Michael Hill (tennis)
Encyclopedia
Michael Robert Hill is a former tennis player from Australia who turned professional in 1997 and retired in 2005. He was primarily a doubles specialist, achieving a career-high doubles ranking of World Number 18, reached on 30 July 2001.
In 1998 he achieved some singles success in Futures and Challenger play. He won the Ireland #1 Futures title, where he defeated Noam Okun, and was also a finalist at USTA #1 Futures, where he lost to Ronald Agenor. He also made a Semi Final at USTA #2 Futures. In August, Hill won his first Challenger title in Tijuana (d. Hernandez) without dropping a set. He also reached quarter finals in San Antonio and Las Vegas Challengers. In doubles, won Challenger titles in Denver with Weiner, and Tijuana with Humphries. Also reached three consecutive finals in October in Dallas, San Antonio and San Diego, all with Humphries.
In 1999, Hill captured his second Challenger singles title in Aptos (d. Levy) and reached the quarterfinals of the Surbiton Challenger. Most of his success was in doubles; he won four Challenger titles, with back-to-back titles in Cherbourg and Magdeburg (with Painter) and in the second half of year, won in Aptos (with Humphries) and Hong Kong (with Godwin). In his second career ATP outing in Tokyo, advanced to semi finals with Humphries. In July, he reached the semi finals in Newport (with Godwin) and made quarterfinals in four other ATP tournaments.
In 2000 he captured his first ATP doubles title in Brighton and also reached final in Tokyo with American Jeff Tarango
, whom he'd have more success with the following year. He played in eight singles tournaments with his best result coming at Kyoto Challenger in March when he advanced to semi finals, along with a quarter finals appearance at the Hamilton Challenger. He made his Grand Slam singles debut at Australian Open, where he defeated Bernd Karbacher in straight sets in the first round. In the second round, he lost to Sébastien Grosjean
4-6, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-0.
2001
He played eight other partners during the year, but mostly played with Tarango. The duo finished No. 9 in ATP Doubles Race with a 30-17 match record, winning their second title together in Casablanca in March as well as reaching finals in Marseille, Gstaad and Stuttgart. Their best Grand Slam together was reaching the semi finals at Roland Garros after defeating top seeds Jonas Björkman
and Todd Woodbridge
in the quarter finals. Finished the year with a career-high $190,217 in yearly earnings and finished the season at a year-end best No. 25 in doubles.
for a property development company with Michael's mother, Patricia, as Robert's assistant. He has two siblings: younger brother Patrick and one older sister Carmel.
College
Hill played three years at University of California-Berkeley from 1994–96 and earned All-American honors in singles in 1995-96; he had the highest grade point average on the tennis team and majored in business and economics.Professional career
In 1995, Hill played in his first pro match at Aptos Challenger where he lost in the first round. In 1997 he reached his first quarter final, at the Guadalajara Challenger.In 1998 he achieved some singles success in Futures and Challenger play. He won the Ireland #1 Futures title, where he defeated Noam Okun, and was also a finalist at USTA #1 Futures, where he lost to Ronald Agenor. He also made a Semi Final at USTA #2 Futures. In August, Hill won his first Challenger title in Tijuana (d. Hernandez) without dropping a set. He also reached quarter finals in San Antonio and Las Vegas Challengers. In doubles, won Challenger titles in Denver with Weiner, and Tijuana with Humphries. Also reached three consecutive finals in October in Dallas, San Antonio and San Diego, all with Humphries.
In 1999, Hill captured his second Challenger singles title in Aptos (d. Levy) and reached the quarterfinals of the Surbiton Challenger. Most of his success was in doubles; he won four Challenger titles, with back-to-back titles in Cherbourg and Magdeburg (with Painter) and in the second half of year, won in Aptos (with Humphries) and Hong Kong (with Godwin). In his second career ATP outing in Tokyo, advanced to semi finals with Humphries. In July, he reached the semi finals in Newport (with Godwin) and made quarterfinals in four other ATP tournaments.
In 2000 he captured his first ATP doubles title in Brighton and also reached final in Tokyo with American Jeff Tarango
Jeff Tarango
Jeffrey Gail Tarango is a retired American professional tennis player. He was a top ten doubles player and a French Open doubles runner up, but is mostly remembered for defaulting a match at Wimbledon and his wife assaulting the umpire once Tarango had left the court.-Career summary:Tarango...
, whom he'd have more success with the following year. He played in eight singles tournaments with his best result coming at Kyoto Challenger in March when he advanced to semi finals, along with a quarter finals appearance at the Hamilton Challenger. He made his Grand Slam singles debut at Australian Open, where he defeated Bernd Karbacher in straight sets in the first round. In the second round, he lost to Sébastien Grosjean
Sébastien Grosjean
Sébastien René Grosjean is a retired tennis player from France. His career-high ATP Entry ranking is No. 4 . He retired from tennis on May 27, 2010.-Career:...
4-6, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-0.
2001
He played eight other partners during the year, but mostly played with Tarango. The duo finished No. 9 in ATP Doubles Race with a 30-17 match record, winning their second title together in Casablanca in March as well as reaching finals in Marseille, Gstaad and Stuttgart. Their best Grand Slam together was reaching the semi finals at Roland Garros after defeating top seeds Jonas Björkman
Jonas Björkman
Jonas Lars Björkman is a former World Number 4 Swedish professional tennis player. He is also a former World No. 1 in doubles. Björkman retired from professional tennis after competing at the 2008 Tennis Masters Cup Doubles championships....
and Todd Woodbridge
Todd Woodbridge
Todd Andrew Woodbridge is an Australian former tennis player. He was born in Sydney and turned professional in 1988. He is best known for his successful Doubles partnerships with Mark Woodforde and later Jonas Björkman...
in the quarter finals. Finished the year with a career-high $190,217 in yearly earnings and finished the season at a year-end best No. 25 in doubles.
Personal
His father, Robert is a CEOChief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
for a property development company with Michael's mother, Patricia, as Robert's assistant. He has two siblings: younger brother Patrick and one older sister Carmel.
Doubles (3)
| Legend |
| Grand Slam (0) |
| Tennis Masters Cup (0) |
| ATP Masters Series (0) |
| ATP International Series Gold (1) |
| ATP Tour (2) |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partnering | Opponent in the final | Score |
| 1. | 20 November 2000 | Brighton Brighton International The Brighton International was a tennis tournament held in Brighton, UK. It was a WTA Tour event from 1978-1995 and an ATP Tour event from 1996-2000, upon the discontinuation of the women's tournament. The women's event was held in October.... , England |
Hard |  Jeff TarangoJeff Tarango Jeffrey Gail Tarango is a retired American professional tennis player. He was a top ten doubles player and a French Open doubles runner up, but is mostly remembered for defaulting a match at Wimbledon and his wife assaulting the umpire once Tarango had left the court.-Career summary:Tarango... |
Paul Goldstein Jim Thomas Jim Thomas (tennis) Jim Thomas is a professional American tennis player. His highest ATP singles ranking was World No. 288, which he reached on November 2, 1998. His career high in doubles was at 29 set at August 21, 2006.... |
6–3, 7–5 |
| 2. | 9 April 2001 | Casablanca Grand Prix Hassan II The Grand Prix Hassan II is an annual tennis tournament on the ATP Tour and is currently part of the ATP World Tour 250 series. The event is held annually at the Complexe Al Amal in Casablanca, Morocco and is played on clay courts. Between 1986 and 1989 it was part of the Challenger... , Morocco Morocco Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara... |
Clay | Jeff Tarango |
 Pablo AlbanoPablo Albano Pablo Albano , is a former professional tennis player from Argentina.Albano enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career he won 9 doubles titles. He achieved a career-high doubles ranking of World No. 25 in 1997.-Doubles titles :-Runner-ups :-External links:...  David MacphersonDavid Macpherson (tennis) ----David Macpherson is a former professional male tennis player on the ATP tour.A product of player and coach, Tony Roche's junior tennis academy, he played lefthanded and turned professional in 1985. As a junior player Macpherson was one of Australia's top prospects in his peer group, reaching... |
7–6(2), 6–3 |
| 3. | 22 April 2002 | Barcelona Torneo Godó The Barcelona Open also known as Torneo Godó, Trofeo Conde de Godó, Open Banco Sabadell, is an annual tennis tournament for male professional players. The event has been held annually in Barcelona, Spain since 1953, and is played on clay courts. Originally an event of the Grand Prix tennis circuit... , Spain |
Clay |  Daniel VacekDaniel Vacek Daniel Vacek is a former tennis player from Czechoslovakia and the Czechia who turned professional in 1990.Vacek represented his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was defeated in the second round... |
Lucas Arnold Ker Lucas Arnold Ker Lucas Arnold Ker is a professional tennis player from Argentina.Arnold Ker started playing tennis in the Olivos Tenis Club of Buenos Aires, under coach Malcolm Campbell.... Gastón EtlisGastón Etlis Gastón Etlis is a former tennis player from Argentina. He is Jewish.In January 2005 Etlis was ranked No.17 in doubles.... |
6–4, 6–4 |