_01.jpg) Berger in 2024 | |
| Country (sports) |  United States |
|---|---|
| Residence | Jupiter, Florida, U.S. |
| Born | (1966-11-26)November 26, 1966 (age 59) |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Turned pro | 1986 |
| Retired | 1991 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $992,136 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 141–80 |
| Career titles | 3 |
| Highest ranking | No. 7 (April 16, 1990) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (1991) |
| French Open | QF (1989) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (1988) |
| US Open | QF (1989) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 19–28 |
| Career titles | 1 |
| Highest ranking | No. 196 (November 14, 1988) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| US Open | 2R (1987) |
Jay Berger (born November 26, 1966) is an Americantennis coach and a former professional player. He won three singles and one doubles titles on theATP Tour and reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 7 in April 1990.[1]
Berger was born inFort Dix,New Jersey, and is Jewish.[2][3][4] He and his wife Nadia resided onKey Biscayne and now reside inJupiter, Florida, and have four children: daughter Alexandra, and sons Daniel, Jonathan, and Noah.[5] His sonDaniel, who played golf atFlorida State (where he was anAll-American), is aPGA Tour pro golfer who was2015Rookie of the Year, and as of February 14, 2021, has four career PGA Tour wins.[6]
Since 2021 Berger is the Director of Athletics at the Club at Ibis.[7]
Berger was theUSTA Boys’ 18s National Champion in 1985.[8] He also won the 1985 Florida State Junior Championship.
He reached the fourth round in the1985 US Open.[1]
Berger was anAll-American atClemson University in 1985 and 1986,[1] where he recorded a 91–22 singles record in two seasons. His 80.5% career winning percentage in singles play places 3rd all-time at Clemson.
Berger turned professional in 1986. He played on the tour from 1986 to 1991.
He won his first top-level singles title in 1986 atBuenos Aires. In 1988, he captured both the singles and doubles titles atSão Paulo. In March he upset world # 2Mats Wilander, 6–0, 7–5, in Orlando, Florida. In March 1989 Berger upset world # 3Boris Becker, 6–1, 6–1, inIndian Wells. In May he upset world # 3Mats Wilander, 6–3, 6–4, inRome. In August Berger beat world # 3Stefan Edberg, 6–4, 6–2, atIndianapolis.
In 1989, Berger reached the quarterfinals at both theFrench Open and theUS Open. He also won the third tour singles title of his career that year atCharleston, South Carolina. Berger was runner-up at theCanadian Open in 1990.
He retired from the professional tour in 1991. Chronic knee injuries forced his retirement.
During his career, he registered victories overMichael Chang,Stefan Edberg,Boris Becker,Jimmy Connors,Pete Sampras, andMats Wilander.[1]
Berger appeared inDavis Cup play in1988 and1990.[9]
Berger was inducted into the Florida Hall of Fame in 1993. He was inducted into the Greater Miami-Dade Hall of Fame in 2001. He was also voted "Sportsman of the Year" by the Olympic Committee in 1985, and "Junior Player of the Year" byTENNIS Magazine in 1985. In 2014 he was inducted into theNational Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.[10][11]
| |
| Career record | 141–80 |
|---|---|
| Career record | 19–28 |
| Coaching career (1994–) | |
| |
| Coaching awards and records | |
| Awards Big East Coach of the Year 2000, '01 | |
Berger went on to become an assistant coach atFlorida International University, where he resumed his studies and graduatedmagna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Sports Management in 1994. Berger was the Head Men’s and Women’s tennis coach at theUniversity of Miami and coached the national team.[1] He was theBig East Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2001.[12]
He coachedRyan Harrison untilJan-Michael Gambill replaced him in 2014 after which he coached former world No. 8Jack Sock.
He is also the longtime coach of former world No. 17Reilly Opelka.[13][14]
| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | Nov 1986 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay |  Franco Davín | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Loss | 1–1 | Nov 1987 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay | Guillermo Pérez Roldán | 2–3 ret. |
| Win | 2–1 | Oct 1988 | São Paulo, Brazil | Hard | Horacio de la Peña | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 3–1 | May 1989 | Charleston, US | Clay |  Lawson Duncan | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Loss | 3–2 | Aug 1989 | Indianapolis, US | Hard | John McEnroe | 4–6, 6–4, 4–6 |
| Loss | 3–3 | Nov 1989 | Itaparica, Brazil | Hard | Martín Jaite | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 3–4 | Jul 1990 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | Michael Chang | 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(3–7) |
| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Nov 1987 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay | Horacio de la Peña |  Tomás CarbonellSergio Casal | def. |
| Win | 1–1 | Oct 1988 | São Paulo, Brazil | Hard | Horacio de la Peña |  Ricardo AcuñaJavier Sánchez | 5–7, 6–4, 6–3 |
