Peter Leslie Doohan (2 May 1961 – 21 July 2017) was an Australian tennis player who won three consecutive Australian Hard Court Championships singles titles (1984, 1985, 1986),[1] which remains an Open era record for that tournament. He won a further two singles titles at the South Australian Open in 1984 and San Louis Potosí tournament in Mexico in 1988. He also won five doubles titles during his career. The right-hander reached his highest Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) singles ranking of world No. 43 in August 1987.
Country (sports) | Australia |
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Residence | Nelson Bay, New South Wales, Australia |
Born | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia | 2 May 1961
Died | 21 July 2017 Australia | (aged 56)
Height | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) |
Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
College | University of Arkansas |
Prize money | $445,192 |
Singles | |
Career record | 49–81 |
Career titles | 1 |
Highest ranking | No. 43 (3 August 1987) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | 4R (1987) |
French Open | 1R (1986) |
Wimbledon | 4R (1987) |
US Open | 2R (1984) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 141–106 |
Career titles | 5 |
Highest ranking | No. 15 (9 February 1987) |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Australian Open | F (1987) |
French Open | 2R (1989) |
Wimbledon | SF (1984, 1988) |
US Open | 3R (1988, 1990) |
Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
Australian Open | SF (1989) |
French Open | 3R (1989) |
Wimbledon | 3R (1984, 1985, 1989) |
US Open | 1R (1987) |
Early and personal life
editPeter Leslie Doohan was born on 2 May 1961 in Newcastle, New South Wales, to Paul and Thelma Doohan.[2][3] Her sisters were Cathie Roff and Margaret Knight.[2][3] His sons include tennis coach John Doohan and American actor Hunter Doohan.
Doohan died on 21 July 2017 from motor neurone disease.[4]
Career
editAt the 1987 Wimbledon Championships, he unexpectedly defeated two-time defending champion and top-seeded Boris Becker in the second round, earning himself the nickname "The Becker Wrecker" at home in Australia.[5][6][7]
Doohan played collegiately in the United States with the University of Arkansas where he won the NCAA doubles title in 1982. Also a successful singles player, he won three Australian Hard Court Championships consecutively from 1984 to 1986. In 1984, he won the South Australian Open singles title.[8] In 1988, he won the San Louis Potosí singles title on clay[9] in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. He also coached high school tennis at Donoho High School in Anniston, Alabama, for several years in the mid-1990s.[4]
Grand Slam finals
editDoubles: 1 (1 runner-up)
editResult | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Loss | 1987 | Australian Open | Grass | Laurie Warder | Stefan Edberg Anders Järryd |
4–6, 4–6, 6–7(3–7) |
ATP career finals
editSingles: 4 (1 title, 3 runner-ups)
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Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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Win | 1–0 | Dec 1984 | Adelaide, Australia | Grand Prix | Grass | Huub van Boeckel | 1–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
Loss | 1–1 | Dec 1985 | Adelaide, Australia | Grand Prix | Grass | Eddie Edwards | 2–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 1–2 | Dec 1985 | Melbourne, Australia | Grand Prix | Grass | Jonathan Canter | 7–5, 3–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 1–3 | Feb 1987 | Sydney, Australia | Grand Prix | Grass | Miloslav Mečíř | 2–6, 4–6 |
Doubles: 14 (5 titles, 9 runner-ups)
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Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1–0 | Sep 1984 | Tel Aviv, Israel | Grand Prix | Hard | Brian Levine | Colin Dowdeswell Jakob Hlasek |
6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 1–1 | Dec 1984 | Adelaide, Australia | Grand Prix | Grass | Brian Levine | Broderick Dyke Wally Masur |
6–4, 5–7, 1–6 |
Win | 2–1 | Jul 1985 | Newport, United States | Grand Prix | Grass | Sammy Giammalva | Paul Annacone Christo van Rensburg |
6–1, 6–3 |
Win | 3–1 | Jul 1985 | Livingston, United States | Grand Prix | Hard | Mike De Palmer | Eddie Edwards Danie Visser |
6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 3–2 | Mar 1986 | Fort Meyers, United States | Grand Prix | Hard | Paul McNamee | Andrés Gómez Ivan Lendl |
5–7, 4–6 |
Loss | 3–3 | Jan 1987 | Adelaide, Australia | Grand Prix | Grass | Laurie Warder | Ivan Lendl Bill Scanlon |
7–6, 3–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 3–4 | Jan 1987 | Melbourne, Australia | Grand Slam | Grass | Laurie Warder | Stefan Edberg Anders Järryd |
4–6, 4–6, 6–7 |
Loss | 3–5 | Feb 1987 | Sydney, Australia | Grand Prix | Grass | Laurie Warder | Brad Drewett Mark Edmondson |
4–6, 6–4, 2–6 |
Loss | 3–6 | Aug 1987 | Montreal, Canada | Masters Series | Hard | Laurie Warder | Pat Cash Stefan Edberg |
7–6, 3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 4–6 | Jun 1988 | Bristol, United Kingdom | Grand Prix | Grass | Laurie Warder | Marty Davis Tim Pawsat |
2–6, 6–4, 7–5 |
Loss | 4–7 | Sep 1988 | Los Angeles, United States | Grand Prix | Hard | Jim Grabb | John McEnroe Mark Woodforde |
4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 5–7 | Jan 1989 | Wellington, New Zealand | Grand Prix | Hard | Laurie Warder | Rill Baxter Glenn Michibata |
3–6, 6–2, 6–3 |
Loss | 5–8 | May 1989 | Munich, Germany | Grand Prix | Clay | Laurie Warder | Javier Sánchez Balázs Taróczy |
6–7, 3–6 |
Loss | 5–9 | Aug 1989 | Indianapolis, United States | Championship Series | Hard | Laurie Warder | Pieter Aldrich Danie Visser |
6–7, 6–7 |
ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals
editSingles: 1 (0–1)
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Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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Loss | 0–1 | Mar 1989 | San Luis Potosí, Mexico | Challenger | Clay | Jorge Lozano | 4–6, 4–6 |
Doubles: 1 (1–0)
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Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Win | 1–0 | Sep 1990 | Canberra, Australia | Challenger | Carpet | Brett Custer | David Adams Jamie Morgan |
6–3, 6–4 |
Performance timelines
editW | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
Singles
editTournament | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | SR | W–L | Win % | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | A | 1R | Q1 | Q3 | 1R | 1R | 3R | A | 4R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 0 / 9 | 6–9 | 40% | ||||||
French Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% | ||||||
Wimbledon | Q2 | 1R | Q1 | 1R | Q3 | Q2 | 1R | 1R | 4R | 1R | Q2 | Q1 | A | 0 / 6 | 3–6 | 33% | ||||||
US Open | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | 1R | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 3 | 1–3 | 25% | ||||||
Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 6–3 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0 / 19 | 10–19 | 34% | ||||||
ATP Masters Series | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Indian Wells | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% | ||||||
Miami | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | 0 / 2 | 1–2 | 33% | ||||||
Canada | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% | ||||||
Cincinnati | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% | ||||||
Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0 / 5 | 1–5 | 17% |
Doubles
editTournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | SR | W–L | Win % | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | 1R | 1R | A | 1R | SF | 3R | A | F | 1R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 0 / 10 | 11–10 | 52% | |||||||
French Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | 0 / 1 | 1–1 | 50% | |||||||
Wimbledon | 1R | Q2 | A | Q2 | SF | 1R | 2R | 3R | SF | QF | 2R | 1R | 0 / 9 | 15–9 | 63% | |||||||
US Open | A | A | 1R | A | 2R | 2R | A | 2R | 3R | A | 3R | A | 0 / 6 | 7–6 | 54% | |||||||
Win–loss | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 8–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 7–3 | 6–3 | 6–3 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 0 / 26 | 34–26 | 57% | |||||||
ATP Masters Series | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Indian Wells | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | QF | 2R | A | A | 0 / 3 | 4–3 | 57% | |||||||
Miami | A | A | A | A | A | 3R | A | QF | 2R | A | 2R | A | 0 / 4 | 0–4 | 64% | |||||||
Monte Carlo | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% | |||||||
Hamburg | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | QF | A | A | 0 / 1 | 2–1 | 67% | |||||||
Rome | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | QF | A | A | 0 / 1 | 2–1 | 67% | |||||||
Canada | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | F | A | A | SF | A | 0 / 3 | 8–3 | 73% | |||||||
Cincinnati | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | QF | 2R | A | A | A | 0 / 3 | 4–3 | 57% | |||||||
Paris | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% | |||||||
Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 10–5 | 4–3 | 5–4 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 0 / 17 | 27–17 | 50% |
Mixed doubles
editTournament | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | SR | W–L | Win % | ||||||||||||
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Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | A | A | A | QF | 1R | SF | 2R | 0 / 4 | 6–4 | 60% | ||||||||||||
French Open | A | A | A | A | A | 3R | A | 0 / 1 | 1–1 | 50% | ||||||||||||
Wimbledon | 3R | 3R | A | 2R | A | 3R | 1R | 0 / 5 | 7–5 | 58% | ||||||||||||
US Open | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% | ||||||||||||
Win–loss | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 0–1 | 6–3 | 1–2 | 0 / 11 | 14–11 | 56% |
References
edit- ^ "Display:Peter Doohan". collections.ncc.nsw.gov.au. NSW Government Sporting Hall of Fame, Australia. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ a b "Obituary for Peter Leslie Doohan, Nelson Bay, Australia, AR". www.nwaonline.com. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Thelma DOOHAN Obituary (2018) - Legacy Remembers". Legacy.com. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ a b "'Becker wrecker': Ex-Aussie tennis player Peter Doohan dies at age 56". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 July 2017.
- ^ "Becker Is Upset at Wimbledon by Unseeded Australian". New York Times. 27 June 1987. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ Warren, Dan (23 June 2003). "Wimbledon's greatest shocks". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ Paul Fein (2005). You Can Quote Me on That: Greatest Tennis Quips, Insights, and Zingers. Potomac Books, Incorporated. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-57488-925-3.
- ^ "South Australian Open tournament roll of honour". thetennisbase.com. The Tennis Base. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ "1988 San Luis Potosí tournament draw". thetennisbase.com. The Tennis Base. Retrieved 13 October 2017.