Chris O'Neil (tennis)
Country (sports) | ![]() |
---|---|
Residence | Australia |
Born | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia | 19 March 1956
Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
Turned pro | 1973 |
Plays | Right-handed |
Singles | |
Career record | 19–52 |
Career titles | 1 |
Highest ranking | No. 80 |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
Australian Open | W (1978) |
French Open | 2R (1981) |
Wimbledon | 3R (1974) |
US Open | 2R (1978, 1979) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 64–82 |
Career titles | 1 |
Grand Slam Doubles results | |
Australian Open | SF (1976, 1978) |
French Open | QF (1978) |
Wimbledon | QF (1976) |
US Open | QF (1978) |
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results | |
Wimbledon | 2R (1976, 1977) |
US Open | 2R (1978) |
Christine O'Neil (born 19 March 1956) is a former professional female tennis player from Australia.[1]
O'Neil is best known for her singles victory at the 1978 Australian Open, the last Australian female to do so. She also became the first unseeded woman to win the Australian title in the open era.[2] In a relatively weak field she defeated Betsy Nagelsen in the final in straight sets.[3] This feat went unmatched until Serena Williams, unseeded and ranked World No. 81, won the 2007 Australian Open.[4] O'Neil is also one of the few players who have won both the Australian Open Junior (1973) and Senior (1978) championship titles.[2]
In 2007, along with her brothers Keith and William, O'Neil took over the Morisset Sports & Tennis Centre located in Newcastle, New South Wales. The centre was subsequently renamed the O'Neil School of Tennis. She then moved on to operate O'Neil's School of Tennis in Cessnock, New South Wales. She has since moved to Port Macquarie and currently coaches.[5][6]
Grand Slam finals[]
Singles (1 title)[]
Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1978 | Australian Open | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 7–6(7–3) |
Grand Slam tournament performance timeline[]
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
Singles[]
Tournament | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | SR | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australian Open | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | A | W | A | A | Q2 | 2R | Q2 | 1 / 7 |
French Open | A | Q1 | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | Q2 | 2R | A | 1R | 0 / 6 | |
Wimbledon | A | 3R | 1R | Q3 | 2R | 1R | 2R | Q2 | 1R | A | 1R | 0 / 7 | |
US Open | A | 1R | A | A | A | 2R | 2R | Q3 | A | A | Q2 | 0 / 3 | |
Strike Rate | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 1 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 2 | 1 / 23 |
Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
References[]
- ^ "Profiles: Chris O'Neil". Tennis Australia. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Australian Open Tennis". State Government of Victoria. Archived from the original on 15 October 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
- ^ "O'Neill, 6-3, 7-6". The Canberra Times. 53 (15, 809). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 4 January 1979. p. 22 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Williams wallops Sharapova for eighth Grand Slam". Associated Press. 27 January 2007. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
- ^ "O'Neil's School of Tennis". O'Neil's School of Tennis. Archived from the original on 26 January 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
- ^ "Chris O'Neil". Australian Tennis Professional Coaches Association. Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
External links[]
- Chris O'Neil at the Women's Tennis Association
- Chris O'Neil at the International Tennis Federation
- Chris O'Neil at Tennis Australia
- Australian female tennis players
- Australian Open (tennis) champions
- Australian Open (tennis) junior champions
- Tennis people from New South Wales
- 1956 births
- Living people
- Sportswomen from New South Wales
- Sportspeople from Newcastle, New South Wales
- Grand Slam (tennis) champions in women's singles
- Grand Slam (tennis) champions in girls' singles
- Australian tennis biography stubs