The Falls Tennis and Athletic welcomes Alex O’Brien, former top 30 in the world touring pro in an exhibition featuring Brett Joelson, Guillaume Gauthier and Tres Davis Friday, February 19th at 6:00 pm in support of the “Serving Up Miracles” Pro Am February 27-28.
O’Brien’s amateur career featured two state high school championships and a rare triple crown – NCAA singles, doubles and team championships – at Stanford University. His professional resume shows four Grand Slam doubles finals, one ATP singles crown and Davis Cup and Olympics appearances for the United States.
The 1999 U.S. Open doubles championship was particularly sweet because O’Brien had experienced three unsuccessful forays into Grand Slam finals. O’Brien and Canadian Sebastien Lareau defeated Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes of India, 7-6, 6-4. That same year, O’Brien teamed with Pete Sampras, who was making a rare doubles appearance, to keep American hopes alive with a victory against Australians Mark Woodforde and Sandon Stolle in a Davis Cup tie. The match was played in 95-degree heat, 90-percent humidity in Boston.
“It was incredible to get a chance to play for my country,” O’Brien said. “With the raucous crowds and everything, Davis Cup is really fun.”
O’Brien doesn’t get too many chances to play tennis these days. In addition to his banking business, he runs the Littlefield Ranch Co., which sells prime steaks online.
Despite all the business and family activities, O’Brien still finds time and financial resources to support his sport’s future. While he was playing on the tour, he founded the Alex O’Brien Youth Tennis Foundation for children who may not have the resources to get into the sport. His foundation funds the Tennis in the Parks program, which last year provided 480 youngsters in 20 Amarillo parks a chance to play tennis. Those kids received 100 hours of teaching in the parks, all free.
We are pleased to have him here in support of the “Serving Up Miracles” Pro Am benefiting the Children’s Miracle Network.
Alex O’Brien’s Aces