Chris O'Neil (tennis)

Christine O'Neil (born 19 March 1956) is a former professional female tennis player from Australia.[1]

Chris O'Neil

Country (sports)	Australia
Residence	Australia
Born	19 March 1956 Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
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)

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	Betsy Nagelsen	6–3, 7–6^(7–3)

Grand Slam tournament performance timeline

Key

W

F

SF

QF

#R

RR

Q#

A

NH

(W) Won; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent; (NH) not held. SR=strike rate (events won/competed)

Singles

Tournament	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977		1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	SR
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open	1R	1R	2R	1R	1R	A	W	A	A	A	2R	A	1 / 7
French Open	A	A	A	1R	1R		1R	1R	A	2R	A	1R	0 / 6
Wimbledon	A	3R	1R	A	2R		1R	2R	A	1R	A	1R	0 / 7
US Open	A	1R	A	A	A		2R	2R	A	A	A	A	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

1. "Profiles: Chris O'Neil". Tennis Australia. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
2. "Australian Open Tennis". State Government of Victoria. Archived from the original on 15 October 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
3. "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.
4. "Williams wallops Sharapova for eighth Grand Slam". Associated Press. 27 January 2007. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
5. "O'Neil's School of Tennis". O'Neil's School of Tennis. Archived from the original on 26 January 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
6. "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