|  O'Brien in 2018 | |
| Country (sports) |  United States | 
|---|---|
| Residence | Amarillo, Texas, United States | 
| Born | March 7, 1970 Amarillo, Texas, United States | 
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 
| Turned pro | 1992 | 
| Retired | 2003 | 
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | 
| College | Stanford University | 
| Prize money | $3,526,390 | 
| Singles | |
| Career record | 93–136 | 
| Career titles | 1 | 
| Highest ranking | No. 30 (21 July 1997) | 
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (1995, 1998) | 
| French Open | 2R (1993, 1994) | 
| Wimbledon | 3R (1997) | 
| US Open | 3R (1996) | 
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 277–185 | 
| Career titles | 13 | 
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (8 May 2000) | 
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1996, 1997) | 
| French Open | 3R (1996) | 
| Wimbledon | QF (1999, 2000) | 
| US Open | W (1999) | 
| Other doubles tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | W (1999) | 
| Olympic Games | 2R (2000) | 
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (1996) | 
| Wimbledon | 2R (1997, 1998) | 
| US Open | 1R (2001) | 
| Last updated on: 31 December 2022. | |
Alex O'Brien (born 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 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, the biggest coming at the 1999 US Open, the Cincinnati Masters in 1994 (his first doubles title), the Indian Wells Masters in 2000, and the Paris Masters in 1999.
Tennis career
Alongside his 13 titles, O'Brien also reached 20 doubles finals, including the Australian Open in 1996 & 1997, the U.S. Open in 1995, the Miami Masters in 1998, and the Canada Masters and the Rome Masters in 1997.
He also 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.
On leaving 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 | .svg.png.webp) Sandon Stolle | .svg.png.webp) Todd Woodbridge .svg.png.webp) Mark Woodforde | 3–6, 3–6 | 
| Loss | 1996 | Australian Open | Hard | .svg.png.webp) Sébastien Lareau |  Stefan Edberg  Petr Korda | 5–7, 5–7, 6–4, 1–6 | 
| Loss | 1997 | Australian Open | Hard | .svg.png.webp) Sébastien Lareau | .svg.png.webp) Todd Woodbridge .svg.png.webp) Mark Woodforde | 6–4, 5–7, 5–7, 3–6 | 
| Win | 1999 | U.S. Open | Hard | .svg.png.webp) Sébastien Lareau |  Mahesh Bhupathi  Leander Paes | 7–6(9–7), 6–4 | 
ATP career finals
Singles: 1 (1 title)
| 
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 | 
 | 
| 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)
| 
 | 
 | 
 | 
| 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 | .svg.png.webp) Sandon Stolle |  Jan Apell  Ken Flach | 0–6, 4–6 | 
| Win | 1–2 | Aug 1994 | Cincinnati, United States | Masters Series | Hard | .svg.png.webp) Sandon Stolle |  Wayne Ferreira .svg.png.webp) Mark Kratzmann | 6–7, 6–3, 6–2 | 
| Loss | 1–3 | Feb 1995 | San Jose, United States | World Series | Hard | .svg.png.webp) Sandon Stolle |  Jim Grabb  Patrick McEnroe | 6–3, 5–7, 0–6 | 
| Loss | 1–4 | May 1995 | Pinehurst, United States | World Series | Clay | .svg.png.webp) Sandon Stolle | .svg.png.webp) Todd Woodbridge .svg.png.webp) Mark Woodforde | 2–6, 4–6 | 
| Loss | 1–5 | Sep 1995 | New York, United States | Grand Slam | Hard | .svg.png.webp) Sandon Stolle | .svg.png.webp) Todd Woodbridge .svg.png.webp) Mark Woodforde | 3–6, 3–6 | 
| Loss | 1–6 | Jan 1996 | Melbourne, Australia | Grand Slam | Hard | .svg.png.webp) 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 | .svg.png.webp) Sébastien Lareau | .svg.png.webp) Todd Woodbridge .svg.png.webp) Mark Woodforde | 3–6, 6–7(3–7) | 
| Win | 2–7 | Oct 1996 | Stuttgart, Germany | Masters Series | Hard | .svg.png.webp) Sébastien Lareau |  Jacco Eltingh  Paul Haarhuis | 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 | 
| Loss | 2–8 | Nov 1996 | Hartford, United States | ATP Finals | Carpet | .svg.png.webp) Sébastien Lareau | .svg.png.webp) Todd Woodbridge .svg.png.webp) Mark Woodforde | 4–6, 7–5, 2–6, 6–7(3–7) | 
| Loss | 2–9 | Jan 1997 | Melbourne, Australia | Grand Slam | Hard | .svg.png.webp) Sébastien Lareau | .svg.png.webp) Todd Woodbridge .svg.png.webp) Mark Woodforde | 6–4, 5–7, 5–7, 3–6 | 
| Win | 3–9 | Mar 1997 | Philadelphia, United States | Championship Series | Hard | .svg.png.webp) 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 .svg.png.webp) Daniel Nestor | 3–6, 6–4, 5–7 | 
| Win | 4–11 | Jul 1997 | Los Angeles, United States | World Series | Hard | .svg.png.webp) Sébastien Lareau |  Mahesh Bhupathi  Rick Leach | 7–6, 6–4 | 
| Loss | 4–12 | Aug 1997 | Montreal, Canada | Masters Series | Hard | .svg.png.webp) Sébastien Lareau |  Mahesh Bhupathi  Leander Paes | 6–7, 3–6 | 
| Loss | 4–13 | Aug 1997 | New Haven, United States | Championship Series | Hard | .svg.png.webp) 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 | .svg.png.webp) Sébastien Lareau | .svg.png.webp) Wayne Arthurs .svg.png.webp) Peter Tramacchi | 6–7, 6–1, 3–6 | 
| Win | 6–17 | Nov 1998 | Stuttgart, Germany | Masters Series | Hard | .svg.png.webp) 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 | .svg.png.webp) Sébastien Lareau | .svg.png.webp) Todd Woodbridge .svg.png.webp) Mark Woodforde | 3–6, 4–6 | 
| Win | 8–18 | Jun 1999 | Queen's, United Kingdom | World Series | Grass | .svg.png.webp) Sébastien Lareau | .svg.png.webp) Todd Woodbridge .svg.png.webp) Mark Woodforde | 6–3, 7–6(7–3) | 
| Win | 9–18 | Sep 1999 | New York, United States | Grand Slam | Hard | .svg.png.webp) Sébastien Lareau |  Mahesh Bhupathi  Leander Paes | 7–6(9–7), 6–4 | 
| Win | 10–18 | Nov 1999 | Paris, France | Masters Series | Carpet | .svg.png.webp) Sébastien Lareau |  Paul Haarhuis  Jared Palmer | 7–6(9–7), 7–5 | 
| Win | 11–18 | Nov 1999 | Hartford, United States | ATP Finals | Carpet | .svg.png.webp) 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 .svg.png.webp) 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)
| 
 | 
 | 
| 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 | .svg.png.webp) 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)
| 
 | 
 | 
| 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
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH | 
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 | |||||||||||