, Agassi fell to 112th-ranked big-serving Benjamin Becker of Germany in four sets. Agassi received a four-minute standing ovation from the crowd after the match and delivered a memorable retirement speech.
Earnings[link]
Agassi earned more than US$ 30 million in prize-money during his career, fifth only to Federer, Nadal, Sampras and Djokovic to date. He also earned more than US$25 million a year through endorsements during his career, fourth in all sports at the time.[47]
In 1995, Andre Agassi signed a contract valued between $70 and $100 million with Nike (over $5 million/year), making Andre Agassi the best-paid athlete sponsored by Nike (from Andre Agassi, Through the Eyes of a Fan).
Post-retirement[link]
Since retiring after the 2006 US Open, Agassi has participated in a series of charity tournaments and continues his work with his own charity. On September 5, 2007, Agassi was a surprise guest commentator for the Andy Roddick/Roger Federer US Open quarter-final. He played an exhibition match at Wimbledon, teaming with his wife, Steffi Graf, to play with Tim Henman and Kim Clijsters. He played World Team Tennis for the Philadelphia Freedoms in the summer of 2009[48] and played at the Outback Champions Series event for the first time. He played the Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships at Surprise, Arizona, where he reached the final before bowing to eventual champion Todd Martin.[49] On the way to the final, Agassi beat Mikael Pernfors in the quarter-finals and Wayne Ferreira in the semi-finals. He also announced that he will not be playing the tour on a full-time basis, and played the tournament as a favor to long-time friend Jim Courier.[50]
Playing style[link]
Agassi continually put pressure on opponents with a preference to taking the ball early and was known for swinging deep angles like a powerful backhand up the line. His strength was in dictating play from the back of the court. While he was growing up, his father and Nick Bollettieri trained him in this way.[51]
Personal and family life[link]
Agassi was married to Brooke Shields from 1997 to 1999. Agassi married Steffi Graf on October 22, 2001. Four days later, their son, Jaden Gil, was born. In October 2003, his daughter Jaz Elle was born.[52]
Long-time trainer Gil Reyes has been called one of Agassi's closest friends; some have described him as being a "father figure" to Agassi.[53][54]
In December 2008 Agassi's childhood friend and former business manager, Perry Rogers, sued Graf for $50,000 in management fees he claimed that she owed him.[55][56]
Agassi's autobiography, Open (written with assistance from J. R. Moehringer[57]), was published in November 2009. In it Agassi admitted that his once distinctive bushy mane actually was a wig, and that he used and tested positive for methamphetamine in 1997.[35][58][59] In response to the latter revelation, Roger Federer declared himself shocked and disappointed,[60] while Sergej Bubka declared that Agassi should have been disqualified.[61] In an exclusive interview with CBS, Agassi justified himself and asked for understanding, saying that "It was a period in my life where I needed help."[62] He also revealed that he had always hated tennis during his career because of the constant pressure it exerted on him. He also revealed he thought Pete Sampras was "robotic".[63] The book reached No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list[64] and received favorable reviews.[65]
Politics[link]
Agassi has donated more than $100,000 to Democratic candidates.[66] However, on September 1, 2010, when Agassi appeared on daily WNYC public radio program "The Brian Lehrer Show," Agassi stated that he is a registered Independent.[67]
Philanthropy[link]
Agassi founded the Andre Agassi Charitable Association in 1994, which assists Las Vegas' young people. Agassi was awarded the ATP Arthur Ashe Humanitarian award in 1995 for his efforts to help disadvantaged youth. He regularly is cited as the most charitable and socially involved player in professional tennis. It also has been claimed that he may be the most charitable athlete of his generation.[68]
Agassi's charities help in assisting children reach their athletic potential. His Boys & Girls Club sees 2,000 children throughout the year and boasts a world-class junior tennis team. It also has a basketball program (the Agassi Stars) and a rigorous system that encourages a mix of academics and athletics.
In 2001 Agassi opened the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy[69] in Las Vegas, a tuition-free charter school for at-risk children in the area. In 2009 the graduating class had 100 percent graduation rate and expected a 100 percent college acceptance rate.[70] Among other child-related programs that Agassi supports through his Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation is Clark County's only residential facility for abused and neglected children, Child Haven. In 1997 Agassi donated funding to Child Haven for a six-room classroom building now named the Agassi Center for Education. His foundation also provided $720,000 to assist in the building of the Andre Agassi Cottage for Medically Fragile Children. This 20-bed facility opened in December 2001, and accommodates developmentally delayed or handicapped children and children quarantined for infectious diseases.[71]
In 2007 Agassi, Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Warrick Dunn, Jeff Gordon, Mia Hamm, Tony Hawk, Andrea Jaeger, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mario Lemieux, Alonzo Mourning and Cal Ripken, Jr. founded the charity Athletes for Hope, which helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and aims to inspire all people to volunteer and support their communities.[citation needed]
Recognition[link]
In 2005 Tennis magazine named him the 7th greatest male player—and 12th greatest player overall—for the period 1965 through 2005. On July 9, 2011, Agassi was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island.[5]
Records[link]
- These records were attained in Open Era of tennis.
- Records in bold indicate peer-less achievements.
| Time span | Selected Grand Slam tournament records | Players matched |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 ATP World Tour Finals — 1999 French Open |
Career winner of all Majors, the Olympic singles gold medal and the Year-End Championships | Stands alone |
| 1990 ATP World Tour Finals — 1999 French Open |
Career winner of all Majors, the Olympic singles gold medal, the Year-End Championships and the Davis Cup | Stands alone |
| 1992 Wimbledon — 1999 French Open |
Career Golden Slam | Rafael Nadal |
| 1992 Wimbledon — 1999 French Open |
Career Grand Slam | Rod Laver Roger Federer Rafael Nadal |
| 1996 Olympics — 1999 US Open |
Simultaneous holder of Olympic singles gold medal and US Open | Rafael Nadal |
| 1996 Olympics — 1999 US Open |
Simultaneous holder of Olympic singles gold medal and grand slams on clay and hardcourt | Rafael Nadal |
| 1996 Olympics — 2000 Australian Open |
Simultaneous holder of Olympic singles gold medal and three grand slams | Rafael Nadal |
| 1988 US Open — 2006 US Open |
127 hard court match wins | Stands alone |
| 1986 US Open — 2006 US Open |
9264 games played | Stands alone |
| 1986 US Open — 2006 US Open |
988 sets played | Stands alone |
| 1992 Wimbledon — 1999 French Open |
Won all 4 majors on 3 different surfaces | Roger Federer Rafael Nadal |
| Grand Slam tournaments | Time Span | Records at each Grand Slam tournament | Players matched |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | 1995–2003 | 4 titles overall | Roger Federer |
| Australian Open | 2000–2004 | 26 consecutive match wins | Stands alone |
| Australian Open | 2000–2003 | 3 titles in 4 years | Roger Federer |
| Australian Open | 2000–2001 | 2 consecutive titles | Ken Rosewall Guillermo Vilas Johan Kriek Mats Wilander Stefan Edberg Ivan Lendl Jim Courier Roger Federer Novak Djokovic |
| Australian Open | 1995–2005 | 90.57% (48–5) match winning percentage | Stands alone |
| Australian Open | 2003 | Win–loss (games) 71.6% (121–48) | Stands alone |
| US Open | 1986–2006 | 21 consecutive tournaments played[72] | Stands alone |
| Time span | Other selected records | Players matched |
|---|---|---|
| 1988–2005 | 13 ATP World Tour Finals appearances | Stands alone |
| 1986–2006 | 598 hard court match wins | Stands alone |
| 1990–2003 | 6 Miami Masters titles[73] | Stands alone |
| 1990–2004 | 14 Masters 1000 hard court titles | Roger Federer |
| 1995–2003 | Oldest player ranked No. 1 (33 years 4 months) | Stands alone |
| 1988–2005 | Ended 16 years ranked inside the top 10 | Jimmy Connors |
Professional Awards[link]
- ITF World Champion: 1999.
- ATP Player of the Year: 1999.
- ATP Most Improved Player: 1988
Career statistics[link]
Main article: Andre Agassi career statistics
Video[link]
- Wimbledon 2000 Semi-Final – Agassi vs. Rafter (2003) Starring: Andre Agassi, Patrick Rafter; Standing Room Only, DVD Release Date: August 16, 2005, Run Time: 213 minutes, OCLC 61774054.
- Charlie Rose with Andre Agassi (May 7, 2001) Charlie Rose, Inc., DVD Release Date: August 15, 2006, Run Time: 57 minutes.
- Wimbledon: The Record Breakers (2005) Starring: Andre Agassi, Boris Becker; Standing Room Only, DVD Release Date: August 16, 2005, Run Time: 52 minutes, OCLC 61658553.
Video games[link]
- Andre Agassi Tennis for the SNES, Sega Genesis, Sega Game Gear, Master System, and Mobile phone
- Agassi Tennis Generation for PS2 and GBA
- Smash Court Pro Tournament for PS2
- Top Spin 4 (On cover of game) for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii
See also[link]
References[link]
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- ^ Roger Federer has since duplicated this feat, appearing in ten consecutive Grand Slam finals from 2005–2007.
- ^ Pete Sampras held the 1993 Wimbledon, 1993 US Open, and 1994 Australian Open titles simultaneously. Jimmy Connors won all three of those events in 1974, although at the time all three were on grass courts. Mats Wilander won all but Wimbledon in 1988 during his similar rise to be the year-end world no. 1. Federer has since duplicated this feat, holding all Grand Slam titles except the French Open at the end of 2004 as well as throughout 2006 and 2007. Rafael Nadal won the 2008 French Open, 2008 Wimbledon, and 2009 Australian Open.
- ^ "Classic Matches: Rafter v Agassi". BBC Sport. May 31, 2004. Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/wimbledon_history/3742067.stm. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
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- ^ Open: Andre Agassi HarpersCollins 2009
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- ^ "Tennis, Doping; Bubka: Agassi Dovrebbe Essere Punito". Sport.repubblica.it. October 30, 2009. http://sport.repubblica.it/news/sport/tennis-doping-bubka-agassi-dovrebbe-essere-punito/3730891. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
- ^ "Italian?" (in ES). http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/altrisport/articoli/articolo27870.shtml. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ Jeffries, Stuart (October 29, 2009). "Why did Andre Agassi hate tennis?". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/oct/29/andre-agassi-hate-tennis. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ^ Schuessler, Jennifer (November 29, 2009). "Hardcover Nonfiction". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/books/bestseller/besthardnonfiction.html?ref=bestseller. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
- ^ "Jacket Copy". The Los Angeles Times. November 20, 2009. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2009/11/book-reviews-agassi-mayle-mourlevat-palin.html.
- ^ "Andre Agassi's Federal Campaign Contribution Report". NewsMeat. http://www.newsmeat.com/sports_political_donations/Andre_Agassi.php. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "Andre Agassi: Net Effects". "The Brian Lehrer Show". http://beta.wnyc.org/shows/bl/2010/sep/01/net-effects/. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "Sportsman/Person of the Year". http://www.blackvoices.com/black_sports/columnists/roysjohnson/_a/sportsmanperson-of-the-year/20061002123009990001. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy". http://www.agassiprep.org. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ Smith, Karen (September 23, 2009). "College of Westchester – CW President's Blog". Cw.edu. http://www.cw.edu/page.php?subj=about&page=president-blog&id=20. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
- ^ "Andre Agassi". Athlete.com. http://www.athlete.com/profile.php?id=351. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
- ^ "US Open Singles Record Book". USOpen.com. http://2011.usopen.org/pdf/Record_Book_Singles_Records.pdf. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
- ^ "Sony Ericsson Open – Records and Stats". SonyEricssonOpen.com. http://www.sonyericssonopen.com/About/Records-Stats.aspx. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
Further reading[link]
- Agassi, Mike; Cobello, Dominic; Welsh, Kate (2004). The Agassi Story. Toronto: ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55022-656-0.
- Andre Agassi (2010). Open: An Autobiography (Vintage). London: Vintage. ISBN 0-307-38840-9.
External links[link]
|
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Andre Agassi |
|
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Andre Agassi |
- Andre Agassi at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- Andre Agassi at the International Tennis Federation
- Andre Agassi at the Davis Cup
- Works by or about Andre Agassi in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
- Profile at TheTennisChannel.com
- agassiopen.com
- The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation
- For Agassi, it's substance over style, 2004
- Farewell to Tennis Speech at the U.S. Open
- Agassi's Tennis Hall of Fame Induction for Steffi Graf
- Andre Agassi at the Internet Movie Database
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Agassi, Andre Kirk |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | American tennis player |
| Date of birth | April 29, 1970 |
| Place of birth | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
http://wn.com/Andre_Agassi
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This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Agassi
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is about the tennis player. For other uses, see Rafter (disambiguation).
 Pat Rafter at a Davis Cup match in 2001 |
|
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Residence | Pembroke, Bermuda |
| Born | (1972-12-28) 28 December 1972 (age 39) Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Weight | 80 kg (180 lb; 13 st) |
| Turned pro | 1991 |
| Retired | 2002 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Career prize money | $11,127,058 |
| Int. Tennis HOF | 2006 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 358–191 (in Grand Slam and ATP Tour main draw matches, and in Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 11 (Grand Slam and ATP Tour) |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (26 July 1999) |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Australian Open | SF (2001) |
| French Open | SF (1997) |
| Wimbledon | F (2000, 2001) |
| US Open | W (1997, 1998) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 214–110 (in Grand Slam and ATP Tour main draw matches, and in Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 10 (Grand Slam and ATP Tour) |
| Highest ranking | 6 (1 February 1999) |
| Grand Slam Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1999) |
| French Open | 3R (1998) |
| Wimbledon | SF (1996, 1998) |
| US Open | SF (1996) |
Patrick "Pat" Michael Rafter (born 28 December 1972) is an Australian former World No. 1 tennis player. He twice won the men's singles title at the US Open and was twice the runner-up at Wimbledon. Rafter was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2006. He was known for his natural serve-and-volley style of play. He became the first man in the Open Era to win Montreal/Toronto, Cincinnati and the US Open in the same year (1998); this achievement has been dubbed the American Summer Slam.
Contents |
Tennis career[link]
1990s[link]
Rafter turned professional in 1991 and won his first career singles title in 1994 in Manchester. Prior to 1997, this was the only ATP singles title he had won.
Rafter's breakthrough came in 1997. At that year's French Open he reached the semifinals, falling in four sets to Sergi Bruguera. Then he surprised many by winning the US Open, defeating Greg Rusedski in a four-set final and Andre Agassi and Michael Chang, among others, in earlier rounds; he was the first non-American to win the title since Stefan Edberg in 1992. This was his first Grand Slam title, and catapulted him ahead of Chang to finish the year ranked #2 in the world, behind only Pete Sampras. The unexpected nature of his U.S. Open title led many, including Hall-of-famer and four-time U.S. Open champion John McEnroe to criticise Rafter as a "one-slam wonder".[2]
1998 was a particularly strong year for Rafter, and Cincinnati. (Only Andre Agassi, in 1995, and Andy Roddick, in 2003, also have won both these tournaments in the same year.) Rafter defeated ninth ranked Richard Krajicek in the Toronto final and second ranked Pete Sampras in the Cincinnati final. When asked about the difference between himself and Rafter following titles) stated "10 grand slams", and that a player has to come back and win a Grand Slam again in order to be considered great.[2]
Following his title at Cincinnati, Rafter won a US Open warm-up tournament in Long Island, New York. Entering the US Open as the defending champion, he reached the final again, defeating Sampras in a five-set semifinal. Rafter pointedly took issue with Sampras' refusal to show him respect in defeat: "That is what really upsets me about him," Rafter said, "and the reason why I try to piss him off as much as I can."[3]
Rafter then defended his U.S. Open title by defeating fellow Aussie player Mark Philippoussis in four sets, committing only five unforced errors throughout the match. When asked about Sampras' earlier comments about having to win another Grand Slam in order to be considered great, Rafter replied: "Maybe you can ask him that question, if he thinks that now. For me, I won another Slam, and it hasn't sunk in yet. It's very, very exciting for me, especially to repeat it".[2] Altogether, Rafter won six tournaments in 1998, finishing the year #4 in the world.
Rafter reached the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time in 1999, where he lost in straight sets to Agassi, the first of three consecutive years that the two met in the Wimbledon semifinals. July 1999 saw Rafter holding the world No. 1 men's singles ranking for one week, making him the shortest-reigning world No. 1 in ATP tour history. As the two-time defending US Open champion, Rafter lost in the first round of the tournament, retiring in the fifth set against Cédric Pioline after succumbing to shoulder tendinitis. Rafter's shoulder injury wound up being serious enough to necessitate surgery.[4] He won the Australian Open men's doubles title in 1999 (partnering Jonas Björkman), making him one of few players in the modern era to win both a singles and doubles Grand Slam title during their career (fellow countryman Lleyton Hewitt would later achieve this feat in 2001). He and Björkman also won doubles titles at the ATP Masters Series events in Canada (1999) and Indian Wells (1998).
2000s[link]
His ranking had fallen to No. 21 by the time he reached the Wimbledon final in July 2000. In the semifinals, Rafter defeated Agassi 7–5, 4–6, 7–5, 4–6, 6–3. The match was hailed as a classic, particularly because of their contrasting playing styles, with Agassi playing primarily from the baseline and Rafter attacking the net.[5] Rafter faced Sampras in the final, who was gunning for a record-breaking seventh Wimbledon title overall (and seven in the past eight years). While Rafter made a strong start to the match and took the first set, after the match he would claim that he had "choked" part way through the second set, and was then not able to get back into his game. Sampras won in four sets.
In 2001, Rafter reached the semifinals of the Australian Open, but despite holding a two sets to one lead and having the support of the home crowd, Rafter lost the match to Agassi in five sets.[6] Later in the year, Rafter again reached the Wimbledon final. For the third straight year, he faced Agassi in the semifinals and won in yet another five-setter, 2–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–2, 8–6. Much like the previous year's semifinal, this match also received praise for the quality of play that the two men displayed.[7][8] In the final, he squared off against Goran Ivanišević, who had reached the Wimbledon final three times before but had slid down the rankings to World No. 125 following injury problems. In a five-set struggle that lasted just over three hours, Ivanišević prevailed.
Rafter was on the Australian Davis Cup Team that lost in the final in 2000 (to Spain) and 2001 (to France). Ironically, he was unable to play in the 1999 Davis Cup final – where Australia beat France to win the cup – because of injury (though he won important matches in the earlier rounds to help the team qualify).
Rafter was on the Australian teams that won the World Team Cup in 1999 and 2001.
He retired from the professional tour at the end of 2002 after winning a total of 11 singles titles and 10 doubles titles. He returns to the courts annually to play World Team Tennis for the Philadelphia Freedoms.
On Australia Day 2008, Pat Rafter was inducted into the Australian Open Hall of Fame.
ATP Champions Tour[link]
At the 2009 AEGON Masters Tennis, Rafter lost his opening round robin match against the 1987 Wimbledon Champion Pat Cash 2–6, 6–2, 10–6. In a much anticipated match and reply of the 2001 Wimbledon final, Rafter faced Goran Ivanišević. Rafter won the match when Ivanisevic retired while serving for the opening set, 3–5. Despite his performance, the retirement was enough to push Rafter into the final against Stefan Edberg. In what is described as a spell-binding serve-and-volley showdown,[9] Rafter won the match 6–7, 6–4, 11–9. This represented the first time that Rafter was able to defeat Edberg.
Equipment[link]
Rafter, while professional, used Prince Sports racquet and Reebok clothes. Since beginning 2011, he began using Dunlop Sport racquet, continuing with Reebok clothes.
Personal life[link]
|
|
This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (January 2010) |
Rafter was born in Mount Isa, Queensland, and is third-youngest in a family of nine children. He began playing tennis at the age of five with his father and three older brothers.
In April 2004, Rafter married his girlfriend Lara Feltham (with whom he had a son, Joshua) at a resort in Fiji. Their daughter, India, was born in May 2005.
In 2002, he won the Australian of the Year award.[10] This created some controversy as he had spent much of his career residing in Bermuda for tax purposes.
Rafter donated half of the prize money from his 1997 and 1998 US Open wins to the Starlight Children's Foundation; he attempted to do so anonymously in 1997 but was unsuccessful. He has created his own charity organisation that raises funds for children's causes each year.
He has occasionally played reserve grade Australian rules in the Sydney AFL for the North Shore Bombers.
Since his retirement, Rafter has gone on to become an underwear model for Bonds, and in October 2010 was announced as the next Davis Cup captain for Australia.
Australian memorial[link]
In honour of Patrick Rafter the 5,500 seat centre court of the Queensland Tennis Centre in Brisbane, Australia was named Pat Rafter Arena.[11]
Major finals[link]
Grand Slam finals[link]
Singles (4)[link]
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1997 | US Open | Hard | Greg Rusedski |
6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 7–5 |
| Winner | 1998 | US Open | Hard | Mark Philippoussis |
6–3, 3–6, 6–2, 6–0 |
| Runner-up | 2000 | Wimbledon | Grass | Pete Sampras |
7–6(12–10), 6–7(5–7), 4–6, 2–6 |
| Runner-up | 2001 | Wimbledon | Grass |  Goran Ivanišević |
3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–2, 7–9 |
Doubles (1)[link]
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1999 | Australian Open | Hard | Jonas Björkman |
 Mahesh Bhupathi Leander Paes |
6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–7(10–12), 6–4 |
Masters Series finals[link]
Singles: 6 (2 titles, 4 runner-ups)[link]
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1998 | Canada (Toronto) | Hard |  Richard Krajicek |
7–6(7–3), 6–4 |
| Winner | 1998 | Cincinnati | Hard | Pete Sampras |
1–6, 7–6(7–2), 6–4 |
| Runner-up | 1999 | Rome | Clay |  Gustavo Kuerten |
4–6, 5–7, 6–7(6–8) |
| Runner-up | 1999 | Cincinnati | Hard | Pete Sampras |
6–7(7–9), 3–6 |
| Runner-up | 2001 | Canada (Montreal) | Hard |  Andrei Pavel |
6–7(3–7), 6–2, 3–6 |
| Runner-up | 2001 | Cincinnati | Hard | Gustavo Kuerten |
1–6, 3–6 |
Career finals (43)[link]
Singles (25)[link]
Wins (11)[link]
|
|
| No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 20 June 1994 | Manchester, UK | Grass |  Wayne Ferreira |
7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–4) |
| 2. | 8 September 1997 | US Open, New York City, USA | Hard | Greg Rusedski |
6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 7–5 |
| 3. | 13 April 1998 | Madras, India | Hard | Mikael Tillström |
6–3, 6–4 |
| 4. | 22 June 1998 | 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands | Grass |  Martin Damm |
7–6(7–2), 6–2 |
| 5. | 10 August 1998 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | Richard Krajicek |
7–6(7–3), 6–4 |
| 6. | 17 August 1998 | Cincinnati, USA | Hard | Pete Sampras |
1–6, 7–6(7–2), 6–4 |
| 7. | 31 August 1998 | Long Island, USA | Hard | Félix Mantilla |
7–6(7–3), 6–2 |
| 8. | 14 September 1998 | US Open, New York City, USA | Hard | Mark Philippoussis |
6–3, 3–6, 6–2, 6–0 |
| 9. | 21 June 1999 | 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands | Grass | Andrei Pavel |
3–6, 7–6(9–7), 6–4 |
| 10. | 26 June 2000 | 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands | Grass | Nicolas Escudé |
6–1, 6–3 |
| 11. | 20 August 2001 | Indianapolis, USA | Hard | Gustavo Kuerten |
4–2, retired |
Runner-ups (14)[link]
| No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 18 April 1994 | Hong Kong, UK | Hard | Michael Chang |
1–6, 3–6 |
| 2. | 3 March 1997 | Philadelphia, USA | Hard (i) | Pete Sampras |
7–5, 6–7(4–7), 3–6 |
| 3. | 14 April 1997 | Hong Kong, UK | Hard | Michael Chang |
3–6, 3–6 |
| 4. | 26 May 1997 | St. Poelten, Austria | Clay |  Marcelo Filippini |
6–7(2–7), 2–6 |
| 5. | 18 August 1997 | New Haven, USA | Hard | Yevgeny Kafelnikov |
6–7(4–7), 4–6 |
| 6. | 25 August 1997 | Long Island, USA | Hard | Carlos Moyà |
4–6, 6–7(1–7) |
| 7. | 6 October 1997 | Grand Slam Cup, Munich, Germany | Carpet | Pete Sampras |
2–6, 4–6, 5–7 |
| 8. | 17 May 1999 | Rome, Italy | Clay | Gustavo Kuerten |
4–6, 5–7, 6–7(6–8) |
| 9. | 16 August 1999 | Cincinnati, USA | Hard | Pete Sampras |
6–7(7–9), 3–6 |
| 10. | 10 July 2000 | Wimbledon, London, UK | Grass | Pete Sampras |
7–6(12–10), 6–7(5–7), 4–6, 2–6 |
| 11. | 13 November 2000 | Lyon, France | Carpet | Arnaud Clément |
6–7(2–7), 6–7(5–7) |
| 12. | 9 July 2001 | Wimbledon, London, UK | Grass | Goran Ivanišević |
3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–2, 7–9 |
| 13. | 6 August 2001 | Montreal, Canada | Hard | Andrei Pavel |
6–7(3–7), 6–2, 3–6 |
| 14. | 13 August 2001 | Cincinnati, USA | Hard | Gustavo Kuerten |
1–6, 3–6 |
Doubles (18)[link]
Wins (10)[link]
| No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 23 May 1994 | Bologna Open, Bologna, Italy | Clay | John Fitzgerald |
Vojtěch Flégl Andrew Florent |
6–3, 6–3 |
| 2. | 9 January 1995 | Australian Hardcourt Championships, Adelaide, Australia | Hard | Jim Courier |
 Byron Black Grant Connell |
7–6, 6–4 |
| 3. | 13 May 1996 | U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships, Pinehurst, U.S. | Clay | Pat Cash |
Ken Flach David Wheaton |
6–2, 6–3 |
| 4. | 6 January 1997 | Australian Hardcourt Championships, Adelaide, Australia | Hard | Bryan Shelton |
Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde |
6–4, 1–6, 6–3 |
| 5. | 16 June 1997 | The Stella Artois Grass Court Championships, London | Grass | Mark Philippoussis |
Sandon Stolle Cyril Suk |
6–2, 4–6, 7–5 |
| 6. | 16 March 1998 | Newsweek Champions Cup, Indian Wells, U.S. | Hard | Jonas Björkman |
Todd Martin Richey Reneberg |
6–4, 7–6 |
| 7. | 3 August 1998 | Mercedes-Benz Cup, Los Angeles | Hard | Sandon Stolle |
Jeff Tarango Daniel Vacek |
6–4, 6–4 |
| 8. | 1 February 1999 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Hard | Jonas Björkman |
Mahesh Bhupathi Leander Paes |
6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–7(10–12), 6–4 |
| 9. | 14 June 1999 | Gerry Weber Open, Halle, Germany | Grass | Jonas Björkman |
Paul Haarhuis Jared Palmer |
6–3, 7–5 |
| 10. | 9 August 1999 | du Maurier Open, Montreal, Canada | Hard | Jonas Björkman |
Byron Black Wayne Ferreira |
7–6, 6–4 |
Runner-ups (8)[link]
| No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 18 April 1994 | Salem Open, Hong Kong | Hard | Jonas Björkman |
Jim Grabb Brett Steven |
W/O |
| 2. | 24 October 1994 | Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon, Lyon, France | Carpet | Martin Damm |
Jakob Hlasek Yevgeny Kafelnikov |
7–6, 6–7, 6–7 |
| 3. | 16 October 1995 | IPB Czech Indoor, Ostrava, Czech Republic | Carpet | Guy Forget |
Jonas Björkman Javier Frana |
7–6, 4–6, 6–7 |
| 4. | 22 April 1996 | Bermuda Open, Bermuda | Clay | Pat Cash |
Jan Apell Brent Haygarth |
6–3, 1–6, 3–6 |
| 5. | 17 March 1997 | Newsweek Champions Cup, Indian Wells, U.S. | Hard | Mark Philippoussis |
 Mark Knowles Daniel Nestor |
6–7, 6–4, 5–7 |
| 6. | 21 April 1997 | Japan Open Tennis Championships, Tokyo | Hard | Justin Gimelstob |
Martin Damm Daniel Vacek |
6–2, 2–6, 6–7 |
| 7. | 11 August 1997 | Great American Insurance ATP Championship, Cincinnati, U.S. | Hard | Mark Philippoussis |
Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde |
6–7, 6–4, 4–6 |
| 8. | 18 June 2001 | Gerry Weber Open, Halle, Germany | Grass |  Max Mirnyi |
Daniel Nestor Sandon Stolle |
4–6, 7–6(7–5), 1–6 |
Performance timeline[link]
Singles[link]
| Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | SR | W–L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | LQ | LQ | 1R | 1R | 3R | 4R | 2R | 1R | 3R | 3R | SF | 0 / 9 | 15–9 | |
| French Open | LQ | 4R | 1R | 1R | SF | 2R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 0 / 8 | 12–8 | |||
| Wimbledon | LQ | 3R | 2R | 1R | 4R | 4R | 4R | SF | F | F | 0 / 9 | 29–9 | ||
| US Open | LQ | 1R | 3R | 2R | 1R | W | W | 1R | 1R | 4R | 2 / 9 | 20–7 | ||
| Win–Loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 8–4 | 4–4 | 4–4 | 15–3 | 13–3 | 9–4 | 7–3 | 14–4 | 2 / 35 | 76–33 |
| Year-End Championship | ||||||||||||||
| Tennis Masters Cup | RR | RR | 0 / 2 | 2–4 | ||||||||||
| ATP Masters Series | ||||||||||||||
| Indian Wells | 1R | 3R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | QF | 0 / 8 | 9–8 | ||||
| Miami | LQ | SF | 2R | 1R | 1R | 3R | 4R | SF | 0 / 7 | 13–7 | ||||
| Monte Carlo | 1R | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | |||||||||||
| Rome | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | F | 1R | 0 / 6 | 6–6 | ||||||
| Hamburg | 2R | 1R | 0 / 2 | 1–2 | ||||||||||
| Canada | 1R | 2R | QF | 2R | W | QF | QF | F | 1 / 8 | 20–7 | ||||
| Cincinnati | 1R | 1R | 3R | 2R | 3R | W | F | F | 1 / 8 | 19–7 | ||||
| Stuttgart (Stockholm) | 2R | SF | 2R | 2R | 0 / 4 | 4–4 | ||||||||
| Paris | 1R | 2R | 2R | 3R | 0 / 4 | 3–4 | ||||||||
| Win–Loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 8–7 | 7–7 | 4–2 | 7–7 | 13–5 | 12–5 | 7–7 | 17–4 | 2 / 48 | 75–46 |
| Year End Ranking | 751 | 293 | 243 | 66 | 20 | 66 | 62 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 15 | 7 | N/A | |
LQ = lost in qualifying draw
Doubles[link]
| Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | SR | W–L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slams | |||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | 2R | 2R | 1R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 1R | W | 1R | 1 / 9 | 10–7 | ||||||
| French Open | 1R | 1R | 3R | 3R | SF | 3R | 2R | 0 / 7 | 11–6 | ||||||||
| Wimbledon | QF | SF | QF | SF | QF | 0 / 5 | 17–4 | ||||||||||
| US Open | QF | 2R | 3R | SF | 3R | QF | 0 / 6 | 15–6 | |||||||||
| Win–Loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–3 | 7–4 | 10–3 | 7–4 | 11–4 | 10–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1 / 27 | 53–23 |
| ATP Masters Series | |||||||||||||||||
| Indian Wells | QF | 2R | F | W | 2R | QF | 1 / 6 | 13–5 | |||||||||
| Miami | 1R | SF | 0 / 2 | 4–1 | |||||||||||||
| Monte Carlo | 1R | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | ||||||||||||||
| Rome | 1R | 1R | QF | QF | QF | 0 / 5 | 6–5 | ||||||||||
| Hamburg | QF | SF | 0 / 2 | 5–2 | |||||||||||||
| Canada | 2R | SF | 2R | QF | SF | W | 1R | 1 / 7 | 14–6 | ||||||||
| Cincinnati | 1R | SF | QF | F | 2R | 0 / 5 | 9–5 | ||||||||||
| Stuttgart (Stockholm) | 2R | 1R | 0 / 2 | 1–2 | |||||||||||||
| Paris | QF | 0 / 1 | 2–1 | ||||||||||||||
| Win–Loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–5 | 8–5 | 3–2 | 15–6 | 8–3 | 7–2 | 3–2 | 6–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2 / 31 | 54–28 |
| Year End Ranking | 664 | 434 | 225 | 64 | 60 | 30 | 30 | 12 | 16 | 19 | 121 | 120 | – | – | 1211 | N/A | |
ATP Tour career earnings[link]
| Year | Majors | ATP wins | Total wins | Earnings ($) | Money list rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2,923,519 | 3 |
| 1998 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2,867,017 | 3 |
| 1999 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1,254,574 | 12 |
| 2000 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 814,586 | 16 |
| 2001 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1,670,592 | 7 |
| Career | 2 | 9 | 11 | 11,127,058 | 28 |
Video[link]
- Wimbledon 2000 Semi-Final – Agassi vs. Rafter (2003) Starring: Andre Agassi, Patrick Rafter; Standing Room Only, DVD Release Date: 16 August 2005, Run Time: 213 minutes, ASIN: B000A343QY.
- Wimbledon 2001 Final: Rafter Vs Ivanisevic Standing Room Only, DVD Release Date: 30 October 2007, Run Time: 195 minutes, ASIN: B000V02CT6.
See also[link]
References[link]
- ^ Insights from Ivanisevic and Rafter|AEGON tennis
- ^ a b c Rafter Grandly Slams U.S. Open Criticism
- ^ Sampras slight raises stakes for 'Pat-trick'
- ^ Pat Rafter
- ^ 2000 – Pat Rafter (Aus) beat Andre Agassi (US)
- ^ Survival of the fittest
- ^ Rafter charges into final
- ^ Back for more
- ^ Tennis Legends: ATP Champions Tour
- ^ Lewis, Wendy (2010). Australians of the Year. Pier 9 Press. ISBN 978-1-74196-809-5.
- ^ Stadium named after Pat Rafter
External links[link]
- Patrick Rafter at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- Patrick Rafter at the International Tennis Federation
- Patrick Rafter at the Davis Cup
- Patrick Rafter at the International Tennis Hall of Fame
- 2002 Australian of the Year
- Pat Rafter Cherish the Children (Charity)
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rafter, Patrick |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | Australian tennis player |
| Date of birth | 28 December 1972 |
| Place of birth | Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
http://wn.com/Patrick_Rafter
Related pages:
http://it.wn.com/Patrick Rafter
http://cs.wn.com/Patrick Rafter
http://es.wn.com/Patrick Rafter
http://ru.wn.com/Рафтер, Патрик
http://nl.wn.com/Patrick Rafter
http://pt.wn.com/Patrick Rafter
http://pl.wn.com/Patrick Rafter
http://fr.wn.com/Patrick Rafter
http://de.wn.com/Patrick Rafter
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Rafter
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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
