Wayne Ferreira
Wayne’s winning career record against all-time Great Pete Sampras was no accident. The South African is widely considered to be one of the most naturally gifted players ever to pick up a tennis racquet.
It also says a little about the frustrations that Wayne suffered throughout his career through injury and inconsistency that Sampras won 64 singles, while Ferreira secured just 15 singles crowns.
After becoming the World Number One junior player, Wayne’s first Tour-level singles title came at the prestigious pre-Wimbledon event at the Queen’s Club in London in 1992, where he won the tournament for the loss of just one set.
After a difficult couple of years, Wayne came back strongly in 1994 and 1995, winning Tour events in Basel, Dubai, Munich, Ostrava and Lyon. The biggest titles of Ferreira's career however were to come in Toronto in 1996 and in Stuttgart in 2000 (both Masters 1000 events).
As well his his singles successes, Wayne also enjoyed a hugely productive doubles career. He won the silver medal in the doubles event in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics with partner Piet Norval, and reached the semi finals of the doubles event at the US Open in 2000 alongside partner and friend Yevgeny Kafelnikov. Playing singles and mixed doubles with countrywoman Amanda Coetzer, Wayne also helped South Africa to lift the Hopman Cup in 2000.
These days, Wayne resides with his wife Liesl, and son Marcus, in Lafayette, California. There, he divides his time between life on the ATP Champions Tour and life as president and CEO of a successful environmental co-operation. Wayne also launched and oversees the Wayne Ferreira Trust Fund to help cover travel costs for young South African players.
