Grant Connell

Infobox Tennis player
playername = Grant Connell


nickname =
country = flagcountry|Canada
residence = Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
datebirth = birth date and age|1965|11|17
placebirth = Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
height = 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) [ [http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/players/playerprofiles/default.asp?playersearch=grant+connell ATPtennis.com - Players - Profiles - Profile ] ]
weight = 180 lb (81 kg) [ [http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/players/playerprofiles/default.asp?playersearch=grant+connell GRANT CONNELL (CAN)] ]
turnedpro = 1986
retired = -
plays = Left-handed
careerprizemoney = US$2,911,097
singlesrecord = 75–100
singlestitles = 0
highestsinglesranking = 67
AustralianOpenresult = F (1990)
FrenchOpenresult = -
Wimbledonresult = F (1993, 1994, 1996)
USOpenresult = -
doublesrecord = 398–237
doublestitles = 22
highestdoublesranking = 1
updated = 15:06, 21 January 2007 (GMT-05:00)

Grant Connell (Pronounced: KAHN-nell [ [http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/players/playerprofiles/default.asp?playersearch=grant+connell ATPtennis.com - Players - Profiles - Profile ] ] )(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.

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.

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.

Titles (22)

Runner-ups (26)

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.

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.

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. At present he is a realtor in Vancouver, BC (www.grantconnell.com.

References

External links

* [http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/players/playerprofiles/default.asp?playersearch=grant+connell "ATPtennis.com" player profile page for Connell]
* [http://www.daviscup.com/teams/player.asp?player=10000288 "DavisCup.com" Connell play record page]