Chris O'Neil (tennis)

Christine O'Neil
Country (sports)  Australia
Residence Australia
Born (1956-03-19) 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 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981)
Wimbledon 3R (1974)
US Open 2R (1974, 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)

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

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)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Winner1978Australian OpenGrassUnited States Betsy Nagelsen6–3, 7–6(7–3)

References

  1. ↑ "Profiles: Chris O'Neil". Tennis Australia. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Australian Open Tennis". State Government of Victoria. 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.


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