Kelly Evernden

Kelly Evernden
Full nameKelly Graeme Evernden
Country (sports) New Zealand
ResidenceSeattle, Washington, United States
Born (1961-09-21) 21 September 1961 (age 63)
Gisborne, New Zealand
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Turned pro1985
Retired1995
PlaysRight-handed (one handed-backhand)
Prize money$896,750
Singles
Career record135–146
Career titles3
Highest rankingNo. 31 (6 November 1989)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenQF (1987)
French Open1R (1991)
Wimbledon3R (1987)
US Open3R (1985, 1987)
Other tournaments
Olympic Games2R (1988)
Doubles
Career record147–147
Career titles5
Highest rankingNo. 19 (18 July 1988)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenQF (1988)
French Open2R (1987, 1988)
WimbledonQF (1988, 1991)
US OpenQF (1992)
Other doubles tournaments
Olympic Games2R (1988)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian OpenQF (1991)
Wimbledon3R (1987)
US OpenSF (1990)
Last updated on: 22 August 2022.

Kelly Graeme Evernden (born 21 September 1961) is a former professional tennis player from New Zealand.

Evernden turned professional in 1985 and won his first tour doubles title in 1986 at Cologne. His first top-level singles title came in 1987 at Bristol. His best singles performance at a Grand Slam event came at the 1987 Australian Open, where he reached the quarter-finals by defeating Jonathan Canter, Johan Kriek, Brad Pearce and Derrick Rostagno before being knocked-out by Wally Masur. Evernden represented New Zealand at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.

Over the course of his career, Evernden won three top-level singles titles, the last of which was won in 1989 at Wellington. He also won five tour doubles titles (the most significant of which was the Canadian Open in 1989). Evernden's career-high rankings were world No. 31 in singles and world No. 19 in doubles. He retired from the professional tour in 1994.

Evernden played pro tennis with only one lung, having had a lung removed as the result of an injury sustained in an accident at the age of 16. He was hit by a motorist and his heart stopped twice in five days (once for one minute and once for 45 seconds). In addition to puncturing a lung which had to be removed, he also had a broken arm, leg and ribs, however he recovered fully from the accident.[1]

He lives on Mercer Island with his wife and two sons.

Prior to turning professional, Evernden played tennis for the University of Arkansas (where he studied business management and psychology) and was an All-American in 1984.

Evernden is a quarter Ngāti Porou Māori, and his Māori name "Te Rangai" means "Young Warrior". His Irish name, Kelly, means "War". Kelly is now the Davis Cup Captain for the country of New Zealand(2021-?)

  1. ^ "ATP Player Profile". ATP. Retrieved 26 March 2012.