Craig Edwards (born May 19, 1955) is a former professional tennis player from the United States.
Full name | Craig Edwards |
---|---|
Country (sports) | ![]() |
Born | Los Angeles, California | May 19, 1955
Plays | Right-handed |
Singles | |
Career record | 2–8 |
Career titles | 0 |
Highest ranking | No. 258 (3 January, 1983) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | 1R (1982) |
US Open | 1R (1981) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 29–32 |
Career titles | 1 |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Australian Open | SF (1980) |
French Open | 3R (1981) |
Wimbledon | 2R (1980, 1982) |
US Open | 1R (1981) |
Biography
editEdwards, a relative late comer to tennis, changed his approach to the sport after attending a basketball camp run by John Wooden, which he attended to learn things that he could put towards his tennis.[1] He was the No. 1 player at Ventura High School for two and a half years, then in 1974 began as a freshman at the University of Redlands.[1][2] An All-American at Redlands in 1973-74 and 1974-75, he later went to Pepperdine University.[3]
During the 1980s, Edwards competed professionally on the Grand Prix tennis circuit, primarily in doubles events. His regular partner was Eddie Edwards, a South African player of no relation, who played with him at Pepperdine. They won a Grand Prix title at Bournemouth in 1980 and were runners-up in a further two Grand Prix tournaments, at Adelaide and Stuttgart the following year. In Grand Slam competition, the pair made the semi-finals of the 1980 Australian Open and lost a match deciding tiebreak to top seeds Peter McNamara and Paul McNamee to miss out on a spot in the final.[4] They earned seedings at subsequent Grand Slam tournaments, including the 1981 Wimbledon Championships.[5] The pair performed well again at the 1981 Australian Open and were quarter-finalists. In singles, Edwards competed in the main draw at the 1981 US Open (first round loss to Roscoe Tanner) and 1982 Australian Open (first round loss to David Pate).[6]
A family friend of the Bryan brothers, Edwards was a travelling coach for Bob and Mike Bryan in their early years on tour.[7][8]
Grand Prix career finals
editDoubles: 3 (1–2)
editResult | W-L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1. | Sep 1980 | Bournemouth, United Kingdom | Clay | Eddie Edwards | Andrew Jarrett Jonathan Smith |
6–3, 6–7, 8–6 |
Loss | 2. | Jan 1981 | Adelaide, Australia | Grass | Eddie Edwards | Colin Dibley John James |
3–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 3. | Mar 1981 | Stuttgart, West Germany | Hard | Eddie Edwards | Buster Mottram Nick Saviano |
6–3, 1–6, 2–6 |
Challenger titles
editDoubles: (1)
editNo. | Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 1980 | Brussels, Belgium | Clay | Eddie Edwards | Doug Adler Chris Johnstone |
6–1, 6–2 |
References
edit- ^ a b "Redlands". The San Bernardino County Sun. April 11, 1974. p. 54. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
- ^ "Sport". Redlands Daily Facts. February 19, 1974. p. 9. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
- ^ "ITA All-Americans (since 1954) - Redlands". goredlands.com. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
- ^ Yallop, Richard (January 5, 1981). "Nice present for Teacher". The Age. p. 22. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ^ "ITF Tennis - Pro Circuit - Wimbledon - 22 June - 04 July 1981". International Tennis Federation. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ^ "Tennis". The Milwaukee Sentinel. September 3, 1981. p. 2.1. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ^ Ashok, Kalyan (March 2, 2002). "The Bryan brothers band is a hot one". Sportstar. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ^ Peterson, Lauren (August 26, 2001). "Bryan Twins Hit Their Stride at the Right Time". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 January 2016.