Alex O'Brien
Alex O'Brien (born March 7, 1970) is an American former doubles world No. 1 tennis player. He gained the top ranking in May 2000 and was ranked as high as world No. 30 in singles in June 1997.
Country (sports) | United States |
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Residence | Amarillo, Texas, United States |
Born | Amarillo, Texas, United States | March 7, 1970
Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
Turned pro | 1992 |
Retired | 2003 |
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
College | Stanford University |
Prize money | $3,526,390 |
Singles | |
Career record | 93–136 |
Career titles | 1 |
Highest ranking | No. 30 (21 July 1997) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | 2R (1995, 1998) |
French Open | 2R (1993, 1994) |
Wimbledon | 3R (1997) |
US Open | 3R (1996) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 277–185 |
Career titles | 13 |
Highest ranking | No. 1 (8 May 2000) |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Australian Open | F (1996, 1997) |
French Open | 3R (1996) |
Wimbledon | QF (1999, 2000) |
US Open | W (1999) |
Other doubles tournaments | |
Tour Finals | W (1999) |
Olympic Games | 2R (2000) |
Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
Australian Open | 2R (1996) |
Wimbledon | 2R (1997, 1998) |
US Open | 1R (2001) |
Last updated on: 31 December 2022. |
He won his only singles title at New Haven, Connecticut, in 1996 and reached the quarterfinals of the 1994 Cincinnati Masters and the 1996 Canada Masters. He won 13 doubles titles, the biggest coming at the 1999 US Open, the Cincinnati Masters in 1994 (his first doubles title), the Indian Wells Masters in 2000, and the Paris Masters in 1999.
Tennis career
Alongside his 13 titles, O'Brien also reached 20 doubles finals, including the Australian Open in 1996 & 1997, the U.S. Open in 1995, the Miami Masters in 1998, and the Canada Masters and the Rome Masters in 1997.
He also played on the United States Davis Cup team, competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and was a four-time All-American at Stanford University, where he won NCAA singles, doubles, and team titles in 1992. He earned a bachelor's degree in American Studies at Stanford in 1992.
On leaving his tennis career O'Brien founded an online business which markets, and distributes steaks. The O'Brien family has been in the beef business for 60 years basing their production out of the LIT Ranch. O'Brien is currently President and part owner of the Bank of Commerce, a small community online bank with branches in Amarillo and McLean Texas.
Grand Slam finals
Doubles (1 title, 3 runners-ups)
Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Loss | 1995 | U.S. Open | Hard | Sandon Stolle | Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde | 3–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 1996 | Australian Open | Hard | Sébastien Lareau | Stefan Edberg Petr Korda | 5–7, 5–7, 6–4, 1–6 |
Loss | 1997 | Australian Open | Hard | Sébastien Lareau | Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde | 6–4, 5–7, 5–7, 3–6 |
Win | 1999 | U.S. Open | Hard | Sébastien Lareau | Mahesh Bhupathi Leander Paes | 7–6(9–7), 6–4 |
ATP career finals
Singles: 1 (1 title)
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Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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Win | 1–0 | Aug 1996 | New Haven, United States | Championship Series | Hard | Jan Siemerink | 7–6(8–6), 6–4 |
Doubles: 33 (13 titles, 20 runner-ups)
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Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Loss | 0–1 | Jan 1994 | Oahu, United States | World Series | Hard | Jonathan Stark | Tom Nijssen Cyril Suk |
4–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 0–2 | Feb 1994 | Scottsdale, United States | World Series | Hard | Sandon Stolle | Jan Apell Ken Flach |
0–6, 4–6 |
Win | 1–2 | Aug 1994 | Cincinnati, United States | Masters Series | Hard | Sandon Stolle | Wayne Ferreira Mark Kratzmann |
6–7, 6–3, 6–2 |
Loss | 1–3 | Feb 1995 | San Jose, United States | World Series | Hard | Sandon Stolle | Jim Grabb Patrick McEnroe |
6–3, 5–7, 0–6 |
Loss | 1–4 | May 1995 | Pinehurst, United States | World Series | Clay | Sandon Stolle | Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde |
2–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 1–5 | Sep 1995 | New York, United States | Grand Slam | Hard | Sandon Stolle | Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde |
3–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 1–6 | Jan 1996 | Melbourne, Australia | Grand Slam | Hard | Sébastien Lareau | Stefan Edberg Petr Korda |
5–7, 5–7, 6–4, 1–6 |
Loss | 1–7 | Jun 1996 | Queen's, United Kingdom | World Series | Grass | Sébastien Lareau | Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde |
3–6, 6–7(3–7) |
Win | 2–7 | Oct 1996 | Stuttgart, Germany | Masters Series | Hard | Sébastien Lareau | Jacco Eltingh Paul Haarhuis |
3–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
Loss | 2–8 | Nov 1996 | Hartford, United States | ATP Finals | Carpet | Sébastien Lareau | Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde |
4–6, 7–5, 2–6, 6–7(3–7) |
Loss | 2–9 | Jan 1997 | Melbourne, Australia | Grand Slam | Hard | Sébastien Lareau | Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde |
6–4, 5–7, 5–7, 3–6 |
Win | 3–9 | Mar 1997 | Philadelphia, United States | Championship Series | Hard | Sébastien Lareau | Ellis Ferreira Patrick Galbraith |
6–3, 6–3 |
Loss | 3–10 | Apr 1997 | Orlando, United States | World Series | Clay | Jeff Salzenstein | Mark Merklein Vince Spadea |
4–6, 6–4, 4–6 |
Loss | 3–11 | May 1997 | Rome, Italy | Masters Series | Clay | Byron Black | Mark Knowles Daniel Nestor |
3–6, 6–4, 5–7 |
Win | 4–11 | Jul 1997 | Los Angeles, United States | World Series | Hard | Sébastien Lareau | Mahesh Bhupathi Rick Leach |
7–6, 6–4 |
Loss | 4–12 | Aug 1997 | Montreal, Canada | Masters Series | Hard | Sébastien Lareau | Mahesh Bhupathi Leander Paes |
6–7, 3–6 |
Loss | 4–13 | Aug 1997 | New Haven, United States | Championship Series | Hard | Sébastien Lareau | Mahesh Bhupathi Leander Paes |
4–6, 7–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 4–14 | Oct 1997 | Beijing, China | World Series | Hard | Jim Courier | Mahesh Bhupathi Leander Paes |
5–7, 6–7 |
Loss | 4–15 | Mar 1998 | Miami, United States | Masters Series | Hard | Jonathan Stark | Ellis Ferreira Rick Leach |
2–6, 4–6 |
Win | 5–15 | Apr 1998 | Hong Kong, Hong Kong | International Series | Hard | Byron Black | Neville Godwin Tuomas Ketola |
7–5, 6–1 |
Loss | 5–16 | May 1998 | Atlanta, United States | World Series | Clay | Richey Reneberg | Ellis Ferreira Brent Haygarth |
3–6, 6–0, 2–6 |
Loss | 5–17 | Aug 1998 | New Haven, United States | Championship Series | Hard | Sébastien Lareau | Wayne Arthurs Peter Tramacchi |
6–7, 6–1, 3–6 |
Win | 6–17 | Nov 1998 | Stuttgart, Germany | Masters Series | Hard | Sébastien Lareau | Mahesh Bhupathi Leander Paes |
6–3, 3–6, 7–5 |
Win | 7–17 | Jan 1999 | Doha, Qatar | World Series | Hard | Jared Palmer | Piet Norval Kevin Ullyett |
6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 7–18 | Feb 1999 | Memphis, United States | Championship Series | Hard | Sébastien Lareau | Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde |
3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 8–18 | Jun 1999 | Queen's, United Kingdom | World Series | Grass | Sébastien Lareau | Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde |
6–3, 7–6(7–3) |
Win | 9–18 | Sep 1999 | New York, United States | Grand Slam | Hard | Sébastien Lareau | Mahesh Bhupathi Leander Paes |
7–6(9–7), 6–4 |
Win | 10–18 | Nov 1999 | Paris, France | Masters Series | Carpet | Sébastien Lareau | Paul Haarhuis Jared Palmer |
7–6(9–7), 7–5 |
Win | 11–18 | Nov 1999 | Hartford, United States | ATP Finals | Carpet | Sébastien Lareau | Mahesh Bhupathi Leander Paes |
6–3, 6–2, 6–2 |
Loss | 11–19 | Jan 2000 | Doha, Qatar | International Series | Hard | Jared Palmer | Mark Knowles Max Mirnyi |
3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 12–19 | Mar 2000 | Indian Wells, United States | Masters Series | Hard | Jared Palmer | Paul Haarhuis Sandon Stolle |
6–4, 7–6(7–5) |
Win | 13–19 | Aug 2000 | Washington, United States | Championship Series | Hard | Jared Palmer | Andre Agassi Sargis Sargsian |
7–5, 6–1 |
Loss | 13–20 | Feb 2001 | Memphis, United States | Championship Series | Hard | Jonathan Stark | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan |
3–6, 6–7(3–7) |
ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals
Singles: 9 (5–4)
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Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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Win | 1–0 | Jul 1991 | New Haven, United States | Challenger | Hard | Stephane Simian | 6–4, 6–4 |
Win | 2–0 | Jul 1992 | Aptos, United States | Challenger | Hard | Byron Black | 6–4, 2–6, 6–1 |
Loss | 2–1 | Sep 1992 | Fairfield, United States | Challenger | Hard | Jared Palmer | 6–7, 2–6 |
Win | 3–1 | Oct 1992 | Monterrey, Mexico | Challenger | Hard | Jared Palmer | 6–2, 6–4 |
Loss | 3–2 | Oct 1993 | Caracas, Venezuela | Challenger | Hard | Mauricio Hadad | 5–7, 4–6 |
Loss | 3–3 | Oct 1996 | Monterrey, Mexico | Challenger | Hard | Kevin Ullyett | 3–6, 6–7 |
Win | 4–3 | Feb 1998 | West Bloomfield, United States | Challenger | Hard | Grant Doyle | 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
Win | 5–3 | Jul 1999 | Winnetka, United States | Challenger | Hard | Max Mirnyi | 6–2, 6–2 |
Loss | 5–4 | Dec 1999 | Burbank, United States | Challenger | Hard | Cecil Mamiit | 5–7, 3–6 |
Doubles: 7 (5–2)
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Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Win | 1–0 | Jul 1992 | Aptos, United States | Challenger | Hard | Paul Annacone | Miguel Nido Peter Nyborg |
6–4, 4–6, 7–5 |
Win | 2–0 | Oct 1992 | Monterrey, Mexico | Challenger | Hard | Mark Knowles | Richard Matuszewski John Sullivan |
3–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
Loss | 2–1 | Dec 1992 | Naples, United States | Challenger | Clay | Mark Knowles | Todd Nelson Tobias Svantesson |
6–2, 3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 3–1 | Sep 1993 | Fairfield, United States | Challenger | Hard | Jared Palmer | Matt Lucena Brian Macphie |
6–3, 7–5 |
Loss | 3–2 | Oct 1993 | Caracas, Venezuela | Challenger | Hard | Mark Knowles | Maurice Ruah Laurence Tieleman |
7–5, 4–6, 6–7 |
Win | 4–2 | Jun 1994 | Annenheim, Austria | Challenger | Hard | Jim Grabb | Diego Nargiso Gianluca Pozzi |
walkover |
Win | 5–2 | Jul 1994 | Aptos, United States | Challenger | Hard | Brian Macphie | Donny Isaak Michael Roberts |
6–2, 7–6 |
Performance Timelines
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
Singles
Tournament | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | SR | W–L | Win % | |||||||||
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Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | A | 1R | 1R | 2R | A | 1R | 2R | Q2 | 1R | 1R | 0 / 7 | 2–7 | 22% | |||||||||
French Open | A | 2R | 2R | Q1 | Q2 | 1R | 1R | Q1 | A | Q2 | 0 / 4 | 2–4 | 33% | |||||||||
Wimbledon | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | Q3 | 3R | 2R | Q3 | 2R | Q3 | 0 / 6 | 4–6 | 40% | |||||||||
US Open | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 3R | 1R | 2R | Q1 | Q3 | A | 0 / 7 | 4–7 | 36% | |||||||||
Win–loss | 0–1 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0 / 24 | 12–24 | 33% | |||||||||
ATP Masters Series | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Indian Wells | A | 1R | A | Q1 | 1R | 2R | Q2 | A | Q1 | A | 0 / 3 | 1–3 | 25% | |||||||||
Miami | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | Q3 | 2R | Q1 | 2R | Q1 | A | 0 / 5 | 3–5 | 38% | |||||||||
Rome | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | Q1 | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% | |||||||||
Canada | A | 2R | 2R | Q3 | QF | 3R | 3R | 2R | A | A | 0 / 6 | 10–6 | 63% | |||||||||
Cincinnati | A | 1R | QF | 2R | 3R | 1R | 1R | Q2 | Q1 | Q1 | 0 / 6 | 5–6 | 45% | |||||||||
Paris | A | A | Q1 | Q3 | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% | |||||||||
Win–loss | 0–0 | 1–4 | 4–3 | 2–2 | 5–3 | 3–5 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0 / 22 | 19–22 | 46% |
Doubles
Tournament | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | SR | W–L | Win % | |||||||||
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Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | A | A | 1R | 1R | F | F | 3R | 1R | SF | 3R | 0 / 8 | 18–8 | 69% | |||||||||
French Open | A | A | 1R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 0 / 8 | 4–8 | 33% | |||||||||
Wimbledon | A | A | 2R | 3R | 3R | 1R | 2R | QF | QF | 1R | 0 / 8 | 12–8 | 60% | |||||||||
US Open | 1R | 1R | 3R | F | QF | 2R | 3R | W | SF | 1R | 1 / 10 | 23–9 | 72% | |||||||||
Win–loss | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–4 | 8–4 | 12–4 | 7–4 | 5–4 | 9–3 | 11–4 | 2–4 | 1 / 34 | 57–33 | 63% | |||||||||
Year-end Championships | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ATP Finals | Did not qualify | F | SF | DNQ | W | RR | DNQ | 1 / 4 | 10–7 | 59% | ||||||||||||
National Representation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Summer Olympics | A | Not Held | A | Not Held | 2R | NH | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% | |||||||||||||
ATP Masters Series | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Indian Wells | A | Q1 | A | 2R | 2R | QF | SF | 1R | W | 2R | 1 / 7 | 13–6 | 68% | |||||||||
Miami | A | Q1 | 2R | 3R | QF | 3R | F | 2R | SF | 2R | 0 / 8 | 12–8 | 60% | |||||||||
Monte Carlo | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | SF | A | 0 / 1 | 3–1 | 75% | |||||||||
Hamburg | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 0 / 2 | 0–2 | 0% | |||||||||
Rome | A | A | A | A | 2R | F | A | 2R | SF | 1R | 0 / 5 | 8–5 | 62% | |||||||||
Canada | A | QF | SF | 1R | QF | F | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 0 / 9 | 13–9 | 59% | |||||||||
Cincinnati | A | 2R | W | 2R | 2R | SF | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1 / 9 | 12–8 | 60% | |||||||||
Paris | A | A | QF | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R | W | SF | A | 1 / 7 | 8–6 | 57% | |||||||||
Win–loss | 0–0 | 3–2 | 10–3 | 3–5 | 7–6 | 12–6 | 8–5 | 7–5 | 16–7 | 3–6 | 3 / 48 | 69–45 | 61% | |||||||||
Year End Ranking | 188 | 113 | 25 | 31 | 15 | 7 | 20 | 7 | 8 | 80 | Prize Money = $3,526,390 |