Kelly Evernden

Kelly Evernden

Full name	Kelly Graeme Evernden
Country (sports)	New Zealand
Residence	Naples, FL, USA
Born	(1961-09-21) 21 September 1961 Gisborne, New Zealand
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Turned pro	1985
Retired	1994
Plays	Right-handed (one handed-backhand)
Prize money	$914,750
Singles
Career record	135–146
Career titles	3
Highest ranking	No. 31 (6 November 1989)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open	QF (1987)
French Open	1R (1991)
Wimbledon	3R (1987)
US Open	3R (1985, 1987)
Doubles
Career record	147–147
Career titles	5
Highest ranking	No. 19 (18 July 1988)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open	QF (1988)
French Open	2R (1987, 1988)
Wimbledon	QF (1988, 1991)
US Open	QF (1992)
Last updated on: 12 May 2012.

Kelly Graeme Evernden (born 21 September 1961, in Gisborne, New Zealand) is a former professional tennis player from New Zealand.

Evernden turned professional in 1985 and won his first tour doubles title in 1986 at Cologne. His first top-level singles title came in 1987 at Bristol. His best singles performance at a Grand Slam event came at the 1987 Australian Open, where he reached the quarter-finals before being knocked-out by Wally Masur. Evernden represented New Zealand at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.

Over the course of his career, Evernden won three top-level singles titles, the last of which was won in 1989 at Wellington. He also won five tour doubles titles (the most significant of which was the Canadian Open in 1989). Evernden's career-high rankings were World No. 31 in singles and World No. 19 in doubles. He retired from the professional tour in 1994.

Amazingly, Evernden played pro tennis with only one lung, having had a lung removed as the result of an injury sustained in an accident at the age of 16. He was hit by a car and his heart stopped twice in five days (once for one minute and once for 45 seconds). In addition to puncturing a lung which had to bme removed, he also had a broken arm, leg and ribs, however he recovered fully from the accident.^[1]

Prior to turning professional, Evernden played tennis for the University of Arkansas (where he studied business management and psychology) and was an All-American in 1984.

Evernden is a quarter Ngāti Porou Māori, and his Māori name "Te Rangai" means "Young Warrior". His Irish name, Kelly, means "War".

Career finals

Singles (3 titles – 4 runners-up)

Outcome	No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Runner-up	1.	9 December 1985	Brisbane, Australia	Carpet	Paul Annacone	3–6, 3–6
Runner-up	2.	7 October 1985	Sydney Outdoor, Australia	Grass	Henri Leconte	7–6(8–6), 2–6, 3–6
Winner	1.	15 June 1987	Bristol, Great Britain	Grass	Tim Wilkison	6–4, 7–6
Winner	2.	5 October 1987	Brisbane, Australia	Hard (i)	Eric Jelen	3–6, 6–1, 6–1
Winner	3.	2 January 1989	Wellington, New Zealand	Hard	Shuzo Matsuoka	7–5, 6–1, 6–4
Runner-up	3.	16 October 1989	Vienna, Austria	Carpet	Paul Annacone	7–6(7–5), 4–6, 1–6, 6–2, 3–6
Runner-up	4.	20 August 1990	Schenectady, USA	Hard	Ramesh Krishnan	1–6, 1–6

Doubles (5 titles – 3 runners-up)

Outcome	No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Winner	1.	6 April 1986	Cologne	Hard (i)	Chip Hooper	Jan Gunnarsson Peter Lundgren	6–4, 6–7, 6–3
Winner	2.	11 October 1987	Brisbane	Hard (i)	Matt Anger	Broderick Dyke Wally Masur	7–6, 6–2
Winner	3.	28 February 1988	Philadelphia	Carpet (i)	Johan Kriek	Kevin Curren Danie Visser	7–6, 6–3
Runner-up	1.	13 August 1989	Livingston	Hard	Sammy Giammalva Jr.	Tim Pawsat Tim Wilkison	5–7, 3–6
Winner	4.	20 August 1989	Montreal	Hard	Todd Witsken	Charles Beckman Shelby Cannon	6–3, 6–3
Runner-up	2.	22 October 1989	Vienna	Carpet (i)	Paul Annacone	Jan Gunnarsson Anders Järryd	2–6, 3–6
Winner	5.	7 January 1990	Wellington	Hard	Nicolás Pereira	Sergio Casal Emilio Sánchez Vicario	6–4, 7–6
Runner-up	3.	26 April 1992	Seoul	Hard	Brad Pearce	Kevin Curren Gary Muller	6–7, 4–6

References

External links

• Kelly Evernden at the Association of Tennis Professionals
• Kelly Evernden at the International Tennis Federation
• Kelly Evernden at the Davis Cup