Grant Connell (Pronounced: KAHN-nellATPWorldTour.com - Players - Profile) (born November 17, 1965) is a former professional tennis player from Canada, who retired in 1997 and in 1999 started working as a real estate agent in Vancouver. He specializes in West Vancouver North Vancouver and Downtown properties real estate transactions. He is considered one of the world's top doubles player from the early to late -1990s, reaching the world No. 1 doubles ranking in November 1993.
Connell won 22 doubles titles during his eleven seasons on the ATP Tour (1986 to 1997). He won his first four with fellow Canadian Glenn Michibata. Upon Michibata's retirement from the tour, Connell joined Patrick Galbraith. The Connell-Galbraith tandem won 12 titles together, including the 1995 season ending Doubles Championships tournament. Connell's next main partner became Byron Black with whom he won four more titles. He also won a title each with Todd Martin and Scott Davis. He was a three-time Wimbledon Championships doubles finalist, twice with Galbraith and once with Black.
A left-hander, Connell best singles ranking was world No. 67, which he reached in June 1991. His best tour singles results were reaching the semifinals of the 1991 Chicago, 1991 Singapore, and 1992 Auckland Grand Prix events.
Connell's best Grand Slam singles results were reaching the third round of the 1991 Australian Open and 1994 Wimbledon.
A solid grass-court player, Connell had Andre Agassi on the ropes in their first round encounter at Wimbledon in 1991. In that match, Connell served a gutsy second serve ace to win the third set tie-breaker and go up two sets to one. Agassi however won the final two sets 7–5, 6–3, to take the match. (The following year at Wimbledon saw Agassi win his first Grand Slam event.) As well, Connell reached five mixed semifinals at Wimbledon. The majority of those with his highly ranked partner Lindsay Davenport. Reporters have noted that neither one of them seemed too concerned about winning any title but had a lot of fun losing.
Connell played Davis Cup for Canada on numerous occasions posting a career 15–6 win–loss record in doubles and an equally impressive 8–3 record in singles. He was a member of Canada's 1991 and 1992 Davis Cup teams winning all three needed matches in each of those wins to put Canada in to the World Group for its first two times in canadian tennis history. Awards: Winner of the “Spirit of Sport” national award for the athlete who gives back the most to charity and their sport; Member of the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame, Canadian Open Hall of Fame, BC Sports Hall of Fame, Texas A&M University Hall of Fame, and B.C. Summer Swimming Hall of Fame.
As a college player Growing up in North Vancouver, Connell was an All-American in doubles in 1984 and in singles in 1985 at Texas A&M University. Ranked No. 5 in singles in NCAA‘s and undefeated in the SWC in singles play in ‘85 that same year before turning pro, he lost in the quarterfinals of the NCAA individual tennis championships to fellow future touring pro Mikael Pernfors.
As a touring pro 1984, 1985 While still an amateur, Connell played the Player's International twice as a wild card entry, losing in the first round of the main draw each time. In 1984 he lost to world No. 17, Joakim Nyström, 4–6, 3–6, while the following summer Connell fell to world No. 47, 6–7, 3–6.
On December 30, 1985, Connell was ranked by the ATP No. 570T in singles and No. 724T in doubles.
1986 Connell played the San Luis Potosí Challenger in March, reaching the second round in both singles and doubles. He defeated world No. 327, Evan Ratner, 6–1, 6–4, before losing to world No. 415, Karl Richter, 6–3, 6–7, 3–6, while in doubles, he and partner Mark Greenan, also Canadian, lost their second round match to Mark Wooldridge and Derek Tarr in a third set tie-break.
In July, Connell played two further Challengers. At the Schenectady Challenger, he and Greenan lost in the first round in doubles. At the Berkeley Challenger the following week, Connell and Greenan again lost in the first round, while in singles Connell reached the semifinals, defeating Charles Buzz Strode, Russell Simpson, and Paul Chamberlin all in straight sets before falling to Mike Bauer, 6–7, 2–6.
In August, Connell again played the Player's, but in doubles this time, again partnering Greenan. The pair lost, however, in the first round, to the pair of Ricardo Acuña and Bob Green, 6–1, 3–6, 4–6. Connell next saw action in three European Challengers in November. At the Helsinki Challenger, he lost in both singles and doubles in the first round. The following week at Bergen Challenger, he reached the second round of both, falling to Dan Goldie in three sets in singles and partnering Chamberlin in doubles. Connell finished 1986 on tour with a bang, reaching the semifinals at the Valkenswaard Challenger in both singles and doubles, again partnering Chamberlin.
On December 29, 1986, Connell was ranked world No. 191 in singles and No. 217 in doubles.
1987 Connell began 1987 playing in his first Grand Slam event, the Australian Open. He lost in singles in the first round, in straight sets, to world No. 116 Todd Nelson. In doubles, he and partner American Chris Kennedy reached the second round.
Connell's next main draw action was in March, at the Cherbourg Challenger.
1988 Connell began the year at the AAMI Classic in Sydney, Australia where he lost in the first round to Pete Sampras, 4–6, 7–5, 4–6.
1989–1994
Career finals Doubles: 48 (22 titles / 26 runner-ups)
Finals by category Grand Slam (0) Tennis Masters Cup (1) ATP Masters Series (3) ATP Championship Series (8) ATP Tour (10) Finals by surface Hard (13) Clay (2) Grass (1) Carpet (6) ResultW-L DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss 0–1 Mar 1987 Nancy, France Carpet (i) Larry Scott Ramesh Krishnan Claudio Mezzadri 4–6, 4–6Win 1–1 Aug 1988 Livingston, United States Hard Glenn Michibata Marc Flur Sammy Giammalva Jr. 2–6, 6–4, 7–5Loss 1–2 Oct 1988 Brisbane, Australia Hard (i) Glenn Michibata Eric Jelen Carl-Uwe Steeb 4–6, 1–6Loss 1–3 Jan 1990Australian Open, Melbourne Hard Glenn Michibata Pieter Aldrich Danie Visser 4–6, 6–4, 1–6, 4–6Loss 1–4 Feb 1990Philadelphia, United States Carpet (i) Glenn Michibata Rick Leach Jim Pugh 6–3, 4–6, 2–6Win 2–4 Apr 1990 Seoul, South Korea Hard Glenn Michibata Jason Stoltenberg Todd Woodbridge 7–6, 6–4Win 3–4 Jul 1990Washington, D.C., United States Hard Glenn Michibata Jorge Lozano Todd Witsken 6–3, 6–7, 6–2Loss 3–5 Aug 1990Indianapolis, United States Hard Glenn Michibata Scott Davis David Pate 6–7, 6–7Loss 3–6 Jan 1991 Auckland, New Zealand Hard Glenn Michibata Sergio Casal Emilio Sánchez 6–4, 3–6, 4–6Loss 3–7 Mar 1991 Chicago, United States Carpet (i) Glenn Michibata Scott Davis David Pate 4–6, 7–5, 6–7Win 4–7 Apr 1991 Singapore Hard Glenn Michibata Stefan Kruger Christo van Rensburg 6–4, 5–7, 7–6Loss 4–8 Jun 1991 Queen's Club, England Grass Glenn Michibata Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde 4–6, 6–7Loss 4–9 Jul 1991Montreal, Canada Hard Glenn Michibata Patrick Galbraith Todd Witsken 4–6, 6–3, 1–6Loss 4–10 Aug 1991Cincinnati, United States Hard Glenn Michibata Ken Flach Robert Seguso 7–6, 4–6, 5–7Loss 4–11 Jan 1992 Auckland, New Zealand Hard Glenn Michibata Wayne Ferreira Jim Grabb 4–6, 3–6Loss 4–12 Apr 1992 Singapore Hard Glenn Michibata Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde 7–6, 2–6, 4–6Loss 4–13 Aug 1992Indianapolis, United States Hard Glenn Michibata Jim Grabb Richey Reneberg 6–7, 2–6Win 5–13 Jan 1993 Auckland, New Zealand Hard Patrick Galbraith Alex Antonitsch Alexander Volkov 6–3, 7–6Loss 5–14 Feb 1993 Dubai, UAE Hard Patrick Galbraith John Fitzgerald Anders Järryd 2–6, 1–6Loss 5–15 May 1993Hamburg, Germany Clay Patrick Galbraith Paul Haarhuis Mark Koevermans 4–6, 7–6, 6–7Loss 5–16 Jul 1993Wimbledon, London Grass Patrick Galbraith Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde 6–7, 3–6, 6–7Loss 5–17 Jul 1993Washington, D.C., United States Hard Patrick Galbraith Byron Black Rick Leach 4–6, 5–7Loss 5–18 Aug 1993 Los Angeles, United States Hard Scott Davis Wayne Ferreira Michael Stich 6–7, 6–7Win 6–18 Oct 1993Tokyo Indoor, Japan Carpet (i) Patrick Galbraith Luke Jensen Murphy Jensen 6–3, 6–4Win 7–18 Nov 1993 Antwerp, Belgium Carpet (i) Patrick Galbraith Wayne Ferreira Javier Sánchez 6–3, 7–6Loss 7–19 Jan 1994 Auckland, New Zealand Hard Patrick Galbraith Patrick McEnroe Jared Palmer 2–6, 6–4, 4–6Loss 7–20 Feb 1994Stuttgart Indoor, Germany Carpet (i) Patrick Galbraith David Adams Andrei Olhovskiy 7–6, 4–6, 6–7Win 8–20 Mar 1994Indian Wells, United States Hard Patrick Galbraith Byron Black Jonathan Stark 7–5, 6–3Loss 8–21 Jul 1994Wimbledon, London Grass Patrick Galbraith Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde 6–7, 3–6, 1–6Win 9–21 Jul 1994Washington D.C., U.S. Hard Patrick Galbraith Jonas Björkman Jakob Hlasek 6–4, 4–6, 6–3Win 10–21 Aug 1994New Haven, United States Hard Patrick Galbraith Jacco Eltingh Paul Haarhuis 6–4, 7–6Win 11–21 Oct 1994Tokyo Indoor, Japan Carpet (i) Patrick Galbraith Byron Black Jonathan Stark 6–3, 3–6, 6–4Loss 11–22 Jan 1995 Adelaide, Australia Hard Byron Black Jim Courier Patrick Rafter 6–7, 4–6Win 12–22 Jan 1995 Auckland, New Zealand Hard Patrick Galbraith Luis Lobo Javier Sánchez 6–4, 6–3Win 13–22 Feb 1995 Dubai, UAE Hard Patrick Galbraith Tomás Carbonell Francisco Roig 6–2, 4–6, 6–3Win 14–22 Feb 1995Stuttgart Indoor, Germany Carpet (i) Patrick Galbraith Cyril Suk Daniel Vacek 6–2, 6–2Win 15–22 Apr 1995 Bermuda Clay Todd Martin Brett Steven Jason Stoltenberg 7–6, 2–6, 7–5Loss 15–23 Oct 1995 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Carpet Patrick Galbraith Patrick McEnroe Mark Philippoussis 5–7, 4–6Win 16–23 Nov 1995Paris Indoor, France Carpet (i) Patrick Galbraith Jim Grabb Todd Martin 6–2, 6–2Loss 16–24 Nov 1995 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i) Patrick Galbraith Jacco Eltingh Paul Haarhuis 6–3, 2–6, 6–7Win 17–24 Nov 1995Doubles Championships, Eindhoven Carpet (i) Patrick Galbraith Jacco Eltingh Paul Haarhuis 7–6, 7–6, 3–6, 7–6Win 18–24 Feb 1996 Dubai, UAE Hard Byron Black Karel Nováček Jiří Novák 6–0, 6–1Loss 18–25 Mar 1996Philadelphia, United States Carpet (i) Byron Black Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde 6–7, 2–6Win 19–25 May 1996Rome, Italy Clay Byron Black Libor Pimek Byron Talbot 6–2, 6–3Win 20–25 Jun 1996 Halle, Germany Grass Byron Black Yevgeny Kafelnikov Daniel Vacek 6–1, 7–5Loss 20–26 Jul 1996Wimbledon, London Grass Byron Black Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde 6–4, 1–6, 3–6, 2–6Win 21–26 Jul 1996Washington, D.C., United States Hard Scott Davis Doug Flach Chris Woodruff 7–6, 3–6, 6–3Win 22–26 Aug 1996New Haven, United States Hard Byron Black Jonas Björkman Nicklas Kulti 6–4, 6–4
Doubles performance timeline
Tournament 19841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997 Career SR Career W-L Grand Slam tournamentsAustralian OpenAANH2RQFQFF3R3R2R1R2R2R3R0 / 1121–11French OpenAAAA1R1R3RSF2R1RSF2R2RA0 / 913–9WimbledonAAA1R3R1RQFSF2RFF1RF2R0 / 1126–11US OpenAAA1R1R1R3R2R3R2R1RSF1R3R0 / 1111–11Grand Slam SR0 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 30 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 40 / 30 / 42N/AAnnual win–loss0–00–00–01–35–43–412–411–46–47–49–46–47–44–3N/A71–42 ATP Masters SeriesIndian WellsThese Tournaments Were NotMasters Series EventsBefore 19902R2RQF2RWQFSF2R1 / 811–7Miami3R2R3R2R2RSFSFQF0 / 87–8Monte CarloAAA2RQF2RSFA0 / 44–4RomeAAA1R1R2RW2R1 / 57–4HamburgAAAF2RQFQF1R0 / 57–5CanadaSFF1RSF2RSFQFA0 / 710–7Cincinnati2RF2RSFQFQFQFA0 / 79–7Stuttgart (Stockholm)SF2RSFSF2RSF2RA0 / 79–7Paris2R2R2RQFSFWSFA1 / 79–6Masters Series SRN/A0 / 60 / 60 / 60 / 91 / 91 / 91 / 90 / 43 / 58N/AAnnual win–lossN/A6–67–67–612–99–813–816–83–4N/A73–55 Year-end ranking7587242179632481010271753100N/A
Honours Connell was inducted into the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1998.
After retiring as a tennis pro