Jan Gunnarsson Explained

Jan Gunnarsson
Residence:Monte Carlo, Monaco
Birth Date:1962 5, df=yes
Birth Place:Olofström, Sweden
Turnedpro:1979
Retired:1994
Plays:Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Careerprizemoney:$1,285,040
Singlesrecord:188–204
Singlestitles:1
Highestsinglesranking:No. 25 (9 December 1985)
Australianopenresult:SF (1989)
Frenchopenresult:4R (1984)
Wimbledonresult:4R (1991)
Usopenresult:1R (1986)
Doublesrecord:176–176
Doublestitles:9
Highestdoublesranking:No. 20 (30 April 1984)
Australianopendoublesresult:1R (1989, 1991, 1992)
Frenchopendoublesresult:3R (1986)
Wimbledondoublesresult:2R (1980, 1985, 1986)
Usopendoublesresult:1R (1986)

Jan Gunnarsson (born 30 May 1962) is a former tennis player from Sweden, who won one singles in Vienna in 1985 (beating Libor Pimek in the final) and nine doubles titles on the world tour during his professional career. In 1989 he reached the semi-finals of Australian Open where he lost in straight sets to Miloslav Mečíř.

Along with Michael Mortensen he won the longest tie-break in tennis history at Wimbledon in 1985. The Swedish/Danish duo defeated John Frawley and Víctor Pecci in the first round.

The right-hander reached his career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 25 in December 1985.

Summer 2012 Olympics controversy

Gunnarsson was an expert commentator for the Summer 2012 Olympic Games. His position on Swedish television became controversial after he made xenophobic comments in response to negative comments made by the Swedish Culture and Sports Minister Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth about financial support for future Swedish applications for major championships. On his Facebook page, Gunnarsson posted the comment, "There's not enough money when the state is paying welfare for 27,000 Somalis." His comment was criticized by SVT's sports editor Per Yng, and he removed the comment shortly after.[1]

Career finals

Singles (1 title, 4 runner-ups)

ResultW/L DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Metz, FranceCarpet3–6, 3–6
Win1–1Nov 1985Vienna, AustriaCarpet 6–7(5–7), 6–2, 6–4, 1–6, 7–5
Loss1–2Oct 1986Toulouse, FranceHard (i)6–4, 3–6, 2–6
Loss1–3Jul 1987Stuttgart, West GermanyClay Miloslav Mečíř0–6, 2–6
Loss1–4May 1991Bologna, ItalyClay Paolo Canè7–5, 3–6, 5–7

Doubles (9 titles, 10 runner-ups)

ResultW/L DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0Nov 1982Stockholm, SwedenHard (i) Mark Dickson Sherwood Stewart
Ferdi Taygan
7–6, 6–7, 6–4
Win2–0Mar 1983Nancy, FranceHard (i) Anders Järryd Ricardo Acuña
Belus Prajoux
7–5, 6–3
Loss2–1May 1983Rome, ItalyClay Mike Leach Francisco González
Víctor Pecci
2–6, 7–6, 4–6
Win3–1Apr 1984Nice, FranceClay Michael Mortensen Hans Gildemeister
Andrés Gómez
6–1, 7–5
Loss3–2Apr 1984Monte Carlo, MonacoClay Mats Wilander Mark Edmondson
Sherwood Stewart
2–6, 1–6
Win4–2Jul 1984Båstad, SwedenClay Michael Mortensen Juan Avendaño
Fernando Roese
6–0, 6–0
Loss4–3Oct 1984Cologne, West GermanyHard (i) Joakim Nyström Wojciech Fibak
Sandy Mayer
1–6, 3–6
Loss4–4Nov 1984Treviso, ItalyClay Sherwood Stewart Pavel Složil
Tim Wilkison
2–6, 3–6
Win5–4Nov 1984Toulouse, FranceCarpet Michael Mortensen Pavel Složil
Tim Wilkison
6–4, 6–2
Loss5–5Sep 1985Barcelona, SpainClay Michael Mortensen Sergio Casal
Emilio Sánchez
3–6, 3–6
Loss5–6Oct 1985Cologne, West GermanyHard (i) Peter Lundgren Alex Antonitsch
Michiel Schapers
4–6, 5–7
Loss5–7Apr 1986Cologne, West GermanyHard (i) Peter Lundgren Kelly Evernden
Chip Hooper
4–6, 7–6, 3–6
Win6–7Sep 1986Barcelona, SpainClay Joakim Nyström Carlos di Laura
Claudio Panatta
6–3, 6–4
Loss6–8Oct 1986Basel, SwitzerlandHard (i) Tomáš Šmíd Guy Forget
Yannick Noah
6–7, 4–6
Win7–8Jul 1987Gstaad, SwitzerlandClay Tomáš Šmíd Loïc Courteau
Guy Forget
7–6, 6–2
Loss7–9Feb 1989Rotterdam, NetherlandsClay Magnus Gustafsson Miloslav Mečíř
Milan Šrejber
6–7, 0–6
Win8–9Oct 1989Vienna, AustriaCarpet Anders Järryd Paul Annacone
Kelly Evernden
6–2, 6–3
Loss8–10Jul 1990Båstad, SwedenClay Udo Riglewski Rikard Bergh
Ronnie Båthman
1–6, 4–6
Win9–10Apr 1991Nice, FranceClay Rikard Bergh Vojtěch Flégl
Nicklas Utgren
6–4, 4–6, 6–3

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "Helt oacceptabelt att uttrycka sig så". aftonbladet.se.