Robbie Koenig
Robbie Koenig (/ˈkoʊnɪɡ/ KOH-nig;[1][2][3] born 5 July 1971) is a retired professional tennis player from South Africa who is now a tennis commentator and analyst. He won five doubles titles and reached the semifinals of the 1998 US Open men's doubles competition. Koenig works as a tennis broadcaster for a host of TV channels around the world, most notably the ATP Masters 1000 events, the Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon (Radio) as well as the premier online tennis channel of TennisTV.com
Country (sports) | ![]() |
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Residence | Durban, South Africa |
Born | Durban, South Africa | 5 July 1971
Turned pro | 1992 (first senior event 1989) |
Retired | 2005 |
Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
Prize money | US$944,191 |
Singles | |
Career record | 3–11 |
Career titles | 0 |
Highest ranking | No. 262 (9 November 1992) |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
French Open | Q1 (1996, 1997) |
Wimbledon | Q3 (1992) |
US Open | Q1 (1992, 1996, 1997) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 176–210 |
Career titles | 5 |
Highest ranking | No. 28 (19 May 2003) |
Grand Slam Doubles results | |
Australian Open | 3R (1998, 2004) |
French Open | 2R (1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005) |
Wimbledon | 3R (1998, 1999) |
US Open | SF (1998) |
Mixed doubles | |
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results | |
Australian Open | SF (2001) |
French Open | 1R (1998, 1999, 2003) |
Wimbledon | SF (2001) |
US Open | SF (2002) |
Playing career
Koenig achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 262, notably reaching the third round of Washington in 1992. He had wins early on in his singles career over the likes of Tim Henman, Pat Rafter, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Felix Mantilla. Most of his success, however, came in doubles. He won 5 titles (with 6 further finals), reaching a career-high doubles ranking of World No. 28 in May 2003. As well as his US Open doubles semi-finals appearance in 1998, Koenig reached the round-of-16 twice at Wimbledon in 1998 and 1999. He was also a quarter-finalist on 3 other occasions at the US Open in 1997, 2001 and 2004. In Mixed Doubles he reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2001 and the US Open in 2002. He also represented South Africa in Davis Cup on four occasions and was captained by 1985 Wimbledon finalist, Kevin Curren.
Commentating career
Koenig is known for his commentary on the ATP World Tour at their Masters 1000 events matches broadcast on Tennis Channel as well as the online tennis broadcast site TennisTV, often as part of a commentating duo alongside Jason Goodall. He has been assigned to commentate at the Australian Open and US Open. He can also be heard on Fox Sports in Australia, Star Sports in Asia, ESPN International as well as SuperSport in South Africa where he co-hosts during the Grand Slam events.
ATP Tour finals
Doubles (5 titles, 6 runners-up)
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1. | 17 May 1999 | St. Pölten, Austria | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–5, 4–6, 5–7 |
Runner-up | 2. | 7 February 2000 | Dubai, UAE | Hard | ![]() |
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2–6, 5–7 |
Runner-up | 3. | 11 September 2000 | Tashkent, Uzbekistan | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 4. | 17 September 2001 | Shanghai, China | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2–6, 6–3, 5–7 |
Runner-up | 5. | 25 February 2002 | San Jose, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 6–4, [5–10] |
Winner | 1. | 22 July 2002 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(7–3), 6–4 |
Winner | 2. | 9 September 2002 | Tashkent, Uzbekistan | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 7–5 |
Winner | 3. | 6 January 2003 | Auckland, New Zealand | Hard | ![]() |
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7–6(7–5), 3–6, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 6. | 21 April 2003 | Barcelona, Spain | Clay | ![]() |
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4–6, 3–6 |
Winner | 4. | 18 August 2003 | Long Island, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–3, 7–6(7–4) |
Winner | 5. | 16 August 2004 | Washington, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(7–3), 6–1 |
References
- ATPWorldTour (30 March 2013). "Koenig, Goodall Preview 2013 Miami Final Murray Ferrer". YouTube. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- ATPWorldTour (27 November 2010). "Nadal Vs Federer In London Final Experts Preview". YouTube. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- ATPWorldTour (20 March 2011). "Experts Debate Nadal Vs Djokovic Indian Wells Final". YouTube. Retrieved 24 January 2018.