Bryan Roe Explained

Bryan Roe
Birth Date:20 August 1969
Birth Place:Brisbane, Australia
Height:6 ft 6 in
Plays:Left-handed
Singlesrecord:0–3
Highestsinglesranking:No. 486 (15 February 1988)
Australianopenresult:1R (1988)
Doublesrecord:1–2
Highestdoublesranking:No. 379 (7 November 1988)
Australianopendoublesresult:2R (1988)

Bryan Roe (born 20 August 1969) is an Australian priest and former professional tennis player.

Roe, a left-handed Queenslander who played a serve and volley game, was an Australian Open junior doubles runner-up in 1987, partnering Shane Barr.

His tennis career is most noted for his main draw appearance at the 1988 Australian Open, where on grand slam debut he faced Ivan Lendl on centre court in what was the tournament's first night session at the new Flinders Park venue. Roe was competitive against the top seeded Czechoslovakian and held a set point during the second set.[1] [2]

Following his appearance at the 1988 Australian Open he suffered from a series of illnesses which brought an early end to his tennis career. Immediately after the tournament he was admitted to hospital with a burst appendix and peritonitis. A bowel condition then kept his out of tennis for a year and most seriously, in 1989, he was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome.[2]

Ordained to the priesthood in 2010, Roe is the parish priest for St Benedicts' in North Lakes, Queensland.[3]

Notes and References

  1. News: Australian Open; Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 11 (AP) . . 12 January 1988.
  2. News: Eva . Bruce . Pssst - A leap of faith . . 5 January 2013 . en.
  3. News: From the tennis courts to the clergy . . 4 February 2018.