David Wheaton

Last updated

David Wheaton
David Wheaton.jpg
Country (sports)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Residence Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, US
Born (1969-06-02) June 2, 1969 (age 55)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Turned pro1988
Retired2001
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize money$5,238,401
Singles
Career record232–191
Career titles3
Highest rankingNo. 12 (22 July 1991)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open QF (1990)
French Open 3R (1995)
Wimbledon SF (1991)
US Open QF (1990)
Other tournaments
Grand Slam Cup W (1991)
Doubles
Career record157–122
Career titles3
Highest rankingNo. 24 (24 June 1991)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open F (1991)
French Open SF (1995)
Wimbledon 2R (1990, 1993)
US Open F (1990)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open 2R (1990)
Wimbledon QF (1989)
US Open QF (1989)
Team competitions
Davis Cup 1–1
Hopman Cup F (1991)
Last updated on: 29 November 2021.

David Wheaton (born June 2, 1969) is an American author, radio host, columnist, and former professional tennis player.

Contents

Personal

Born in Minneapolis as the youngest of four children. During his tennis career, he dated tennis star Mary Joe Fernández around 1990-1992. Wheaton married in 2009 and has one son.

Tennis career

Wheaton started tennis at age four, played in his first tournament at eight, won the Minnesota State High School tennis title in 1984 as a freshman, trained at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy for his last two-and-a-half years of high school, played one year at Stanford, and then competed for 13 years on the professional tour.

Juniors

In 1987, Wheaton won the US Open junior title and was the No. 1 ranked junior player in the US. In 1988, he helped Stanford University's tennis team win the NCAA team title and received the Block S Award as the most outstanding freshman athlete at Stanford.

Pro tour

Wheaton turned professional on July 4, 1988 and won his first top-level singles title in 1990 at the U.S. Clay Court Championships in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. He was also runner-up in the 1990 US Open men's doubles (with Paul Annacone).

The most significant highlights of his career came in 1991. He won the Grand Slam Cup in Munich, beating Michael Chang in straight sets in the final 7–5, 6–2, 6–4. He also reached the semifinals of singles at Wimbledon (beating Petr Korda, Cédric Pioline, Ivan Lendl, Jan Gunnarsson and Andre Agassi in the quarterfinals before being knocked-out by Boris Becker), and was a men's doubles runner-up at the Australian Open (partnering with his former Stanford teammate Patrick McEnroe). Wheaton reached his career-high singles ranking of world No. 12 in July 1991.

During his career, Wheaton won three top-level singles and three doubles titles, representing the US in Davis Cup (v. Australia, 1993) reached the semifinals or better in either singles or doubles of every Grand Slam tournament, and defeated highly ranked players such as Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Stefan Edberg, Jim Courier, and Michael Chang.

He retired from the professional tour in 2001, following a series of injuries. Since then he has played in some senior tour events, winning the "Wimbledon Over 35 Doubles" championship in 2004 (with T.J. Middleton).

Junior Grand Slam finals

Singles: 1 (1 title)

ResultYearTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Win 1987 US Open Hard Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Andrey Cherkasov 7–5, 6–0

Doubles: 1 (1 runner-up)

ResultYearTournamentSurfacePartnetOpponentsScore
Loss 1986 US Open Hard Flag of the United States.svg Jeff Tarango Flag of Spain.svg Tomas Carbonell
Flag of Spain.svg Javier Sanchez 		4–6, 6–1, 1–6

ATP career finals

Singles: 7 (3 titles, 4 runner-ups)

Legend
Grand Slam Tournaments (0–0)
ATP World Tour Finals (1–0)
ATP Masters Series(0–1)
ATP Championship Series (0–0)
ATP World Series (2–3)
Finals by surface
Hard (0–1)
Clay (1–1)
Grass (1–2)
Carpet (1–0)
Finals by setting
Outdoors (2–4)
Indoors (1–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0 May 1990 Kiawah Island, United StatesWorld SeriesClay Flag of South Africa.svg Mark Kaplan 6–4, 6–4
Loss1–1 Mar 1991 Miami, United StatesMasters SeriesHard Flag of the United States.svg Jim Courier 6–4, 3–6, 4–6
Loss1–2 Jun 1991 Queen's, United KingdomWorld SeriesGrass Flag of Sweden.svg Stefan Edberg 2–6, 3–6
Win2–2 Dec 1991 Munich, GermanyGrand Slam CupCarpet Flag of the United States.svg Michael Chang 7–5, 6–2, 6–4
Loss2–3 May 1993 Coral Springs, United StatesWorld SeriesClay Flag of the United States.svg Todd Martin 3–6, 4–6
Win3–3 Jul 1994 Newport, United StatesWorld SeriesGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Todd Woodbridge 6–4, 3–6, 7–6(7–5)
Loss3–4 Jul 1995 Newport, United StatesWorld SeriesGrass Flag of Germany.svg David Prinosil 6–7(3–7), 7–5, 2–6

Doubles: 15 (3 titles, 12 runner-ups)

Legend
Grand Slam Tournaments (0–2)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP Masters Series (1–0)
ATP Championship Series (0–0)
ATP World Series (2–10)
Finals by surface
Hard (2–6)
Clay (1–3)
Grass (0–3)
Carpet (0–0)
Finals by setting
Outdoors (3–12)
Indoors (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0 Jul 1990 Toronto, CanadaMasters SeriesHard Flag of the United States.svg Paul Annacone Flag of Australia (converted).svg Broderick Dyke
Flag of Sweden.svg Peter Lundgren 		6–1, 7–6
Loss1–1 Aug 1990 New York, United StatesGrand SlamHard Flag of the United States.svg Paul Annacone Flag of South Africa.svg Pieter Aldrich
Flag of South Africa.svg Danie Visser 		2–6, 6–7, 2–6
Loss1–2 Jan 1991 Melbourne, AustraliaGrand SlamHard Flag of the United States.svg Patrick McEnroe Flag of the United States.svg Scott Davis
Flag of the United States.svg David Pate 		7–6, 6–7, 3–6, 5–7
Loss1–3 May 1991 Umag, CroatiaWorld SeriesClay Flag of the United States.svg Richey Reneberg Flag of Israel.svg Gilad Bloom
Flag of Spain.svg Javier Sanchez 		6–7, 6–2, 1–6
Loss1–4 Jul 1992 Newport, United StatesWorld SeriesGrass Flag of the United States.svg Paul Annacone Flag of South Africa.svg Royce Deppe
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg David Rikl 		4–6, 4–6
Loss1–5 Aug 1992 Los Angeles, United StatesWorld SeriesHard Flag of the United States.svg Francisco Montana Flag of the United States.svg Patrick Galbraith
Flag of the United States.svg Jim Pugh 		6–7, 6–7
Win2–5 Apr 1993 Hong Kong, Hong KongWorld SeriesHard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Todd Woodbridge Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sandon Stolle
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jason Stoltenberg 		6–1, 6–3
Loss2–6 Jul 1994 Newport, United StatesWorld SeriesGrass Flag of the United States.svg Kent Kinnear Flag of Austria.svg Alex Antonitsch
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Greg Rusedski 		4–6, 6–3, 4–6
Loss2–7 Apr 1995 Nice, FranceWorld SeriesClay Flag of the United States.svg Luke Jensen Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Cyril Suk
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Daniel Vacek 		6–3, 6–7, 6–7
Loss2–8 Oct 1995 Tel Aviv, IsraelWorld SeriesHard Flag of the United States.svg Kent Kinnear Flag of the United States.svg Jim Grabb
Flag of the United States.svg Jared Palmer 		4–6, 5–7
Win3–8 May 1996 Atlanta, United StatesWorld SeriesClay Flag of South Africa.svg Christo Van Rensburg Flag of the United States.svg Bill Behrens
Flag of the United States.svg Matt Lucena 		7–6, 6–2
Loss3–9 May 1996 Pinehurst, United StatesWorld SeriesClay Flag of the United States.svg Ken Flach Flag of Australia (converted).svg Pat Cash
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Patrick Rafter 		2–6, 3–6
Loss3–10 Mar 1998 Scottsdale, United StatesInternational SeriesHard Flag of the United States.svg Kent Kinnear Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Cyril Suk
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Michael Tebbutt 		6–4, 1–6, 6–7
Loss3–11 Apr 1999 Hong Kong, Hong Konginternational SeriesHard Flag of the United States.svg Andre Agassi Flag of New Zealand.svg James Greenhalgh
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Grant Silcock 		walkover
Loss3–12 Jun 2001 Queen's, United Kingdominternational SeriesGrass Flag of the United States.svg Eric Taino Flag of the United States.svg Mike Bryan
Flag of the United States.svg Bob Bryan 		3–6, 6–3, 1–6

ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals

Singles: 2 (1–1)

Legend
ATP Challenger (1–1)
ITF Futures (0–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (1–0)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (0–1)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0Apr 1989 Brasília, BrazilChallengerHard Flag of the United States.svg Dan Cassidy 6–1, 6–2
Loss1–1Jun 1996 Annenheim, AustriaChallengerGrass Flag of Germany.svg Alex Radulescu 4–6, 2–6

Doubles: 1 (1–0)

Legend
ATP Challenger (1–0)
ITF Futures (0–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (1–0)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0Apr 1989 Itu, BrazilChallengerHard Flag of the United States.svg Kent Kinnear Flag of Brazil.svg Nelson Aerts
Flag of Brazil.svg Marcos Hocevar 		6–3, 6–4

Performance timelines

Key
W F SFQF#RRRQ#DNQANH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Singles

Tournament 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 SRW–LWin %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open AAA 1R QF 1R 4R 3R A 4R 2R A 2R AAA0 / 814–864%
French Open AAA 2R 1R 1R 2R 1R 2R 3R 2R AAAAA0 / 86–843%
Wimbledon A Q1 A 1R 4R SF 3R 4R 1R 3R 3R A 1R Q2 AA0 / 917–965%
US Open A 1R A 2R QF 4R 3R 1R 1R 2R 4R 1R 1R A Q2 A0 / 1114–1156%
Win–loss0–00–10–02–411–48–48–45–41–38–47–40–11–30–00–00–00 / 3651–3659%
Year-end Championships
Grand Slam Cup Did not qualify SF W Did not qualifyNot Held1 / 26–186%
ATP Masters Series
Indian Wells AAAAA 1R 2R 2R A 3R AAAAAA0 / 44–450%
Miami 1R AAAA F 2R 1R 3R 3R AA 1R AAA0 / 79–756%
Monte Carlo AAAAAAAAA QF AAAAAA0 / 13–175%
Rome AAAA 1R AAAAAAAAAAA0 / 10–10%
Canada AAAA 3R A 1R 2R 3R 1R AAA Q1 1R A0 / 65–645%
Cincinnati AAAA 2R 3R QF 1R SF 2R A 2R Q1 AA Q2 0 / 711–761%
Stuttgart Not HeldAAAAAAAAA Q1 AAAA0 / 00–0 – 
Paris AAAA 1R 2R QF 2R 2R 2R Q2 AAAAA0 / 66–650%
Win–loss0–10–00–00–03–47–47–53–59–48–60–01–10–10–00–10–00 / 3238–3254%

Doubles

Tournament 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 SRW–LWin %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open AA 1R 2R F A 1R A 1R 1R A SF AAA0 / 710–759%
French Open AAA 1R 2R 2R 1R A SF 1R AAAAA0 / 66–650%
Wimbledon AAA 2R AA 2R AA 1R AAAAA0 / 32–340%
US Open 1R A QF F A 1R 2R 1R 2R 3R A 2R AAA0 / 913–959%
Win–loss0–10–03–27–46–21–22–40–15–32–40–05–20–00–00–00 / 2531–2555%
ATP Masters Series
Indian Wells AAAA 2R SF AA 2R AAAAAA0 / 35–363%
Miami AAAA SF 1R SF 3R 1R AA 1R AA Q1 0 / 69–660%
Canada AAA W A 2R 2R A QF AAAAAA1 / 49–375%
Cincinnati AAAA 2R A 2R Q1 1R AA 1R AAA0 / 42–433%
Stuttgart NHAAAAAAAAA Q1 AAAA0 / 00–0 – 
Paris AAA 1R QF AA 1R AAAAAAA0 / 32–340%
Win–loss0–00–00–05–17–44–36–32–23–40–00–00–20–00–00–01 / 2027–1959%

Mixed doubles

Tournament 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 SRW–LWin %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A 2R AAAAAAAA0 / 11–150%
French Open AAAAAAAAAA0 / 00–0 – 
Wimbledon QF AAAAAAAA 1R 0 / 23–260%
US Open QF AAAAAAAAA0 / 12–167%
Win–loss5–21–10–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–10 / 46–460%

Radio and writing career

In 2002, Wheaton embarked a new career in radio, writing, and speaking. He is the producer and host of The Christian Worldview, a live talk radio program that airs on 250 stations in the US. He is a tennis columnist for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and the author of two books, University of Destruction: Your Game Plan for Spiritual Victory on Campus (Bethany House, 2005) and My Boy, Ben—A Story of Love, Loss and Grace (Tristan Publishing, 2014).

Service and awards

Wheaton serves on the board of The Overcomer Foundation, a non-profit organization that directs his radio ministry. He also served on the board of directors of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) from 2003-2006. He is a member of the Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame (class of 2012) and the USTA Northern Section Hall of Fame (class of 2005). Wheaton received the Eugene L. Scott Renaissance Award in 2011—an award presented to a national/international tennis champion who demonstrates excellence in promoting and developing the sport of tennis in public parks.

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