Matt Mitchell (tennis)

Matt Mitchell (born 16 March 1957) is a former American professional tennis player who played from 1979 to 1987.

Matt Mitchell
BornMarch 16, 1957
NationalityAmerican
OccupationProfessional tennis player

Early life

Mitchell, who was born in Berkeley, California, was the number one player in the last year of his age group from the 10s through the 16s. Mitchell holds four National Junior Titles: National Hardcourt Championships in Burlingame, California, in the 12-and-under Doubles with Jeff Robinson at the Peninsula Tennis Club; National Hardcourt Championships in Burlingame, California, in the 14-and-under Singles where he defeated Southern California's Perry Wright in the finals after upsetting Howard Schoenfield in the semifinals; National Hardcourt Championships in Burlingame, California at the Peninsula Tennis Club in the 16-and-under Singles, where he defeated Southern California's Walter Redondo; and, the National Hardcourt Championships in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in the 16-and-under Doubles with Nial Brash.[1]

Amateur career

In 1974, Mitchell was recruited by Coach Dick Gould of Stanford University, where Mitchell signed his letter of intent in 1975. At Stanford University, MItchell became a 3-time All-American, where he achieved his first All-American honors when he beat the two-sport All-American John Lucas from the University of Maryland in the round of 32 at the NCAA Championships in Corpus Christi, Texas.[1]

In 1977, Mitchell helped win the "NCAA National Team Championships" where each team sent their best six singles players and best three doubles teams to compete in a single-elimination tournament.[2] After Stanford University won the National Team Championships, Mitchell, who was seeded first in the singles event, beat John Bennett of Brigham Young University, John Austin of UCLA, Ben McKown of Trinity College, Bruce Nichols of UCLA, Chris Lewis of USC, and in the final, Tony Graham of UCLA in the best of five set final to win the NCAA Singles Title.[1]

Professional career

In 1979 Mitchell, in his first year as a professional player, was nominated as Rookie of the Year after he was ranked the second highest rookie, behind Vince Van Patten. Mitchell's greatest success in singles came at the Black and Decker Championships, in Melbourne, Australia in 1984, where he beat Eliot Teltscher who was eighth in the world, and Pat Cash who was tenth in the world to win the tournament.[3] That single event catapulted Mitchell's ranking from 164 in the world to 63.[4]

Mitchell's greatest success as a professional came as a doubles player, winning seven tournaments in doubles between 1980 and 1985.[5] These included the 1984 ATP Player's Championships in Cincinnati, Ohio with Francisco Gonzalez, and, while partnering with Kevin Curren former All-American from University of Texas at Austin in 1986, they lost in the semifinals of the US Open Championships to Mats Wilander and Joakim Nyström of Sweden in a five-set match, 7–6 in the fifth.[6] Mitchell's highest doubles ranking as a professional was 30 in the world.

Honors

In 1981, Mitchell was inducted into Stanford University Athletic Hall of Fame.[7]

In 2006, Mitchell was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Men's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame.[8]

References
  1. "2015 USTA Northern California Hall of Fame - Matt Mitchell". Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  2. "NCAA tennis champions". Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  3. "Matt Mitchell 1984 tennis season". Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  4. "Matt Mitchell ATP rankings". Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  5. "ATP titles and final of Matt Mitchell". Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  6. "Steve's Tennis: ATP US Open Draw (Men's) - 1986". Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  7. "1981 Stanford Hall of Fame". Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  8. "Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall of Fame - Class of 2006". Retrieved September 19, 2016.


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