Kevin Curren

Kevin Curren has the unique distinction of being a Top 10 player in both singles and doubles rankings during his playing days. The former South African tennis player was more successful in doubles than singles. He reached two Grand Slam singles finals but did not win either. However, in the doubles category, the 63-year-old has reached the promised land more than once. He has four Grand Slam doubles titles to his name, including men's and mixed doubles. With a career-high singles ranking of World No. 5 and World No. 3 in doubles, Curren has won five singles and 16 doubles titles in his career. Curren has always been a handful in his playing days, producing one of the toughest serves in tennis. He was capable of upsetting any big name on a given day, whether he was playing alone or with a partner.

Born in 1958, Curren began playing tennis and cricket at Glenwood High School in Durban. He also played tennis for the University of Texas at Austin in the United States during his college years. Curren turned professional in 1979, but had to wait a couple of years before he could hold a trophy, which came in 1981 when he won his first top-level singles title in Johannesburg.

Curren reached his first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon in 1983. He astonishingly defeated defending champion Jimmy Connors in the fourth round, thereby ending Connors' run of 27 successive major quarterfinal appearances. His run came to an end in the last four stage when he was defeated in a five-set thriller by unseeded New Zealander Chris Lewis. 

In the following year, the right-handed player enjoyed a dream run in the Australian Open as he raced to the title clash. Curren faced Mats Wilander in the Australian Open final in 1984, after coming back from two sets down to defeat Ben Testerman in the semifinals. Wilander, however, won the match in four sets on the grass courts at Kooyong.

Curren then reached the Wimbledon final in 1985, after becoming an American citizen, with the help of Tony Roche's coaching. After registering victories over Larry Stefanki, Mike De Palmer, David Mustard, and future champion Stefan Edberg in the fourth round, he went on to defeat then-World No. 1 John McEnroe in the quarterfinals and World No. 3 Jimmy Connors in the semifinals. Curren was the first player to defeat both the American players in the same Grand Slam event. In the final, however, he was defeated in four sets by a 17-year-old Boris Becker.

In his illustrious career, Curren did not win a Grand Slam singles title, but he did win four Grand Slam doubles titles. The first of those doubles titles came in 1981 when he won the US Open mixed doubles crown. However, it was the year 1982 that proved to be extra special for the 63-year-old. He first won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title. Then, he went on to clinch both the US Open men's doubles and mixed doubles crowns. He was at the top of his game as far as doubles was concerned at that point in his career.

Curren, known for producing one of the toughest serves in the game, became famous not only for its speed, but also for its accuracy. Serves helped him get out of several tricky situations during his playing days. His final career singles title was won in Frankfurt, 1989 and his last doubles title came in Seoul, 1992. It was in 1993, Curren announced his retirement from the professional tour. In total, he has won five top-level singles titles and 26 doubles titles during his career. 

Grand Slam singles record:

Australian Open: F (1984)

French Open: 2R (1992)

Wimbledon: F (1985)

US Open: 4R (1981, 1990)

Grand Slam men’s doubles record:

US Open: W (1982)

Grand Slam mixed doubles record:

Wimbledon: W (1982)

US Open: W (1981, 1982)