Thierry Champion

Thierry Champion
Country (sports)	France
Residence	Paris, France
Born	31 August 1966 (age 55); Bagnols-sur-Cèze France
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Turned pro	1989
Retired	2004
Plays	Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money	$1,255,229
Singles
Career record	102–165
Career titles	0
Highest ranking	No. 44 (26 August 1991)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open	3R (1987)
French Open	QF (1990)
Wimbledon	QF (1991)
US Open	2R (1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992)
Doubles
Career record	15–38
Career titles	0
Highest ranking	No. 135 (10 July 1989)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open	1R (1989)
French Open	2R (1989, 1991)
Wimbledon	1R (1988)

Thierry Champion (born 31 August 1966) is a former professional tennis player from France.

Tennis career[]

Champion was born in Bagnols-sur-Cèze, Gard. During his career, he reached the quarter-finals at the French Open in 1990 and at Wimbledon in 1991.

A clay court specialist, Champion gained notoriety on the men's ATP tour as a wild card player with the ability to inflict defeat on seeded players well above his ranking. His play style was characterised by fast court coverage and strong baseline play with measured heavily spun passing shots, particularly from an unorthodox backhand stroke.

Reaching a career-high singles ranking of World No. 44 on the men's ATP rankings in 1991, subsequent years saw a dwindling career riddled with injury.

Champion is also remembered for being triple bageled losing 0–6, 0–6, 0–6 in the 2nd round of the 1993 French Open by eventual winner Sergi Bruguera.[1]

Champion was the coach of French tennis player Gaël Monfils since September 2004 but they parted company in September 2006. He was also the coach of Hicham Arazi, Nicolas Escudé and Paul-Henri Mathieu. At the 2008 Wimbledon Championships he was seen to be coaching the previous year's semi-finalist and number 8 seed Richard Gasquet.

Career singles finals[]

Wins (0–1)[]

Legend
Grand Slam (0–0)
Tennis Masters Cup (0–0)
ATP Masters Series (0–0)
ATP Championship Series (0–0)
ATP Tour (0–1)

Titles by surface
Hard (0–0)
Grass (0–0)
Clay (0–1)
Carpet (0–0)

Result	No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1.	Aug 1988	St Vincent, Italy	Clay	Kent Carlsson	0-6, 2-6

Singles performance timeline[]

**Key**
W	F	SF	QF	#R	RR	Q#	DNQ	A	NH

(W) Won; (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)

Tournament	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	Career SR	Career Win-Loss
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open	A	A	3R	LQ	1R	A	1R	1R	2R	A	A	A	1R	A	0 / 6	2-6
French Open	A	1R	2R	2R	1R	QF	3R	1R	2R	2R	2R	2R	3R	A	0 / 12	14–12
Wimbledon	1R	1R	A	1R	1R	A	QF	3R	A	A	A	1R	A	A	0 / 7	6–7
U.S. Open	A	2R	A	2R	A	2R	2R	2R	A	A	A	A	A	A	0 / 5	4-6
Grand Slam SR	0 / 1	0 / 3	0 / 2	0 / 3	0 / 3	0 / 2	0 / 4	0 / 4	0 / 2	0 / 1	0 / 1	0 / 2	0 / 2	0 / 0	0 / 30	N/A
Annual Win-Loss	0-1	1-3	2–2	1-4	0–3	5–2	7–4	3–4	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	2–2	0–0	N/A	26–31

External links[]

Thierry Champion at the Association of Tennis Professionals
Thierry Champion at the International Tennis Federation