| Country (sports) |  New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Born | (1948-06-13)13 June 1948 (age 77) Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Turned pro | 1968 (amateur from 1966) |
| Retired | 1979 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 187–186 (Open era) |
| Career titles | 2 |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (1976) |
| French Open | 4R (1977) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1977,1978) |
| US Open | QF (1970) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 174–156 |
| Career titles | 4 |
| Highest ranking | No. 27 (30 August 1977) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (1977Dec, 1978) |
| French Open | SF (1971) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1969, 1970, 1977) |
| US Open | 2R (1972) |
Brian Fairlie (born 13 June 1948) is a New Zealandtennis player. During his career from 1968 to 1979, he won four titles in doubles, all with the Egyptian playerIsmail El Shafei, and 10 singles titles in the Open era (and at least two more in 1967).[1][2]
Fairlie was the1967 Boys' Singles champion of theAustralian Championships.[3]
Fairlie's best result in aGrand Slam was reaching the semi-finals of men's doubles at theFrench Open in 1971 with partnerFrew McMillan. A year earlier, he reached the singles quarterfinals of theU.S. Open, losing toTony Roche.
While his highest ATP singles ranking was World No. 24 (in September 1973), Fairlie was ranked inside the world's Top 20 in the late 1960s and early 1970s.[1][4]
In 1969, his first full year on the circuit, he upset formerWimbledon and U.S. Open championJohn Newcombe in the quarterfinals of theHeineken Open in Auckland. The tournament's website describes the atmosphere at the event that year: "There was wild excitement in a packed stadium when Kiwi Brian Fairlie pulled off an upset win over Newcombe in five hard-fought sets. When he went on to face Laver, the gates had to be closed against the huge crowds wanting to get in."[5]
In 1972 he won theMidland RC International a WCT event that year.[6] In both 1975 and 1976, Fairlie reached the finals of this tournament, losing on both occasions to fellow New ZealanderOnny Parun. Also in 1972 he won theWellington Open Championships.[7]
In 1976, Fairlie played in an Australian Open match notable for having the 13th oldest combined age in Grand Slam history. His age and the age ofFrank Sedgman, his opponent, averaged 37 years, 10 months, and 9 days.[8]
In winning the second of his two singles titles (in Manila, Philippines in 1976), he lost only one set during the entire tournament.[9]
From 1966 through 1979, he played in 48 Davis Cup matches for New Zealand, winning 13 in singles and seven in doubles.[10]
In 1974, the inaugural year ofWorld Team Tennis, he became a member of thePhiladelphia Freedoms; the team posted the league's best record for the year at 39–5.[11]
| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | Jan 1973 | London WCT, England | Hard (i) |  Mark Cox | 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1–1 | Feb 1973 | Cologne, West Germany | Carpet (i) |  Jan Kodeš | 1–6, 3–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 1–2 | Jan 1975 | Auckland, New Zealand | Grass | Onny Parun | 6–4, 4–6, 4–6, 7–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 1–3 | Mar 1975 | London, England | Carpet (i) | Mark Cox | 1–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 1–4 | Dec 1975 | Auckland, New Zealand | Grass | Onny Parun | 2–6, 3–6, 6–4, 3–6 |
| Win | 2–4 | Nov 1976 | Manila, Philippines | Hard |  Ray Ruffels | 7–5, 6–7, 7–6 |
