Career record 10–21 Height 1.88 m Handed Right-handed Prize money US$ 502,870 Role Tennis player | Plays Right-handed Name Mark Merklein Turned pro 1994 Residence Gainesville, Florida Career titles 0 Weight 82 kg | |
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Born June 28, 1972 (age 51) Freeport, Bahamas ( 1972-06-28 ) | ||
Assistant coach mark merklein feature
Mark Merklein (born June 28, 1972) is a Bahamas-born former college and professional tennis player. He played for the Bahamas Davis Cup team from 1999–2004.
Merklein was born in Freeport, Bahamas. He grew up in Coral Springs, Florida, and attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in nearby Fort Lauderdale. Playing for the St. Thomas Raiders high school tennis team, he won six Class 3A high school titles – two at No. 2 singles, one at No. 1 singles, and three at No. 1 doubles.
Merklein accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for the Florida Gators men's tennis team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Southeastern Conference (SEC) competition from 1991 to 1994. As a Gator, he won the NCAA national championship doubles title with partner David Blair in 1993. The following year, Merklein won the NCAA national championship singles title in 1994 in dominating fashion, losing only one set. Merklein was a four-time All-American, a three-time All-SEC selection, and the SEC Player of the Year in 1994. He was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 2005.
Merklein turned professional in 1994, and won four doubles titles during his career. He won matches at all four Majors. On July 7, 1997, he reached his highest singles ranking of world No. 160, and reached his highest doubles ranking on January 12, 2004, when he became world No. 37.
On May 24, 2013, Merklein was hired as the University of Florida men's tennis assistant coach.
Merklein currently resides in Gainesville, Florida.