# Damien Roberts

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{{short description|South African tennis player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox tennis biography
| name = Damien Roberts
| image =
| fullname = Damien Roberts
| country_represented = {{RSA}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1978|1|26}}
| birth_place = 
| death_date =
| death_place = 
| plays =
| careerprizemoney = $56,811
| singlesrecord = 0–0
| singlestitles =
| highestsinglesranking = No. 273 (2 August 1999)
| currentsinglesranking = 
| AustralianOpenresult = Q1 ([1999](/source/1999_Australian_Open_%E2%80%93_Men's_singles_qualifying))
| FrenchOpenresult = 
| Wimbledonresult = Q1 ([1998](/source/1998_Wimbledon_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_singles_qualifying), [1999](/source/1999_Wimbledon_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_singles_qualifying))
| USOpenresult = Q1 ([1998](/source/1998_US_Open_%E2%80%93_Men's_singles_qualifying), [1999](/source/1999_US_Open_%E2%80%93_Men's_singles_qualifying))
| doublesrecord = 0–2
| doublestitles =
| highestdoublesranking = No. 152 (18 September 2000)
| currentdoublesranking = 
| AustralianOpenDoublesresult =
| FrenchOpenDoublesresult = 
| WimbledonDoublesresult = 1R ([1999](/source/1999_Wimbledon_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_doubles))
| USOpenDoublesresult = Q1 ([1998](/source/1998_US_Open_%E2%80%93_Men's_doubles_qualifying))
}}
'''Damien Roberts''' (born 26 January 1978) is a South African former professional [tennis](/source/tennis) player.

==Biography==
Roberts went to [Kearsney College](/source/Kearsney_College) until 1994, when he moved to the United States to train at the John Newcombe Tennis Academy in Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kearsney.com/oldboys/?page_id=10016|title=Notable Alumni|publisher=kearsney.com|accessdate=12 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917182940/http://www.kearsney.com/oldboys/?page_id=10016|archive-date=17 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Braunfels>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14279405/|title=Wimbledon on the Horizon|date=9 June 1995|work=[New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung](/source/New_Braunfels_Herald-Zeitung)|page=5|accessdate=12 February 2016}}</ref> He attended [New Braunfels High School](/source/New_Braunfels_High_School).<ref name=Braunfels/>

As a junior, he was ranked as high as 11 in the world in doubles and was a finalist in the [1996 Wimbledon Championships](/source/1996_Wimbledon_Championships) with countryman [Wesley Whitehouse](/source/Wesley_Whitehouse).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itftennis.com/juniors/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=10014795|title=ITF Tennis – Juniors – Player Profile – Roberts, Damien (RSA)|publisher=[International Tennis Federation](/source/International_Tennis_Federation)|accessdate=12 February 2016}}</ref>

From 1996 to 2001, Roberts competed professionally on the international tennis circuit, mostly in [ATP Challenger](/source/ATP_Challenger_Tour) tournaments. He won a total of five Challenger titles during his career, all in doubles.

Most notably he competed in the main draw of the [1999 Wimbledon Championships](/source/1999_Wimbledon_Championships). He was eliminated in the opening round of qualifying in the singles and only narrowly missed qualification in the [men's doubles](/source/1999_Wimbledon_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_doubles_qualifying), he and partner [Amir Hadad](/source/Amir_Hadad) lost the final qualifier in five sets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itftennis.com/procircuit/tournaments/men's-tournament/info.aspx?tournamentid=1010004497|title=ITF Tennis – Pro Circuit – Wimbledon – 21 June – 04 July 1999|publisher=[International Tennis Federation](/source/International_Tennis_Federation)|accessdate=12 February 2016}}</ref> However the pair received a lucky loser entry into the main draw, where they lost in the first round to South Africans [David Adams](/source/David_Adams_(tennis)) and [John-Laffnie de Jager](/source/John-Laffnie_de_Jager).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-06-24/sports/9906240156_1_2nd-round-1st-round-kim-clijsters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216051234/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-06-24/sports/9906240156_1_2nd-round-1st-round-kim-clijsters|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 February 2016|title=Highlights|last=Bricker|first=Charles|date=24 June 1999|work=[Sun-Sentinel](/source/Sun-Sentinel)|accessdate=12 February 2016}}</ref>

He appeared in the main draw of one ATP Tour event, the doubles at the [2001 Mercedes Cup](/source/2001_Mercedes_Cup) in Stuttgart. Partnering [Marcus Hilpert](/source/Marcus_Hilpert), they lost to [Julian Knowle](/source/Julian_Knowle) and [Lorenzo Manta](/source/Lorenzo_Manta) in the first round.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itftennis.com/procircuit/tournaments/men's-tournament/info.aspx?tournamentid=1100001522|title=ITF Tennis – Pro Circuit – Stuttgart Outdoor – 16 July – 22 July 2001|publisher=[International Tennis Federation](/source/International_Tennis_Federation)|accessdate=12 February 2016}}</ref>

For many years after retiring he worked at the [Lawn Tennis Association](/source/Lawn_Tennis_Association) in England as the head of physical training and a national tennis coach.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/wellbeing/diet/3319383/Getting-into-the-fitness-racket.html|title=Getting into the fitness racket|last=Gordon|first=Bryony|date=6 June 2005|work=[The Daily Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph)|accessdate=12 February 2016}}</ref> Due to his role with the [Great Britain Fed Cup team](/source/Great_Britain_Fed_Cup_team) and as national women's coach, he was also involved the development of [Laura Robson](/source/Laura_Robson_(tennis)) and [Heather Watson](/source/Heather_Watson).<ref name=Morningsidetennis>{{cite web|url=http://www.morningsidetennis.com.au/tennis-coaching/performance-squad-coaching/|title=Tennis Gear Squad Coaching|publisher=Morningside Tennis Centre Brisbane|accessdate=12 February 2016}}</ref> He is now the Director of Performance Tennis at TennisGear in Brisbane, Australia.<ref name=Morningsidetennis/>

==Challenger titles==
===Doubles: (5)===
{|class="sortable wikitable" style=font-size:97%
!width=40|No.
!width=50|Year
!width=200|Tournament
!width=60|Surface
!width=160|Partner
!width=200|Opponents
!width=160|Score
|-
|1.
|1998
|[Gramado](/source/Gramado), Brazil
|Hard
|{{flagicon|RSA}} [Jeff Coetzee](/source/Jeff_Coetzee)
|{{flagicon|BRA}} [Francisco Costa](/source/Francisco_Costa_(tennis))<br />{{flagicon|JPN}} [Gouichi Motomura](/source/Gouichi_Motomura)
|7–5, 6–3
|-
|2.
|1999
|[Singapore](/source/Singapore)
|Hard
|{{flagicon|RSA}} [Jeff Coetzee](/source/Jeff_Coetzee)
|{{flagicon|UZB}} [Oleg Ogorodov](/source/Oleg_Ogorodov)<br />{{flagicon|ISR}} [Eyal Ran](/source/Eyal_Ran)
|7–5, 6–3
|-
|3.
|2000
|[Bristol](/source/Bristol), Great Britain
|Grass
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [Jordan Kerr](/source/Jordan_Kerr)
|{{flagicon|ISR}} [Noam Behr](/source/Noam_Behr)<br />{{flagicon|ISR}} [Eyal Erlich](/source/Eyal_Erlich)
|6–3, 1–6, 6–3
|-
|4.
|2000
|[Bressanone](/source/Bressanone), Italy
|Clay
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [Jordan Kerr](/source/Jordan_Kerr)
|{{flagicon|ARG}} [Diego del Río](/source/Diego_del_R%C3%ADo)<br />{{flagicon|ARG}} [Marcelo Charpentier](/source/Marcelo_Charpentier)
|7–6<small>3</small>, 7–5
|-
|5.
|2000
|[Manerbio](/source/Antonio_Savoldi%E2%80%93Marco_C%C3%B2_%E2%80%93_Trofeo_Dimmidis%C3%AC), Italy
|Clay
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [Jordan Kerr](/source/Jordan_Kerr)
|{{flagicon|POR}} [Bernardo Mota](/source/Bernardo_Mota)<br />{{flagicon|SVK}} [Ladislav Švarc](/source/Ladislav_%C5%A0varc)
|7–6<small>1</small>, 6–4
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{ATP|r370}}
* {{ITF profile}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Damien}}
Category:1978 births
Category:Living people
Category:South African male tennis players
Category:Tennis players from Durban
Category:Sportspeople from New Braunfels, Texas
Category:New Braunfels High School alumni
Category:South African tennis coaches
Category:South African expatriates in Australia
Category:African Games bronze medalists in tennis
Category:African Games bronze medalists for South Africa
Category:Tennis players at the 1995 All-Africa Games
Category:Alumni of Kearsney College

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Damien Roberts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damien_Roberts) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damien_Roberts?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.