Sébastien Grosjean
Sébastien René Grosjean (French pronunciation: [sebastjɛ̃ ʁəne ɡʁoˈʒɑ̃]; born 29 May 1978) is a former top-five professional tennis player from France. He reached the Australian Open and French Open Grand Slam semifinals in 2001, and was Wimbledon semifinalist in both 2003 and 2004. He finished eight consecutive seasons in the top-30 (1999-2006), peaking at world No. 4 in October 2002. Grosjean retired from professional tennis on 27 May 2010.[1] In December 2018, he was named Davis Cup captain for France.[2]
Country (sports) | |
---|---|
Residence | Boca Raton, Florida |
Born | Marseille, France | 29 May 1978
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
Turned pro | 1996 |
Retired | 27 May 2010 |
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
Prize money | $8,131,804 |
Singles | |
Career record | 341–247 |
Career titles | 4 |
Highest ranking | No. 4 (28 October 2002) |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
Australian Open | SF (2001) |
French Open | SF (2001) |
Wimbledon | SF (2003, 2004) |
US Open | 3R (2000, 2005, 2007) |
Other tournaments | |
Tour Finals | F (2001) |
Olympic Games | QF (2000) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 82–99 |
Career titles | 5 |
Highest ranking | No. 52 (12 April 2004) |
Grand Slam Doubles results | |
Australian Open | 3R (2001) |
French Open | 1R (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009) |
US Open | 3R (2008) |
Mixed doubles | |
Career record | 2–2 |
Career titles | 0 |
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results | |
French Open | 3R (1998) |
Team competitions | |
Davis Cup | W (2001) |
Coaching career | |
Career
Juniors
As a junior, Grosjean posted a 90-20 singles record and a 58-12 doubles record, winning the 1996 French Open boys' doubles. He reached No. 1 in the world in both singles and doubles in December 1996.
Pro tour
Grosjean joined the professional tour in 1996. In 2003 and 2004, he reached the final of the Queen's London Tournament. In the same two years, he also reached the semifinals of Wimbledon. He finished 2001 as the No. 1 player from his country and for the first time in the top 10 becoming the first Frenchman to finish a year in the top 10 since Cédric Pioline in 1993. In 2001, Grosjean won the Davis Cup with the French team.
Grosjean is known for his extreme forehand, his best shot, he utilizes something of a western grip, which is hit at high velocities. He has appeared in four Grand Slam semifinal matches. As well as his two Wimbledon runs, he also reached the French Open semifinals in 2001. His most famous chance was at the 2001 Australian Open against Arnaud Clément. Grosjean led two sets to love and had a match point in the fourth set before Clément prevailed. This was long considered the worst 'choke' in five-set history, until the 2004 French Open final.
He won his fourth singles title at the 2007 Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon, with a victory over countryman Marc Gicquel. He also won the doubles final with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as a wildcard team, where they upset the first and third seeds.
Considered one of the more popular players on the circuit, he is lauded for his attractive, graceful style and classical skills. He is affectionately nicknamed 'Big John' by fans, a literal translation of his surname into English.
Personal life
Grosjean married his wife Marie-Pierre on 16 November 1998 and has a daughter named Lola (born 11 October 1998), a son named Tom (2002), and a daughter named Sam (2006). The family resides in Boca Raton, Florida (U.S.), where Grosjean trains at the Evert Tennis Academy. He is sponsored by Lacoste in apparel and Head rackets. He used the Head Radical Tour TwinTube 630 XL under various paint jobs throughout his career.
Major finals
Year-end championships finals
Singles: 1 (1 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 2001 | Masters Cup | Hard (i) | 3–6, 3–6, 4–6 |
Masters Series finals
Singles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1999 | Miami Masters | Hard | 6–4, 1–6, 2–6, 5–7 | |
Winner | 2001 | Paris Masters | Carpet (i) | 7–6(7–3), 6–1, 6–7(5–7), 6–4 |
Career finals
Singles: 13 (4 titles, 9 runner-ups)
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Outcome | No. | Date | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1. | 29 March 1999 | Miami, United States | Hard | 6–4, 1–6, 2–6, 5–7 | |
Runner-up | 2. | 3 May 1999 | Atlanta, United States | Clay | 1–6, 2–6 | |
Runner-up | 3. | 17 April 2000 | Casablanca, Morocco | Clay | 4–6, 6–4, 6–7(3–7) | |
Winner | 1. | 25 June 2000 | Nottingham, United Kingdom | Grass | 7–6(9–7), 6–3 | |
Runner-up | 4. | 19 February 2001 | Marseille, France | Hard (i) | 6–7(5–7), 2–6 | |
Winner | 2. | 4 November 2001 | Paris Masters, France | Carpet (i) | 7–6(7–3), 6–1, 6–7(5–7), 6–4 | |
Runner-up | 5. | 12 November 2001 | Tennis Masters Cup, Sydney | Hard (i) | 3–6, 3–6, 4–6 | |
Winner | 3. | 27 October 2002 | St. Petersburg, Russia | Hard (i) | 7–5, 6–4 | |
Runner-up | 6. | 16 June 2003 | Queen's Club, United Kingdom | Grass | 3–6, 3–6 | |
Runner-up | 7. | 6 October 2003 | Tokyo, Japan | Hard | 6–7(5–7), 2–6 | |
Runner-up | 8. | 14 June 2004 | Queen's Club, United Kingdom | Grass | 6–7(4–7), 4–6 | |
Runner-up | 9. | 25 April 2005 | Houston, United States | Clay | 2–6, 2–6 | |
Winner | 4. | 28 October 2007 | Lyon, France | Carpet (i) | 7–6(7–5), 6–4 |
Doubles
- Wins (5)
No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partnering | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 10 April 2000 | Casablanca, Morocco | Clay | 7–6(7–4), 6–4 | ||
2. | 22 July 2002 | Los Angeles, United States | Hard | 6–4, 6–4 | ||
3. | 10 February 2003 | Marseille, France | Hard (i) | 6–1, 6–4 | ||
4. | 8 March 2004 | Indian Wells, United States | Hard | 6–3, 4–6, 7–5 | ||
5. | 22 October 2007 | Lyon, France | Carpet (i) | 6–4, 6–3 |
Performance timeline
Singles
Tournament | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | Career SR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam tournaments | |||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | A | A | A | Q2 | 1R | 3R | SF | 2R | QF | QF | 2R | QF | 3R | 3R | A | 1R | 0 / 11 |
French Open | A | A | 1R | 1R | 3R | 3R | SF | QF | 2R | 2R | 4R | 2R | 1R | A | A | A | 0 / 11 |
Wimbledon | A | A | Q3 | 4R | 3R | 1R | 3R | A | SF | SF | QF | 3R | 2R | 2R | A | A | 0 / 10 |
US Open | A | A | Q1 | 1R | 1R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 3R | 1R | A | A | 0 / 11 |
Grand Slam SR | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 43 |
Year-end championships | |||||||||||||||||
Tennis Masters Cup | Did Not Qualify | F | Did Not Qualify | 0 / 1 | |||||||||||||
ATP Masters Series | |||||||||||||||||
Indian Wells | A | A | A | A | A | 3R | 3R | 1R | 3R | 4R | 2R | 4R | 1R | 1R | A | Q1 | 0 / 9 |
Miami | A | A | A | A | F | 3R | 3R | 3R | 2R | 4R | 3R | 3R | 2R | 2R | A | A | 0 / 10 |
Monte Carlo | A | A | Q1 | 2R | 3R | 1R | SF | SF | A | 2R | A | 2R | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 8 |
Rome | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 3R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 8 |
Madrid (Stuttgart) | A | A | A | A | 2R | SF | 3R | SF | QF | A | 2R | 2R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 7 |
Canada | A | A | A | A | 2R | 3R | A | QF | 3R | 1R | 3R | 2R | 1R | A | A | A | 0 / 8 |
Cincinnati | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 2R | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | Q2 | A | A | A | 0 / 8 |
Shanghai | Not Held | A | A | 0 / 0 | |||||||||||||
Paris | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 3R | W | 3R | 2R | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | A | 1R | A | 1 / 10 |
Hamburg | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | 3R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 3R | 3R | Q2 | A | NM1 | 0 / 7 | |
Masters Series SR | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 7 | 0 / 9 | 1 / 7 | 0 / 9 | 0 / 8 | 0 / 7 | 0 / 8 | 0 / 9 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 1 / 75 |
Year-end ranking | 861 | 405 | 145 | 88 | 26 | 19 | 6 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 28 | 53 | 170 | 677 | 722 | N/A |
Top 10 wins
Season | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | Total |
Wins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
# | Player | Rank | Event | Surface | Rd | Score | GR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | |||||||
1. | 1 | Miami, United States | Hard | 4R | 3–6, 6–4, 7–6(11–9) | 74 | |
2. | 6 | Indianapolis, United States | Hard | QF | 6–4, 6–3 | 32 | |
2000 | |||||||
3. | 9 | Indian Wells, United States | Hard | 2R | 6–3, 3–6, 7–5 | 19 | |
4. | 10 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | 2R | 6–3, 7–6(7–5) | 27 | |
5. | 3 | Stuttgart, Germany | Hard (i) | 3R | 7–6(11–9), 6–3 | 32 | |
2001 | |||||||
6. | 4 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Hard | 4R | 7–6(9–7), 6–3, 0–6, 6–4 | 19 | |
7. | 2 | World Team Cup, Düsseldorf | Clay | RR | 7–6(8–6), 6–3 | 10 | |
8. | 3 | French Open, Paris | Clay | QF | 1–6, 6–1, 6–1, 6–3 | 10 | |
9. | 6 | Paris Masters, France | Carpet (i) | F | 7–6(7–3), 6–1, 6–7(5–7), 6–4 | 8 | |
10. | 5 | Tennis Masters Cup, Sydney | Hard (i) | RR | 7–6(7–4), 6–3 | 7 | |
11. | 3 | Tennis Masters Cup, Sydney | Hard (i) | RR | 6–3, 6–4 | 7 | |
12. | 6 | Tennis Masters Cup, Sydney | Hard (i) | SF | 6–4, 6–2 | 7 | |
2003 | |||||||
13. | 1 | Queen's Club, United Kingdom | Grass | QF | 6–3, 6–4 | 20 | |
14. | 3 | Wimbledon, United Kingdom | Grass | 4R | 6–2, 4–6, 7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–3) | 14 | |
2005 | |||||||
15. | 10 | Houston, United States | Clay | QF | 4–6, 6–1, 6–2 | 30 | |
2006 | |||||||
16. | 9 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Hard | 3R | 6–2, 6–2, 3–6, 6–4 | 28 |
References
- "Grosjean ends his pro tennis career". Yahoo Sports. 27 May 2010.
- https://www.daviscup.com/en/news/298527.aspx