Alex O'Brien (born (1970-03-07)March 7, 1970) is an American former doubles world No. 1 tennis player. He gained the top ranking in May 2000 and was ranked as high as world No. 30 in singles in June 1997.

Alex O'Brien
O'Brien in 2018
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceAmarillo, Texas, United States
Born (1970-03-07) March 7, 1970 (age 54)
Amarillo, Texas, United States
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Turned pro1992
Retired2003
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
CollegeStanford University
Prize money$3,526,390
Singles
Career record93–136
Career titles1
Highest rankingNo. 30 (21 July 1997)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open2R (1995, 1998)
French Open2R (1993, 1994)
Wimbledon3R (1997)
US Open3R (1996)
Doubles
Career record277–185
Career titles13
Highest rankingNo. 1 (8 May 2000)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenF (1996, 1997)
French Open3R (1996)
WimbledonQF (1999, 2000)
US OpenW (1999)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour FinalsW (1999)
Olympic Games2R (2000)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open2R (1996)
Wimbledon2R (1997, 1998)
US Open1R (2001)
Last updated on: 31 December 2022.

He won his only singles title at New Haven, Connecticut, in 1996 and reached the quarterfinals of the 1994 Cincinnati Masters and the 1996 Canada Masters. He won 13 doubles titles, the biggest coming at the 1999 US Open, the Cincinnati Masters in 1994 (his first doubles title), the Indian Wells Masters in 2000, and the Paris Masters in 1999.

Tennis career

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Alongside his 13 titles, O'Brien also reached 20 doubles finals, including the Australian Open in 1996 & 1997, the U.S. Open in 1995, the Miami Masters in 1998, and the Canada Masters and the Rome Masters in 1997.

He also played on the United States Davis Cup team, competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and was a four-time All-American at Stanford University, where he won NCAA singles, doubles, and team titles in 1992. He earned a bachelor's degree in American Studies at Stanford in 1992.[citation needed]

On leaving his tennis career O'Brien founded an online business which markets, and distributes steaks. The O'Brien family has been in the beef business for 60 years basing their production out of the LIT Ranch. O'Brien is currently President and part owner of the Bank of Commerce, a small community online bank with branches in Amarillo and McLean Texas.[citation needed]

Grand Slam finals

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Doubles (1 title, 3 runners-ups)

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Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1995 U.S. Open Hard   Sandon Stolle   Todd Woodbridge
  Mark Woodforde
3–6, 3–6
Loss 1996 Australian Open Hard   Sébastien Lareau   Stefan Edberg
  Petr Korda
5–7, 5–7, 6–4, 1–6
Loss 1997 Australian Open Hard   Sébastien Lareau   Todd Woodbridge
  Mark Woodforde
6–4, 5–7, 5–7, 3–6
Win 1999 U.S. Open Hard   Sébastien Lareau   Mahesh Bhupathi
  Leander Paes
7–6(9–7), 6–4

ATP career finals

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Singles: 1 (1 title)

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Legend
Grand Slam Tournaments (0–0)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP Masters Series (0–0)
ATP Championship Series (1–0)
ATP World Series (0–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (1–0)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Finals by setting
Outdoors (1–0)
Indoors (0–0)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Aug 1996 New Haven, United States Championship Series Hard   Jan Siemerink 7–6(8–6), 6–4

Doubles: 33 (13 titles, 20 runner-ups)

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Legend
Grand Slam Tournaments (1–3)
ATP World Tour Finals (1–1)
ATP Masters Series (4–3)
ATP Championship Series (2–4)
ATP World Series (5–9)
Finals by surface
Hard (10–14)
Clay (0–4)
Grass (1–1)
Carpet (2–1)
Finals by setting
Outdoors (8–16)
Indoors (5–4)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 Jan 1994 Oahu, United States World Series Hard   Jonathan Stark   Tom Nijssen
  Cyril Suk
4–6, 4–6
Loss 0–2 Feb 1994 Scottsdale, United States World Series Hard   Sandon Stolle   Jan Apell
  Ken Flach
0–6, 4–6
Win 1–2 Aug 1994 Cincinnati, United States Masters Series Hard   Sandon Stolle   Wayne Ferreira
  Mark Kratzmann
6–7, 6–3, 6–2
Loss 1–3 Feb 1995 San Jose, United States World Series Hard   Sandon Stolle   Jim Grabb
  Patrick McEnroe
6–3, 5–7, 0–6
Loss 1–4 May 1995 Pinehurst, United States World Series Clay   Sandon Stolle   Todd Woodbridge
  Mark Woodforde
2–6, 4–6
Loss 1–5 Sep 1995 New York, United States Grand Slam Hard   Sandon Stolle   Todd Woodbridge
  Mark Woodforde
3–6, 3–6
Loss 1–6 Jan 1996 Melbourne, Australia Grand Slam Hard   Sébastien Lareau   Stefan Edberg
  Petr Korda
5–7, 5–7, 6–4, 1–6
Loss 1–7 Jun 1996 Queen's, United Kingdom World Series Grass   Sébastien Lareau   Todd Woodbridge
  Mark Woodforde
3–6, 6–7(3–7)
Win 2–7 Oct 1996 Stuttgart, Germany Masters Series Hard   Sébastien Lareau   Jacco Eltingh
  Paul Haarhuis
3–6, 6–4, 6–3
Loss 2–8 Nov 1996 Hartford, United States ATP Finals Carpet   Sébastien Lareau   Todd Woodbridge
  Mark Woodforde
4–6, 7–5, 2–6, 6–7(3–7)
Loss 2–9 Jan 1997 Melbourne, Australia Grand Slam Hard   Sébastien Lareau   Todd Woodbridge
  Mark Woodforde
6–4, 5–7, 5–7, 3–6
Win 3–9 Mar 1997 Philadelphia, United States Championship Series Hard   Sébastien Lareau   Ellis Ferreira
  Patrick Galbraith
6–3, 6–3
Loss 3–10 Apr 1997 Orlando, United States World Series Clay   Jeff Salzenstein   Mark Merklein
  Vince Spadea
4–6, 6–4, 4–6
Loss 3–11 May 1997 Rome, Italy Masters Series Clay   Byron Black   Mark Knowles
  Daniel Nestor
3–6, 6–4, 5–7
Win 4–11 Jul 1997 Los Angeles, United States World Series Hard   Sébastien Lareau   Mahesh Bhupathi
  Rick Leach
7–6, 6–4
Loss 4–12 Aug 1997 Montreal, Canada Masters Series Hard   Sébastien Lareau   Mahesh Bhupathi
  Leander Paes
6–7, 3–6
Loss 4–13 Aug 1997 New Haven, United States Championship Series Hard   Sébastien Lareau   Mahesh Bhupathi
  Leander Paes
4–6, 7–6, 2–6
Loss 4–14 Oct 1997 Beijing, China World Series Hard   Jim Courier   Mahesh Bhupathi
  Leander Paes
5–7, 6–7
Loss 4–15 Mar 1998 Miami, United States Masters Series Hard   Jonathan Stark   Ellis Ferreira
  Rick Leach
2–6, 4–6
Win 5–15 Apr 1998 Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Series Hard   Byron Black   Neville Godwin
  Tuomas Ketola
7–5, 6–1
Loss 5–16 May 1998 Atlanta, United States World Series Clay   Richey Reneberg   Ellis Ferreira
  Brent Haygarth
3–6, 6–0, 2–6
Loss 5–17 Aug 1998 New Haven, United States Championship Series Hard   Sébastien Lareau   Wayne Arthurs
  Peter Tramacchi
6–7, 6–1, 3–6
Win 6–17 Nov 1998 Stuttgart, Germany Masters Series Hard   Sébastien Lareau   Mahesh Bhupathi
  Leander Paes
6–3, 3–6, 7–5
Win 7–17 Jan 1999 Doha, Qatar World Series Hard   Jared Palmer   Piet Norval
  Kevin Ullyett
6–3, 6–4
Loss 7–18 Feb 1999 Memphis, United States Championship Series Hard   Sébastien Lareau   Todd Woodbridge
  Mark Woodforde
3–6, 4–6
Win 8–18 Jun 1999 Queen's, United Kingdom World Series Grass   Sébastien Lareau   Todd Woodbridge
  Mark Woodforde
6–3, 7–6(7–3)
Win 9–18 Sep 1999 New York, United States Grand Slam Hard   Sébastien Lareau   Mahesh Bhupathi
  Leander Paes
7–6(9–7), 6–4
Win 10–18 Nov 1999 Paris, France Masters Series Carpet   Sébastien Lareau   Paul Haarhuis
  Jared Palmer
7–6(9–7), 7–5
Win 11–18 Nov 1999 Hartford, United States ATP Finals Carpet   Sébastien Lareau   Mahesh Bhupathi
  Leander Paes
6–3, 6–2, 6–2
Loss 11–19 Jan 2000 Doha, Qatar International Series Hard   Jared Palmer   Mark Knowles
  Max Mirnyi
3–6, 4–6
Win 12–19 Mar 2000 Indian Wells, United States Masters Series Hard   Jared Palmer   Paul Haarhuis
  Sandon Stolle
6–4, 7–6(7–5)
Win 13–19 Aug 2000 Washington, United States Championship Series Hard   Jared Palmer   Andre Agassi
  Sargis Sargsian
7–5, 6–1
Loss 13–20 Feb 2001 Memphis, United States Championship Series Hard   Jonathan Stark   Bob Bryan
  Mike Bryan
3–6, 6–7(3–7)

ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals

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Singles: 9 (5–4)

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Legend
ATP Challenger (5–4)
ITF Futures (0–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (5–4)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Jul 1991 New Haven, United States Challenger Hard   Stephane Simian 6–4, 6–4
Win 2–0 Jul 1992 Aptos, United States Challenger Hard   Byron Black 6–4, 2–6, 6–1
Loss 2–1 Sep 1992 Fairfield, United States Challenger Hard   Jared Palmer 6–7, 2–6
Win 3–1 Oct 1992 Monterrey, Mexico Challenger Hard   Jared Palmer 6–2, 6–4
Loss 3–2 Oct 1993 Caracas, Venezuela Challenger Hard   Mauricio Hadad 5–7, 4–6
Loss 3–3 Oct 1996 Monterrey, Mexico Challenger Hard   Kevin Ullyett 3–6, 6–7
Win 4–3 Feb 1998 West Bloomfield, United States Challenger Hard   Grant Doyle 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win 5–3 Jul 1999 Winnetka, United States Challenger Hard   Max Mirnyi 6–2, 6–2
Loss 5–4 Dec 1999 Burbank, United States Challenger Hard   Cecil Mamiit 5–7, 3–6

Doubles: 7 (5–2)

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Legend
ATP Challenger (5–2)
ITF Futures (0–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (5–1)
Clay (0–1)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1–0 Jul 1992 Aptos, United States Challenger Hard   Paul Annacone   Miguel Nido
  Peter Nyborg
6–4, 4–6, 7–5
Win 2–0 Oct 1992 Monterrey, Mexico Challenger Hard   Mark Knowles   Richard Matuszewski
  John Sullivan
3–6, 6–3, 7–6
Loss 2–1 Dec 1992 Naples, United States Challenger Clay   Mark Knowles   Todd Nelson
  Tobias Svantesson
6–2, 3–6, 4–6
Win 3–1 Sep 1993 Fairfield, United States Challenger Hard   Jared Palmer   Matt Lucena
  Brian Macphie
6–3, 7–5
Loss 3–2 Oct 1993 Caracas, Venezuela Challenger Hard   Mark Knowles   Maurice Ruah
  Laurence Tieleman
7–5, 4–6, 6–7
Win 4–2 Jun 1994 Annenheim, Austria Challenger Hard   Jim Grabb   Diego Nargiso
  Gianluca Pozzi
walkover
Win 5–2 Jul 1994 Aptos, United States Challenger Hard   Brian Macphie   Donny Isaak
  Michael Roberts
6–2, 7–6

Performance Timelines

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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

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Tournament 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 SR W–L Win %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A 1R 1R 2R A 1R 2R Q2 1R 1R 0 / 7 2–7 22%
French Open A 2R 2R Q1 Q2 1R 1R Q1 A Q2 0 / 4 2–4 33%
Wimbledon A 1R 1R 1R Q3 3R 2R Q3 2R Q3 0 / 6 4–6 40%
US Open 1R 1R 2R 1R 3R 1R 2R Q1 Q3 A 0 / 7 4–7 36%
Win–loss 0–1 1–4 2–4 1–3 2–1 2–4 3–4 0–0 1–2 0–1 0 / 24 12–24 33%
ATP Masters Series
Indian Wells A 1R A Q1 1R 2R Q2 A Q1 A 0 / 3 1–3 25%
Miami A 1R 2R 2R Q3 2R Q1 2R Q1 A 0 / 5 3–5 38%
Rome A A A A A 1R A A Q1 A 0 / 1 0–1 0%
Canada A 2R 2R Q3 QF 3R 3R 2R A A 0 / 6 10–6 63%
Cincinnati A 1R QF 2R 3R 1R 1R Q2 Q1 Q1 0 / 6 5–6 45%
Paris A A Q1 Q3 A A A A 1R A 0 / 1 0–1 0%
Win–loss 0–0 1–4 4–3 2–2 5–3 3–5 2–2 2–2 0–1 0–0 0 / 22 19–22 46%

Doubles

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Tournament 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 SR W–L Win %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A A 1R 1R F F 3R 1R SF 3R 0 / 8 18–8 69%
French Open A A 1R 2R 3R 2R 1R 1R 1R 1R 0 / 8 4–8 33%
Wimbledon A A 2R 3R 3R 1R 2R QF QF 1R 0 / 8 12–8 60%
US Open 1R 1R 3R F QF 2R 3R W SF 1R 1 / 10 23–9 72%
Win–loss 0–1 0–1 3–4 8–4 12–4 7–4 5–4 9–3 11–4 2–4 1 / 34 57–33 63%
Year-end Championships
ATP Finals Did not qualify F SF DNQ W RR DNQ 1 / 4 10–7 59%
National Representation
Summer Olympics A Not Held A Not Held 2R NH 0 / 1 0–1 0%
ATP Masters Series
Indian Wells A Q1 A 2R 2R QF SF 1R W 2R 1 / 7 13–6 68%
Miami A Q1 2R 3R QF 3R F 2R SF 2R 0 / 8 12–8 60%
Monte Carlo A A A A A A A A SF A 0 / 1 3–1 75%
Hamburg A A A A A A A A 1R 1R 0 / 2 0–2 0%
Rome A A A A 2R F A 2R SF 1R 0 / 5 8–5 62%
Canada A QF SF 1R QF F 1R 2R 2R 2R 0 / 9 13–9 59%
Cincinnati A 2R W 2R 2R SF 1R 2R 1R 2R 1 / 9 12–8 60%
Paris A A QF 1R 2R 1R 2R W SF A 1 / 7 8–6 57%
Win–loss 0–0 3–2 10–3 3–5 7–6 12–6 8–5 7–5 16–7 3–6 3 / 48 69–45 61%
Year End Ranking 188 113 25 31 15 7 20 7 8 80 Prize Money = $3,526,390
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