Country (sports) Australia Plays Right-handed Career titles 1 Grand slams won (singles) 1 Residence Australia Handed Right-handed | Height 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) Career record 19–52 Australian Open W (1978) Turned pro 1973 Highest ranking 80 | |
Born 19 March 1956 (age 60)
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia ( 1956-03-19 ) | ||
Christine "Chris" O'Neil (born 19 March 1956) is a former professional female tennis player from Australia.
O'Neil is best known for her singles victory at the 1978 Australian Open, the last Australian female to do so. She also became the first unseeded woman to win the Australian title in the open era. In a relatively weak field she defeated Betsy Nagelsen in the final in straight sets.
This feat went unmatched until Serena Williams, unseeded and ranked World No. 81, won the 2007 Australian Open. O'Neil is also one of a handful of players who have won both the Australian Open Junior (1973) and Senior (1978) Championship title.
In 2007, Christine, along with her brothers Keith and William, have taken over the Morissonnet Sports & Tennis Centre located in Newcastle, NSW in Australia. The centre was subsequently renamed the O'Neil School of Tennis.
Recently, Chris moved to Port Macquarie and currently coaches there while promoting beach tennis.