John Alexander (Australian politician) facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids John Alexander OAM
Alexander in 2010

Member of the Australian Parliament for Bennelong
In office 16 December 2017 – 11 April 2022
Preceded by	Himself
Succeeded by	Jerome Laxale
In office 21 August 2010 – 11 November 2017
Preceded by	Maxine McKew
Succeeded by	Himself

Personal details
Born	John Gilbert Alexander (1951-07-04) 4 July 1951 (age 73) Sydney, Australia
Nationality	Australian British (1951–2017)
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Spouse	Rosemary Brown (div.)
Occupation	Politician, tennis player, businessman
Nickname	J.A.
Tennis career
Country (sports)	Australia
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Turned pro	1969 (amateur tour from 1967)
Retired	1985
Plays	Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money	$1,214,079
Singles
Career record	579–428 (57.5%)
Career titles	7
Highest ranking	No. 8 (15 December 1975)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	SF (1974, 1977^Jan, 1977^Dec)
French Open	4R (1975, 1978, 1983)
Wimbledon	4R (1969, 1978)
US Open	4R (1971, 1973)
Other tournaments
WCT Finals	SF (1975)
Doubles
Career record	451–300
Career titles	28
Highest ranking	No. 15 (23 August 1977)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	W (1975, 1982)
French Open	F (1975)
Wimbledon	F (1977)
US Open	QF (1972, 1973, 1974)
Team competitions
Davis Cup	W (1977)

John Gilbert Alexander (born 4 July 1951), also known as JA, is an Australian who was once a professional tennis player. Later, he became a sports commentator and a politician.

As a tennis player, John Alexander was very good. He reached the world's top 10 in 1975, ranking number 8. He made it to the semi-finals of the Australian Open three times. He also won the doubles title at the Australian Open twice, in 1975 and 1982. He was part of the Australian team that won the 1977 Davis Cup, a big international tennis competition.

After his tennis career, John Alexander worked as a tennis commentator. He also managed different businesses related to sports. For over 20 years, he was a main commentator for the Australian Open.

In 2010, he decided to enter politics. He won a seat in the Australian Parliament for the Liberal Party. He represented the area called Bennelong. He won elections in 2013 and 2016. In 2017, he had to resign because he also held British citizenship, which is not allowed for Australian politicians. He gave up his British citizenship and won the special election held later that year. John Alexander retired from politics in November 2021.

Early Life and Background
Tennis Achievements
Business Ventures
Political Career
Tennis Career Finals
Family Life
Awards and Recognition
See also

Early Life and Background

John Alexander was born in Sydney, Australia. His father, Gilbert Alexander, was born in England in 1907. He moved to Australia when he was three years old.

Tennis Achievements

John Alexander at the 1970 International Dutch Championships in Hilversum

John Alexander had a long tennis career from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s. During this time, he won seven single titles and 27 doubles titles. He earned over $1.2 million in prize money. His best singles ranking was World No. 8 in December 1975.

He is the youngest player ever to represent Australia in the Davis Cup. He played for his country in the Davis Cup from 1968 to 1983. This makes him one of Australia's longest-serving Davis Cup players.

After playing, Alexander became the captain of Australia's Fed Cup team. He also worked as a sports commentator for over 20 years. He covered the Australian Open for Channel 7 in Australia. He also worked for the BBC in Britain. He often worked alongside famous tennis players like John McEnroe and Jim Courier.

Business Ventures

John Alexander also had a successful business career. He was the managing director of Next Generation Clubs Australia. In this role, he designed and built sports and fitness clubs.

Some of his projects include:

Helping to build the Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre in Sydney. This center hosted the water polo event for the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Developing Memorial Drive Park in Adelaide into a modern health and fitness center.
Working on the Royal King's Park facility in Perth.

In 1995, he was a referee on the Australian TV show Gladiators. Before he became a politician in 2010, his company won a court case. This allowed them to redevelop the White City Tennis Centre in Sydney. He also managed other small businesses in retail and sports.

Political Career

John Alexander joined the Liberal Party. He was part of the Moderate/Modern Liberal group within the party.

Winning the Bennelong Seat

In the 2010 Australian federal election, John Alexander won the seat of Bennelong. He took the seat from the Australian Labor Party. This was a significant win for his party.

When he first spoke in parliament in October 2010, he talked about his interests. These included health, infrastructure, transport, and sustainable growth. During his first term, he worked on policy committees. He focused on regional development and reducing traffic in cities.

Community Programs

John Alexander started several local programs in his area.

Bennelong Cup Table Tennis: In 2011, he started the Bennelong Cup. This is a table tennis competition involving players from China, Korea, and Australia. The goal was to encourage social interaction among students from different backgrounds. It also promoted healthy activity.
Bennelong Gardens: This program created work opportunities for people with disabilities. They worked in special market gardens.
Bennelong Village Business: This program encouraged people to shop at local small businesses. It also helped small businesses get cheaper advertising.

He also walked 100 km around Bennelong for charity. He did this to raise money and awareness for motor neurone disease.

Key Roles in Parliament

After being re-elected in 2013, John Alexander took on important roles.

He chaired the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax & Revenue. Here, he worked to make tax returns simpler for people.
He then chaired the House Standing Committee on Economics. He looked into home ownership and tax reform.
He also chaired the House Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport & Cities. This committee studied transport, regional development, and high-speed rail.

Alexander strongly supported building high-speed rail in Australia. He believed it would help regional areas grow and reduce city traffic.

Re-election and Challenges

He was re-elected in the 2016 Australian federal election. He managed to win even though his party faced challenges. Many believed his strong personal popularity helped him keep his seat.

In 2017, it was discovered that John Alexander might have been a British citizen. Australian law does not allow dual citizens to be in parliament. On 11 November 2017, he resigned from parliament. He gave up his British citizenship and ran again in a special election. He won this election on 16 December 2017.

During the 2019 election campaign, Alexander faced criticism for comments he made. He had suggested that people in Fiji, facing rising sea levels, should "move to higher ground." This caused some debate. He later clarified that he also believed in preventing further climate damage. Despite this, he was re-elected.

In November 2021, John Alexander announced he would not run for re-election. He decided to retire from politics.

Tennis Career Finals

Singles: 27 (7 titles, 20 runner-ups)

Result	No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1.	Aug 1970	Kitzbühel, Austria	Clay	Željko Franulović	4–6, 7–9, 4–6
Loss	2.	Jan 1971	Hobart, Australia	Hard	Alex Metreveli	6–7, 3–6, 6–4, 3–6
Loss	3.	Jan 1971	Sydney, Australia	Hard	Phil Dent	3–6, 4–6, 4–6
Loss	4.	May 1971	Tehran, Iran	Clay	Marty Riessen	7–6, 1–6, 3–6, 6–7
Loss	5.	Dec 1972	Johannesburg, South Africa	Hard	John Newcombe	1–6, 6–7
Loss	6.	Apr 1973	Gothenburg, Sweden	Carpet (i)	Stan Smith	7–5, 4–6, 2–6
Loss	7.	Sep 1973	Seattle, United States	Hard	Tom Okker	5–7, 4–6
Loss	8.	Jan 1974	Lakeway, United States		Cliff Richey	6–7, 1–6
Loss	9.	Apr 1974	Johannesburg, South Africa	Hard	Andrew Pattison	3–6, 5–7
Win	1.	Feb 1975	Fort Worth WCT, United States	Hard	Dick Stockton	7–6^(7–2), 4–6, 6–3
Loss	10.	Mar 1975	Atlanta WCT, United States	Carpet (i)	Mark Cox	3–6, 6–7^(3–7)
Win	2.	Mar 1975	Tucson, United States	Hard	Ilie Năstase	7–5, 6–2
Loss	11.	Jul 1975	Chicago, United States	Carpet (i)	Roscoe Tanner	1–6, 7–6, 6–7
Loss	12.	Mar 1977	St. Louis WCT, United States	Carpet (i)	Jimmy Connors	6–7^(5–7), 2–6
Win	3.	Jul 1977	North Conway, United States	Clay	Manuel Orantes	2–6, 6–4, 6–4
Loss	13.	Jul 1978	Louisville, United States	Clay	Harold Solomon	2–6, 2–6
Loss	14.	Jul 1978	North Conway, United States	Clay	Eddie Dibbs	4–6, 4–6
Loss	15.	Oct 1978	Brisbane, Australia	Grass	Mark Edmondson	4–6, 6–7
Loss	16.	Mar 1979	Milan, Italy	Carpet (i)	John McEnroe	4–6, 3–6
Loss	17.	Apr 1979	Nice, France	Clay	Víctor Pecci	3–6, 2–6, 5–7
Win	4.	Jul 1979	Louisville, United States	Hard	Terry Moor	7–6, 6–7, 3–3 ret.
Loss	18.	Sep 1979	Atlanta, United States	Hard	Eliot Teltscher	3–6, 6–4, 2–6
Win	5.	Jun 1982	Bristol, England	Grass	Tim Mayotte	6–3, 6–4
Loss	19.	Sep 1982	Palermo, Italy	Clay	Mario Martinez	4–6, 5–7
Win	6.	Dec 1982	Sydney, Australia	Grass	John Fitzgerald	4–6, 7–6, 6–4
Win	7.	Jan 1983	Auckland, New Zealand	Hard	Russell Simpson	6–4, 6–3, 6–3
Loss	20.	Jul 1983	South Orange, United States	Clay	Brad Drewett	6–4, 4–6, 6–7

Doubles: 53 (28 titles, 25 runner-ups)

Result	No.	Year	Tournament	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	1.	1970	Australian Open, Melbourne	Grass	Phil Dent	Bob Lutz Stan Smith	3–6, 6–8, 3–6
Loss	2.	1970	Hilversum, Netherlands	Hard	Phil Dent	Bill Bowrey Owen Davidson	3–6, 4–6, 2–6
Win	1.	1970	Kitzbühel, Austria	Clay	Phil Dent	Željko Franulović Jan Kodeš	10–8, 6–2, 6–4
Win	2.	1971	Sydney Outdoor, Australia	Hard	Phil Dent	Mal Anderson Alex Metreveli	6–7, 2–6, 6–3, 7–6, 7–6
Win	3.	1971	Hamburg Masters, Germany	Clay	Andrés Gimeno	Dick Crealy Allan Stone	6–4, 7–5, 7–9, 6–4
Win	4.	1971	Gstaad, Switzerland	Clay	Phil Dent	John Newcombe Tom Okker	5–7, 6–3, 6–4
Win	5.	1971	Los Angeles, United States	Hard	Phil Dent	Frank Froehling Clark Graebner	7–6, 6–4
Loss	3.	1971	Vancouver WCT, Canada	Hard	Phil Dent	Roy Emerson Rod Laver	7–5, 7–6, 0–6, 5–7, 6–7
Loss	4.	1972	Quebec WCT, Canada	Hard (i)	Terry Addison	Bob Carmichael Ray Ruffels	6–4, 3–6, 5–7
Loss	5.	1972	St. Louis WCT, United States	Carpet (i)	Phil Dent	John Newcombe Tony Roche	6–7, 2–6
Win	6.	1972	Bretton Woods, United States	Hard	Fred Stolle	Nikola Pilić Cliff Richey	7–6, 7–6
Win	7.	1972	Louisville WCT, United States	Clay	Phil Dent	Arthur Ashe Bob Lutz	6–4, 6–3
Loss	6.	1973	Australian Open, Melbourne	Grass	Phil Dent	Mal Anderson John Newcombe	3–6, 4–6, 6–7
Win	8.	1973	Toronto WCT, Canada	Carpet (i)	Phil Dent	Roy Emerson Rod Laver	3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–2
Loss	7.	1973	Brussels WCT, Belgium	Carpet (i)	Phil Dent	Bob Lutz Stan Smith	4–6, 6–7
Win	9.	1973	Cincinnati, United States	Clay	Phil Dent	Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez	1–6, 7–6, 7–6
Loss	8.	1974	Richmond WCT, United States	Carpet (i)	Phil Dent	Nikola Pilić Allan Stone	3–6, 6–3, 6–7
Win	10.	1974	Miami WCT, United States	Hard	Phil Dent	Tom Okker Marty Riessen	4–6, 6–4, 7–5
Win	11.	1974	Monte Carlo WCT, Monaco	Clay	Phil Dent	Manuel Orantes Tony Roche	7–6, 4–6, 7–6, 6–3
Loss	9.	1974	San Francisco, United States	Hard (i)	Syd Ball	Bob Stan Smith	4–6, 6–7
Win	12.	1975	Australian Open, Melbourne	Grass	Phil Dent	Bob Carmichael Allan Stone	6–3, 7–6
Loss	10.	1975	Fort Worth WCT, United States	Hard	Phil Dent	Bob Lutz Stan Smith	7–6, 6–7, 3–6
Win	13.	1975	San Antonio WCT, United States	Hard	Phil Dent	Mark Cox Cliff Drysdale	7–6, 4–6, 6–4
Loss	11.	1975	Tokyo Indoor, Japan	Carpet (i)	Phil Dent	Bob Lutz Stan Smith	4–6, 7–6, 2–6
Win	14.	1975	Las Vegas, United States	Hard	Phil Dent	Bob Carmichael Cliff Drysdale	6–1, 6–4
Loss	12.	1975	French Open, Paris	Clay	Phil Dent	Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez	4–6, 6–2, 2–6, 4–6
Win	15.	1975	Chicago, United States	Carpet (i)	Phil Dent	Mike Cahill John Whitlinger	6–3, 6–4
Loss	13.	1975	North Conway, United States	Clay	Phil Dent	Haroon Rahim Erik van Dillen	6–7, 6–7
Win	16.	1976	Atlanta WCT, United States	Carpet (i)	Phil Dent	Wojtek Fibak Karl Meiler	6–3, 6–4
Loss	14.	1976	St. Louis WCT, United States	Carpet (i)	Phil Dent	Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez	4–6, 2–6
Win	17.	1976	Denver WCT, United States	Carpet (i)	Phil Dent	Jimmy Connors Billy Martin	6–7, 6–2, 7–5
Loss	15.	1977	Houston WCT, United States	Hard	Phil Dent	Ilie Năstase Adriano Panatta	3–6, 4–6
Loss	16.	1977	Wimbledon, London	Grass	Phil Dent	Ross Case Geoff Masters	3–6, 4–6, 6–3, 9–8, 4–6
Win	18.	1977	Cincinnati, United States	Clay	Phil Dent	Bob Hewitt Roscoe Tanner	6–3, 7–6
Win	19.	1977	Washington, D.C., United States	Clay	Phil Dent	Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart	7–5, 7–5
Win	20.	1977	Louisville WCT, United States	Clay	Phil Dent	Chris Kachel Cliff Letcher	6–1, 6–4
Loss	17.	1977	Adelaide, Australia	Grass	Phil Dent	Syd Ball Kim Warwick	6–3, 6–7, 4–6
Win	21.	1977	Sydney Outdoor, Australia	Grass	Phil Dent	Ray Ruffels Allan Stone	7–6, 2–6, 6–3
Loss	18.	1977	Australian Open, Melbourne	Grass	Phil Dent	Ray Ruffels Allan Stone	6–7, 6–7
Win	22.	1978	Forest Hills WCT, United States	Clay	Phil Dent	Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart	7–6, 7–6
Win	23.	1978	Atlanta, United States	Hard	Butch Walts	Mike Cahill Marcello Lara	3–6, 6–4, 7–6
Win	24.	1978	Los Angeles, United States	Carpet (i)	Phil Dent	Fred McNair Raúl Ramírez	6–3, 7–6
Win	25.	1978	Brisbane, Australia	Grass	Phil Dent	Syd Ball Allan Stone	6–3, 7–6
Loss	19.	1979	Houston, United States	Clay	Geoff Masters	Gene Mayer Sherwood Stewart	1–6, 7–5, 4–6
Loss	20.	1979	Adelaide, Australia	Grass	Phil Dent	Colin Dibley Chris Kachel	7–6, 6–7, 4–6
Loss	21.	1981	Mexico City, Mexico	Clay	Ross Case	John Newcombe Tony Roche	7–6, 3–6, 1–6
Loss	22.	1981	Maui, United States	Hard	Jim Delaney	Tony Graham Matt Mitchell	3–6, 6–3, 6–7
Win	26.	1982	Australian Open, Melbourne	Grass	John Fitzgerald	Andy Andrews John Sadri	6–7, 6–2, 7–6
Win	27.	1982	Sydney Outdoor, Australia	Grass	John Fitzgerald	Cliff Letcher Craig Miller	6–4, 7–6
Win	28.	1983	Bristol Open, England	Grass	John Fitzgerald	Tom Gullikson Johan Kriek	7–5, 6–4
Loss	23.	1984	Rome, Italy	Clay	Mike Leach	Ken Flach Robert Seguso	6–3, 3–6, 4–6
Loss	24.	1984	Bristol, England	Grass	John Fitzgerald	Larry Stefanki Robert Van't Hof	4–6, 7–5, 7–9
Loss	25.	1985	Bristol, England	Grass	Russell Simpson	Eddie Edwards Danie Visser	4–6, 6–7

Grand Slam Singles Performance Timeline

**Key**
W	F	SF	QF	#R	RR	Q#	A	NH

(W) Won; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent; (NH) not held. SR=strike rate (events won/competed)

Tournament	1967	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977		1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985
Australian Open	1R	A	2R	3R	3R	1R	2R	SF	QF	A	SF	SF	QF	1R	1R	3R	4R	2R	1R	1R
French Open	A	3R	1R	1R	2R	A	1R	A	4R	A	A		4R	A	A	A	1R	4R	2R	A
Wimbledon	A	2R	4R	2R	2R	A	A	2R	2R	1R	2R		4R	3R	A	1R	2R	2R	1R	A
US Open	A	A	2R	A	4R	2R	4R	3R	2R	3R	2R		1R	2R	A	1R	1R	A	A	A

Family Life

John Alexander was married to Rosemary Brown. She was a former Olympic swimmer. They were married for almost ten years. They have three children: Emily (born 1990), Georgia (born 1991), and Charles (born 1994).

Awards and Recognition

John Alexander has received several honors for his contributions.

On 26 January 1992, he was given the Medal of the Order of Australia.
On 30 August 2000, he received the Australian Sports Medal.