Jim Grabb


Jim Grabb is an American former professional tennis player. He was ranked the world No. 1 doubles player in 1989 and in 1993. His best singles ranking of world No. 24, Grabb achieved in February 1990.

Tennis career

Early years

Grabb is Jewish, and he attended Tucson High Magnet School. Grabb was from 1984 to 1986 a three-time doubles and two-time singles all-American, helping Stanford University win the NCAA title in 1986 and finish runner-up in 1984.
In 1986, he won the annual Rafael Osuna Award, presented by college coaches for good sportsmanship and valuable contributions to the sport.

Professional career

Grabb defeated Andre Agassi at a singles tournament in Seoul, Korea in 1987 for his first career victory. He won two doubles Grand Slam events: the 1989 French Open and the 1992 US Open. He won 23 doubles tour titles, with 26 finals appearances. He won two tour singles titles, in 1987 at Seoul and in 1992 at Taipei. His best showing in a Grand Slam event was fourth-round appearance in the 1989 US Open.
Grabb won the men's 35 senior doubles with his tennis partner Richey Reneberg at the 2002 and 2003 US Open.

Davis Cup

He was a member of the United States Davis Cup team in 1993.

Hall of Fame

The Northern California section of the USTA inducted Grabb into its Hall of Fame in 2006.

Grand Slam finals

Doubles (2 titles, 1 runner-up)

Career finals

Doubles (23–27)

OutcomeNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Runner-up1.April 27, 1987Seoul, South KoreaHard Ken Flach Eric Korita
Mike Leach
7–6, 1–6, 5–7
Winner1.October 5, 1987San Francisco, U.S.Carpet Patrick McEnroe Glenn Layendecker
Todd Witsken
6–2, 0–6, 6–4
Runner-up2.October 26, 1987Tokyo Indoor, JapanCarpet Sammy Giammalva Jr. Broderick Dyke
Tom Nijssen
3–6, 2–6
Runner-up3.November 9, 1987Stockholm, SwedenHard Jim Pugh Stefan Edberg
Anders Järryd
3–6, 4–6
Runner-up4.January 11, 1988Auckland, New ZealandHard Sammy Giammalva Jr. Marty Davis
Tim Pawsat
3–6, 6–3, 4–6
Runner-up5.April 25, 1988Seoul, South KoreaHard Gary Donnelly Andrew Castle
Roberto Saad
7–6, 4–6, 6–7
Runner-up6.August 22, 1988Cincinnati, U.S.Hard Patrick McEnroe Rick Leach
Jim Pugh
2–6, 4–6
Runner-up7.September 26, 1988Los Angeles, U.S.Hard Peter Doohan John McEnroe
Mark Woodforde
4–6, 4–6
Runner-up8.October 31, 1988Paris Indoor, FranceCarpet Christo van Rensburg Paul Annacone
John Fitzgerald
2–6, 2–6
Winner2.November 7, 1988Stockholm, SwedenHard Kevin Curren Paul Annacone
John Fitzgerald
7–5, 6–4
Runner-up9.April 3, 1989Miami, U.S.Hard Patrick McEnroe Jakob Hlasek
Anders Järryd
3–6, ret.
Winner3.June 12, 1989French Open, ParisClay Patrick McEnroe Mansour Bahrami
Eric Winogradsky
6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 7–6
Runner-up10.July 31, 1989Washington, D.C., U.S.Hard Patrick McEnroe Neil Broad
Gary Muller
7–6, 6–7, 4–6
Winner4.December 10, 1989Masters Cup, LondonCarpet Patrick McEnroe John Fitzgerald
Anders Järryd
7–5, 7–6, 5–7, 6–3
Runner-up11.March 12, 1990Indian Wells, U.S.Hard Patrick McEnroe Boris Becker
Guy Forget
6–4, 4–6, 3–6
Runner-up12.May 14, 1990Kiawah Island, U.S.Clay Leonardo Lavalle Scott Davis
David Pate
2–6, 3–6
Runner-up13.June 18, 1990Rosmalen, NetherlandsGrass Patrick McEnroe Jakob Hlasek
Michael Stich
6–7, 3–6
Runner-up14.October 22, 1990Lyon, FranceCarpet David Pate Patrick Galbraith
Kelly Jones
6–7, 4–6
Winner5.November 12, 1990Wembley, EnglandCarpet Patrick McEnroe Rick Leach
Jim Pugh
7–6, 4–6, 6–3
Winner6.October 7, 1991Sydney Indoor, AustraliaHard Richey Reneberg Luke Jensen
Laurie Warder
6–4, 6–4
Winner7.October 14, 1991Tokyo Indoor, JapanCarpet Richey Reneberg Scott Davis
David Pate
7–5, 2–6, 7–6
Winner8.January 13, 1992Auckland, New ZealandHard Wayne Ferreira Grant Connell
Glenn Michibata
6–4, 6–3
Winner9.February 10, 1992San Francisco, U.S.Hard Richey Reneberg Pieter Aldrich
Danie Visser
6–4, 7–5
Runner-up15.February 24, 1992Philadelphia, U.S.Carpet Richey Reneberg Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
4–6, 6–7
Winner10.April 20, 1992Hong Kong, U.K.Hard Brad Gilbert Byron Black
Byron Talbot
6–2, 6–1
Winner11.June 15, 1992Rosmalen, NetherlandsGrass Richey Reneberg John McEnroe
Michael Stich
6–4, 6–7, 6–4
Runner-up16.July 6, 1992Wimbledon, LondonGrass Richey Reneberg John McEnroe
Michael Stich
7–5, 6–7, 6–3, 6–7, 17–19
Winner12.August 24, 1992Indianapolis, U.S.Hard Richey Reneberg Grant Connell
Glenn Michibata
7–6, 6–2
Winner13.September 14, 1992US Open, New YorkHard Richey Reneberg Kelly Jones
Rick Leach
3–6, 7–6, 6–3, 6–3
Runner-up17.October 12, 1992Sydney Indoor, AustraliaHard Richey Reneberg Patrick McEnroe
Jonathan Stark
2–6, 3–6
Runner-up18.October 19, 1992Tokyo Indoor, JapanCarpet Richey Reneberg Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
6–7, 4–6
Winner14.February 22, 1993Philadelphia, U.S.Carpet Richey Reneberg Marcos Ondruska
Brad Pearce
6–7, 6–3, 6–0
Runner-up19.February 14, 1994Memphis, U.S.Hard Jared Palmer Byron Black
Jonathan Stark
6–7, 4–6
Runner-up20.February 21, 1994Philadelphia, U.S.Carpet Jared Palmer Jacco Eltingh
Paul Haarhuis
3–6, 4–6
Winner15.April 18, 1994Hong Kong, U.K.Hard Brett Steven Jonas Björkman
Patrick Rafter
w/o
Runner-up21.August 22, 1994Indianapolis, U.S.Hard Richey Reneberg Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
3–6, 4–6
Winner16.February 13, 1995San Jose, U.S.Hard Patrick McEnroe Alex O'Brien
Sandon Stolle
3–6, 7–5, 6–0
Winner17.February 27, 1995Philadelphia, U.S.Carpet Jonathan Stark Jacco Eltingh
Paul Haarhuis
7–6, 6–7, 6–3
Runner-up22.March 27, 1995Miami, U.S.Hard Patrick McEnroe Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
3–6, 6–7
Winner18.October 16, 1995Tel Aviv, IsraelHard Jared Palmer Kent Kinnear
David Wheaton
6–4, 7–5
Runner-up23.November 6, 1995Paris Indoor, FranceCarpet Todd Martin Grant Connell
Patrick Galbraith
2–6, 2–6
Runner-up24.February 5, 1996Shanghai, ChinaCarpet Michael Tebbutt Mark Knowles
Roger Smith
6–4, 2–6, 6–7
Winner19.August 19, 1996Indianapolis, U.S.Hard Richey Reneberg Petr Korda
Cyril Suk
7–6, 4–6, 6–4
Winner20.October 7, 1996Lyon, FranceCarpet Richey Reneberg Neil Broad
Piet Norval
6–2, 6–1
Runner-up25.October 6, 1997Basel, SwitzerlandCarpet Karsten Braasch Tim Henman
Marc Rosset
6–7, 7–6, 6–7
Winner21.March 2, 1998London, EnglandCarpet Martin Damm Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Daniel Vacek
6–4, 7–5
Winner22.May 25, 1998St. Pölten, AustriaClay David Macpherson David Adams
Wayne Black
6–4, 6–4
Runner-up26.July 27, 1998Stuttgart Outdoor, GermanyClay Joshua Eagle Olivier Delaître
Fabrice Santoro
1–6, 6–3, 3–6
Winner23.August 10, 1998Toronto, CanadaHard Martin Damm Ellis Ferreira
Rick Leach
6–7, 6–2, 7–6
Runner-up27.February 21, 2000Memphis, U.S.Hard Richey Reneberg Justin Gimelstob
Sébastien Lareau
2–6, 4–6

Doubles performance timeline

A = did not attend tournament

NH = tournament not held

Grand Prix and ATP Tour finals

Singles (2 wins, 1 loss)

Miscellaneous

Grabb was ranked 17th on Sports Illustrated's list of Arizona's 50 Greatest Sports Figures of the 20th century. He served as vice president of the ATP Tour Player Council in 1998–99.
Grabb married Sarah Stenn in 2002 in California. While on tour he resided, at least for a time, in Hermosa Beach, California.