David Felgate (tennis)

David Felgate (born 19 March 1964) is a former English professional tennis player who competed for Great Britain in the 1980s.[1]

David Felgate
Country (sports)United Kingdom Great Britain
ResidenceBarnes, London
Born (1964-03-19) 19 March 1964 (age 60)
Essex, England
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Turned pro1983
Retired1989
PlaysRight-handed
Singles
Career record1–4
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 301 (11 July 1988)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open1R (1988)
Wimbledon1R (1988)
Doubles
Career record9–25
Career titles1
Highest rankingNo. 83 (5 May 1986)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open1R (1987, 1988)
French Open1R (1986)
Wimbledon2R (1985, 1986, 1988)
US Open1R (1988)
Mixed doubles
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
French Open2R (1986)
Wimbledon1R (1986, 1989)

Career

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Felgate was principally a doubles player and it was in doubles that he made the semi-finals of the boys' event at the 1982 US Open, partnering Stuart Bale.[2]

He and fellow Englishman Steve Shaw were doubles champions in the 1985 Bordeaux Open.[3] It would be his only title on the Grand Prix tennis circuit. Also that year, in Wimbledon, Felgate won his first Grand Slam doubles match. Felgate and Nick Brown, wild card entrants, upset third seeds Ken Flach and Robert Seguso in the first round, before losing in the second round. He also reached the second round at Wimbledon in 1986, with Shaw, and in 1988, with Nick Fulwood.

He made his first Grand Slam singles appearance in 1988.[3] After going through qualifying, Felgate played against Eddie Edwards in the first round of the 1988 Australian Open.[3] He lost heavily to the South African, only winning three games during the match.[3] He had previously only played singles on the Challenger circuit, and never in a Grand Prix event.[3] When he did debut at a Grand Prix tournament, in the 1988 Stella Artois Championships, Felgate defeated world number 72 Jérôme Potier.[3] He was given a wild card at Wimbledon that year, but had to play top seed Ivan Lendl in the first round, and lost in straight sets.[3]

In 1992, Felgate started coaching Tim Henman and remained with him for nine years. During this time Henman made two Wimbledon semi-finals and won seven ATP titles. They decided to part ways in April 2001 and Felgate then began working with Xavier Malisse. He has also spent time coaching Naomi Cavaday and Nicole Vaidišová.[3]

He has had a long association with the Lawn Tennis Association.[3] He was Manager of Men's National Training there from 1992 until 1996 and their Performance Director from 2003 to 2006.[3]

Grand Prix career finals

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Doubles: 1 (1–0)

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Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1–0 Sep 1985 Bordeaux, France Clay   Steve Shaw   Libor Pimek
  Blaine Willenborg
6–4, 5–7, 6–4

Challenger titles

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Doubles: (4)

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No. Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
1. 1986 Nairobi, Kenya Clay   Nick Fulwood   Marcel Freeman
  Jacques Manset
6–2, 7–6
2. 1986 Lisbon, Portugal Clay   Bruce Derlin   Alessandro de Minicis
  Marko Ostoja
5–7, 6–3, 6–4
3. 1987 Bloemfontein, South Africa Hard   Nick Fulwood   Mike Bauer
  Peter Palandjian
6–1, 3–6, 6–4
4. 1988 Madeira, Portugal Hard   Nick Fulwood   Jon Levine
  Nduka Odizor
7–5, 7–5

References

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