Wayne Richard Ferreira (born 15 September 1971) is a South African tennis coach and a former professional player. Ferreira won 15 ATP singles titles and 11 doubles titles. His career-high rankings were world No. 6 in singles (in May 1995) and world No. 9 in doubles (in March 2001).
Junior career As a junior player, Ferreira was ranked world No. 1 junior doubles player and No. 6 junior singles player. He won the junior doubles title at the US Open in 1989.
Professional career Ferreira turned professional in 1989. He won his first ATP doubles title in Adelaide in 1991.
1992 was Ferreira's breakthrough year on the ATP Tour. He started out by reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open. In June he won his first ATP singles title at Queen's Club, London. His second singles title came just a few weeks later at Schenectady, New York. He also teamed-up with compatriot Piet Norval to win the men's doubles silver medal for South Africa at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Ferreira was defeated in the second round in the Olympic singles that year.
After 1993, when he didn't win any singles titles, in 1994 he won a career-best five singles titles. He then won another four events in 1995. He competed at the Olympics again in 1996, reaching the quarterfinals in both men's singles and men's doubles, with Ellis Ferreira as his partner. (The two Ferreiras are not related.)
The biggest titles of Ferreira's career came at Toronto in 1996 and Stuttgart in 2000 (both Tennis Masters Series events).
Ferreira teamed up with Amanda Coetzer in 2000 to win the Hopman Cup for South Africa. He played in his third and final Olympic tournament that year; this time, competing only in singles and being defeated in the first round.
Ferreira is the former record-holder for the most consecutive Grand Slam tournament appearances in men's tennis, having participated in 56 consecutive slams between the 1991 Australian Open and the 2004 US Open. Ferreira's best Grand Slam results came at the Australian Open – where he reached the semifinals twice in 1992 and 2003.
Ferreira was known for regularly causing upsets against top players. He is one of the few players with a positive record against 20 time Grand Slam champion, Roger Federer.Roger Federer career statistics#Head-to-head vs. Top 20 Players Ferreira teamed up with Federer in the men's doubles at Wimbledon in 2001. They got to the third round and were due to face Donald Johnson and Jared Palmer (the eventual champions) before Federer withdrew to focus on his singles campaign. In addition, Ferreira has a 5-6 head-to-head record against 14 time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras, with Sampras breaking the tie by winning their final match at the 2002 Canadian Masters. He also holds a positive head-to-head record against multiple Grand Slam champions and former world No. 1 ranked players, including Patrick Rafter, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl and Björn Borg.
Though Ferreira retired from the professional tour in 2005, he still played on the Outback Champions Series senior tour. He finished both 2006 and 2007 fourth on points in that series.
Coaching Starting in 2020, Ferreira was the coach of Frances Tiafoe and became his primary coach, replacing coach Zack Evenden, until the end of the 2023 season when they split. During that period Tiafoe won two titles and became a top 10 player.
He coached Jack Draper on a trial basis, starting in May 2024, that ended prior to the 2024 US Open. During that period Draper won his maiden ATP title in June 2024.
He did a trial with Yosuke Watanuki during the 2025 Sunshine Double. He has coached Alexei Popyrin.
Since June 2026 he is coaching Brandon Nakashima. During that time Nakashima reached a Masters 1000 final.
Endorsements Ferreira played with and endorsed rackets made by Slazenger early in his career. He switched to Dunlop Sport very early in his career and stayed with them, using the 200G racket, until the end of his ATP career.
Career statistics
Olympic games Finals: 1 (1 silver medal) ResultYearOlympicsSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreSilver1992BarcelonaClay Boris Becker Michael Stich6–7(5–7), 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 3–6
Masters Series finals
Singles: 3 (2–1) ResultYearTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss 1993Indian Wells Hard Jim Courier 3–6, 3–6, 1–6Win 1996Canada Hard Todd Woodbridge 6–2, 6–4Win 2000Stuttgart Hard (i) Lleyton Hewitt 7–6(8–6), 3–6, 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–2), 6–2
Doubles: 12 (6–6) ResultYearTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1991MiamiHard Piet Norval Ken Flach Robert Seguso5–7, 7–6, 6–2Loss1992RomeClay Mark Kratzmann Jakob Hlasek Marc Rosset4–6, 6–3, 1–6Loss1993RomeClay Mark Kratzmann Jacco Eltingh Paul Haarhuis4–6, 6–7Loss1994RomeClay Javier Sánchez Yevgeny Kafelnikov David Rikl1–6, 5–7Loss1994CincinnatiHard Mark Kratzmann Alex O'Brien Sandon Stolle7–6, 3–6, 2–6Win 1995HamburgClay Yevgeny Kafelnikov Byron Black Andrei Olhovskiy6–1, 7–6Loss1999CanadaHard Byron Black Jonas Björkman Patrick Rafter6–7, 4–6Loss2000RomeClay Yevgeny Kafelnikov Martin Damm Dominik Hrbatý4–6, 6–4, 3–6Win 2000Monte CarloClay Yevgeny Kafelnikov Paul Haarhuis Sandon Stolle6–3, 2–6, 6–1Win 2001Indian WellsHard Yevgeny Kafelnikov Jonas Björkman Todd Woodbridge6–2, 7–5Win 2001RomeClay Yevgeny Kafelnikov Daniel Nestor Sandon Stolle6–4, 7–6Win 2003Indian WellsHard Yevgeny Kafelnikov Bob Bryan Mike Bryan3–6, 7–5, 6–4
Career finals
Singles: 23 (15 wins / 8 losses) Finals by categoryGrand Slam (0–0)Tennis Masters Cup (0–0)ATP Masters Series (2–1)ATP Championship Series (1–4)ATP Tour (12–3)Finals by surfaceHard (11–4)Grass (1–2)Clay (1–1)Carpet (2–1)
ResultW/L DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss0–1Feb 1992Memphis, USHard (i) MaliVai Washington3–6, 2–6Win1–1Jun 1992Queen's Club, UKGrass Shuzo Matsuoka6–3, 6–4Loss1–2Jul 1992Stuttgart, GermanyClay Andrei Medvedev1–6, 4–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–2, 1–6Win2–2Aug 1992Schenectady, USHard Jamie Morgan6–2, 6–7(5–7), 6–2Loss2–3Mar 1993Indian Wells, USHard Jim Courier3–6, 3–6, 1–6Loss2–4Jun 1993Queen's Club, UKGrass Michael Stich3–6, 4–6Win3–4Jan 1994Oahu, USHard Richey Reneberg6–4, 6–7(3–7), 6–1Loss3–5Feb 1994Rotterdam, NetherlandsCarpet Michael Stich6–4, 3–6, 0–6Loss3–6Jun 1994Manchester, UKGrass Patrick Rafter6–7(5–7), 6–7(4–7)Win4–6Aug 1994Indianapolis, USHard Olivier Delaître6–2, 6–1Win5–6Sep 1994Bordeaux, FranceHard Jeff Tarango6–0, 7–5Win6–6Oct 1994Basel, SwitzerlandHard (i) Patrick McEnroe4–6, 6–2, 7–6(9–7), 6–3Win7–6Oct 1994Tel-Aviv, IsraelHard Amos Mansdorf7–6(7–4), 6–3Win8–6Feb 1995Dubai, UAEHard Andrea Gaudenzi6–3, 6–3Win9–6May 1995Munich, GermanyClay Michael Stich7–5, 7–6(8–6)Win10–6Oct 1995Ostrava, Czech RepublicCarpet MaliVai Washington3–6, 6–4, 6–3Win11–6Oct 1995Lyon, FranceCarpet Pete Sampras7–6(7–2), 5–7, 6–3Win12–6Mar 1996Scottsdale, USHard Marcelo Ríos2–6, 6–3, 6–3Loss12–7Jul 1996Washington, D.C., USHard Michael Chang2–6, 4–6Win13–7Aug 1996Toronto, CanadaHard Todd Woodbridge6–2, 6–4Loss13–8Apr 1999Tokyo, JapanHard Nicolas Kiefer6–7(5–7), 5–7Win14–8Nov 2000Stuttgart, GermanyHard (i) Lleyton Hewitt7–6(8–6), 3–6, 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–2), 6–2Win15–8Aug 2003Los Angeles, USHard Lleyton Hewitt6–3, 4–6, 7–5
Singles performance timeline
Tournament19881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004SRW–LGrand Slam tournamentsAustralian OpenAAA4RSF4R4R2R2R4R2R4R4R3RQFSF3R0 / 1439–14French OpenAAA2R3R2R1R3R4R3R3R2R3R1R1R3R1R0 / 1418–13WimbledonAQ12R2R4R4RQF4R3R3R4R1R4R1R3R1R3R0 / 1529–15US OpenAAA2RQF4R3R1R1R4R1R1R2R1R4R2R1R0 / 1418–14Win–loss0–00–01–16–414–410–49–46–46–410–36–44–49–42–49–48–44–40 / 57104–56 Year-end championshipsTennis Masters Cup Did not qualify RR Did not qualify0 / 12–1Grand Slam Cup NH DNQ 1R QF 1R Did not qualify Not Held0 / 31–3ATP Masters SeriesIndian WellsNMEA3R2RF2RQFQF2R2R1R2R1R1R1R2R0 / 1417–14MiamiNMEA4R2R2R3RQF2R3R4R2RQF2R1R3R2R0 / 1416–14Monte CarloNMEAA3RA2RAA2R2RA2R1RA2RA0 / 76–7RomeNMEA3R2R1R3RSFSF1R2R2R1RQF3R2RA0 / 1321–13HamburgNMEA1R2R1RAQFQF3R3R3R3R1R2RQFA0 / 1217–12CanadaNMEAAA3RSF3RW3R1R3RSF1R1R1RA1 / 1119–10CincinnatiNMEA3R1R3R3R3RQF2R2R1R1R1R3R1RA0 / 1314–13Stuttgart1NMEAA2R2R3R2R2RA2R2RWQFA2RA1 / 1013–9ParisNMEA2R2R2R2RSF3RA1R1R3R1RA1RA0 / 115–11Win–lossN/A0–09–65–89–811–817–818–75–79–96–819–86–95–67–92–22 / 105128–103Year-end ranking3152291734112221291042265413623926128
1Held as Stockholm Masters until 1994, Essen Masters in 1995, Stuttgart Masters 1996–2001, Madrid Masters from 2002–08.
Doubles: 24 (11 wins / 13 losses) ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin1.Jan 1991Adelaide, AustraliaHard Stefan Kruger Paul Haarhuis Mark Koevermans6–4, 4–6, 6–4Win2.Mar 1991Miami, USHard Piet Norval Ken Flach Robert Seguso5–7, 7–6, 6–2Win3.Jan 1992Auckland, New ZealandHard Jim Grabb Grant Connell Glenn Michibata6–4, 6–3Loss1.Apr 1992Johannesburg, South AfricaHard Piet Norval Pieter Aldrich Danie Visser4–6, 4–6Loss2.May 1992Rome, ItalyClay Mark Kratzmann Jakob Hlasek Marc Rosset4–6, 6–3, 1–6Loss3.Aug 1992Olympics, Barcelona, SpainClay Piet Norval Boris Becker Michael Stich6–7, 6–4, 6–7, 3–6Loss4.May 1993Rome, ItalyClay Mark Kratzmann Jacco Eltingh Paul Haarhuis4–6, 6–7Win4.Aug 1993Los Angeles, USHard Michael Stich Grant Connell Scott Davis7–6, 7–6Loss5.Nov 1993Antwerp, BelgiumCarpet Javier Sánchez Grant Connell Patrick Galbraith3–6, 6–7Loss6.May 1994Rome, ItalyClay Javier Sánchez Yevgeny Kafelnikov David Rikl1–6, 5–7Loss7.Aug 1994Cincinnati, USHard Mark Kratzmann Alex O'Brien Sandon Stolle7–6, 3–6, 2–6Win5.May 1995Hamburg, GermanyClay Yevgeny Kafelnikov Byron Black Andrei Olhovskiy6–1, 7–6Loss8.Oct 1995Lyon, FranceCarpet John-Laffnie de Jager Jakob Hlasek Yevgeny Kafelnikov3–6, 3–6Win6.Feb 1998Antwerp, BelgiumHard Yevgeny Kafelnikov Tomás Carbonell Francisco Roig7–5, 3–6, 6–2Loss9.Jul 1998Washington, D.C., USHard Patrick Galbraith Grant Stafford Kevin Ullyett2–6, 4–6Loss10.Mar 1999London, UKCarpet Byron Black Tim Henman Greg Rusedski3–6, 6–7Win7.Aug 1999Los Angeles, USHard Byron Black Goran Ivanišević Brian MacPhie6–2, 7–6Loss11.Aug 1999Montreal, CanadaHard Byron Black Jonas Björkman Patrick Rafter6–7, 4–6Loss12.Oct 1999Lyon, FranceCarpet Sandon Stolle Piet Norval Kevin Ullyett6–4, 6–7, 6–7Win8.Apr 2000Monte Carlo, MonacoClay Yevgeny Kafelnikov Paul Haarhuis Sandon Stolle6–3, 2–6, 6–1Loss13.May 2000Rome, ItalyClay Yevgeny Kafelnikov Martin Damm Dominik Hrbatý4–6, 6–4, 3–6Win9.Mar 2001Indian Wells, USHard Yevgeny Kafelnikov Jonas Björkman Todd Woodbridge6–2, 7–5Win10.May 2001Rome, ItalyClay Yevgeny Kafelnikov Daniel Nestor Sandon Stolle6–4, 7–6Win11.Mar 2003Indian Wells, USHard Yevgeny Kafelnikov Bob Bryan Mike Bryan3–6, 7–5, 6–4
Doubles performance timeline Tournament19881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004Grand Slam tournamentsAustralian OpenAAA1R2R3R1RA3RAA2R3R3R2RA2R0 / 1012–10French OpenAAAA3R2RAAA1RA2RQF1R2RAA0 / 78–7WimbledonAA3RSF1R3RSFAAAA1R2R3R2RAA0 / 916–8US OpenAA3R2R3R3RSFAAQF1RASF2R3RAA0 / 1021–9Win–loss0–00–04–25–25–47–48–30–02–13–20–12–310–45–35–40–01–10 / 3657–34ATP Masters SeriesIndian WellsNMEA1RQF2R2R1R2R2R1R2RSFW1RWA2 / 1320–11MiamiNMEAWSF2R2RAAQFQF1R2RA1RAA1 / 916–8Monte CarloNMEAAQFA1RAAQ22RAW1RAAA1 / 57–4RomeNMEA1RFFFAQFA1RQFFW2RQFA1 / 1128–10HamburgNMEA1RA1RAW1R2R1R1R2R1RSFAA1 / 109–9CanadaNMEAAA1R1R1RAAAF2R1RQFAA0 / 77–7CincinnatiNMEAQF1R2RFQFA1RAA2R2R2RAA0 / 912–7Madrid (Stuttgart)NMEA2R2R1RAQFAAA2RQFQFAAA0 / 77–6ParisNMEA1RQFQ1AAAAQ1QF2RAAAA0 / 44–4Win–lossN/A0–08–613–76–710–68–33–35–44–510–716–813–47–57–10–06 / 75110–66Year-end ranking511357872531351959100114663114315685495
Senior Tour championships 2007– defeated Jim Courier 2–6, 6–3, [11–9] in the Stanford Championships 2007– defeated Aaron Krickstein 6–3, 6–3 in The Oliver Group Champions Cup
Top 10 wins Season1990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005TotalWins023017215131330032