Chris O'Neil (tennis)

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Christine "Chris" O'Neil (born March 19, 1956) was a professional female tennis player from Australia.

She may be best-remembered for her victory at the 1978 Australian Open, the last Australian female to do so. She also became the first unseeded woman to win the Australian title in the Open era. This feat would go unmatched until Serena Williams unseeded and ranked 81st in the world won the 2007 Australian Open.

As of 2007, Christine - along with her brothers Keith and William - have taken over the Morisset Sports & Tennis Centre located in Newcastle, NSW in Australia. The centre will be renamed the O'Neil School of Tennis.

[edit] Grand Slam singles finals

[edit] Wins (1)

Year	Championship	Opponent in Final	Score in Final
1978	Australian Open	Betsy Nagelsen	6–3, 7–6

v • d • e Australian Open women's singles champions* * Open Era · (1968) Billie Jean King · (1969–70–71) Margaret Court · (1972) Virginia Wade · (1973) Margaret Court · (1974–75–76) Evonne Goolagong · (1977[Jan]) Kerry Reid · (1977[Dec]) Evonne Goolagong · (1978) Chris O'Neil · (1979) Barbara Jordan · (1980) Hana Mandlíková · (1981) Martina Navrátilová · (1982) Chris Evert-Lloyd · (1983) Martina Navrátilová · (1984) Chris Evert-Lloyd · (1985) Martina Navrátilová · (1987) Hana Mandlíková · (1988–90) Steffi Graf · (1991–93) Monica Seles · (1994) Steffi Graf · (1995) Mary Pierce · (1996) Monica Seles · (1997–99) Martina Hingis · (2000) Lindsay Davenport · (2001–02) Jennifer Capriati · (2003) Serena Williams · (2004) Justine Henin-Hardenne · (2005) Serena Williams · (2006) Amélie Mauresmo · (2007) Serena Williams · (2008) Maria Sharapova