Michael Detlef Stich (born October 18, 1968 in Pinneberg, Schleswig-Holstein) is a former professional tennis player from Germany. He won the men's singles title at Wimbledon in 1991, 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.
Career
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.
A major highlight of 1993 for Stich came at the end-of-year ATP World Championships, where he was the only player in the 1990s history of the Championship tournament to claim the title undefeated, overcoming Pete Sampras in the final.[1] Playing for Germany, Stich also won both the Davis Cup and the Hopman Cup in 1993.
Stich reached his second Grand Slam singles final at the 1994 US Open, where he lost in straight sets to Andre Agassi. Stich also helped Germany win the World Team Cup in 1994.
Stich upset defending champion Thomas Muster in four sets in the fourth round of the 1996 French Open en route to appearing in his third and final Grand Slam singles final, where he was defeated by Yevgeny Kafelnikov in straight sets. He also won his final career singles title that year at Antwerp. His last doubles title came in 1997 at Halle.
Stich's all-round ability, both from the baseline and at the net, allowed him to become one of the few players to win both Singles and Doubles tournaments on all surfaces. He is one of only five players of his generation to have a positive career head-to-head record against Sampras.[2]
Stich announced his retirement from the professional tour in 1997 following Wimbledon. His last run at Wimbledon started with a win over U.S. top-10 player Jim Courier and ended with a five-set loss to Cédric Pioline in the semifinals.
Since his retirement, he has devoted most of his time to his own AIDS foundation. He also works as a tennis commentator for the BBC. Stich was married to the German actress Jessica Stockmann from 1992 to 2003. In 2005, he married Alexandra Rikowski. They live in Hamburg.
Major finals
Grand Slam finals
Singles: 3 (1–2)
Doubles: 1 (1–0)
Olympic men's doubles final
Masters Series finals
Singles: 3 (2–1)
Doubles: 3 (1–2)
Career finals
Singles: 31 (18–13)
Legend |
Grand Slam (1–2) |
Tennis Masters Cup (1–0) |
Grand Slam Cup (1–1) |
ATP Masters Series (2–1) |
ATP Championship Series (3–3) |
ATP World Series (10–6) |
|
Titles by Surface |
Hard (4–4) |
Grass (4–1) |
Clay (3–5) |
Carpet (7–3) |
|
Outcome |
No. |
Date |
Championship |
Surface |
Opponent |
Score |
Winner |
1. | March 5, 1990 | Memphis, US | Hard | Wally Masur | 6–7(5–7), 6–4, 7–6(7–1) |
Runner-up |
1. |
January 7, 1991 |
Adelaide, Australia |
Hard |
Nicklas Kulti |
3–6, 6–1, 2–6 |
Runner-up |
2. |
January 14, 1991 |
Sydney, Australia |
Hard |
Guy Forget |
3–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up |
3. |
February 25, 1991 |
Memphis, US |
Hard (i) |
Ivan Lendl |
5–7, 3–6 |
Winner |
2. | July 8, 1991 | Wimbledon, London, UK | Grass | Boris Becker | 6–4, 7–6(7–4), 6–4 |
Winner |
3. | July 22, 1991 | Stuttgart Outdoor, Germany | Clay | Alberto Mancini | 1–6, 7–6(11–9), 6–4, 6–2 |
Winner |
4. | August 26, 1991 | Schenectady, US | Hard | Emilio Sánchez | 6–2, 6–4 |
Winner |
5. | October 21, 1991 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet | Jan Siemerink | 6–4, 6–4, 6–4 |
Runner-up |
4. |
May 11, 1992 |
Hamburg, Germany |
Clay |
Stefan Edberg |
7–5, 4–6, 1–6 |
Winner |
6. | June 15, 1992 | Rosmalen, Netherlands | Grass | Jonathan Stark | 6–4, 7–5 |
Winner |
7. | December 14, 1992 | Grand Slam Cup, Munich, Germany | Carpet | Michael Chang | 6–2, 6–3, 6–2 |
Winner |
8. | February 22, 1993 | Stuttgart, Germany | Carpet | Richard Krajicek | 4–6, 7–5, 7–6(7–4), 3–6, 7–5 |
Runner-up |
5. |
May 3, 1993 |
Munich, Germany |
Clay |
Ivan Lendl |
6–7(2–7), 3–6 |
Winner |
9. | May 10, 1993 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | Andrei Chesnokov | 6–3, 6–7(1–7), 7–6(9–7), 6–4 |
Winner |
10. | June 14, 1993 | London (Queen's Club), UK | Grass | Wayne Ferreira | 6–3, 6–4 |
Runner-up |
6. |
July 26, 1993 |
Stuttgart, Germany |
Clay |
Magnus Gustafsson |
3–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 4–6 |
Winner |
11. | August 12, 1993 | Basel, Switzerland | Hard | Stefan Edberg | 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–3, 6–2 |
Winner |
12. | November 1, 1993 | Stockholm, Sweden | Carpet | Goran Ivanišević | 4–6, 7–6(8–6), 7–6(7–3), 6–2 |
Winner |
13. | November 22, 1993 | Tennis Masters Cup, Frankfurt, Germany | Carpet | Pete Sampras | 7–6(7–3), 2–6, 7–6(9–7), 6–2 |
Runner-up |
7. |
December 13, 1993 |
Grand Slam Cup, Munich, Germany |
Carpet |
Petr Korda |
6–2, 4–6, 6–7(5–7), 6–2, 9–11 |
Winner |
14. | February 28, 1994 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Carpet | Wayne Ferreira | 4–6, 6–3, 6–0 |
Winner |
15. | May 2, 1994 | Munich, Germany | Clay | Petr Korda | 6–2, 2–6, 6–3 |
Winner |
16. | June 20, 1994 | Halle, Germany | Grass | Magnus Larsson | 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
Runner-up |
8. |
September 12, 1994 |
US Open, New York City |
Hard |
Andre Agassi |
1–6, 6–7(5–7), 5–7 |
Runner-up |
9. |
October 24, 1994 |
Vienna, Austria |
Carpet |
Andre Agassi |
6–7(4–7), 6–4, 2–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up |
10. |
February 27, 1995 |
Stuttgart, Germany |
Carpet |
Richard Krajicek |
6–7(4–7), 3–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–1, 3–6 |
Runner-up |
11. |
May 8, 1995 |
Munich, Germany |
Clay |
Wayne Ferreira |
5–7, 6–7(6–8) |
Runner-up |
12. |
June 26, 1995 |
Halle, Germany |
Grass |
Marc Rosset |
6–3, 6–7(11–13), 6–7(8–10) |
Winner |
17. | August 7, 1995 | Los Angeles, US | Hard | Thomas Enqvist | 6–7(7–9), 7–6(7–4), 6–2 |
Winner |
18. | February 26, 1996 | Antwerp, Belgium | Carpet | Goran Ivanišević | 6–3, 6–2, 7–6(7–5) |
Runner-up |
13. |
June 10, 1996 |
French Open, Paris, France |
Clay |
Yevgeny Kafelnikov |
6–7(4–7), 5–7, 6–7(4–7) |
Doubles: 16 (10–6)
Legend |
Grand Slam (1–0) |
Tennis Masters Cup (0–0) |
Olympic Gold Medal (1–0) |
ATP Masters Series (1–2) |
ATP Championship Series (1–1) |
ATP World Series (6–3) |
|
Titles by Surface |
Hard (3–2) |
Grass (3–1) |
Clay (3–2) |
Carpet (1–1) |
|
Outcome |
No. |
Date |
Tournament |
Surface |
Partner |
Opponents |
Score |
Winner |
1. |
October 9, 1989 |
Basel, Switzerland |
Hard (i) |
Udo Riglewski |
Omar Camporese
Claudio Mezzadri |
6–3, 4–6, 6–0 |
Runner-up |
1. |
February 26, 1990 |
Memphis, US |
Hard (i) |
Udo Riglewski |
Darren Cahill
Mark Kratzmann |
5–7, 2–6 |
Runner-up |
2. |
May 7, 1990 |
Hamburg, Germany |
Clay |
Udo Riglewski |
Sergi Bruguera
Jim Courier |
6–7, 2–6 |
Winner |
2. |
May 17, 1990 |
Munich, Germany |
Clay |
Udo Riglewski |
Petr Korda
Tomáš Šmíd |
6–1, 6–4 |
Winner |
3. |
June 18, 1990 |
Rosmalen, Netherlands |
Grass |
Jakob Hlasek |
Jim Grabb
John McEnroe |
7–6, 6–3 |
Runner-up |
3. |
August 20, 1990 |
Long Island, US |
Hard |
Udo Riglewski |
Guy Forget
Jakob Hlasek |
6–2, 3–6, 4–6 |
Winner |
4. |
October 22, 1990 |
Vienna, Austria |
Carpet |
Udo Riglewski |
Jorge Lozano
Todd Witsken |
6–4, 6–4 |
Winner |
5. |
January 9, 1991 |
Memphis, US |
Hard (i) |
Udo Riglewski |
John Fitzgerald
Laurie Warder |
7–5, 6–3 |
Runner-up |
4. |
February 11, 1991 |
Philadelphia, US |
Carpet |
Udo Riglewski |
Rick Leach
Jim Pugh |
4–6, 4–6 |
Winner |
6. |
April 27, 1992 |
Monte Carlo, Monaco |
Clay |
Boris Becker |
Petr Korda
Karel Nováček |
6–4, 6–4 |
Runner-up |
5. |
May 4, 1992 |
Hamburg, Germany |
Clay |
Carl-Uwe Steeb |
Sergio Casal
Emilio Sánchez |
7–5, 4–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up |
6. |
June 8, 1992 |
Rosmalen, Netherlands |
Grass |
John McEnroe |
Jim Grabb
Richey Reneberg |
4–6, 7–6, 4–6 |
Winner |
7. |
July 6, 1992 |
Wimbledon, London |
Grass |
John McEnroe |
Jim Grabb
Richey Reneberg |
5–7, 7–6, 3–6, 7–6, 19–17 |
Winner |
8. |
August 3, 1992 |
Summer Olympics, Barcelona |
Clay |
Boris Becker |
Wayne Ferreira
Piet Norval |
7–6, 4–6, 7–6, 6–3 |
Winner |
9. |
August 9, 1993 |
Los Angeles, US |
Hard |
Wayne Ferreira |
Grant Connell
Scott Davis |
7–6, 7–6 |
Winner |
10. |
June 16, 1997 |
Halle, Germany |
Grass |
Karsten Braasch |
David Adams
Marius Barnard |
7–6, 6–3 |
Singles performance timeline
Tournament | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | SR | W–L |
Grand Slam Tournaments |
Australian Open |
A |
A |
A |
3R |
3R |
QF |
SF |
1R |
3R |
A |
2R |
0 / 7 |
16–7 |
French Open |
A |
A |
2R |
2R |
SF |
3R |
4R |
2R |
4R |
F |
A |
0 / 8 |
22–8 |
Wimbledon |
A |
A |
1R |
3R |
W |
QF |
QF |
1R |
1R |
4R |
SF |
1 / 9 |
25–8 |
US Open |
A |
A |
1R |
2R |
QF |
2R |
1R |
F |
4R |
2R |
A |
0 / 8 |
15–8 |
Win–Loss |
0–0 |
0–0 |
1–3 |
6–4 |
17–3 |
11–4 |
12–4 |
7–4 |
8–4 |
10–3 |
6–2 |
1 / 32 |
78–31 |
ATP Masters Series |
Indian Wells |
NME |
A |
SF |
SF |
2R |
A |
3R |
A |
A |
0 / 4 |
8–4 |
Miami |
NME |
2R |
4R |
A |
4R |
A |
2R |
A |
A |
0 / 4 |
5–4 |
Monte Carlo |
NME |
1R |
A |
QF |
2R |
3R |
2R |
A |
2R |
0 / 6 |
5–6 |
Rome |
NME |
A |
1R |
1R |
A |
QF |
A |
2R |
A |
0 / 4 |
4–3 |
Hamburg |
NME |
1R |
SF |
F |
W |
SF |
3R |
A |
2R |
1 / 7 |
18–6 |
Canada |
NME |
2R |
A |
A |
A |
A |
QF |
A |
A |
0 / 2 |
3–2 |
Cincinnati |
NME |
A |
A |
A |
QF |
SF |
SF |
A |
A |
0 / 3 |
8–3 |
Stuttgart (Stockholm) |
NME |
A |
2R |
3R |
W |
QF |
A |
2R |
A |
1 / 5 |
9–4 |
Paris |
NME |
QF |
A |
3R |
QF |
2R |
A |
1R |
A |
0 / 5 |
6–5 |
Win–Loss |
N/A |
5–5 |
10–5 |
11–6 |
16–5 |
13–5 |
7–6 |
2–3 |
2–2 |
2 / 40 |
66–37 |
Ranking |
564 |
269 |
100 |
42 |
4 |
15 |
2 |
9 |
12 |
16 |
64 |
|
References
External links