Brian Teacher

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Brian Teacher
Country (sports)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Born (1954-12-23) December 23, 1954 (age 69)
San Diego, California
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Turned pro1973
Retired1986
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money $1,426,514
Singles
Career record333–236
Career titles8
Highest rankingNo. 7 (October 5, 1981)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open W (1980)
French Open 3R (1978)
Wimbledon QF (1982)
US Open 4R (1978, 1980)
Doubles
Career record220–172
Career titles16
Highest rankingNo. 24 (August 9, 1983)

Brian David Teacher (born December 23, 1954) is an American former professional tennis player. He reached career-high rankings of world No. 7 in singles and world No. 5 in doubles, both in 1981. Teacher is best remembered for being a major singles champion, triumphing at the 1980 Australian Open. He won eight career singles titles and 16 doubles titles.

Contents

Following his playing career, he became a touring coach on both the ATP Tour and WTA Tour. He currently runs the Brian Teacher Tennis Academy in South Pasadena, California.

Early and personal life

Teacher was born in San Diego, California. [1] [2] [3] He attended Crawford High School in San Diego, graduating in 1972. [2] He later lived in Beverly Hills, California. [4]

In 1979, he married fellow Californian player Kathy May, also a top 10 tennis player. They subsequently divorced. [5] He later studied for his MBA at the USC Marshall School of Business. [6]

Tennis career

Junior, high school, and college

Teacher won a CIF singles title in 1972 while at Crawford High School. [7]

In 1972, he won the boys' 18 singles and doubles titles. [8] At the University of California-Los Angeles, where he studied economics, he won the Pacific-8 singles and doubles championship in 1974, was an All-American from 1973 to 1976, and was a member of the UCLA teams that won the NCAA championship in 1975 and 1976. [6]

Professional career

He reached the finals in the South Australian and New South Wales Opens in 1977. In 1978, at the Seiko World Super Tennis Tournament in Tokyo, Teacher upset UCLA graduates Jimmy Connors and Arthur Ashe before losing in the final to Björn Borg 6–3, 6–4. [9]

In 1980, he won the Australian Open, becoming the second Jewish player to win a men's Grand Slam Singles event (after Dick Savitt). [1] He won the final over Kim Warwick of Australia in straight sets. [10] [11] With his Grand Slam victory, Teacher is one of only five American male players in the Open era to have won a single Grand Slam event (along with Michael Chang, Vitas Gerulaitis, Andy Roddick, and Roscoe Tanner). Seven more Americans have more than one Slam (Stan Smith, Arthur Ashe, Jim Courier, Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, and Pete Sampras).

His career-high world singles ranking was No. 7 and his world doubles ranking was No. 5, both in 1981. [1]

He won 8 career singles titles, and 16 doubles titles. [1]

Halls of fame

Teacher was inducted in 2001 into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Hall of Fame, [12] in 2008 into the San Diego Tennis Hall of Fame, [13] and he is also a member of the NCAA Tennis Hall of Fame and the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. [14] In 2014 he was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. [1] In 2015, Teacher was inducted into the Southern California Tennis Association Hall of Fame. [15]

Coach

Following his playing career, he became an ATP and WTA touring coach working with Andre Agassi and Greg Rusedski. [16] [17] Under his tutelage, Rusedski made a run from #85 in the world to the top ten and the U.S. Open finals. Teacher also coached world #1 doubles players Jim Grabb, Richey Reneberg, Daniel Nestor, and Max Mirnyi. [18] On the women's side, he coached WTA tour player Marissa Irvin. [19] He currently runs the Brian Teacher Tennis Academy in South Pasadena, California [20]

Grand Slam finals

Singles (1 win)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScore
Win 1980 Australian Open Grass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kim Warwick 7–5, 7–6(7–4), 6–3

Career finals

Singles (8 titles, 15 runners-up)

Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (1)
Tennis Masters Cup (0)
Grand Prix (7)
Titles by surface
Hard (2)
Grass (2)
Clay (0)
Carpet (4)
ResultW/LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Sep 1976 Newport, U.S.Grass Flag of India.svg Vijay Amritraj 3–6, 6–4, 3–6, 1–6
Loss0–2Jan 1977 Adelaide, AustraliaGrass Flag of the United States.svg Victor Amaya 1–6, 4–6
Win1–2Apr 1977 Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.Carpet Flag of the United States.svg Bill Scanlon 6–3, 6–3
Loss1–3Dec 1977 Sydney Outdoor, AustraliaGrass Flag of the United States.svg Roscoe Tanner 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 7–6, 4–6
Loss1–4Oct 1978 Tokyo Indoor, Japan Carpet Flag of Sweden.svg Björn Borg 3–6, 4–6
Win2–4Nov 1978 Taipei, Taiwan Carpet Flag of the United States.svg Tom Gorman 6–3, 6–3, 6–3
Win3–4Jul 1979 Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.Grass Flag of the United States.svg Stan Smith 1–6, 6–3, 6–4
Loss3–5Apr 1980 Los Angeles, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Gene Mayer 3–6, 2–6
Loss3–6Nov 1980 Hong Kong Hard Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Ivan Lendl 7–5, 6–7(2–7) , 3–6
Loss3–7Nov 1980 Taipei, Taiwan Carpet Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Ivan Lendl7–6, 3–6, 3–6, 6–7(5–7)
Loss3–8Nov 1980 Bangkok, Thailand Carpet Flag of India.svg Vijay Amritraj3–6, 5–7
Loss3–9Dec 1980Sydney Outdoor, AustraliaGrass Flag of the United States.svg Fritz Buehning 3–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–7(5–7)
Win4–9Dec 1980 Australian Open, Melbourne Grass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kim Warwick 7–5, 7–6(7–4) , 6–3
Win5–9Aug 1981 Columbus, Ohio, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg John Austin 6–3, 6–2
Loss5–10Sep 1981 San Francisco, U.S.Carpet Flag of the United States.svg Eliot Teltscher 3–6, 6–7(4–7)
Loss5–11Sep 1982 Maui, Hawaii, U.S.Hard Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Fitzgerald 2–6, 3–6
Win6–11Dec 1982 Dortmund WCT, West GermanyCarpet Flag of Poland.svg Wojciech Fibak 6–7, 6–4, 6–4, 2–6, 6–4
Win7–11Mar 1983 Munich WCT, West GermanyCarpet Flag of the United States.svg Mark Dickson 1–6, 6–4, 6–2, 6–3
Win8–11Aug 1983 Columbus, Ohio, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Bill Scanlon7–6, 6–4
Loss8–12Sep 1983 Dallas, Texas, U.S.Hard Flag of Ecuador.svg Andrés Gómez 7–6(7–2) , 1–6, 1–6
Loss8–13Jun 1984 Bristol, U.K. Grass Flag of the United States.svg Johan Kriek 7–6, 6–7, 4–6
Loss8–14Jul 1984 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Flag of Sweden.svg Joakim Nyström 4–6, 2–6
Loss8–15Jul 1985 Livingston, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Brad Gilbert 6–4, 5–7, 0–6

Doubles (16 titles, 7 runners-up)

ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1.1976 Columbus, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg William Brown Flag of the United States.svg Fred McNair
Flag of the United States.svg Sherwood Stewart
6–3, 6–4
Loss1.1978 Miami, U.S.Clay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Carmichael Flag of the United States.svg Tom Gullikson
Flag of the United States.svg Gene Mayer
6–7, 3–6
Win2.1978 Manila, Philippines Clay Flag of the United States.svg Sherwood Stewart Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ross Case
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Kachel
6–3, 7–6
Loss2.1979 Washington Indoor, U.S.Carpet Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Carmichael Flag of the United States.svg Robert Lutz
Flag of the United States.svg Stan Smith
4–6, 5–7, 6–3, 6–7
Loss3.1979 Stuttgart Indoor, West GermanyHard (i) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Carmichael Flag of Poland.svg Wojciech Fibak
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tom Okker
3–6, 7–5, 6–7
Win3.1980 Washington-2, U.S.Carpet Flag of the United States.svg Ferdi Taygan Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Kevin Curren
Flag of the United States.svg Steve Denton
4–6, 6–3, 7–6
Loss4.1980 Rotterdam, NetherlandsCarpet Flag of the United States.svg Bill Scanlon Flag of India.svg Vijay Amritraj
Flag of the United States.svg Stan Smith
4–6, 3–6
Win4.1980 Los Angeles, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Butch Walts Flag of India.svg Anand Amritraj
Flag of the United States.svg John Austin
6–2, 6–4
Win5.1980 Toronto, Canada Hard Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Manson Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Heinz Günthardt
Flag of the United States.svg Sandy Mayer
6–3, 3–6, 6–4
Win6.1980 Cincinnati, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Manson Flag of Poland.svg Wojciech Fibak
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Ivan Lendl
6–7, 7–5, 6–4
Loss5.1980 Hong Kong Hard Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Manson Flag of the United States.svg Peter Fleming
Flag of the United States.svg Ferdi Taygan
5–7, 2–6
Win7.1980 Taipei, Taiwan Carpet Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Manson Flag of the United States.svg John Austin
Flag of the United States.svg Ferdi Taygan
6–4, 6–0
Win8.1980 Bangkok, Thailand Carpet Flag of the United States.svg Ferdi Taygan Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tom Okker
Flag of the United States.svg Dick Stockton
7–6, 7–6
Win9.1981 La Quinta, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Manson Flag of the United States.svg Terry Moor
Flag of the United States.svg Eliot Teltscher
7–6, 6–2
Win10.1981 Frankfurt, West GermanyCarpet Flag of the United States.svg Butch Walts Flag of the United States.svg Vitas Gerulaitis
Flag of the United States.svg John McEnroe
7–5, 6–7, 7–5
Win11.1981 London/Queen's Club, U.K.Grass Flag of the United States.svg Pat DuPré Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Kevin Curren
Flag of the United States.svg Steve Denton
3–6, 7–6, 11–9
Win12.1981Columbus, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Manson Flag of India.svg Anand Amritraj
Flag of India.svg Vijay Amritraj
6–1, 6–1
Loss6.1982 Los Angeles, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Manson Flag of the United States.svg Sherwood Stewart
Flag of the United States.svg Ferdi Taygan
1–6, 7–6, 3–6
Win13.1982 Stuttgart Outdoor, West GermanyClay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Edmondson Flag of Germany.svg Andreas Maurer
Flag of Germany.svg Wolfgang Popp
6–3, 6–1
Win14.1982 San Francisco, U.S.Carpet Flag of the United States.svg Fritz Buehning Flag of the United States.svg Marty Davis
Flag of the United States.svg Chris Dunk
6–7, 6–2, 7–5
Loss7.1983 Richmond, Virginia, U.S.Carpet Flag of the United States.svg Fritz Buehning Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Pavel Složil
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Tomáš Šmíd
2–6, 4–6
Win15.1983Columbus, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Scott Davis Flag of India.svg Anand Amritraj
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Fitzgerald
6–1, 4–6, 7–6
Win16.1983 Johannesburg, South AfricaHard Flag of the United States.svg Steve Meister Flag of Ecuador.svg Andrés Gómez
Flag of the United States.svg Sherwood Stewart
6–7, 7–6, 6–2

Grand Slam tournament performance timeline

Key
W F SFQF#RRRQ#DNQANH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
Tournament 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 SRW–LWin %
Australian Open AAAAA 1R 1R AA W A QF 3R A 3R NHA1 / 612–570.6
French Open AAAAA 2R 3R 2R AAAAAAAA0 / 34–357.1
Wimbledon AAAA 2R 1R 2R 4R 3R 2R QF 3R 1R 1R 2R Q2 0 / 1115–1157.7
US Open PR* 2R 3R 1R 1R 2R 4R 1R 4R 2R 2R 1R 1R 3R 1R A0 / 1514–1548.3
Win–loss0–11–12–10–11–22–56–34–311–22–29–33–30–23–31–20–01 / 3545–3457.0

Miscellaneous

See also

Notes

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