Wayne Arthurs (tennis) explained

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 Karlović.^[4] He consistently had one of the highest ace counts on the ATP Tour and favours a serve-and-volley style of play.

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 Ančić. 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)

Result	class=unsortable	W–L	Date	Tournament	Tier	Surface	Opponent	class=unsortable	Score
Loss	0–1		Nottingham, United Kingdom	International Series	Grass	Jonas Björkman	2–6, 7–6(7–5), 2–6
Win	1–1		Scottsdale, United States	International Series	Hard	Mario Ančić	7–5, 6–3

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		Bucharest, Romania	World Series	Clay	Simon Youl	Jordi Arrese José Antonio Conde	6–4, 6–4
Loss	1–1		Amsterdam, Netherlands	World Series	Clay	Neil Broad	Marcelo Ríos Sjeng Schalken	6–7, 2–6
Loss	1–2		Kitzbühel, Austria	World Series	Clay	Jordi Arrese	Francisco Montana Greg Van Emburgh	7–6, 3–6, 6–7
Loss	1–3		Copenhagen, Denmark	World Series	Carpet	Andrew Kratzmann	Libor Pimek Byron Talbot	6–7, 6–3, 3–6
Win	2–3		Kitzbühel, Austria	World Series	Clay	Richard Fromberg	Thomas Buchmayer Thomas Strengberger	6–4, 6–3
Win	3–3		Prague, Czech Republic	World Series	Clay	Andrew Kratzmann	Fredrik Bergh Nicklas Kulti	6–1, 6–1
Win	4–3		New Haven, United States	Championship Series	Hard	Peter Tramacchi	Sébastien Lareau Alex O'Brien	7–6, 1–6, 6–3
Loss	4–4		Bournemouth, United Kingdom	World Series	Clay	Alberto Berasategui	Neil Broad Kevin Ullyett	6–7, 3–6
Win	5–4		Hamburg, Germany	Masters Series	Clay	Andrew Kratzmann	Paul Haarhuis Jared Palmer	2–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–2
Win	6–4		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		Hamburg, Germany	Masters Series	Clay	Sandon Stolle	Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde	7–6(7–4), 4–6, 3–6
Loss	6–6		Adelaide, Australia	World Series	Hard	Todd Woodbridge	David Macpherson Grant Stafford	7–6(7–5), 4–6, 4–6
Loss	6–7		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		Stockholm, Sweden	World Series	Hard	Paul Hanley	Wayne Black Kevin Ullyett	4–6, 6–2, 6–7(4–7)
Win	7–8		Rotterdam, Netherlands	Championship Series	Hard	Paul Hanley	Roger Federer Max Mirnyi	7–6(7–4), 6–2
Win	8–8		Rome, Italy	Masters Series	Clay	Paul Hanley	Michaël Llodra Fabrice Santoro	6–1, 6–3
Loss	8–9		Cincinnati, United States	Masters Series	Hard	Paul Hanley	Bob Bryan Mike Bryan	5–7, 6–7(5–7)
Win	9–9		Shanghai, China	World Series	Hard	Paul Hanley	Zeng Shaoxuan Zhu Benqiang	6–2, 6–4
Loss	9–10		Stockholm, Sweden	World Series	Hard	Paul Hanley	Jonas Björkman Todd Woodbridge	3–6, 4–6
Win	10–10		Paris, France	Masters Series	Carpet	Paul Hanley	Michaël Llodra Fabrice Santoro	6–3, 1–6, 6–3
Loss	10–11		Rome, Italy	Masters Series	Clay	Paul Hanley	Mahesh Bhupathi Max Mirnyi	6–2, 3–6, 4–6
Loss	10–12		Los Angeles, United States	World Series	Hard	Paul Hanley	Bob Bryan Mike Bryan	3–6, 6–7(4–7)
Loss	10–13		Stockholm, Sweden	World Series	Hard	Paul Hanley	Feliciano López Fernando Verdasco	4–6, 4–6
Win	11–13		San Jose, United States	International Series	Hard	Paul Hanley	Yves Allegro Michael Kohlmann	7–6(7–4), 6–4
Loss	11–14		Scottsdale, United States	International Series	Hard	Paul Hanley	Bob Bryan Mike Bryan	5–7, 4–6
Loss	11–15		Indian Wells, United States	Masters Series	Hard	Paul Hanley	Daniel Nestor Mark Knowles	6–7(6–8), 6–7(2–7)
Win	12–15		Stockholm, Sweden	World Series	Hard	Paul Hanley	Leander Paes Nenad Zimonjić	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)

Result	W–L	Date	Tournament	Tier	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	1–0		Perth, Australia	Challenger	Hard	Todd Larkham	7–5, 7–6
Win	2–0		Surbiton, United Kingdom	Challenger	Grass	Laurence Tieleman	4–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–4
Win	3–0		Wrexham, United Kingdom	Challenger	Hard	Ladislav Švarc	6–2, 6–4

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		Salou, Spain	Challenger	Clay	Carl Limberger	Murphy Jensen Francisco Montana	7–5, 2–6, 5–7
Win	1–1		Winnetka, United States	Challenger	Hard	Mark Petchey	Patrick Rafter Sandon Stolle	7–6, 6–7, 6–4
Loss	1–2		Cincinnati, United States	Challenger	Hard	Leander Paes	Johan de Beer Kevin Ullyett	6–7, 4–6
Loss	1–3		Bronx, United States	Challenger	Hard	Grant Doyle	Johan de Beer Kevin Ullyett	6–7, 6–7
Loss	1–4		Wolfsburg, Germany	Challenger	Carpet	Simon Youl	Rich Benson Adam Malik	6–7, 4–6
Loss	1–5		Graz, Austria	Challenger	Clay	Simon Youl	Hendrik Jan Davids Stephen Noteboom	6–4, 3–6, 6–7
Loss	1–6		Aachen, Germany	Challenger	Carpet	Brent Larkham	David Engel Ola Kristiansson	4–6, 4–6
Loss	1–7		Perth, Australia	Challenger	Grass	Neil Borwick	Ben Ellwood Mark Philippoussis	5–7, 6–7
Loss	1–8		Perth, Australia	Challenger	Hard	Andrew Kratzmann	Joshua Eagle Andrew Florent	4–6, 4–6
Win	2–8		Edinburgh, United Kingdom	Challenger	Clay	Grant Doyle	Chris Haggard James Holmes	4–6, 6–2, 6–2
Loss	2–9		Cairo, Egypt	Challenger	Clay	Eyal Ran	Tomás Carbonell Francisco Roig	3–6, 3–6
Loss	2–10		Bristol, United Kingdom	Challenger	Grass	Ben Ellwood	Max Mirnyi Vladimir Voltchkov	4–6, 6–3, 6–7
Loss	2–11		Manchester, United Kingdom	Challenger	Grass	Ben Ellwood	Mosé Navarra Stefano Pescosolido	1–6, 7–6, 6–7
Win	3–11		Rancho Mirage, United States	Challenger	Hard	Peter Tramacchi	Todd Larkham Grant Silcock	6–3, 3–6, 6–3
Loss	3–12		Surbiton, United Kingdom	Challenger	Grass	Chris Guccione	Jordan Kerr Jim Thomas	2–6, 4–6

Performance timelines

Singles

Tournament	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	SR	W–L	Win %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q1	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q2	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q1	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q1	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q1	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q2	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q3	A	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q3	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	3R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	3R	0 / 9	6–9
French Open	A	A	A	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q1	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q2	A	A	A	A	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q1	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	4R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q1	0 / 7	4–7
Wimbledon	A	A	A	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q1	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q1	A	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q2	A	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q1	style=background:#afeeee	4R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	4R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	3R	0 / 9	10–9
US Open	A	A	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q1	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q1	A	A	A	A	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	4R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q2	A	0 / 8	5–8
style=text-align:left	Win–loss	0–0	0–0	0–0	0–0	0–0	0–0	0–0	0–0	1–1	4–3	3–4	5–4	4–4	2–4	1–4	1–4	0–3	4–2	0 / 33	25–33
Olympic Games
style=background:#EFEFEF align=left	Summer Olympics	Not Held	A	Not Held	A	Not Held	A	Not Held	style=background:#afeeee	2R	Not Held	0 / 1	1–1
ATP Tour Masters 1000
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Indian Wells Masters	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	1R	1R	4R	2R	A	A	0 / 4	4–4
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Miami Open	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	2R	2R	Q1	1R	A	A	A	A	0 / 3	2–3
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Monte Carlo	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	Q1	A	A	1R	3R	1R	A	A	0 / 3	2–3
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Rome	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	Q2	A	1R	1R	Q1	A	A	0 / 2	0–2
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Hamburg	A	A	A	A	A	Q2	A	A	A	A	Q1	Q1	1R	1R	A	A	A	A	0 / 2	0–2
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Canada Masters	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	1R	A	Q1	A	Q1	Q2	A	0 / 1	0–1
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Cincinnati Masters	A	A	A	Q1	A	A	A	A	A	1R	A	1R	QF	1R	3R	Q1	Q1	A	0 / 5	5–5
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Paris Masters	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	Q1	Q1	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	0 / 0	0–0
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Stuttgart	A	A	A	A	A	Q1	A	A	A	Q2	Q1	A	Not Held	0 / 0	0–0
style=text-align:left	Win–loss	0–0	0–0	0–0	0–0	0–0	0–0	0–0	0–0	0–0	0–1	1–1	1–3	3–3	0–6	7–4	1–2	0–0	0–0	0 / 20	13–20

Doubles

Tournament	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	SR	W–L	Win %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open	A	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	A	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#yellow	SF	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	0 / 16	10–16
French Open	A	A	A	A	A	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#ffebcd	QF	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#ffebcd	QF	bgcolor=yellow	SF	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#ffebcd	QF	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	0 / 13	16–13
Wimbledon	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q1	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q2	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q2	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q2	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	3R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#ffebcd	QF	bgcolor=yellow	SF	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	0 / 14	14–14
US Open	A	A	A	A	A	style=background:#afeeee	1R	A	style=background:#afeeee	1R	A	style=background:#afeeee	3R	style=background:#afeeee	3R	style=background:#afeeee	3R	style=background:#afeeee	3R	style=background:#ffebcd	QF	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	3R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	A	0 / 10	14–10
style=text-align:left	Win–loss	0–0	0–1	0–1	0–1	0–1	0–4	1–3	2–4	2–3	7–4	4–4	7–4	6–4	10–4	5–4	6–4	2–4	2–3	0 / 53	54–53
Olympic Games
style=background:#EFEFEF align=left	Summer Olympics	Not Held	A	Not Held	A	Not Held	A	Not Held	style=background:#afeeee	2R	Not Held	0 / 1	1–1
ATP Tour Masters 1000
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Indian Wells Masters	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	2R	2R	A	2R	QF	bgcolor=thistle	F	A	A	0 / 5	9–5
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Miami Open	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	1R	QF	A	A	A	1R	A	A	0 / 3	2–3
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Monte Carlo	A	A	A	A	A	Q1	A	A	A	bgcolor=yellow	SF	1R	A	A	QF	A	bgcolor=yellow	SF	A	A	0 / 4	7–4
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Rome	A	A	A	A	A	2R	1R	A	A	A	A	1R	A	bgcolor=lime	W	bgcolor=thistle	F	2R	A	A	1 / 6	9–5
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Madrid	Not Held	A	A	Q4	QF	A	A	0 / 2	2–2
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Hamburg	A	A	A	A	A	bgcolor=yellow	SF	1R	A	A	bgcolor=lime	W	bgcolor=thistle	F	2R	2R	QF	QF	QF	A	A	1 / 9	16–8
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Canada Masters	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	QF	A	QF	2R	QF	QF	A	0 / 5	6–5
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Cincinnati Masters	A	A	A	Q1	A	A	A	A	A	1R	A	2R	1R	bgcolor=thistle	F	2R	2R	2R	A	0 / 7	5–7
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Paris Masters	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	QF	QF	A	A	bgcolor=lime	W	1R	QF	A	A	1 / 5	9–4
bgcolor=efefef align=left	Stuttgart	A	A	A	A	A	2R	A	A	A	QF	bgcolor=yellow	SF	QF	Not Held	0 / 4	8–4
style=text-align:left	Win–loss	0–0	0–0	0–0	0–0	0–0	5–3	0–2	0–0	0–0	12–4	9–6	9–7	1–2	17–5	7–7	10–9	3–2	0–0	3 / 50	73–47

Mixed doubles

Tournament	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	SR	W–L	Win %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	A	A	A	style=background:#ffebcd	QF	style=background:#afeeee	2R	0 / 6	5–6
French Open	A	A	A	A	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	0 / 2	0–2
Wimbledon	style=background:#ecf2ff	Q1	A	A	A	style=background:#afeeee	2R	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	3R	style=background:#ffebcd	QF	style=background:#afeeee	1R	style=background:#afeeee	2R	A	A	A	style=background:#afeeee	2R	A	style=background:#afeeee	1R	0 / 8	8–8
US Open	A	A	A	A	style=background:#afeeee	1R	A	A	A	style=background:#afeeee	1R	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	0 / 2	0–2
style=text-align:left	Win–loss	0–0	0–0	0–0	0–0	1–3	0–2	2–1	4–2	0–3	1–2	1–1	0–0	0–0	1–1	2–1	1–2	0 / 18	13–18

External links

• • • • • • • Arthurs Recent Match Results
• Arthurs World Ranking History

Notes and References

1. Web site: Arthurs a legitimate cup No. 2 – Tennis . The Age . March 2005 . 20 December 2011.
2. Web site: Clarey . Christopher . FRENCH OPEN TENNIS – Ferrero's hope fades before match begins – NYTimes.com . International Herald Tribune . 30 May 2002 . 20 December 2011.
3. http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/watsnew/press/view_article.asp?ReleaseID=2274
4. Web site: "I like aces": Nearing 40, Ivo Karlovic continues an underrated career . Asked to name the best server he has ever faced, Karlovic selects the long retired Australian left-hander Wayne Arthurs. "I just could not return his serve. I had no idea where he was going to hit it, which speed, what direction." . Tennis.com . February 2019 . 14 February 2019.
5. Web site: Tennis – ATP World Tour – Tennis Players – Wayne Arthurs . ATP World Tour . 20 December 2011.
6. Web site: ITF Tennis – ABOUT – Articles – Tennis stars honoured with OLY in Brisbane. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190106013624/https://www.itftennis.com/news/298681.aspx . 6 January 2019 .
7. Web site: Wayne Arthurs. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 5 January 2012.