1 Response to newhaven96obrien_siemerink

1. Voo de Mar says:

   June 19, 2026 at 11:05 am

   Points won by each set: | 48-45, 35-30 |
   Unreturned serves:
   31 % O’Brien – 25 of 80
   28 % Siemerink – 22 of 78

   [169, wild card] O’Brien was born in the southern United States and graduated from university (bachelor degree) on the West Coast, but the East Coast, or more precisely Connecticut, turned out to be a special American state for him in his career. He made his main-level debut in New Haven ’91, one year later he notched there his first big win (7-6, 7-6 over Krajicek), and in 1996 he raised there his only ATP trophy in singles. The mid 90s it was a time when he became more successful in doubles than in singles, but doubles helped him to improve as a singles player, and within a year he moved from No. 285 to 30, then he decided it’d be better to focus on doubles, and he reached the number 1 in 2000 mainly partnering Sebastien Lareau of Canada… Against Siemerink [32], O’Brien fought off a mini-set point at 5-all with a volley winner attacking the net behind his second serve (his optional tactics), and a set point at 5:6 in the tie-break with an unreturned serve. The Dutchman struggled with the heat in the 2nd set, and was broken at 4-all when O’Brien got two points with almost the same backhand cross-court passing-shots. The following week O’Brien played his best “Mercedes Super 9” tournament advancing to the quarterfinal in Toronto. Afterwards he moved to New York, and here is an interview with him before the US Open ’96 kicked off.

   O’Brien’s route to his lone title (74th main-level event):
   1 Sargis Sargsian 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
   2 Arnaud Boetsch 6-2, 6-1
   3 Chuck Adams 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
   Q Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-4, 6-4
   S Mark Philippoussis 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 6-4 ☆
   W Jan Siemerink 7-6(6), 6-4

   ☆ O’Brien saved two set points in the opening set of the semifinal at 4:5,
   he went unbroken through the match (8 BPs) obtaining the crucial break in the 1st game of the final set

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