Michael Stich
Michael Stich as a commentator at the 2003 French Open. | |
Country (sports) | West Germany (1988-1990) Germany (from 1990) |
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Residence | Elmshorn, Germany |
Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) |
Turned pro | 1988 |
Retired | 1997 |
Plays | Right-handed; one-handed backhand |
Prize money | US$12,592,483 |
Singles | |
Career record | 385–176 |
Career titles | 18 |
Highest ranking | No. 2 (November 22, 1993) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | SF (1993) |
French Open | F (1996) |
Wimbledon | W (1991) |
US Open | F (1994) |
Other tournaments | |
Tour Finals | W (1993) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 165–111 |
Career titles | 10 |
Highest ranking | No. 9 (March 22, 1991) |
Other doubles tournaments | |
Olympic Games | W (1992) |
Last updated on: June 21, 2007. |
Olympic medal record | ||
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Men's Tennis | ||
1992 Barcelona | Men's Doubles |
Michael Detlef Stich (born October 18, 1968 in Pinneberg, Schleswig-Holstein) is a former professional tennis player from Germany. He is best remembered for winning the men's singles title at Wimbledon in 1991. He also won the men's doubles titles at both Wimbledon and the Olympic Games, and was a singles runner-up at the US Open and the French Open.
Career
Stich was raised in Elmshorn, Schleswig-Holstein. He turned professional in 1988 and won his first top-level singles title in 1990 at Memphis, Tennessee.
Stich won Wimbledon in 1991. He defeated the defending champion and World No. 1 Stefan Edberg in the semi-finals 4–6, 7–6, 7–6, 7–6 without breaking his service once. Then in the final, he beat his compatriot and three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker in straight sets.
In 1992, Stich teamed with John McEnroe to win the men's doubles title at Wimbledon in a five-set and five-hour final that stretched into Monday (the day after the tournament normally ends) and ended with a 19-17 final set. And then at the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Stich teamed with Becker to win the men's doubles gold medal. Stich also won the 1992 Grand Slam Cup, defeating Michael Chang in the final.
A major highlight of 1993 for Stich came at the end-of-year ATP World Championships, where he defeated Pete Sampras in the final. Playing for Germany, Stich also won both the Davis Cup and the Hopman Cup in 1993.
Stich reached his second Grand Slam singles final at the 1994 US Open, where he lost in straight sets to Andre Agassi. Stich also helped Germany win the World Team Cup in 1994.
Stich upset defending champion Thomas Muster in four sets in the fourth round of the 1996 French Open en route to appearing in his third and final Grand Slam singles final, where he was defeated by Yevgeny Kafelnikov in straight sets. He also won his final career singles title that year at Antwerp. His last doubles title came in 1997 at Halle.
Stich's all-round ability, both from the baseline and at the net, allowed him to become one of the few players to win tournaments on all surfaces. He is one of only five players of his generation[clarification needed] to have a positive career head-to-head record against Sampras. [1]
Stich won 18 singles titles and 10 doubles titles. His career-high singles ranking was World No. 2 in 1993.
Stich announced his retirement from the professional tour in 1997 following Wimbledon. His last run at Wimbledon started with a win over U.S. top 10 player Jim Courier and ended with a five-set loss to Cedric Pioline in the semi-finals. Prior to the match with Pioline, Stich had played down the impression that the tournament was a swan song by saying in English at a press conference, "I had not come to retire. I had come here to win Wimbledon."[citation needed]
Since his retirement, he has devoted most of his time to his own AIDS foundation. He also works as a tennis commentator for the BBC. Stich was married to the German actress Jessica Stockmann from 1992 to 2003. In 2005, he married Alexandra Rikowski. They live in Hamburg.
Serena Williams controversy
At the Wimbledon tournament in 2007, Stich accused Serena Williams of exaggerating an injury, stating that "You're either injured or you're not. I'm not sure what we saw last night." Williams had collapsed in pain in a fourth round match with Daniela Hantuchová. Williams denied the allegations angrily, stating "My career is actually more stellar than Stich's, so he can say whatever he pleases."[2]
Major finals
Grand Slam finals
Singles (3)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
Winner | 1991 | Wimbledon | Grass | Boris Becker | 6–4, 7–6(4), 6–4 |
Runner-up | 1994 | US Open | Hard | Andre Agassi | 6–1, 7–6(5), 7–5 |
Runner-up | 1996 | French Open | Clay | Yevgeny Kafelnikov | 7–6(4), 7–5, 7–6(4) |
Men's doubles (1)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
Winner | 1992 | Wimbledon | Grass | John McEnroe | Jim Grabb Richey Reneberg |
5–7, 7–6(5), 3–6, 7–6(5), 19–17 |
Olympic men's doubles final
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
Gold | 1992 | Barcelona Olympics | Clay | Boris Becker | Wayne Ferreira Piet Norval |
7–6(5), 4–6, 7–6(5), 6–3 |
Masters Series finals
Singles: 3 finals (2 titles, 1 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
Runner-up | 1992 | Hamburg | Clay | Stefan Edberg | 5–7, 6–4, 6–1 |
Winner | 1993 | Hamburg | Clay | Andrei Chesnokov | 6–3, 6–7(1), 7–6(7), 6–4 |
Winner | 1993 | Stockholm | Hard (i) | Goran Ivanišević | 4–6, 7–6(6), 7–6(3), 6–2 |
Men's doubles: 3 finals (1 title, 2 runner-ups)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
Runner-up | 1990 | Hamburg | Clay | Udo Riglewski | Sergi Bruguera Jim Courier |
4–6, 6–1, 7–6 |
Winner | 1992 | Monte Carlo | Clay | Boris Becker | Petr Korda Karel Nováček |
3–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 1992 | Hamburg | Clay | Carl-Uwe Steeb | Sergio Casal Emilio Sánchez |
6–3, 3–6, 6–4 |
Career finals
Singles: 31 (18-13)
- Wins (18)
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No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
1. | March 5, 1990 | Memphis, USA | Hard | Wally Masur | 6–7(5), 6–4, 7–6(1) |
2. | July 8, 1991 | Wimbledon, London, UK | Grass | Boris Becker | 6–4, 7–6(4), 6–4 |
3. | July 22, 1991 | Stuttgart Outdoor, Germany | Clay | Alberto Mancini | 1–6, 7–6(9), 6–4, 6–2 |
4. | August 26, 1991 | Schenectady, USA | Hard | Emilio Sánchez | 6–2, 6–4 |
5. | October 21, 1991 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet | Jan Siemerink | 6–4, 6–4, 6–4 |
6. | June 15, 1992 | Rosmalen, Netherlands | Grass | Jonathan Stark | 6–4, 7–5 |
7. | December 14, 1992 | Grand Slam Cup, Munich, Germany | Carpet | Michael Chang | 6–2, 6–3, 6–2 |
8. | February 22, 1993 | Stuttgart, Germany | Carpet | Richard Krajicek | 4–6, 7–5, 7–6(4), 3–6, 7–5 |
9. | May 10, 1993 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | Andrei Chesnokov | 6–3, 6–7(1), 7–6(7), 6–4 |
10. | June 14, 1993 | London (Queen's Club), UK | Grass | Wayne Ferreira | 6–3, 6–4 |
11. | August 12, 1993 | Basel, Switzerland | Hard | Stefan Edberg | 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–3, 6–2 |
12. | November 1, 1993 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard | Goran Ivanišević | 4–6, 7–6(6), 7–6(3), 6–2 |
13. | November 22, 1993 | Year-End Championships, Frankfurt, Germany | Carpet | Pete Sampras | 7–6(3), 2–6, 7–6(7), 6–2 |
14. | February 28, 1994 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Carpet | Wayne Ferreira | 4–6, 6–3, 6–0 |
15. | May 2, 1994 | Munich, Germany | Clay | Petr Korda | 6–2, 2–6, 6–3 |
16. | June 20, 1994 | Halle, Germany | Grass | Magnus Larsson | 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
17. | August 7, 1995 | Los Angeles, USA | Hard | Thomas Enqvist | 6–7(7), 7–6(4), 6–2 |
18. | February 26, 1996 | Antwerp, Belgium | Carpet | Goran Ivanišević | 6–3, 6–2, 7–6(5) |
- Runner-ups (13)
No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
1. | January 7, 1991 | Adelaide, Australia | Hard | Nicklas Kulti | 6–3, 1–6, 6–2 |
2. | January 14, 1991 | Sydney, Australia | Hard | Guy Forget | 6–3, 6–4 |
3. | February 25, 1991 | Memphis, USA | Hard (i) | Ivan Lendl | 7–5, 6–3 |
4. | May 11, 1992 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | Stefan Edberg | 5–7, 6–4, 6–1 |
5. | May 3, 1993 | Munich, Germany | Clay | Ivan Lendl | 7–6(2), 6–3 |
6. | July 26, 1993 | Stuttgart, Germany | Clay | Magnus Gustafsson | 6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 4–6, 6–4 |
7. | December 13, 1993 | Grand Slam Cup, Munich, Germany | Carpet | Petr Korda | 2–6, 6–4, 7–6(5), 2–6, 11–9 |
8. | September 12, 1994 | US Open, New York City, USA | Hard | Andre Agassi | 6–1, 7–6(5), 7–5 |
9. | October 24, 1994 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet | Andre Agassi | 7–6(4), 4–6, 6–2, 6–3 |
10. | February 27, 1995 | Stuttgart, Germany | Carpet | Richard Krajicek | 7–6(4), 6–3, 6–7(6), 1–6, 6–3 |
11. | May 8, 1995 | Munich, Germany | Clay | Wayne Ferreira | 7–5, 7–6(6) |
12. | June 26, 1995 | Halle, Germany | Grass | Marc Rosset | 3–6, 7–6(11), 7–6(8) |
13. | June 10, 1996 | French Open, Paris, France | Clay | Yevgeny Kafelnikov | 7–6(4), 7–5, 7–6(4) |
Doubles: 16 (10-6)
- Wins (10)
No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partnering | Opponent in the final | Score |
1. | October 9, 1989 | Basel, Switzerland | Hard (i) | Udo Riglewski | Omar Camporese Claudio Mezzadri |
6–3, 4–6, 6–0 |
2. | May 17, 1990 | Munich, Germany | Clay | Udo Riglewski | Petr Korda Tomáš Šmíd |
6–1, 6–4 |
3. | June 18, 1990 | Rosmalen, Netherlands | Grass | Jakob Hlasek | Jim Grabb John McEnroe |
7–6, 6–3 |
4. | October 22, 1990 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet | Udo Riglewski | Jorge Lozano Todd Witsken |
6–4, 6–4 |
5. | January 9, 1991 | Memphis, U.S. | Hard (i) | Udo Riglewski | John Fitzgerald Laurie Warder |
7–5, 6–3 |
6. | April 27, 1992 | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Clay | Boris Becker | Petr Korda Karel Nováček |
6–4, 6–4 |
7. | July 6, 1992 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | John McEnroe | Jim Grabb Richey Reneberg |
5–7, 7–6, 3–6, 7–6, 19–17 |
8. | August 3, 1992 | Barcelona Olympics, Spain | Clay | Boris Becker | Wayne Ferreira Piet Norval |
7–6, 4–6, 7–6, 6–3 |
9. | August 9, 1993 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Hard | Wayne Ferreira | Grant Connell Scott Davis |
7–6, 7–6 |
10. | June 16, 1997 | Halle, Germany | Grass | Karsten Braasch | David Adams Marius Barnard |
7–6, 6–3 |
- Runner-ups (6)
No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partnering | Opponent in the final | Score |
1. | March 5, 1990 | Memphis, U.S. | Hard (i) | Udo Riglewski | Darren Cahill Mark Kratzmann |
7–5, 6–2 |
2. | May 14, 1990 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | Udo Riglewski | Sergi Bruguera Jim Courier |
7–6, 6–2 |
3. | August 27, 1990 | Long Island, U.S. | Hard | Udo Riglewski | Guy Forget Jakob Hlasek |
2–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
4. | February 18, 1991 | Philadelphia, U.S. | Carpet | Udo Riglewski | Rick Leach Jim Pugh |
6–4, 6–4 |
5. | May 11, 1992 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | Carl-Uwe Steeb | Sergio Casal Emilio Sánchez |
5–7, 6–4, 6–3 |
6. | June 15, 1992 | Rosmalen, Netherlands | Grass | John McEnroe | Jim Grabb Richey Reneberg |
6–4, 6–7, 6–4 |
Singles performance timeline
Tournament | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | Career SR | Career Win-Loss |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam Tournaments | |||||||||||||
Australian Open | A | A | A | 3R | 3R | QF | SF | 1R | 3R | A | 2R | 0 / 7 | 16–7 |
French Open | A | A | 2R | 2R | SF | 3R | 4R | 2R | 4R | F | A | 0 / 8 | 22–8 |
Wimbledon | A | A | 1R | 3R | W | QF | QF | 1R | 1R | 4R | SF | 1 / 9 | 25–8 |
US Open | A | A | 1R | 2R | QF | 2R | 1R | F | 4R | 2R | A | 0 / 8 | 15–8 |
Grand Slam SR | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 1 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 1 / 32 | N/A |
Annual Win-Loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 6–4 | 17–3 | 11–4 | 12–4 | 7–4 | 8–4 | 10–3 | 6–2 | N/A | 78–31 |
ATP Masters Series | |||||||||||||
Indian Wells | NME | A | SF | SF | 2R | A | 3R | A | A | 0 / 4 | 8–4 | ||
Miami | NME | 2R | 4R | A | 4R | A | 2R | A | A | 0 / 4 | 5–4 | ||
Monte Carlo | NME | 1R | A | QF | 2R | 3R | 2R | A | 2R | 0 / 6 | 5–6 | ||
Rome | NME | A | 1R | 1R | A | QF | A | 2R | A | 0 / 4 | 4–3 | ||
Hamburg | NME | 1R | SF | F | W | SF | 3R | A | 2R | 1 / 7 | 18–6 | ||
Canada | NME | 2R | A | A | A | A | QF | A | A | 0 / 2 | 3–2 | ||
Cincinnati | NME | A | A | A | QF | SF | SF | A | A | 0 / 3 | 8–3 | ||
Stuttgart (Stockholm) | NME | A | 2R | 3R | W | QF | A | 2R | A | 1 / 5 | 9–4 | ||
Paris | NME | QF | A | 3R | QF | 2R | A | 1R | A | 0 / 5 | 6–5 | ||
Masters Series SR | N/A | 0 / 5 | 0 / 5 | 0 / 6 | 2 / 7 | 0 / 6 | 0 / 6 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 2 / 40 | N/A | ||
Annual Win-Loss | N/A | 5–5 | 10–5 | 11–6 | 16–5 | 13–5 | 7–6 | 2–3 | 2–2 | N/A | 66–37 | ||
Ranking | 564 | 269 | 100 | 42 | 4 | 15 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 64 | N/A |
References
This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2009) |