Marissa Irvin
Encyclopedia
Marissa Irvin is an American former tennis
player. She reached her highest singles ranking on August 12, 2002, when she became No. 51 in the world. Her best result at a Grand Slam was the third round of the French Open, which she achieved three straight years from 2003 to 2005. Irvin competed in 22 Grand Slams during her 5 year career.
as well as reaching a national ranking of #1 in the United States in both singles (1998) and doubles (1997). She reached her highest world junior ranking of No. 1 in doubles and No. 19 singles in 1997.
She attended Stanford University, where she was named a Stanford Academic Scholar Athlete and a GTE Academic All-American. She reached the individual finals at the NCAA Championships in 1999 and 2000, as well as winning it for her team in 1999. She was named the 2000 Honda Award winner as the nation's top female collegiate tennis player, was a four-time NCAA All-American and two-time PAC-10 Player of the Year during her two years playing college tennis.
She turned professional in 2000, having already reached a WTA ranking in the top 80 in the world as an amateur. That year, she broke into the top 100 after qualifying for the Australian Open (while still a student at Stanford) and defeating Corina Morariu in the first round before falling to eventual champion, Lindsay Davenport in the second round. She also achieved solid results on the ITF Women's Circuit
winning her first professional tournament in Florida. In 2001, she reached her highest year-end ranking of No. 64, and played her first WTA semifinal (upsetting Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario en route) during the Big Island Championships. She reached her highest ranking of No. 51 in August the following year, and beat Justine Henin at the Bank of the West Classic
for her biggest career win. Her best results in her final years on Tour were the third round at the French Open in 2003, 2004 and 2005, the fourth round of the (then) Sony-Erricson Championships in Key Biscayne, FL in 2002 (l. eventual champion Serena Williams) and the fourth round of the Pacific Life Open in 2004. Irvin has professional wins over Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic, Dinara Safina, Anastasia Myskina, Meghann Shaughnessy, Elena Bovina, Amy Frazier, Gisela Dulko, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, and Marion Bartoli,
, graduating with a 3.8 grade point average. Irvin was coached by Chuck Adams
, and formerly by 1980 Australian Open champion Brian Teacher
. Irvin graduated from Stanford University in 2007 with a degree in Political Science.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player. She reached her highest singles ranking on August 12, 2002, when she became No. 51 in the world. Her best result at a Grand Slam was the third round of the French Open, which she achieved three straight years from 2003 to 2005. Irvin competed in 22 Grand Slams during her 5 year career.
Tennis career
Irvin was named the Southern California Female Junior Player of the Year in 1994 and 1995, and won the Lee Carlson Award as her high school's most outstanding female athlete. as well as the Block "S" Award at Stanford University as the most outstanding female athlete across all sports in the freshmen class. The highlight of Irvin's junior career was winning the 1997 U.S. Open title in girls' doubles, partnering Alexandra StevensonAlexandra Stevenson
Alexandra Winfield Stevenson is a professional tennis player. She made her professional debut in 1999 at Wimbledon, two weeks following graduation from La Jolla Country Day School. At the Wimbledon Championships, Stevenson became the first woman qualifier in the Tennis Open Era to reach the...
as well as reaching a national ranking of #1 in the United States in both singles (1998) and doubles (1997). She reached her highest world junior ranking of No. 1 in doubles and No. 19 singles in 1997.
She attended Stanford University, where she was named a Stanford Academic Scholar Athlete and a GTE Academic All-American. She reached the individual finals at the NCAA Championships in 1999 and 2000, as well as winning it for her team in 1999. She was named the 2000 Honda Award winner as the nation's top female collegiate tennis player, was a four-time NCAA All-American and two-time PAC-10 Player of the Year during her two years playing college tennis.
She turned professional in 2000, having already reached a WTA ranking in the top 80 in the world as an amateur. That year, she broke into the top 100 after qualifying for the Australian Open (while still a student at Stanford) and defeating Corina Morariu in the first round before falling to eventual champion, Lindsay Davenport in the second round. She also achieved solid results on the ITF Women's Circuit
ITF Women's Circuit
The ITF Women's Circuit is a series of professional tennis tournaments run by the International Tennis Federation for female professional tennis players. It serves as the developmental circuit for the WTA Tour, which is run by the independent Women's Tennis Association...
winning her first professional tournament in Florida. In 2001, she reached her highest year-end ranking of No. 64, and played her first WTA semifinal (upsetting Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario en route) during the Big Island Championships. She reached her highest ranking of No. 51 in August the following year, and beat Justine Henin at the Bank of the West Classic
Bank of the West Classic
The Bank of the West Classic is a week-long tennis tournament on the WTA Tour held on the campus of Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, United States. The 2011 event will be held on July 25th to July 31st. Started in 1971, the tournament is the oldest women's-only tournament in the world...
for her biggest career win. Her best results in her final years on Tour were the third round at the French Open in 2003, 2004 and 2005, the fourth round of the (then) Sony-Erricson Championships in Key Biscayne, FL in 2002 (l. eventual champion Serena Williams) and the fourth round of the Pacific Life Open in 2004. Irvin has professional wins over Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic, Dinara Safina, Anastasia Myskina, Meghann Shaughnessy, Elena Bovina, Amy Frazier, Gisela Dulko, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, and Marion Bartoli,
Personal
Irvin started playing tennis at age 9. Her father, Richard, was a three-time All-American volleyball player at the University of California, Los Angeles, and led his team to three straight national titles. She attended high school at Harvard-Westlake SchoolHarvard-Westlake School
Harvard-Westlake School is an independent, co-educational university preparatory day school consisting of two campuses located in Los Angeles, California with approximately 1,600 students enrolled in grades 7 through 12....
, graduating with a 3.8 grade point average. Irvin was coached by Chuck Adams
Chuck Adams
Chuck Adams , is a former professional tennis player from the United States. He achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 34 in 1995.-Titles :-Runner-ups :-External links:...
, and formerly by 1980 Australian Open champion Brian Teacher
Brian Teacher
Brian David Teacher is a 6' 3" right handed American former professional male tennis player. He reached a career-high ranking World No. 7 in 1981....
. Irvin graduated from Stanford University in 2007 with a degree in Political Science.