Kelly Jones (tennis)


Kelly Jones is a former professional tennis player from the United States who was briefly ranked the World No. 1 men's doubles player in 1992. He is currently the Head Men's Tennis Coach at Furman University in Greenville, SC.

Biography

Jones played varsity tennis at Pepperdine University from 1982 to 1985, where he won the NCAA Division 1 doubles title in 1984 and 1985. He was a member of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games U.S. tennis team.
Jones joined the professional tour in 1986. He won his first top-level doubles title in 1987 at Auckland.
In 1988, Jones finished runner-up in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon, partnering Gretchen Magers.
Jones was runner-up in the men's doubles at both the Australian Open and the US Open in 1992, partnering Rick Leach. In October that year, he reached the World No. 1 doubles ranking for a week.
After 12 years on the professional tour, Jones retired in 1998. During his career, he won eight top-level doubles titles. Jones also won a tour singles event in Singapore, where he captured the title both in 1989 and 1990. His best singles performance at a Grand Slam event was at the 1993 Australian Open, where he reached the fourth round. His career-high singles ranking was World No. 86. Jones' career prize-money earnings totaled US$1,165,009.
Since retiring from the tour, Jones has coached high-profile players including Mardy Fish, Xavier Malisse and James Blake.
Jones is married to Tami Whitlinger, a former professional tennis player.

Career finals

Singles (2 wins)

Doubles (8 wins - 10 losses)

ResultW/LDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0Jan 1987Auckland, New ZealandHard Brad Pearce Carl Limberger
Mark Woodforde
7–6, 7–6
Loss1–1Feb 1987Lyon, FranceCarpet David Pate Guy Forget
Yannick Noah
6–4, 3–6, 4–6
Loss1–2Oct 1987Toulouse, FranceHard Patrik Kühnen Wojtek Fibak
Michiel Schapers
2–6, 4–6
Win2–2Jul 1988Newport, U.S.Grass Peter Lundgren Scott Davis
Dan Goldie
6–3, 7–6
Loss2–3Nov 1989Johannesburg, South AfricaHard Joey Rive Luke Jensen
Richey Reneberg
0–6, 4–6
Win3–3Jan 1990Auckland, New ZealandHard Robert Van't Hof Gilad Bloom
Paul Haarhuis
7–6, 6–0
Win4–3Feb 1990San Francisco, U.S.Carpet Robert Van’t Hof Glenn Layendecker
Richey Reneberg
2–6, 7–6, 6–3
Loss4–4Jun 1990Manchester, EnglandGrass Nick Brown Mark Kratzmann
Jason Stoltenberg
3–6, 6–2, 4–6
Win5–4Oct 1990Lyon, FranceCarpet Patrick Galbraith Jim Grabb
David Pate
7–6, 6–4
Loss5–5Nov 1991Paris, FranceCarpet Rick Leach John Fitzgerald
Anders Järryd
6–3, 3–6, 2–6
Loss5–6Jan 1992Sydney Outdoor, AustraliaHard Scott Davis Sergio Casal
Emilio Sánchez
6–3, 1–6, 4–6
Loss5–7Jan 1992Australian Open, MelbourneHard Rick Leach Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
4–6, 3–6, 4–6
Win6–7Apr 1992Tokyo Outdoor, JapanHard Rick Leach John Fitzgerald
Anders Järryd
0–6, 7–5, 6–3
Win7–7Aug 1992New Haven, U.S.Hard Rick Leach Patrick McEnroe
Jared Palmer
7–6, 6–7, 6–2
Loss7–8Sep 1992U.S. Open, New YorkHard Rick Leach Jim Grabb
Richey Reneberg
6–3, 6–7, 3–6, 3–6
Loss7–9May 1993Tampa, U.S.Clay Todd Martin Jared Palmer
Derrick Rostagno
3–6, 4–6
Loss7–10May 1997Atlanta, U.S.Clay Scott Davis Jonas Björkman
Nicklas Kulti
2–6, 6–7
Win8–10May 1997St. Poelten, AustriaClay Scott Melville Luke Jensen
Murphy Jensen
6–2, 7–6

Doubles performance timeline

A = did not attend tournament
NH = tournament not held