Australian tennis player
Wayne Arthurs (born 18 March 1971) is a retired Australian professional tennis player.
Career
His serve was his strongest weapon by far, and had been referred to as the "best in the world" by several of his fellow players, including Jim Courier,[1] Andre Agassi,[2] Thomas Johansson,[3] and Ivo Karlovi?.[4] He consistently had one of the highest ace counts on the ATP Tour and favours a serve-and-volley style of play. Because of this, his game is best suited to fast surfaces.
Arthurs at the 2007 Australian Open
Arthurs has won 12 ATP doubles titles in his career. In February 2005 he achieved a belated breakthrough in singles by winning the ATP event in Scottsdale, United States, the Tennis Channel Open, in straight sets over Croat Mario An?i?. No other player in history had won his first ATP singles title at such an advanced age (Arthurs was almost 34 at the time). He also was a runner-up there for doubles with Paul Hanley, and lost to American team Bob and Mike Bryan. He is an Australian hero when it comes to Davis Cup, winning countless doubles rubbers for Australia. Throughout his singles career Arthurs experienced victory over no fewer than six players who have reached the number 1 world ranking: Pete Sampras, Marat Safin, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Patrick Rafter, Andy Roddick and Gustavo Kuerten. He also beat Stefan Edberg (another former number 1) in a money tournament in England on Grass - at the time, Arthurs' singles ranking was 1100 and Edberg's was 2, making for one of the biggest differences in ranking between winner and loser on the Tour that year.[5]
In his last ever Australian Open match the Aussie retired just three games into his third-round match against American Mardy Fish due to a rare reaction to a local anaesthetic. In practice that morning he tried out a short-term local anaesthetic that worked well against his sore hip. Just before the match began, he took another shot that was supposed to last for the duration of the match. The stronger dose deadened his leg and he could not co-ordinate his movements. He refused to blame his doctors who said that this adverse reaction happens to about 1 in 1000 patients. Arthurs became emotional during the match once he realised he couldn't compete. After the in-between-game break, down 3-0 he waved to the crowd who thanked him for an outstanding career. It was the last Australian Open match of his career. At the time, he was the oldest participant in the Australian Open.
Arthurs played his final tournament at Wimbledon in 2007. He won qualifying matches to advance to the main draw of the major tournament. In the first round he came back from two sets down to finally win in five sets against Dutch teenager Thiemo de Bakker. In the second round Arthurs caused a major boilover by defeating the 11th-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo in straight sets. Arthurs was defeated in the third round by 19th seed Jonas Björkman in straight sets.
Following his retirement, Arthurs coached Queensland player Oliver Anderson.
In January 2019 Arthurs received the OLY post-nominal title at the Brisbane International tournament.[6]
On 30 August 2000, Arthurs was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his strong commitment to tennis.[7]
ATP career finals
Singles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)
Legend
|
Grand Slam tournaments (0-0)
|
ATP World Tour Finals (0-0)
|
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (0-0)
|
ATP World Tour 500 Series (0-0)
|
ATP World Tour 250 Series (1-1)
|
|
Titles by surface
|
Hard (1-0)
|
Clay (0-0)
|
Grass (0-1)
|
Carpet (0-0)
|
|
Titles by setting
|
Outdoor (1-1)
|
Indoor (0-0)
|
|
Doubles: 27 (12 titles, 15 runner-ups)
Legend
|
Grand Slam tournaments (0-0)
|
ATP World Tour Finals (0-0)
|
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (3-4)
|
ATP World Tour 500 Series (2-0)
|
ATP World Tour 250 Series (7-11)
|
|
Titles by surface
|
Hard (5-9)
|
Clay (5-5)
|
Grass (1-0)
|
Carpet (1-1)
|
|
Titles by setting
|
Outdoor (8-11)
|
Indoor (4-4)
|
|
Result
|
W-L
|
Date
|
Tournament
|
Tier
|
Surface
|
Partner
|
Opponents
|
Score
|
Win
|
1-0
|
Sep 1994
|
Bucharest, Romania
|
World Series
|
Clay
|
Simon Youl
|
Jordi Arrese
Jose-Antonio Conde
|
6-4, 6-4
|
Loss
|
1-1
|
Jul 1995
|
Amsterdam, Netherlands
|
World Series
|
Clay
|
Neil Broad
|
Marcelo Rios
Sjeng Schalken
|
6-7, 2-6
|
Loss
|
1-2
|
Aug 1995
|
Kitzbühel, Austria
|
World Series
|
Clay
|
Jordi Arrese
|
Francisco Montana
Greg Van Emburgh
|
7-6, 3-6, 6-7
|
Loss
|
1-3
|
Mar 1996
|
Copenhagen, Denmark
|
World Series
|
Carpet
|
Andrew Kratzmann
|
Libor Pimek
Byron Talbot
|
6-7, 6-3, 3-6
|
Win
|
2-3
|
Jul 1997
|
Kitzbühel, Austria
|
World Series
|
Clay
|
Richard Fromberg
|
Thomas Buchmayer
Thomas Strengberger
|
6-4, 6-3
|
Win
|
3-3
|
May 1998
|
Prague, Czech Republic
|
World Series
|
Clay
|
Andrew Kratzmann
|
Fredrik Bergh
Nicklas Kulti
|
6-1, 6-1
|
Win
|
4-3
|
Aug 1998
|
New Haven, United States
|
Championship Series
|
Hard
|
Peter Tramacchi
|
Sebastien Lareau
Alex O'Brien
|
7-6, 1-6, 6-3
|
Loss
|
4-4
|
Sep 1998
|
Bournemouth, United Kingdom
|
World Series
|
Clay
|
Alberto Berasategui
|
Neil Broad
Kevin Ullyett
|
6-7, 3-6
|
Win
|
5-4
|
May 1999
|
Hamburg, Germany
|
Masters Series
|
Clay
|
Andrew Kratzmann
|
Paul Haarhuis
Jared Palmer
|
2-6, 7-6(7-5), 6-2
|
Win
|
6-4
|
Jul 1999
|
Newport, United States
|
World Series
|
Grass
|
Leander Paes
|
Sargis Sargsian
Chris Woodruff
|
6-7(6-8), 7-6(9-7), 6-3
|
Loss
|
6-5
|
May 2000
|
Hamburg, Germany
|
Masters Series
|
Clay
|
Sandon Stolle
|
Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
|
7-6(7-4), 4-6, 3-6
|
Loss
|
6-6
|
Jan 2001
|
Adelaide, Australia
|
World Series
|
Hard
|
Todd Woodbridge
|
David Macpherson
Grant Stafford
|
7-6(7-5), 4-6, 4-6
|
Loss
|
6-7
|
Sep 2002
|
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
|
World Series
|
Hard
|
Andrew Kratzmann
|
Jan-Michael Gambill
Graydon Oliver
|
7-6(7-2), 4-6, 6-7(4-7)
|
Loss
|
6-8
|
Oct 2002
|
Stockholm, Sweden
|
World Series
|
Hard
|
Paul Hanley
|
Wayne Black
Kevin Ullyett
|
4-6, 6-2, 6-7(4-7)
|
Win
|
7-8
|
Feb 2003
|
Rotterdam, Netherlands
|
Championship Series
|
Hard
|
Paul Hanley
|
Roger Federer
Max Mirnyi
|
7-6(7-4), 6-2
|
Win
|
8-8
|
May 2003
|
Rome, Italy
|
Masters Series
|
Clay
|
Paul Hanley
|
Michael Llodra
Fabrice Santoro
|
6-1, 6-3
|
Loss
|
8-9
|
Aug 2003
|
Cincinnati, United States
|
Masters Series
|
Hard
|
Paul Hanley
|
Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
|
5-7, 6-7(5-7)
|
Win
|
9-9
|
Sep 2003
|
Shanghai, China
|
World Series
|
Hard
|
Paul Hanley
|
Zeng Shaoxuan
Zhu Benqiang
|
6-2, 6-4
|
Loss
|
9-10
|
Oct 2003
|
Stockholm, Sweden
|
World Series
|
Hard
|
Paul Hanley
|
Jonas Bjorkman
Todd Woodbridge
|
3-6, 4-6
|
Win
|
10-10
|
Nov 2003
|
Paris, France
|
Masters Series
|
Carpet
|
Paul Hanley
|
Michael Llodra
Fabrice Santoro
|
6-3, 1-6, 6-3
|
Loss
|
10-11
|
May 2004
|
Rome, Italy
|
Masters Series
|
Clay
|
Paul Hanley
|
Mahesh Bhupathi
Max Mirnyi
|
6-2, 3-6, 4-6
|
Loss
|
10-12
|
Jul 2004
|
Los Angeles, United States
|
World Series
|
Hard
|
Paul Hanley
|
Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
|
3-6, 6-7(4-7)
|
Loss
|
10-13
|
Oct 2004
|
Stockholm, Sweden
|
World Series
|
Hard
|
Paul Hanley
|
Feliciano Lopez
Fernando Verdasco
|
4-6, 4-6
|
Win
|
11-13
|
Feb 2005
|
San Jose, United States
|
International Series
|
Hard
|
Paul Hanley
|
Yves Allegro
Michael Kohlmann
|
7-6(7-4), 6-4
|
Loss
|
11-14
|
Feb 2005
|
Scottsdale, United States
|
International Series
|
Hard
|
Paul Hanley
|
Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
|
5-7, 4-6
|
Loss
|
11-15
|
Mar 2005
|
Indian Wells, United States
|
Masters Series
|
Hard
|
Paul Hanley
|
Daniel Nestor
Mark Knowles
|
6-7(6-8), 6-7(2-7)
|
Win
|
12-15
|
Oct 2005
|
Stockholm, Sweden
|
World Series
|
Hard
|
Paul Hanley
|
Leander Paes
Nenad Zimonjic
|
5-3, 5-3
|
ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals
Singles: 3 (3-0)
Legend
|
ATP Challenger (3-0)
|
ITF Futures (0-0)
|
|
Finals by surface
|
Hard (2-0)
|
Clay (0-0)
|
Grass (1-0)
|
Carpet (0-0)
|
|
Doubles: 15 (3-12)
Legend
|
ATP Challenger (3-12)
|
ITF Futures (0-0)
|
|
Finals by surface
|
Hard (2-3)
|
Clay (1-3)
|
Grass (0-4)
|
Carpet (0-2)
|
|
Result
|
W-L
|
Date
|
Tournament
|
Tier
|
Surface
|
Partner
|
Opponents
|
Score
|
Loss
|
0-1
|
Aug 1991
|
Salou, Spain
|
Challenger
|
Clay
|
Carl Limberger
|
Murphy Jensen Francisco Montana
|
7-5, 2-6, 5-7
|
Win
|
1-1
|
Aug 1993
|
Winnetka, United States
|
Challenger
|
Hard
|
Mark Petchey
|
Patrick Rafter Sandon Stolle
|
7-6, 6-7, 6-4
|
Loss
|
1-2
|
Aug 1993
|
Cincinnati, United States
|
Challenger
|
Hard
|
Leander Paes
|
Johan De Beer Kevin Ullyett
|
6-7, 4-6
|
Loss
|
1-3
|
Aug 1993
|
Bronx, United States
|
Challenger
|
Hard
|
Grant Doyle
|
Johan De Beer Kevin Ullyett
|
6-7, 6-7
|
Loss
|
1-4
|
Feb 1994
|
Wolfsburg, Germany
|
Challenger
|
Carpet
|
Simon Youl
|
Rich Benson Adam Malik
|
6-7, 4-6
|
Loss
|
1-5
|
Aug 1994
|
Graz, Austria
|
Challenger
|
Clay
|
Simon Youl
|
Hendrik Jan Davids Stephen Noteboom
|
6-4, 3-6, 6-7
|
Loss
|
1-6
|
Nov 1994
|
Aachen, Germany
|
Challenger
|
Carpet
|
Brent Larkham
|
David Engel Ola Kristiansson
|
4-6, 4-6
|
Loss
|
1-7
|
Dec 1994
|
Perth, Australia
|
Challenger
|
Grass
|
Neil Borwick
|
Ben Ellwood Mark Philippoussis
|
5-7, 6-7
|
Loss
|
1-8
|
Dec 1995
|
Perth, Australia
|
Challenger
|
Hard
|
Andrew Kratzmann
|
Joshua Eagle Andrew Florent
|
4-6, 4-6
|
Win
|
2-8
|
Sep 1997
|
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
|
Challenger
|
Clay
|
Grant Doyle
|
Chris Haggard James Holmes
|
4-6, 6-2, 6-2
|
Loss
|
2-9
|
Oct 1997
|
Cairo, Egypt
|
Challenger
|
Clay
|
Eyal Ran
|
Tomas Carbonell Francisco Roig
|
3-6, 3-6
|
Loss
|
2-10
|
Jul 1998
|
Bristol, United Kingdom
|
Challenger
|
Grass
|
Ben Ellwood
|
Max Mirnyi Vladimir Voltchkov
|
4-6, 6-3, 6-7
|
Loss
|
2-11
|
Jul 1998
|
Manchester, United Kingdom
|
Challenger
|
Grass
|
Ben Ellwood
|
Mose Navarra Stefano Pescosolido
|
1-6, 7-6, 6-7
|
Win
|
3-11
|
Nov 1998
|
Rancho Mirage, United States
|
Challenger
|
Hard
|
Peter Tramacchi
|
Todd Larkham Grant Silcock
|
6-3, 3-6, 6-3
|
Loss
|
3-12
|
Jun 2006
|
Surbiton, United Kingdom
|
Challenger
|
Grass
|
Chris Guccione
|
Jordan Kerr Jim Thomas
|
2-6, 4-6
|
Performance timelines
Key
W
|
F
|
SF
|
QF
|
#R
|
RR
|
Q#
|
DNQ
|
A
|
NH
|
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W-L) win-loss record.
Singles
Doubles
Mixed doubles
References
External links