Chris O'Neil (tennis)
Australian tennis player (born 1956)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christine O'Neil (born 19 March 1956) is an Australian former professional tennis player.[2]
| Country (sports) |  Australia |
|---|---|
| Residence | Australia |
| Born | 19 March 1956 |
| Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
| Turned pro | 1973 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Prize money | US$ 56,291 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 19–52 |
| Career titles | 1 |
| Highest ranking | No. 80 (1978)[1] |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1978) |
| French Open | 2R (1981) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1974) |
| US Open | 2R (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) |
O'Neil is best known for her singles victory at the 1978 Australian Open, and was the last Australian to win the title until Ashleigh Barty in 2022.[3] She also became the first unseeded woman to win the title in the Open era.[4][5] O'Neil is also one of the few players who have won both the Australian Open junior (1973) and senior (1978) titles.[4]
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.[6][7]
Grand Slam finals
Singles (1 title)
| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1978 | Australian Open | Grass |  Betsy Nagelsen | 6–3, 7–6(7–3) |
Grand Slam tournament performance timeline
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
Singles
| Tournament | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | A | W | A | A | Q2 | 2R | Q2 | 1 / 7 |
| French Open | A | Q1 | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | Q2 | 2R | A | 1R | 0 / 6 | |
| Wimbledon | A | 3R | 1R | Q3 | 2R | 1R | 2R | Q2 | 1R | A | 1R | 0 / 7 | |
| US Open | A | 1R | A | A | A | 2R | 2R | Q3 | A | A | Q2 | 0 / 3 | |
| Strike rate | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 1 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 2 | 1 / 23 | |
Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
