Brian Fairlie facts for kids
| Country (sports) |  New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 June 1948 Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Turned pro | 1968 (amateur from 1966) |
| Retired | 1979 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 187–186 (Open era) |
| Career titles | 2 |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (1976) |
| French Open | 4R (1977) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1977, 1978) |
| US Open | QF (1970) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 174–156 |
| Career titles | 4 |
| Highest ranking | No. 27 (30 August 1977) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (1977Dec, 1978) |
| French Open | SF (1971) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1969, 1970, 1977) |
| US Open | 2R (1972) |
Brian Fairlie is a talented tennis player from New Zealand. He was born on June 13, 1948. Brian played tennis professionally from 1968 to 1979. During his career, he won two singles titles and four doubles titles. He often played doubles with his partner, Ismail El Shafei from Egypt.
Contents
Brian Fairlie's Tennis Journey
Early Career and Junior Success
Brian Fairlie started playing tennis at a young age. He showed great promise early on. In 1967, he became the Boys' Singles champion at the Australian Championships. This was a big win for him as a junior player.
Professional Highlights
Brian's professional career began in 1968. He competed in many major tournaments around the world.
Grand Slam Achievements
A Grand Slam is one of the four biggest tennis tournaments each year. Brian had some great moments in these events. In 1970, he reached the quarterfinals in singles at the U.S. Open. He also made it to the semifinals in men's doubles at the French Open in 1971. His partner for that tournament was Frew McMillan.
Top Rankings and Big Wins
Brian was a highly ranked player. His highest singles ranking was World No. 24 in September 1973. He was even ranked among the world's Top 20 players in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
In 1969, Brian achieved a memorable victory. He beat John Newcombe, a former Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion. This happened in the quarterfinals of the Heineken Open in Auckland, New Zealand. The crowd was very excited about his win!
Brian also won two important tournaments in 1972. He won the Midland RC International and the Wellington Open Championships. He reached the finals of the Midland RC International again in 1975 and 1976. However, he lost both times to another New Zealander, Onny Parun.
In 1976, Brian played in a unique match at the Australian Open. He and his opponent, Frank Sedgman, had one of the oldest combined ages in Grand Slam history. Their average age was almost 38 years old!
Brian won his second singles title in Manila, Philippines, in 1976. He played incredibly well in that tournament. He only lost one set during the entire competition.
Representing New Zealand
Brian Fairlie proudly represented New Zealand in the Davis Cup. This is a major international team competition in men's tennis. From 1966 to 1979, he played in 48 Davis Cup matches. He won 13 singles matches and seven doubles matches for his country.
Team Tennis
In 1974, Brian joined the Philadelphia Freedoms team. This was the first year of World Team Tennis, a new league. His team had an amazing season. They had the best record in the league, winning 39 matches and losing only 5.
Career Titles
Brian Fairlie had a successful career, winning several titles.
Singles Titles
He won two singles titles during his professional career. He also reached the finals four other times.
Doubles Titles
Brian won four doubles titles. He also reached the finals 14 other times. All four of his doubles titles were won with his partner, Ismail El Shafei.
