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Al Parker (tennis)

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Al Parker
Country (sports)United States United States
ResidenceClaxton, Georgia
Born (1968-12-22) December 22, 1968 (age 55)
Savannah, Georgia
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Turned pro1991
PlaysRight-handed
Prize money$32,734
Singles
Career record1–10
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 261 (August 10, 1987)
Grand Slam singles results
US Open1R (1986, 1987)
Doubles
Career record2–7
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 307 (February 1, 1993)

Middleton Albert "Al" Parker (born December 22, 1968) is a former professional tennis player from the United States.[1]

Early life

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Parker attended Pinewood Christian Academy, where his tennis talents were recognized during middle school.[2]

Career

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Juniors

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Parker won 25 USTA titles during his junior career.[3] He made the boys' quarterfinals at the 1985 US Open and was runner-up to Javier Sánchez in the 1986 Orange Bowl (18s).[4]

Pro tour and college tennis

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He twice appeared in the men's singles draw of the US Open, in 1986, when he lost in the opening round to 13th seed Anders Järryd and 1987, when he lost a four set first round match to Tarik Benhabiles.[3] He was a silver medalist at the 1987 Pan American Games and was a finalist at a Raleigh Challenger tournament in the same year.[3]

Parker played collegiate tennis at the University of Georgia and reached the NCAA Division One singles semifinals in 1988. He was named the Academic All-American of the Year in 1990-91.[5]

In the early 1990s he played professionally but was constantly hampered by injuries.[6]

After his career, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.[7]

References

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  1. ^ ITF Pro Circuit Profile
  2. ^ Chapin, Kim (March 21, 1982). "is Al Parker Bjorn again?". Atlanta Weekly. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c ATP World Tour Profile
  4. ^ ITF Junior Profile
  5. ^ Calhoun Times, "Parker Named All-American", October 8, 1991, p. 2
  6. ^ Tennis Magazine, April. 2001.
  7. ^ "Al Parker: A Most Amazing and Courageous Athlete".