Matt Doyle (tennis)
Encyclopedia
Matthew Doyle (born January 13, 1958 in Redwood City, California
) is a former American
and later Irish
professional tour tennis player. His best result was reaching the fourth round of the U.S. Open in 1982. He was also a long-time Irish Davis Cup
player.
, Mark Edmondson
and Hans Simonsson
, all in four sets, to reach the Round of 16 at the 1982 U.S. Open where he went down to another American of Irish descent, John McEnroe
, in straight sets. He won one singles tour title, the 1983 Cologne Grand Prix
, and reached a career high singles ranking of World No. 65, in March, 1982. Doyle also reached the 3rd round of the 1984 Australian Open
and the second round of Wimbledon in both 1983 and 1984. In addition to 1982, Doyle reached the second the U.S. Open in 1981 and 1984.
In doubles, he only got passed the opening (main draw) round once, also at the 1982 U.S. Open, partnering (fellow Yale alumnus and the late) Cary Leeds. His career doubles win-loss record for (top-tier) tour events was just 23 and 48 and his career high ranking was World No. 117. Despite this he did manage a semi-finals showing at the 1982 Italian Open, partnering Leo Palin
and one finals appearance in a tour event, a runner's-up showing in the 1982 Metz Grand Prix, partnering David Siegler.
ties for Ireland Davis Cup team
over 8 years. In the Irish's sole appearance in the World Group, in 1984, Doyle kept Irish hopes alive versus Italy
in the first round by winning the fourth rubber over Claudio Panatta
, in an away tie (played on clay). Unfortunately however Corrado Barazzutti
was in top form and easily dispatched Sean Sorensen in the deciding fifth match, 0-6, 3-6, 3-6. (Doyle had also lost to Barazzutti in straight sets in the opening rubber.) This loss however set up a memorable tie versus the United States with the winner to remain in the World Group for the following year. Played at RDS Arena
to accommodate the 6000 spectators who attended, the match-up featured World No. 1 John McEnroe
playing competitively for his only time in the land of his ancestors. As expected McEnroe dominated winning his two singles matches, as well as the doubles rubber with Peter Fleming, in straight sets. Doyle stayed close in the first set versus Johnny Mac, succumbing in the end 7-9, before going down in the second and third sets 3-6 and 3-6. Doyle did get the only consolation win, leveling the tie at one apiece in defeating Eliot Teltscher
in the second rubber, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Doyle had a career singles Davis Cup match win-loss record of 19 and 10 and a doubles record of 8 and 7.
when the Swede reached his peak in 1988.
Doyle played at different times basketball
, golf
and tennis
while attending Yale University
, and graduated with a degree in economics
.
According to ATP.com, Doyle at some time resided in Dublin.
Redwood City, California
Redwood City is a California charter city located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California, approximately 27 miles south of San Francisco, and 24 miles north of San Jose. Redwood City's history spans from its earliest inhabitation by the Ohlone people, to its tradition as a port for...
) is a former American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and later Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
professional tour tennis player. His best result was reaching the fourth round of the U.S. Open in 1982. He was also a long-time Irish Davis Cup
Ireland Davis Cup team
The Ireland Davis Cup team represents the whole of Ireland in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by Tennis Ireland. Ireland competed in its first Davis Cup in 1923.Ireland currently compete in the Europe/Africa Zone of Group II...
player.
Tour overview
Doyle defeated Ricardo AcunaRicardo Acuña
Ricardo Acuña is a former tennis player from Chile, who won three doubles titles during his career. The right-hander reached his highest singles ATP-ranking on March 17, 1986, when he reached 47th in the world....
, Mark Edmondson
Mark Edmondson
Mark Edmondson is a former professional Australian male tennis player....
and Hans Simonsson
Hans Simonsson
Hans Simonsson is a retired professional tennis player from Sweden. Primarily a doubles specialist, he won 12 ATP Tour titles in his career. He won the French Open doubles title in 1983 with his countryman Anders Järryd. He also played in the 1983 Davis Cup final for Sweden. He reached his...
, all in four sets, to reach the Round of 16 at the 1982 U.S. Open where he went down to another American of Irish descent, John McEnroe
John McEnroe
John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...
, in straight sets. He won one singles tour title, the 1983 Cologne Grand Prix
Cologne Grand Prix
The Cologne Grand Prix was a tennis tournament held in Cologne, Germany, between 1976 and 1986. The tournament was a part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit for male tennis players.-Singles:-Doubles:*1981 doubles results not included on ATP website...
, and reached a career high singles ranking of World No. 65, in March, 1982. Doyle also reached the 3rd round of the 1984 Australian Open
1984 Australian Open
The 1984 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on grass courts at the Kooyong Stadium in Melbourne in Victoria in Australia. It was the 73rd edition of the Australian Open and was held from November 26 through December 9, 1984.-Men's Singles:...
and the second round of Wimbledon in both 1983 and 1984. In addition to 1982, Doyle reached the second the U.S. Open in 1981 and 1984.
In doubles, he only got passed the opening (main draw) round once, also at the 1982 U.S. Open, partnering (fellow Yale alumnus and the late) Cary Leeds. His career doubles win-loss record for (top-tier) tour events was just 23 and 48 and his career high ranking was World No. 117. Despite this he did manage a semi-finals showing at the 1982 Italian Open, partnering Leo Palin
Leo Palin
Leo Palin is a retired professional tennis player from Finland.During his career on the ATP Tour, Palin won one doubles title, and reached one singles and one other doubles final...
and one finals appearance in a tour event, a runner's-up showing in the 1982 Metz Grand Prix, partnering David Siegler.
Davis Cup
Of Irish ancestry, Doyle played in 17 Davis CupDavis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
ties for Ireland Davis Cup team
Ireland Davis Cup team
The Ireland Davis Cup team represents the whole of Ireland in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by Tennis Ireland. Ireland competed in its first Davis Cup in 1923.Ireland currently compete in the Europe/Africa Zone of Group II...
over 8 years. In the Irish's sole appearance in the World Group, in 1984, Doyle kept Irish hopes alive versus Italy
Italy Davis Cup team
The Italy Davis Cup team represents Italy in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Federazione Italiana Tennis.Italy won the Davis Cup in 1976, and finished as runners-up 6 times . They currently compete in the Europe/Africa Zone of Group I...
in the first round by winning the fourth rubber over Claudio Panatta
Claudio Panatta
Claudio Panatta is a former Italian tennis player and younger brother of 1976 French Open champion Adriano Panatta.Panatta won 6 doubles titles and 1 singles title during his professional career...
, in an away tie (played on clay). Unfortunately however Corrado Barazzutti
Corrado Barazzutti
Corrado Barazzutti is an Italian former tennis player.Barazzutti gained fame in 1971 by winning the Orange Bowl. The previous year he had been called to the Italy Davis Cup team, for which he would play a total of 44 matches...
was in top form and easily dispatched Sean Sorensen in the deciding fifth match, 0-6, 3-6, 3-6. (Doyle had also lost to Barazzutti in straight sets in the opening rubber.) This loss however set up a memorable tie versus the United States with the winner to remain in the World Group for the following year. Played at RDS Arena
RDS Arena
RDS Arena is a multi-purpose sports stadium, owned by the Royal Dublin Society and located in the Dublin suburb of Ballsbridge, Ireland.The arena was originally developed to host equestrian events, including the annual Dublin Horse Show, which was first held there in 1868. The site was acquired in...
to accommodate the 6000 spectators who attended, the match-up featured World No. 1 John McEnroe
John McEnroe
John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...
playing competitively for his only time in the land of his ancestors. As expected McEnroe dominated winning his two singles matches, as well as the doubles rubber with Peter Fleming, in straight sets. Doyle stayed close in the first set versus Johnny Mac, succumbing in the end 7-9, before going down in the second and third sets 3-6 and 3-6. Doyle did get the only consolation win, leveling the tie at one apiece in defeating Eliot Teltscher
Eliot Teltscher
Eliot Teltscher is a retired professional American tennis player.-Early years:Teltscher's mother was born in Israel; his father emigrated there during the Holocaust, and joined the British army...
in the second rubber, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Doyle had a career singles Davis Cup match win-loss record of 19 and 10 and a doubles record of 8 and 7.
Post-playing career
Doyle was work-out partner of Mats WilanderMats Wilander
Mats Wilander is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Sweden. From 1982 through 1988, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , and one Grand Slam men's doubles title...
when the Swede reached his peak in 1988.
Personal
Despite playing for the Irish Davis Cup team as early as 1981, Doyle did not become a naturalized Irish citizen until 1985. (He is judged officially to have represented the U.S. on the tour, aside from Davis Cup, until 1985.)Doyle played at different times basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
and tennis
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...
while attending Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, and graduated with a degree in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
.
According to ATP.com, Doyle at some time resided in Dublin.