John Fitzgerald (tennis)

John Basil Fitzgerald OAM (born 28 December 1960) is a former professional tennis player from Australia who played right-handed with a single-handed backhand.

John Fitzgerald
Full nameJohn Basil Fitzgerald
Country (sports) Australia
ResidenceMelbourne, Victoria
Born (1960-12-28) 28 December 1960 (age 63)
Cummins, South Australia
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Turned pro1980
Retired1997
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money$3,207,272
Singles
Career record240–231
Career titles6
Highest rankingNo. 25 (11 July 1988)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open4R (1983)
French Open2R (1983, 1986)
Wimbledon4R (1981, 1986, 1989)
US Open3R (1984)
Other tournaments
Olympic Games1R (1988)
Doubles
Career record498–287
Career titles30
Highest rankingNo. 1 (8 July 1991)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenW (1982)
French OpenW (1986, 1991)
WimbledonW (1989, 1991)
US OpenW (1984, 1991)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour FinalsW (1991)
Olympic Games2R (1988, 1992)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
WimbledonW (1991)
US OpenW (1983)
Team competitions
Davis CupW (1983, 1986)

Playing career

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During his career, he won 6 top-tier singles titles and 30 tour doubles titles, including 7 Grand Slam doubles titles. He also achieved the career men's doubles Grand Slam (winning all four titles-the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open). He reached the World No. 1 doubles ranking in 1991, teaming up with Anders Järryd to win three out of the four Grand Slam doubles titles that year. His career-high singles ranking was World No. 25 in 1988. He was a member of the Australian team which won the Davis Cup in 1983 and 1986.[1]

Post-playing career

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Fitzgerald was the captain of the Australian Davis Cup Team from 2001 to 2010, leading the team to a tournament victory in 2003 against Spain.[1]

Honours

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Fitzgerald was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1993. On Australia Day in 2020, John was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame.

Grand Slam finals

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Doubles (7 titles, 4 runners-up)

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Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1982 Australian Open Grass   John Alexander   Andy Andrews
  John Sadri
6–7, 6–2, 7–6
Win 1984 US Open Hard   Tomáš Šmíd   Stefan Edberg
  Anders Järryd
7–6, 6–3, 6–3
Loss 1985 Wimbledon Grass   Pat Cash   Heinz Günthardt
  Balázs Taróczy
4–6, 3–6, 6–4, 3–6
Win 1986 French Open Clay   Tomáš Šmíd   Stefan Edberg
  Anders Järryd
6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6–7, 14–12
Loss 1988 French Open Clay   Anders Järryd   Andrés Gómez
  Emilio Sánchez
3–6, 7–6, 4–6, 3–6
Loss 1988 Wimbledon Grass   Anders Järryd   Ken Flach
  Robert Seguso
4–6, 6–2, 4–6, 6–7
Win 1989 Wimbledon Grass   Anders Järryd   Rick Leach
  Jim Pugh
3–6, 7–6, 6–4, 7–6
Win 1991 French Open Clay   Anders Järryd   Rick Leach
  Jim Pugh
6–0, 7–6
Win 1991 Wimbledon Grass   Anders Järryd   Javier Frana
  Leonardo Lavalle
6–3, 6–4, 6–7, 6–1
Win 1991 US Open Hard   Anders Järryd   Scott Davis
  David Pate
6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3
Loss 1993 Australian Open Hard   Anders Järryd   Danie Visser
  Laurie Warder
4–6, 3–6, 4–6

Mixed doubles (2 titles, 4 runners-up)

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Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1983 US Open Hard   Elizabeth Sayers   Barbara Potter
  Ferdi Taygan
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Loss 1984 US Open Hard   Elizabeth Sayers   Manuela Maleeva
  Tom Gullikson
6–2, 5–7, 4–6
Loss 1985 Wimbledon Grass   Elizabeth Smylie   Martina Navratilova
  Paul McNamee
5–7, 6–4, 2–6
Loss 1985 US Open Hard   Elizabeth Smylie   Martina Navratilova
  Heinz Günthardt
3–6, 4–6
Loss 1990 Wimbledon Grass   Elizabeth Smylie   Zina Garrison
  Rick Leach
5–7, 2–6
Win 1991 Wimbledon Grass   Elizabeth Smylie   Natasha Zvereva
  Jim Pugh
7–6(7–4), 6–2

References

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  1. ^ a b "Profiles: John Fitzgerald". Tennis Australia. Archived from the original on 28 October 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
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