Alex O'Brien

Alex O'Brien
O'Brien in 2018
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceAmarillo, Texas, United States
Born (1970-03-07) March 7, 1970
Amarillo, Texas, United States
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Turned pro1992
Retired2003
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
CollegeStanford University
Prize money$3,526,390
Singles
Career record93–136
Career titles1
Highest rankingNo. 30 (21 July 1997)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open2R (1995, 1998)
French Open2R (1993, 1994)
Wimbledon3R (1997)
US Open3R (1996)
Doubles
Career record277–185
Career titles13
Highest rankingNo. 1 (8 May 2000)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenF (1996, 1997)
French Open3R (1996)
WimbledonQF (1999, 2000)
US OpenW (1999)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour FinalsW (1999)
Olympic Games2R (2000)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open2R (1996)
Wimbledon2R (1997, 1998)
US Open1R (2001)
Last updated on: 31 December 2022.

Alex O'Brien (born (1970-03-07)March 7, 1970) is an American former doubles world No. 1 tennis player. He gained the top ranking in May 2000 and was ranked as high as world No. 30 in singles in June 1997. He won the men's doubles at the 1999 US Open with partner Sébastien Lareau.

Tennis career

O'Brien won his only singles title at New Haven, Connecticut in 1996 and reached the quarterfinals of the 1994 Cincinnati Masters and the 1996 Canada Masters.

He won 13 doubles titles, including one Grand Slam tournament, the 1999 US Open,[1] and the season-ending 1999 ATP Doubles Championships,[2] both partnering Sébastien Lareau. The pair were also finalists at the 1996 Australian Open and 1997 Australian Open.

O'Brien played on the United States Davis Cup team, competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and was a four-time All-American at Stanford University, where he won NCAA singles, doubles, and team titles in 1992. He earned a bachelor's degree in American Studies at Stanford in 1992.

After tennis

Following his tennis career, O'Brien founded an online business which markets and distributes steaks. The O'Brien family has been in the beef business for 60 years basing their production out of the LIT Ranch. O'Brien is currently President and part owner of the Bank of Commerce, a small community online bank with branches in Amarillo and McLean Texas.

Grand Slam finals

Doubles (1 title, 3 runners-ups)

Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1995 U.S. Open Hard Sandon Stolle Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
3–6, 3–6
Loss 1996 Australian Open Hard Sébastien Lareau Stefan Edberg
Petr Korda
5–7, 5–7, 6–4, 1–6
Loss 1997 Australian Open Hard Sébastien Lareau Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
6–4, 5–7, 5–7, 3–6
Win 1999 U.S. Open Hard Sébastien Lareau Mahesh Bhupathi
Leander Paes
7–6(9–7), 6–4

ATP career finals

Singles: 1 (1 title)

Legend
Grand Slam Tournaments (0–0)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP Masters Series (0–0)
ATP Championship Series (1–0)
ATP World Series (0–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (1–0)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Finals by setting
Outdoors (1–0)
Indoors (0–0)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Aug 1996 New Haven, United States Championship Series Hard Jan Siemerink 7–6(8–6), 6–4

Doubles: 33 (13 titles, 20 runner-ups)

Legend
Grand Slam Tournaments (1–3)
ATP World Tour Finals (1–1)
ATP Masters Series (4–3)
ATP Championship Series (2–4)
ATP World Series (5–9)
Finals by surface
Hard (10–14)
Clay (0–4)
Grass (1–1)
Carpet (2–1)
Finals by setting
Outdoors (8–16)
Indoors (5–4)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 Jan 1994 Oahu, United States World Series Hard Jonathan Stark Tom Nijssen
Cyril Suk
4–6, 4–6
Loss 0–2 Feb 1994 Scottsdale, United States World Series Hard Sandon Stolle Jan Apell
Ken Flach
0–6, 4–6
Win 1–2 Aug 1994 Cincinnati, United States Masters Series Hard Sandon Stolle Wayne Ferreira
Mark Kratzmann
6–7, 6–3, 6–2
Loss 1–3 Feb 1995 San Jose, United States World Series Hard Sandon Stolle Jim Grabb
Patrick McEnroe
6–3, 5–7, 0–6
Loss 1–4 May 1995 Pinehurst, United States World Series Clay Sandon Stolle Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
2–6, 4–6
Loss 1–5 Sep 1995 New York, United States Grand Slam Hard Sandon Stolle Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
3–6, 3–6
Loss 1–6 Jan 1996 Melbourne, Australia Grand Slam Hard Sébastien Lareau Stefan Edberg
Petr Korda
5–7, 5–7, 6–4, 1–6
Loss 1–7 Jun 1996 Queen's, United Kingdom World Series Grass Sébastien Lareau Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
3–6, 6–7(3–7)
Win 2–7 Oct 1996 Stuttgart, Germany Masters Series Hard Sébastien Lareau Jacco Eltingh
Paul Haarhuis
3–6, 6–4, 6–3
Loss 2–8 Nov 1996 Hartford, United States ATP Finals Carpet Sébastien Lareau Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
4–6, 7–5, 2–6, 6–7(3–7)
Loss 2–9 Jan 1997 Melbourne, Australia Grand Slam Hard Sébastien Lareau Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
6–4, 5–7, 5–7, 3–6
Win 3–9 Mar 1997 Philadelphia, United States Championship Series Hard Sébastien Lareau Ellis Ferreira
Patrick Galbraith
6–3, 6–3
Loss 3–10 Apr 1997 Orlando, United States World Series Clay Jeff Salzenstein Mark Merklein
Vince Spadea
4–6, 6–4, 4–6
Loss 3–11 May 1997 Rome, Italy Masters Series Clay Byron Black Mark Knowles
Daniel Nestor
3–6, 6–4, 5–7
Win 4–11 Jul 1997 Los Angeles, United States World Series Hard Sébastien Lareau Mahesh Bhupathi
Rick Leach
7–6, 6–4
Loss 4–12 Aug 1997 Montreal, Canada Masters Series Hard Sébastien Lareau Mahesh Bhupathi
Leander Paes
6–7, 3–6
Loss 4–13 Aug 1997 New Haven, United States Championship Series Hard Sébastien Lareau Mahesh Bhupathi
Leander Paes
4–6, 7–6, 2–6
Loss 4–14 Oct 1997 Beijing, China World Series Hard Jim Courier Mahesh Bhupathi
Leander Paes
5–7, 6–7
Loss 4–15 Mar 1998 Miami, United States Masters Series Hard Jonathan Stark Ellis Ferreira
Rick Leach
2–6, 4–6
Win 5–15 Apr 1998 Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Series Hard Byron Black Neville Godwin
Tuomas Ketola
7–5, 6–1
Loss 5–16 May 1998 Atlanta, United States World Series Clay Richey Reneberg Ellis Ferreira
Brent Haygarth
3–6, 6–0, 2–6
Loss 5–17 Aug 1998 New Haven, United States Championship Series Hard Sébastien Lareau Wayne Arthurs
Peter Tramacchi
6–7, 6–1, 3–6
Win 6–17 Nov 1998 Stuttgart, Germany Masters Series Hard Sébastien Lareau Mahesh Bhupathi
Leander Paes
6–3, 3–6, 7–5
Win 7–17 Jan 1999 Doha, Qatar World Series Hard Jared Palmer Piet Norval
Kevin Ullyett
6–3, 6–4
Loss 7–18 Feb 1999 Memphis, United States Championship Series Hard Sébastien Lareau Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
3–6, 4–6
Win 8–18 Jun 1999 Queen's, United Kingdom World Series Grass Sébastien Lareau Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
6–3, 7–6(7–3)
Win 9–18 Sep 1999 New York, United States Grand Slam Hard Sébastien Lareau Mahesh Bhupathi
Leander Paes
7–6(9–7), 6–4
Win 10–18 Nov 1999 Paris, France Masters Series Carpet Sébastien Lareau Paul Haarhuis
Jared Palmer
7–6(9–7), 7–5
Win 11–18 Nov 1999 Hartford, United States ATP Finals Carpet Sébastien Lareau Mahesh Bhupathi
Leander Paes
6–3, 6–2, 6–2
Loss 11–19 Jan 2000 Doha, Qatar International Series Hard Jared Palmer Mark Knowles
Max Mirnyi
3–6, 4–6
Win 12–19 Mar 2000 Indian Wells, United States Masters Series Hard Jared Palmer Paul Haarhuis
Sandon Stolle
6–4, 7–6(7–5)
Win 13–19 Aug 2000 Washington, United States Championship Series Hard Jared Palmer Andre Agassi
Sargis Sargsian
7–5, 6–1
Loss 13–20 Feb 2001 Memphis, United States Championship Series Hard Jonathan Stark Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
3–6, 6–7(3–7)

ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals

Singles: 9 (5–4)

Legend
ATP Challenger (5–4)
ITF Futures (0–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (5–4)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Jul 1991 New Haven, United States Challenger Hard Stephane Simian 6–4, 6–4
Win 2–0 Jul 1992 Aptos, United States Challenger Hard Byron Black 6–4, 2–6, 6–1
Loss 2–1 Sep 1992 Fairfield, United States Challenger Hard Jared Palmer 6–7, 2–6
Win 3–1 Oct 1992 Monterrey, Mexico Challenger Hard Jared Palmer 6–2, 6–4
Loss 3–2 Oct 1993 Caracas, Venezuela Challenger Hard Mauricio Hadad 5–7, 4–6
Loss 3–3 Oct 1996 Monterrey, Mexico Challenger Hard Kevin Ullyett 3–6, 6–7
Win 4–3 Feb 1998 West Bloomfield, United States Challenger Hard Grant Doyle 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win 5–3 Jul 1999 Winnetka, United States Challenger Hard Max Mirnyi 6–2, 6–2
Loss 5–4 Dec 1999 Burbank, United States Challenger Hard Cecil Mamiit 5–7, 3–6

Doubles: 7 (5–2)

Legend
ATP Challenger (5–2)
ITF Futures (0–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (5–1)
Clay (0–1)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1–0 Jul 1992 Aptos, United States Challenger Hard Paul Annacone Miguel Nido
Peter Nyborg
6–4, 4–6, 7–5
Win 2–0 Oct 1992 Monterrey, Mexico Challenger Hard Mark Knowles Richard Matuszewski
John Sullivan
3–6, 6–3, 7–6
Loss 2–1 Dec 1992 Naples, United States Challenger Clay Mark Knowles Todd Nelson
Tobias Svantesson
6–2, 3–6, 4–6
Win 3–1 Sep 1993 Fairfield, United States Challenger Hard Jared Palmer Matt Lucena
Brian Macphie
6–3, 7–5
Loss 3–2 Oct 1993 Caracas, Venezuela Challenger Hard Mark Knowles Maurice Ruah
Laurence Tieleman
7–5, 4–6, 6–7
Win 4–2 Jun 1994 Annenheim, Austria Challenger Hard Jim Grabb Diego Nargiso
Gianluca Pozzi
walkover
Win 5–2 Jul 1994 Aptos, United States Challenger Hard Brian Macphie Donny Isaak
Michael Roberts
6–2, 7–6

Performance Timelines

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(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.

Singles

Tournament 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 SR W–L Win %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A 1R 1R 2R A 1R 2R Q2 1R 1R 0 / 7 2–7 22%
French Open A 2R 2R Q1 Q2 1R 1R Q1 A Q2 0 / 4 2–4 33%
Wimbledon A 1R 1R 1R Q3 3R 2R Q3 2R Q3 0 / 6 4–6 40%
US Open 1R 1R 2R 1R 3R 1R 2R Q1 Q3 A 0 / 7 4–7 36%
Win–loss 0–1 1–4 2–4 1–3 2–1 2–4 3–4 0–0 1–2 0–1 0 / 24 12–24 33%
ATP Masters Series
Indian Wells A 1R A Q1 1R 2R Q2 A Q1 A 0 / 3 1–3 25%
Miami A 1R 2R 2R Q3 2R Q1 2R Q1 A 0 / 5 3–5 38%
Rome A A A A A 1R A A Q1 A 0 / 1 0–1 0%
Canada A 2R 2R Q3 QF 3R 3R 2R A A 0 / 6 10–6 63%
Cincinnati A 1R QF 2R 3R 1R 1R Q2 Q1 Q1 0 / 6 5–6 45%
Paris A A Q1 Q3 A A A A 1R A 0 / 1 0–1 0%
Win–loss 0–0 1–4 4–3 2–2 5–3 3–5 2–2 2–2 0–1 0–0 0 / 22 19–22 46%

Doubles

Tournament 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 SR W–L Win %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A A 1R 1R F F 3R 1R SF 3R 0 / 8 18–8 69%
French Open A A 1R 2R 3R 2R 1R 1R 1R 1R 0 / 8 4–8 33%
Wimbledon A A 2R 3R 3R 1R 2R QF QF 1R 0 / 8 12–8 60%
US Open 1R 1R 3R F QF 2R 3R W SF 1R 1 / 10 23–9 72%
Win–loss 0–1 0–1 3–4 8–4 12–4 7–4 5–4 9–3 11–4 2–4 1 / 34 57–33 63%
Year-end Championships
ATP Finals Did not qualify F SF DNQ W RR DNQ 1 / 4 10–7 59%
National Representation
Summer Olympics A Not Held A Not Held 2R NH 0 / 1 0–1 0%
ATP Masters Series
Indian Wells A Q1 A 2R 2R QF SF 1R W 2R 1 / 7 13–6 68%
Miami A Q1 2R 3R QF 3R F 2R SF 2R 0 / 8 12–8 60%
Monte Carlo A A A A A A A A SF A 0 / 1 3–1 75%
Hamburg A A A A A A A A 1R 1R 0 / 2 0–2 0%
Rome A A A A 2R F A 2R SF 1R 0 / 5 8–5 62%
Canada A QF SF 1R QF F 1R 2R 2R 2R 0 / 9 13–9 59%
Cincinnati A 2R W 2R 2R SF 1R 2R 1R 2R 1 / 9 12–8 60%
Paris A A QF 1R 2R 1R 2R W SF A 1 / 7 8–6 57%
Win–loss 0–0 3–2 10–3 3–5 7–6 12–6 8–5 7–5 16–7 3–6 3 / 48 69–45 61%
Year End Ranking 188 113 25 31 15 7 20 7 8 80 Prize Money = $3,526,390

References

  1. ^ "Top-seeded duo of Paes, Bhupathi falls". ESPN. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  2. ^ "Lareau, O'Brien win doubles title". UPI. Retrieved July 8, 2025.