Grant Connell

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Grant Connell
Country Flag of Canada Canada
Residence Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Date of birth November 17, 1965 (1965-11-17) (age 42)
Place of birth Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)

[1]

Weight 180 lb (81 kg)[2]
Turned pro 1986
Retired -
Plays Left-handed
Career prize money US$2,911,097
Singles
Career record: 75-100
Career titles: 0
Highest ranking: 67
Grand Slam results
Australian Open F (1990)
French Open -
Wimbledon F (1993, 1994, 1996)
US Open -
Doubles
Career record: 398-237
Career titles: 22
Highest ranking: 1

Infobox last updated on: 15:06, 21 January 2007 (GMT-05:00).

Grant Connell (Pronounced: KAHN-nell[3])(born November 17, 1965 in Regina) is a former professional tennis player from Canada who became the world's number one doubles tennis player in November 1995.

Contents

[edit] As a college player

Growing up in North Vancouver, Connell was an All-American in doubles in 1984 and in singles in 1985 at Texas A&M University. In '85 he lost in the quarterfinals of the NCAA individual tennis championships to fellow future pro Mikael Pernfors.

[edit] As a pro doubles player

Connell won 22 career doubles titles during his eleven seasons on the ATP tour (1986 to 1997). He won his first four with fellow Canadian Glenn Michibata. Upon Michibata's retirement from the tour, Connell joined Patrick Galbraith. The Connell-Galbraith tandem won 12 titles together including the 1995 season ending Doubles Championship tournament. Connell's next main partner became Byron Black with whom he won 4 more titles. He also won a title each with Todd Martin and Scott Davis. He was a three-time Wimbledon doubles finalist, once each with Michibata, Galbraith, and Black.

[edit] Titles (22)

Legend
Grand Slam (0)
Tennis Masters Cup (1)
ATP Masters Series (3)
ATP Tour (18)
Titles by Surface
Hard (13)
Clay (2)
Grass (1)
Carpet (6)
No. Date Tournament Surface Partnering Opponent in the final Score
1. 22 August 1988 Livingston, U.S. Hard Flag of Canada Glenn Michibata Flag of the United States Marc Flur
Flag of the United States Sammy Giammalva, Jr.
2–6, 6–4, 7–5
2. 23 April 1990 Seoul, South Korea Hard Flag of Canada Glenn Michibata Flag of Australia Jason Stoltenberg
Flag of Australia Todd Woodbridge
7–6, 6–4
3. 23 July 1990 Washington D.C., U.S. Hard Flag of Canada Glenn Michibata Flag of Mexico Jorge Lozano
Flag of the United States Todd Witsken
6–3, 6–7, 6–2
4. 29 April 1991 Singapore Hard Flag of Canada Glenn Michibata Flag of South Africa Stefan Kruger
Flag of South Africa Christo Van Rensburg
6–4, 5–7, 7–6
5. 18 January 1993 Auckland, New Zealand Hard Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of Austria Alex Antonitsch
Flag of Russia Alexander Volkov
6–3, 7–6
6. 18 October 1993 Tokyo Indoor, Japan Carpet Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of the United States Luke Jensen
Flag of the United States Murphy Jensen
7–5, 6–3
7. 15 November 1993 Antwerp, Belgium Carpet Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of South Africa Wayne Ferreira
Flag of Spain Javier Sánchez
6–3, 7–6
8. 7 March 1994 Indian Wells, U.S. Hard Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of Zimbabwe Byron Black
Flag of the United States Jonathan Stark
3–6, 6–1, 7–6
9. 25 July 1994 Washington D.C., U.S. Hard Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of Sweden Jonas Björkman
Flag of Switzerland Jakob Hlasek
6–2, 6–3
10. 22 August 1994 New Haven, U.S. Hard Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of the Netherlands Jacco Eltingh
Flag of the Netherlands Paul Haarhuis
6–3, 7–6
11. 17 October 1994 Tokyo Indoor, Japan Carpet Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of Zimbabwe Byron Black
Flag of the United States Jonathan Stark
4–6, 7–6, 7–6
12. 16 January 1995 Auckland, New Zealand Hard Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of Argentina Luis Lobo
Flag of Spain Javier Sánchez
6–4, 6–3
13. 13 February 1995 Dubai, UAE Hard Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of Spain Tomás Carbonell
Flag of Spain Francisco Roig
6–2, 4–6, 6–3
14. 27 February 1995 Stuttgart Indoor, Germany Carpet Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of the Czech Republic Cyril Suk
Flag of the Czech Republic Daniel Vacek
6–2, 6–2
15. 24 April 1995 Bermuda Clay Flag of the United States Todd Martin Flag of New Zealand Brett Steven
Flag of Australia Jason Stoltenberg
7–6, 2–6, 7–5
16. 6 November 1995 Paris Indoor, France Carpet Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of the United States Jim Grabb
Flag of the United States Todd Martin
6–3, 7–6
17. 25 November 1995 Doubles Championships, Eindhoven Carpet Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of the Netherlands Jacco Eltingh
Flag of the Netherlands Paul Haarhuis
7–6, 7–6, 3–6, 7–6
18. 19 February 1996 Dubai, UAE Hard Flag of Zimbabwe Byron Black Flag of the Czech Republic Karel Nováček
Flag of the Czech Republic Jiří Novák
6–0, 6–1
19. 20 May 1996 Rome, Italy Clay Flag of Zimbabwe Byron Black Flag of Belgium Libor Pimek
Flag of South Africa Byron Talbot
6–2, 6–3
20. 24 June 1996 Halle, Germany Grass Flag of Zimbabwe Byron Black Flag of Russia Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Flag of the Czech Republic Daniel Vacek
6–1, 7–5
21. 22 July 1996 Washington D.C., U.S. Hard Flag of the United States Scott Davis Flag of the United States Doug Flach
Flag of the United States Chris Woodruff
6–4, 7–6
22. 19 August 1996 New Haven, U.S. Hard Flag of Zimbabwe Byron Black Flag of Sweden Jonas Björkman
Flag of Sweden Nicklas Kulti
6–4, 6–2

[edit] Runner-ups (26)

No. Date Tournament Surface Partnering Opponent in the final Score
1. 30 March 1987 Nancy, France Carpet Flag of the United States Larry Scott Flag of India Ramesh Krishnan
Flag of Switzerland Claudio Mezzadri
6–4, 6–4
2. 10 October 1988 Brisbane, Australia Hard (i) Flag of Canada Glenn Michibata Flag of Germany Eric Jelen
Flag of Germany Carl-Uwe Steeb
6–4, 6–1
3. 29 January 1990 Australian Open, Melbourne Hard Flag of Canada Glenn Michibata Flag of South Africa Pieter Aldrich
Flag of South Africa Danie Visser
6–4, 4–6, 6–1, 6–4
4. 26 February 1990 Philadelphia, U.S. Carpet Flag of Canada Glenn Michibata Flag of the United States Rick Leach
Flag of the United States Jim Pugh
6–4, 6–2
5. 20 August 1990 Indianapolis, U.S. Hard Flag of Canada Glenn Michibata Flag of the United States Scott Davis
Flag of the United States David Pate
4–6, 6–2, 6–2
6. 14 January 1991 Auckland, New Zealand Hard Flag of Canada Glenn Michibata Flag of Spain Sergio Casal
Flag of Spain Emilio Sánchez
4–6, 6–3, 6–4
7. 4 March 1991 Chicago, U.S. Carpet Flag of Canada Glenn Michibata Flag of the United States Scott Davis
Flag of the United States David Pate
6–4, 5–7, 7–6
8. 17 June 1991 London/Queen's Club, England Grass Flag of Canada Glenn Michibata Flag of Australia Todd Woodbridge
Flag of Australia Mark Woodforde
7–6, 6–4
9. 29 July 1991 Montreal, Canada Hard Flag of Canada Glenn Michibata Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith
Flag of the United States Todd Witsken
6–7, 6–4, 6–4
10. 12 August 1991 Cincinnati, U.S. Hard Flag of Canada Glenn Michibata Flag of the United States Ken Flach
Flag of the United States Robert Seguso
6–3, 6–4
11. 13 January 1992 Auckland, New Zealand Hard Flag of Canada Glenn Michibata Flag of South Africa Wayne Ferreira
Flag of the United States Jim Grabb
6–4, 6–3
12. 6 April 1992 Singapore Hard Flag of Canada Glenn Michibata Flag of Australia Todd Woodbridge
Flag of Australia Mark Woodforde
6–7, 6–2, 6–4
13. 24 August 1992 Indianapolis, U.S. Hard Flag of Canada Glenn Michibata Flag of the United States Jim Grabb
Flag of the United States Richey Reneberg
4–6, 6–2, 7–6
14. 8 February 1993 Dubai, UAE Hard Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of Australia John Fitzgerald
Flag of Sweden Anders Järryd
6–2, 6–1
15. 14 January 1993 Hamburg, Germany Clay Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of the Netherlands Paul Haarhuis
Flag of the Netherlands Mark Koevermans
7–6, 6–4
16. 5 July 1993 Wimbledon, London Grass Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of Australia Todd Woodbridge
Flag of Australia Mark Woodforde
7–6, 6–3, 7–6
17. 26 July 1993 Washington D.C., U.S. Hard Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of Zimbabwe Byron Black
Flag of the United States Rick Leach
6–4, 7–6
18. 14 January 1993 Los Angeles, U.S. Hard Flag of the United States Scott Davis Flag of South Africa Wayne Ferreira
Flag of Germany Michael Stich
7–6, 7–6
19. 17 January 1994 Auckland, New Zealand Hard Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of the United States Patrick McEnroe
Flag of the United States Jared Palmer
6–2, 4–6, 6–4
20. 21 February 1994 Stuttgart Indoor, Germany Carpet Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of South Africa David Adams
Flag of Russia Andrei Olhovskiy
6–7, 6–4, 7–6
21. 4 July 1994 Wimbledon, London Grass Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of Australia Todd Woodbridge
Flag of Australia Mark Woodforde
7–6, 6–3, 6–1
22. 9 January 1995 Adelaide, Australia Hard Flag of Zimbabwe Byron Black Flag of the United States Jim Courier
Flag of Australia Patrick Rafter
7–6, 6–4
23. 9 October 1995 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Carpet Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of the United States Patrick McEnroe
Flag of Australia Mark Philippoussis
7–5, 6–4
24. 13 November 1995 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i) Flag of the United States Patrick Galbraith Flag of the Netherlands Jacco Eltingh
Flag of the Netherlands Paul Haarhuis
3–6, 6–2, 7–6
25. 4 March 1996 Philadelphia, U.S. Carpet Flag of Zimbabwe Byron Black Flag of Australia Todd Woodbridge
Flag of Australia Mark Woodforde
7–6, 6–2
26. 8 July 1996 Wimbledon, London Grass Flag of Zimbabwe Byron Black Flag of Australia Todd Woodbridge
Flag of Australia Mark Woodforde
4–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–2

[edit] As a singles pro player

A left-hander, Connell best singles ranking was World No. 67, which he reached in June 1991. His best tour singles results were reaching the semi-finals of the 1991 Chicago, 1991 Singapore, and 1992 Auckland Grand Prix events. A solid grass-court player, Connell in 1991 at Wimbledon played a five-set first round match on Centre Court against Andre Agassi, where Connell went up two sets to one on a second serve ace in a third set tie-breaker. Agassi however won the final two sets to win the match. The following year at Wimbledon saw Agassi win his first Grand Slam event and Connell reach the third round to equal his best ever Grand Slam event showing. He also reached the third round of Wimbledon 1994 and the 1991 Australian Open.

[edit] As a Davis Cup player

Connell played Davis Cup for Canada on numerous occasions posting a career 15 and 6 win-loss record in doubles and an equally impressive 8 and 3 record in singles. He was a member of Canada's 1991 and 1992 teams, its first ever to qualify for the World Group.

[edit] After retiring as a player

Upon retiring from the tour in 1997, Connell became High Performance Director with Tennis BC and real estate agent with a Prudential Financial subsidiary. From February 2001 to June 2004 he also captained Canada's Davis Cup team, as the team in September 2003 won promotion to the World Group for only the second time.

[edit] References

[edit] External links