Jonas Björkman


Jonas Lars Björkman is a Swedish former professional tennis player. He is a former world No. 1 in doubles, and also a former world No. 4 in singles. Björkman retired from professional tennis after competing at the 2008 Tennis Masters Cup doubles championships. As of 2019, he is ranked in the top 40 on the all-time ATP prize money list with over 14 million dollars.
On 20 November 2006, he replaced Dick Norman as the oldest player in the ATP top 100 when Norman dropped out of the top 100 for the last time. On 9 June 2008, aged 36 years and 2 months, Björkman was himself succeeded in this honor by Fabrice Santoro.
Björkman has had long-term successful doubles partnerships with Jan Apell, Jacco Eltingh, Nicklas Kulti, Max Mirnyi, Patrick Rafter, Kevin Ullyett, and Todd Woodbridge. He has won the career Grand Slam in men's doubles, holding a total of nine major championships.
In March 2015, he joined Andy Murray's coaching team.

Biography

The son of tennis coach and mailman Lars Björkman, Jonas began playing tennis at the age of six. At 18, he won the Swedish Junior Championship and was among the top-5 Swede junior players. He married Petra on 2 December 2000 in Stockholm, and they have a son, Max.
He plays right-handed and has a particularly good record against left-handed players. He claims it's because his father plays left-handed.

Career

He turned professional in 1991. In 1993, he won three Challenger singles titles. In 1994, he won seven titles in doubles including the 1994 ATP Tour World Championships in Jakarta. In 1995, he reached his first career ATP singles final in Hong Kong. In 1997, he became the ninth ever Swedish tennis player to finish in ATP top 10 at No. 4. He advanced to his first Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open, defeating Francisco Clavet, Todd Martin, Gustavo Kuerten, Scott Draper and Petr Korda before losing to Greg Rusedski. At the 1998 Australian Open, he won his first career doubles Grand Slam title. 2000 saw him finishing in the singles top 50 for the fifth time in seven years.
In his ATP career, he won six singles titles and 54 titles in doubles, including nine Grand Slam titles in doubles.
He made his Davis Cup debut in 1994 and has played regularly for Sweden ever since. He has compiled a 21–14 record in doubles and a 14–9 record in live singles rubbers. He was a member of Sweden's Davis Cup championship teams in 1994, 1997, and 1998.
In 2002, Björkman won the Nottingham Open by defeating Wayne Arthurs in the final, however, at Wimbledon, he found himself drawn against top seed Lleyton Hewitt in the first round. Björkman was defeated in straight sets, as Hewitt went on to win the tournament.
In the 2006 Wimbledon, he unexpectedly made it into the singles semifinals at the age of 34, making him the oldest player to get there since Jimmy Connors in 1987. He had only made it into the singles quarterfinals once in 2003. He was unseeded, but defeated 14th-seeded Radek Štěpánek in a match which included saving a match point. He had previously ousted his doubles partner Max Mirnyi and another Swede, Thomas Johansson, and Lukáš Dlouhý and Daniele Bracciali to make the quarterfinals. In the semifinal he found world No. 1 and defending champion Roger Federer too good and was overpowered in straight sets, 6–2, 6–0, 6–2.
When John McEnroe announced his official return to the ATP Pro Tour in 2006, he teamed up with Björkman to win the doubles title at the SAP Open in San Jose.
During Wimbledon in 2008, he announced that he would be playing in his final Wimbledon as he was planning on retiring at the end of the season. Although being knocked out in the first round of singles, Björkman and Kevin Ullyett made it to the final, being defeated by second seeds Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjić, though receiving a hero's farewell to his extensive career at Wimbledon.
Björkman retired from professional tennis, after the Swede and his partner Ullyett failed to qualify for the doubles semifinal at the 2008 Maters Cup.
On 2 October 2013, he announced a comeback on tour in If Stockholm Open doubles draw, receiving a wild card in pair with fellow countryman Robert Lindstedt.
He competed as a celebrity dancer in Let's Dance 2015.

Coaching

Andy Murray added Björkman to his coaching staff in March initially on a five-week trial to help out in periods when Amélie Mauresmo was unavailable as she only agreed to work with him for 25 weeks. However, at the end of the Australian Open, Mauresmo had informed Murray that she was pregnant and he announced at the end of April, that Björkman would be his main coach for all of the grass-court season and all of the US hard-court swing, while Mauresmo would only be with the team for Wimbledon. Jonas Björkman joined Murray's team in April 2015, helping Murray win the BMW Open in Munich; his first clay-court title. This was followed by Murray winning his first Masters 1000 title on clay in Madrid. In June 2015, Björkman coached Andy Murray through Queen's where he ended up winning his fourth Queen's Club title at the Aegon Championships. In the middle of December 2015, Murray decided not to renew Bjorkman’s contract. The Swede, who joined the world No. 2’s entourage earlier in 2015, took charge of his coaching for the last four months of the season in the absence of Amélie Mauresmo but will not be part of the team in future.

Major finals

Grand Slam finals

Doubles: 15 (9–6)

Mixed doubles: 2 (2 runner-ups)

Masters Series finals

Singles: 1 (1 runner-up)

Career finals

Singles: 11 (6–5)

ResultW–LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Hong Kong, UKHard Michael Chang3–6, 1–6
Win1–1Auckland, New ZealandHard Kenneth Carlsen7–6, 6–0
Loss1–2Coral Springs, USClay Jason Stoltenberg0–6, 6–2, 5–7
Win2–2Indianapolis, USHard Carlos Moyà6–3, 7–6
Loss2–3Paris, FranceCarpet Pete Sampras3–6, 6–4, 3–6, 1–6
Win3–3Stockholm, SwedenHard Jan Siemerink3–6, 7–6, 6–2, 6–4
Win4–3Nottingham, UKGrass Byron Black6–3, 6–2
Win5–3Nottingham, UKGrass Wayne Arthurs6–2, 6–7, 6–2
Loss5–4Marseille, FranceHard Roger Federer2–6, 6–7
Win6–4Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamCarpet Radek Štěpánek6–3, 7–6
Loss6–5Nottingham, UKGrass Richard Gasquet4–6, 3–6

Doubles: 97 (54–43)

ResultW–LDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Prague, Czech RepublicClay Jon Ireland Karel Nováček
Branislav Stankovič
5–7, 1–6
Loss0–2Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaHard Lars-Anders Wahlgren Jacco Eltingh
Paul Haarhuis
5–7, 6–4, 6–7
Loss0–3Moscow, RussiaCarpet Jan Apell Jacco Eltingh
Paul Haarhuis
1–6, ret.
Win1–3Jakarta, IndonesiaHard Neil Borwick Jorge Lozano
Jim Pugh
6–4, 6–1
Win2–3Rotterdam, Netherlands Carpet Jeremy Bates Jacco Eltingh
Paul Haarhuis
6–4, 6–1
Loss2–4Hong Kong, UKHard Patrick Rafter Jim Grabb
Brett Steven
w/o
Loss2–5French Open, ParisClay Jan Apell Byron Black
Jonathan Stark
4–6, 6–7
Win3–5Queen's Club, EnglandGrass Jan Apell Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
3–6, 7–6, 6–4
Win4–5Båstad, Sweden Clay Jan Apell Nicklas Kulti
Mikael Tillström
6–2, 6–3
Loss4–6Washington, D.C., USHard Jakob Hlasek Grant Connell
Patrick Galbraith
4–6, 6–4, 3–6
Win5–6Schenectady, USHard Jan Apell Jacco Eltingh
Paul Haarhuis
6–4, 7–6
Loss5–7Tel Aviv, IsraelHard Jan Apell Lan Bale
John-Laffnie de Jager
7–6, 2–6, 6–7
Loss5–8Stockholm, SwedenCarpet Jan Apell Mark Woodforde
Todd Woodbridge
3–6, 4–6
Win6–8Antwerp, Belgium Carpet Jan Apell Hendrik Jan Davids
Sébastien Lareau
4–6, 6–1, 6–2
Win7–8Tennis Masters Cup, Jakarta Hard Jan Apell Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
6–4, 4–6, 4–6, 7–6, 7–6
Loss7–9Rome, ItalyClay Jan Apell Cyril Suk
Daniel Vacek
3–6, 4–6
Loss7–10Queen's Club, EnglandGrass Jan Apell Todd Martin
Pete Sampras
6–7, 4–6
Win8–10Båstad, Sweden Clay Jan Apell Jon Ireland
Andrew Kratzmann
6–3, 6–0
Win9–10Toulouse, FranceHard John-Laffnie de Jager Dave Randall
Greg Van Emburgh
7–6, 7–6
Win10–10Ostrava, Czech RepublicCarpet Javier Frana Guy Forget
Patrick Rafter
6–7, 6–4, 7–6
Loss10–11Adelaide, AustraliaHard Tommy Ho Mark Woodforde
Todd Woodbridge
5–7, 6–7
Loss10–12Auckland, New ZealandHard Brett Steven Marcos Ondruska
Jack Waite
w/o
Win11–12Antwerp, Belgium Carpet Nicklas Kulti Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Menno Oosting
6–4, 6–4
Win12–12New Delhi, IndiaHard Nicklas Kulti Byron Black
Sandon Stolle
4–6, 6–4, 6–4
Loss12–13Monte Carlo, MonacoClay Nicklas Kulti Ellis Ferreira
Jan Siemerink
6–3, 3–6, 2–6
Loss12–14Los Angeles, USHard Nicklas Kulti Marius Barnard
Piet Norval
5–7, 2–6
Loss12–15New Haven, USHard Nicklas Kulti Byron Black
Grant Connell
4–6, 4–6
Loss12–16Scottsdale, USHard Rick Leach Luis Lobo
Javier Sánchez
3–6, 3–6
Win13–16Atlanta, USClay Nicklas Kulti Scott Davis
Kelly Jones
6–4, 6–4
Loss13–17Indianapolis, USHard Nicklas Kulti Mikael Tillström
Michael Tebbutt
3–6, 2–6
Loss13–18US Open, New YorkHard Nicklas Kulti Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Daniel Vacek
6–7, 3–6
Win14–18Australian Open, Melbourne Hard Jacco Eltingh Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
6–2, 5–7, 2–6, 6–4, 6–3
Win15–18Indian Wells, USHard Patrick Rafter Todd Martin
Richey Reneberg
6–4, 7–6
Win16–18Australian Open, Melbourne Hard Patrick Rafter Mahesh Bhupathi
Leander Paes
6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–7, 6–4
Win17–18Halle, Germany Grass Patrick Rafter Paul Haarhuis
Jared Palmer
6–3, 7–5
Win18–18Montreal, CanadaHard Patrick Rafter Byron Black
Wayne Ferreira
7–6, 6–4
Win19–18Cincinnati, US Hard Byron Black Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
6–3, 7–6
Win20–18Stuttgart Indoor, GermanyHard Byron Black David Adams
John-Laffnie de Jager
6–7, 7–6, 6–0
Loss20–19Copenhagen, DenmarkHard Sébastien Lareau Martin Damm
David Prinosil
1–6, 7–5, 5–7
Loss20–20Indianapolis, USHard Max Mirnyi Lleyton Hewitt
Sandon Stolle
2–6, 6–3, 3–6
Win21–20Moscow, RussiaCarpet David Prinosil Jiří Novák
David Rikl
6–2, 6–3
Loss21–21Sydney, AustraliaHard Todd Woodbridge Daniel Nestor
Sandon Stolle
6–2, 6–7, 6–7
Win22–21Australian Open, Melbourne Hard Todd Woodbridge Byron Black
David Prinosil
6–1, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4
Win23–21Rotterdam, Netherlands Hard Roger Federer Petr Pála
Pavel Vízner
6–3, 6–0
Loss23–22Indian Wells, USHard Todd Woodbridge Wayne Ferreira
Yevgeny Kafelnikov
2–6, 5–7
Loss23–23Miami, USHard Todd Woodbridge Jiří Novák
David Rikl
5–7, 6–7
Win24–23Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Todd Woodbridge Joshua Eagle
Andrew Florent
3–6, 6–4, 6–2
Win25–23Hamburg, Germany Clay Todd Woodbridge Daniel Nestor
Sandon Stolle
7–6, 3–6, 6–3
Loss25–24Stockholm, SwedenHard Todd Woodbridge Donald Johnson
Jared Palmer
3–6, 6–4, 3–6
Win26–24Auckland, New ZealandHard Todd Woodbridge Martín García
Cyril Suk
7–6, 7–6
Win27–24Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Todd Woodbridge Paul Haarhuis
Yevgeny Kafelnikov
6–3, 3–6,
Loss27–25Hamburg, GermanyClay Todd Woodbridge Mahesh Bhupathi
Jan-Michael Gambill
2–6, 4–6
Loss27–26Halle, GermanyGrass Todd Woodbridge David Prinosil
David Rikl
6–4, 6–7, 5–7
Win28–26Wimbledon, London Grass Todd Woodbridge Mark Knowles
Daniel Nestor
6–1, 6–2, 6–7, 7–5
Win29–26Båstad, Sweden Clay Todd Woodbridge Paul Hanley
Michael Hill
7–6, 6–4
Win30–26Halle, Germany Grass Todd Woodbridge Martin Damm
Cyril Suk
6–3, 6–4
Win31–26Wimbledon, London Grass Todd Woodbridge Mahesh Bhupathi
Max Mirnyi
3–6, 6–3, 7–6, 6–3
Loss31–27Montreal, CanadaHard Todd Woodbridge Mahesh Bhupathi
Max Mirnyi
3–6, 6–7
Win32–27US Open, New YorkHard Todd Woodbridge Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
5–7, 6–0, 7–5
Win33–27Stockholm, Sweden Hard Todd Woodbridge Wayne Arthurs
Paul Hanley
6–3, 6–4
Win34–27Sydney, AustraliaHard Todd Woodbridge Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
7–6, 7–5
Loss34–28Dubai, UAEHard Leander Paes Mahesh Bhupathi
Fabrice Santoro
2–6, 6–4, 4–6
Loss34–29Miami, USHard Todd Woodbridge Wayne Black
Kevin Ullyett
2–6, 6–7
Win35–29Wimbledon, London Grass Todd Woodbridge Julian Knowle
Nenad Zimonjić
6–1, 6–4, 4–6, 6–4
Win36–29Båstad, Sweden Clay Mahesh Bhupathi Simon Aspelin
Todd Perry
4–6, 7–6, 7–6
Loss36–30Toronto, CanadaHard Max Mirnyi Mahesh Bhupathi
Leander Paes
4–6, 2–6
Loss36–31Cincinnati, USHard Todd Woodbridge Mark Knowles
Daniel Nestor
2–6, 6–3, 3–6
Loss36–32Lyon, FranceCarpet Radek Štěpánek Jonathan Erlich
Andy Ram
6–7, 2–6
Loss36–33Moscow, RussiaCarpet Mahesh Bhupathi Igor Andreev
Nikolay Davydenko
6–3, 3–6, 4–6
Win37–33Paris, France Carpet Todd Woodbridge Wayne Black
Kevin Ullyett
6–3, 6–4
Loss37–34Chennai, IndiaHard Mahesh Bhupathi Lu Yen-hsun
Rainer Schüttler
5–7, 6–4, 6–7
Loss37–35Dubai, UAEHard Fabrice Santoro Martin Damm
Radek Štěpánek
2–6, 4–6
Win38–35Miami, US Hard Max Mirnyi Wayne Black
Kevin Ullyett
6–1, 6–2
Win39–35Hamburg, Germany Clay Max Mirnyi Michaël Llodra
Fabrice Santoro
4–6, 7–6, 7–6
Win40–35French Open, Paris Clay Max Mirnyi Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
2–6, 6–1, 6–4
Loss40–36Queen's Club, EnglandGrass Max Mirnyi Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
6–7, 6–7
Win41–36Båstad, Sweden Clay Joachim Johansson José Acasuso
Sebastián Prieto
6–2, 6–3
Win42–36Cincinnati, US Hard Max Mirnyi Wayne Black
Kevin Ullyett
7–6, 6–2
Loss42–37US Open, New YorkHard Max Mirnyi Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
1–6, 4–6
Loss42–38St. Petersburg, RussiaCarpet Max Mirnyi Julian Knowle
Jürgen Melzer
6–4, 5–7, 5–7
Win43–38Doha, QatarHard Max Mirnyi Christophe Rochus
Olivier Rochus
2–6, 6–3,
Win44–38San Jose, USHard John McEnroe Paul Goldstein
Jim Thomas
7–6, 4–6,
Win45–38Miami, US Hard Max Mirnyi Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
6–4, 6–4
Win46–38Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Max Mirnyi Fabrice Santoro
Nenad Zimonjić
6–2, 7–6
Win47–38French Open, Paris Clay Max Mirnyi Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
6–7, 6–4, 7–5
Loss47–39Queen's Club, EnglandGrass Max Mirnyi Paul Hanley
Kevin Ullyett
4–6, 6–3,
Win48–39Båstad, Sweden Clay Thomas Johansson Christopher Kas
Oliver Marach
6–3, 4–6,
Win49–39Cincinnati, US Hard Max Mirnyi Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
3–6, 6–3,
Loss49–40US Open, New YorkHard Max Mirnyi Martin Damm
Leander Paes
7–6, 4–6, 3–6
Win50–40Tennis Masters Cup, Shanghai Hard Max Mirnyi Mark Knowles
Daniel Nestor
6–2, 6–4
Loss50–41Australian Open, MelbourneHard Max Mirnyi Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
5–7, 5–7
Win51–41Stockholm, Sweden Hard Max Mirnyi Arnaud Clément
Michaël Llodra
6–4, 6–4
Loss51–42Wimbledon, LondonGrass Kevin Ullyett Daniel Nestor
Nenad Zimonjić
6–7, 7–6, 3–6, 3–6
Win52–42Båstad, Sweden Clay Robin Söderling Johan Brunström
Jean-Julien Rojer
6–2, 6–2
Win53–42Stockholm, Sweden Hard Kevin Ullyett Johan Brunström
Michael Ryderstedt
6–1, 6–3
Win54–42Paris, France Hard Kevin Ullyett Jeff Coetzee
Wesley Moodie
6–2, 6–2
Loss54–43Stockholm, SwedenHard Robert Lindstedt Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
Jean-Julien Rojer
2–6, 2–6

Performance timelines

Singles

Doubles

Top 10 wins