Robert Bradley Kendrick (born November 15, 1979) is an American retired professional tennis player. He turned professional in 2000. His career-high singles ranking is World No. 69, achieved in July 2009.

Robert Kendrick
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceOrlando, Florida, United States
Born (1979-11-15) November 15, 1979 (age 44)
Fresno, California, United States
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Turned pro2000
Retired2014
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize moneyUS$1,363,211
Singles
Career record35–78
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 69 (20 July 2009)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open1R (2007, 2008, 2009)
French Open2R (2009)
Wimbledon2R (2006)
US Open2R (2008, 2009)
Doubles
Career record31–42
Career titles1
Highest rankingNo. 77 (4 February 2008)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open1R (2004, 2007, 2008)
French Open1R (2007, 2009)
Wimbledon2R (2009)
US OpenQF (2007)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
US Open2R (2008)
Last updated on: 1 July 2022.

Early life edit

Robert Kendrick was born to Tom and Doris Kendrick and began playing tennis at the age of 5. Tom is a real estate appraiser and Doris is a housewife. Kendrick has three older siblings: Kerry, Tommy, and Scott. He graduated from Bullard High School in 1997. In 1996, he led his team to an undefeated section championship.

College and junior tennis career edit

Kendrick has been called a serve-and-volley player.[1] Kendrick's main strengths are his serve and his forehand.

Throughout high school, he competed in junior tennis and enjoyed some intermittent success. In 1996, he was the runner-up in singles at the 1996 USTA Boys’ 18s National Indoor Championships. Then in 1997, he reached the final in doubles of the Easter Bowl and reached the singles final and took the doubles title at the USTA International Grass Court Championships. In 1998, he attended the University of Washington, earning All-American in singles and doubles as a sophomore, with a record of 31–9 and got as high as no. 3 in the collegiate rankings that year. He then transferred to Pepperdine University for his junior year and again attained All-American with an 18–10 record. He reached the round of 16 at the NCAA Men's Tennis Championship, where he lost to Jeff Morrison. In 2001, he and Michael Russell won the doubles championship at the USTA Futures event in Mobile, Alabama.[2]

2006 edit

In 2006, Kendrick entered the top 100 for the first time in his career, ending the year at world no. 87. Consequently, 2006 is generally considered to be Kendrick's breakthrough year to date.

Kendrick got to the second round of the 2006 ATP Delray Beach International Tennis Championships. He defeated Kevin Kim 6–4, 7–5 in the first round, but lost to eighth seed Vincent Spadea 4–6, 1–6, in his second-round match.

Kendrick went into Wimbledon ranked world no. 237. In his first match, he beat Yen-Hsun Lu 7–6, 6–3, 6–0. In the second round, he lost to second seed, Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard had to come back for only the second time in his career from two sets down to beat Kendrick 6–7, 3–6, 7–6, 7–5, 6–4. Kendrick's performance surprised many. Up until the final, Kendrick was the only player in the tournament to take sets from Nadal. The Spaniard lost the final to top-seeded Swiss Roger Federer.

Kendrick played in the Campbell's Hall of Fame Tenis Championships in Newport, Rhode Island. He made it to the quarterfinals, but was beaten by Andy Murray 0–6, 0–6.

He made amends for the defeat by winning the doubles title with his Austrian playing partner Jürgen Melzer. In the final, the duo beat South African Jeff Coetzee and American Justin Gimelstob.

2007 edit

In 2007, Kendrick played in all four Grand Slam tournaments. In January at the Australian Open, he drew Rafael Nadal in the first round and lost 6–7, 3–6, 2–6, committing six double faults and having a low percentage of second-serve points won (38%). Kendrick subsequently lost in the first round of several tournaments before reaching the third round at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida, where he was defeated in straight sets by Andy Murray. At the French Open, Kendrick again fell in the first round, losing in four sets to world no. 134 Juan Pablo Brzezicki of Argentina, again thanks to six double faults and a low percentage of second serve points won (this time, 46%).

At the Queen's Club Championships in June, he reached the second round and won a set against Novak Djokovic. At Wimbledon, however, he was not able to reach the second round as he had the previous year, losing a five-setter to Tommy Robredo. He went 1–3 in the US Open Series, before falling to Igor Andreev of Russia in the first round of the US Open itself 6–7, 3–6, 4–6. Again, his second serve was a weakness: he won just 42% of second-serve points and double-faulted five times.

While 2007 was largely a lackluster year for Kendrick on the main ATP circuit, he did win three Challenger events: Dallas, Calabasas, and Knoxville. In Calabasas, Kendrick had to defeat two up-and-coming fellow Americans, John Isner and Donald Young, in the semifinals and finals, respectively.

2008 edit

Kendrick kicked off 2008 by playing in the Australian Open, where he lost in the first round to fellow American Amer Delić, then ranked no. 136 4–6, 5–7, 2–6. Although Kendrick won 76% of points where he got his first serve in, he only won 36% of points where he did not. He was broken five times. Later in that year, he joined up with the apparel company Athletic DNA.

2009 edit

Kendrick began the year with a loss in the first round of the 2009 Australian Open to Robin Söderling 7–5, 4–6, 4–6, 5–7. He made it to the second round of the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships, before losing to Evgeny Korolev 6–3, 6–6, 5–7, then losing to David Nalbandian in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open 4–6, 4–6. He beat Söderling in the second round of the Sony Ericsson Open, then lost in the third round to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 5–7, 4–6.

Kendrick did not make it out of the first rounds of the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships or the Estoril Open. At the 2009 French Open, he beat Daniel Brands 6–7, 7–5, 7–6, 4–6, 6–3, to advance to the second round for the first time in his career, where he lost 5–7, 0–6, 1–6, to Gilles Simon, who had also defeated him at the Estoril Open.

In the first round at Wimbledon, he was beaten by Andy Murray 5–7, 7–6, 3–6, 4–6.[3]

2011 edit

During the 2011 French Open, Kendrick tested positive for the drug methylhexanamine, which has been banned in sport since 2010. According to Kendrick, he unwittingly ingested the drug when taking a pill to combat jet lag.

The ITF ruled in July 2011 that he would be banned from the sport for 12 months, effective from May 22, 2011. The ITF also ruled that Kendrick's first-round finish at the 2011 French Open be disqualified, and his ranking points and prize money be taken away.[4]

Kendrick received vocal public support from a number of prominent players, including James Blake, John Isner, and Andy Murray. In interviews, Blake and Isner specifically contrasted his case with that of Wayne Odesnik, who had just returned to active play after his own suspension for possession of human growth hormone.[5]

Kendrick's ban was subsequently decreased to 8 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.[6]

ATP career finals edit

Doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up) edit

Legend
Grand Slam Tournaments (0–0)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP Masters 1000 Series (0–0)
ATP 500 Series (0–0)
ATP 250 Series (1–1)
Finals by surface
Hard (0–1)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (1–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Finals by setting
Outdoors (1–0)
Indoors (0–1)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 Feb 2003 San Jose, United States International Series Hard   Paul Goldstein   Lee Hyung-Taik
  Vladimir Voltchkov
5–7, 6–4, 3–6
Win 1–1 Jul 2003 Newport, United States International Series Grass   Jürgen Melzer   Jeff Coetzee
  Justin Gimelstob
7–6(7–3), 6–0

ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals edit

Singles: 26 (12–14) edit

Legend
ATP Challenger (10–12)
ITF Futures (2–2)
Finals by surface
Hard (11–12)
Clay (1–2)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 Jul 2000 USA F17, Chico Futures Hard   Zack Fleishman 6–4, 5–7, 4–6
Loss 0–2 Apr 2001 USA F9, Stone Mountain Futures Hard   Andrei Cherkasov 1–6, 1–6
Win 1–2 Apr 2001 USA F10, Elkin Futures Hard   Jack Brasington 2–6, 6–4, 6–3
Win 2–2 Jun 2002 USA F13, Fresno Futures Hard   Zack Fleishman 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win 3–2 Sep 2002 Tulsa, United States Challenger Hard   Daniel Melo 6–3, 6–3
Loss 3–3 Nov 2003 Austin, United States Challenger Hard   Paul Goldstein 3–6, 3–6
Win 4–3 Oct 2004 Austin, United States Challenger Hard   Wesley Whitehouse 7–5, 6–7(2–7), 6–2
Loss 4–4 Oct 2004 Burbank, United States Challenger Hard   Kevin Kim 5–7, 6–1, 3–6
Loss 4–5 Feb 2006 Dallas, United States Challenger Hard   Kevin Kim 6–1, 4–6, 1–6
Win 5–5 May 2006 Forest Hills, United States Challenger Clay   Cecil Mamiit 6–2, 6–2
Win 6–5 Nov 2006 Puebla, Mexico Challenger Hard   Leonardo Mayer 7–5, 6–4
Win 7–5 Feb 2007 Dallas, United States Challenger Hard   Benedikt Dorsch 6–3, 6–4
Loss 7–6 May 2007 Naples, United States Challenger Clay   Bobby Reynolds 6–7(5–7), 4–6
Win 8–6 Oct 2007 Calabasas, United States Challenger Hard   Donald Young 3–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–4
Win 9–6 Nov 2007 Knoxville, United States Challenger Hard   Kevin Kim 3–6, 6–2, 6–4
Loss 9–7 Apr 2008 Tallahassee, United States Challenger Hard   Bobby Reynolds 7–5, 4–6, 3–6
Loss 9–8 May 2008 Bradenton, United States Challenger Clay   Jesse Levine 3–6, 7–5, 6–7(3–7)
Loss 9–9 Jul 2008 Lexington, United States Challenger Hard   Somdev Devvarman 3–6, 3–6
Loss 9–10 Oct 2008 Sacramento, United States Challenger Hard   Donald Young 4–6, 1–6
Win 10–10 Nov 2008 Louisville, United States Challenger Hard   Donald Young 6–1, 6–1
Win 11–10 Nov 2008 Nashville, United States Challenger Hard   Somdev Devvarman 6–3, 7–5
Loss 11–11 May 2010 Carson, United States Challenger Hard   Donald Young 4–6, 4–6
Loss 11–12 Aug 2010 Binghamton, United States Challenger Hard   Kei Nishikori 3–6, 6–7(4–7)
Loss 11–13 Oct 2010 Sacramento, United States Challenger Hard   John Millman 3–6, 2–6
Win 12–13 Nov 2010 Charlottesville, United States Challenger Hard   Michael Shabaz 6–2, 6–3
Loss 12–14 Nov 2010 Knoxville, United States Challenger Hard   Kei Nishikori 1–6, 4–6

Doubles: 30 (12–18) edit

Legend
ATP Challenger (9–15)
ITF Futures (3–3)
Finals by surface
Hard (11–16)
Clay (1–2)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1–0 Dec 1999 USA F22, Phoenix Futures Hard   Diego Ayala   Oren Motevassel
  Alexander Waske
6–1, 6–3
Win 2–0 Jun 2000 USA F16, Redding Futures Hard   Zack Fleishman   Trace Fielding
  David Roditi
7–6(9–7), 6–1
Loss 2–1 Jul 2000 USA F17, Chico Futures Clay   Zack Fleishman   Michael Joyce
  Luke Smith
6–7(3–7), 7–6(7–3), 1–6
Loss 2–2 Aug 2000 USA F22, Godfrey Futures Hard   Jason Cook   Jeff Laski
  Gavin Sontag
2–4, 4–5(4–7), 4–2, 2–4
Win 3–2 Apr 2001 USA F7, Mobile Futures Hard   Michael Russell   Vaughan Snyman
  Nir Welgreen
6–1, 6–4
Loss 3–3 Apr 2001 USA F9, Stone Mountain Futures Hard   Brandon Hawk   Gavin Sontag
  Jerry Turek
6–1, 4–6, 3–6
Loss 3–4 Jun 2001 Tallahassee, United States Challenger Hard   Brandon Hawk   Matthew Breen
  Lee Pearson
4–6, 2–6
Loss 3–5 Jul 2001 Granby, Canada Challenger Hard   Brandon Hawk   Bobby Kokavec
  Jeff Morrison
4–6, 4–6
Win 4–5 Jul 2001 Aptos, United States Challenger Hard   Brandon Hawk   Kelly Gullett
  Gavin Sontag
7–5, 7–5
Win 5–5 Oct 2001 Kerrville, United States Challenger Hard   Brandon Hawk   Mardy Fish
  Jeff Morrison
6–3, 6–7(7–9), 6–3
Loss 5–6 Aug 2002 Binghamton, United States Challenger Hard   Amir Hadad   Paul Goldstein
  Scott Humphries
6–4, 6–7(1–7), 5–7
Win 6–6 Oct 2002 San Antonio, United States Challenger Hard   Diego Ayala   Hugo Armando
  Dušan Vemić
6–2, 6–4
Loss 6–7 Nov 2002 Puebla, Mexico Challenger Hard   Diego Ayala   Miguel Gallardo Valles
  Alejandro Hernández
1–6, 7–5, 6–7(3–7)
Win 7–7 Jan 2003 Waikoloa, United States Challenger Hard   Diego Ayala   Levar Harper-Griffith
  Alex Kim
4–6, 7–6(7–2), 6–2
Win 8–7 Apr 2003 Paget, Bermuda Challenger Clay   Mark Merklein   Ashley Fisher
  Andrew Kratzmann
6–3, 3–1 ret.
Loss 8–8 May 2003 Birmingham, United States Challenger Clay   Paul Goldstein   Josh Goffi
  Travis Parrott
4–6, 6–2, 2–6
Loss 8–9 Oct 2003 Tiburon, United States Challenger Hard   Diego Ayala   Brandon Coupe
  Justin Gimelstob
6–0, 3–6, 6–7(3–7)
Loss 8–10 Oct 2003 Torrance, United States Challenger Hard   Diego Ayala   Ramón Delgado
  André Sá
3–6, 4–6
Loss 8–11 Oct 2004 Austin, United States Challenger Hard   Brian Vahaly   André Sá
  Bruno Soares
3–6, 1–6
Loss 8–12 Oct 2004 Tiburon, United States Challenger Hard   Brandon Coupe   André Sá
  Bruno Soares
2–6, 3–6
Loss 8–13 Jun 2006 Busan, South Korea Challenger Hard   Cecil Mamiit   Scott Lipsky
  Todd Widom
3–6, 7–6(7–2), [7–10]
Win 9–13 Oct 2006 Calabasas, United States Challenger Hard   Cecil Mamiit   Harel Levy
  Sam Warburg
5–7, 6–4, [10–5]
Loss 9–14 Nov 2006 Louisville, United States Challenger Hard   Amer Delić   Robin Haase
  Igor Sijsling
walkover
Win 10–14 Oct 2007 Sacramento, United States Challenger Hard   Brian Wilson   John Paul Fruttero
  Sam Warburg
7–5, 7–6(10–8)
Loss 10–15 Oct 2007 Calabasas, United States Challenger Hard   Cecil Mamiit   John Isner
  Brian Wilson
6–7(10–12), 6–4, [8–10]
Loss 10–16 Apr 2008 Tallahassee, United States Challenger Hard   Ryan Sweeting   Rajeev Ram
  Bobby Reynolds
walkover
Loss 10–17 Apr 2010 Tallahassee, United States Challenger Hard   Bobby Reynolds   Stephen Huss
  Joseph Sirianni
2–6, 4–6
Win 11–17 Oct 2010 Tiburon, United States Challenger Hard   Travis Rettenmaier   Ryler DeHeart
  Pierre-Ludovic Duclos
6–1, 6–4
Win 12–17 Nov 2010 Charlottesville, United States Challenger Hard   Donald Young   Ryler DeHeart
  Pierre-Ludovic Duclos
7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–3)
Loss 12–18 Jan 2011 Honolulu, United States Challenger Hard   Alex Kuznetsov   Travis Rettenmaier
  Ryan Harrison
walkover

Performance timelines edit

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# P# DNQ A Z# PO G S B NMS NTI P NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (P#) preliminary round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (S) silver or (B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; (NMS) not a Masters tournament; (NTI) not a Tier I tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Singles edit

Tournament 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 SR W–L Win%
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A Q3 Q2 A A A 1R 1R 1R Q2 A A A A 0 / 3 0–3 0%
French Open A Q1 A Q3 Q1 A 1R A 2R A 1R A A A 0 / 3 1–3 25%
Wimbledon Q1 Q2 1R Q2 Q1 2R 1R Q3 1R 1R A A A A 0 / 5 1–5 17%
US Open Q1 Q3 1R Q1 A 1R 1R 2R 2R 1R A A A A 0 / 6 2–6 25%
Win–loss 0–0 0–0 0–2 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–4 1–2 2–4 0–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 0 / 17 4–17 19%
ATP Tour Masters 1000
Indian Wells A A A Q2 Q1 A 1R Q2 2R Q1 Q1 A A Q1 0 / 2 1–2 33%
Miami A A Q2 Q2 A A 3R Q1 3R Q1 1R A A A 0 / 3 3–3 50%
Canada A A A A A 1R A A A A A A A A 0 / 1 0–1 0%
Cincinnati A A 1R A A A Q1 A Q2 A A A A A 0 / 1 0–1 0%
Paris A A A A A A A A Q2 A A A A A 0 / 0 0–0  – 
Win–loss 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 1–2 0–0 3–2 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 0 / 7 4–7 36%

Doubles edit

Tournament 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 SR W–L Win%
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A A A 1R A A 1R 1R A A 0 / 3 0–3 0%
French Open A A A A A A 1R A 1R A 0 / 2 0–2 0%
Wimbledon A 1R 1R A A A A Q2 2R A 0 / 3 1–3 25%
US Open 1R A A A A 1R QF 1R 3R 2R 0 / 6 6–6 50%
Win–loss 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 3–3 0–2 3–3 1–1 0 / 14 7–14 33%

References edit

  1. ^ "Tennis: Serve and volley springs into action".
  2. ^ "Michael Russell: Circuit Player of the Week". USTA. May 25, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  3. ^ "Murray v Kendrick as it happened". BBC News. June 23, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  4. ^ Anti-doping press release over failed drugs test for Methylhexaneamine, itftennis.com, July 27, 2011
  5. ^ Ben Rothenburg (August 4, 2011). "Wayne Odesnik, The Most Hated Man In Tennis". SBNation.
  6. ^ Brian Homewood (August 22, 2011). "Doping: U.S. tennis player Kendrick's ban cut to eight months". Reuters. Retrieved August 2, 2016.

External links edit