{{short description|South African tennis player}} {{Use South African English|date=January 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox tennis biography | name = David Nainkin | image = | caption = | country = {{flagicon|RSA}} South Africa | residence = Los Angeles, California, United States | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|9|20|df=yes}} | birth_place = Durban, South Africa | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}} | turnedpro = 1992 | plays = Right-handed | careerprizemoney = {{US$|501,132|link=yes}} | singlesrecord = 27–45 | singlestitles = 0 | highestsinglesranking = No. 132 (8 January 1999) | currentsinglesranking = | AustralianOpenresult = 1R (1994, 1996) | Wimbledonresult = 2R (1998) | USOpenresult = 3R (1998) | doublesrecord = 8–20 | doublestitles = 0 | highestdoublesranking = No. 138 (28 February 1994) | USOpenDoublesresult = 1R (1994) }} '''David Nainkin''' (born 20 September 1970) is a former professional tennis player from South Africa.<ref>[http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Na/D/David-Nainkin.aspx ATP World Tour Profile]</ref>
==Career== Nainkin never reached a final on the ATP Tour but made it into the semi-finals of the 1995 Nokia Open in Beijing, before losing to Michael Chang.<ref>[http://www.itftennis.com/procircuit/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=10004982 IFT Tennis Profile]</ref>
He had the best win of his Grand Slam career at the 1996 US Open when he upset countryman and number nine seed Wayne Ferreira 6–4, 6–4, 2–6, 7–5 in the opening round. This was despite Nainkin being ranked 215 in the world and having never previously won a Grand Slam match in five attempts.<ref>''The New York Times'', [https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/29/sports/ferreira-south-africa-s-best-is-stunned-by-nainkin-the-world-s-215th-best.html?pagewanted=all "Ferreira, South Africa's Best, Is Stunned by Nainkin, the World's 215th Best"], 29 August 1996, Robin Finn</ref> He lost in straight sets to Jonas Björkman in the second round. In the 1998 US Open he made it into the third round, his best ever showing, with wins over fellow qualifier Mark Merklein (6–7, 6–0, 6–4, 6–4 ) and French Open winner Gustavo Kuerten (2–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–4). He was then eliminated by eventual champion Patrick Rafter 6–1, 6–1, 6–1.
The South African represented his country at the 1998 and 1999 Davis Cups.<ref>[http://www.daviscup.com/en/players/player/profile.aspx?playerid=10004982 Davis Cup Profile]</ref>
He now works for the United States Tennis Association and coaches top American players such as Mardy Fish, Sam Querrey and Sloane Stephens. Previously, he had been the personal coach of Wayne Ferreira.<ref>[http://www.usta.com/About-USTA/Player-Development/Player-Services/123008_David_Nainkin__Mens_National_Coach/ USTA Profile]</ref>
In 2020 he was the head coach for the US Olympic Tennis Team.
==Challenger titles==
===Singles: (1)=== {|class="sortable wikitable" !style="width:20px" class="unsortable"|No. !style="width:40px"|Date !style="width:160px"|Tournament !style="width:50px"|Surface !style="width:160px"|Opponent !style="width:120px" class="unsortable"|Score |- |1. |1994 |Seoul, South Korea |Hard |{{flagicon|USA}} Michael Joyce |6–7, 6–3, 7–5 |}
===Doubles: (4)=== {|class="sortable wikitable" !style="width:20px" class="unsortable"|No. !style="width:40px"|Date !style="width:160px"|Tournament !style="width:50px"|Surface !style="width:160px"|Partner !style="width:160px"|Opponents !style="width:120px" class="unsortable"|Score |- |1. |1989 |Johannesburg, South Africa |Grass |{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} Lan Bale |{{flagicon|GBR}} Neil Broad<br />{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} Stefan Kruger |4–6, 6–4, 6–2 |- |2. |1992 |Perth, Australia |Hard |{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} Lan Bale |{{flagicon|AUS}} Andrew Florent<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Andrew McLean |3–6, 7–6, 7–5 |- |3. |1993 |Rome, Italy |Clay |{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} Grant Stafford |{{flagicon|BRA}} Danilo Marcelino<br />{{flagicon|BRA}} Fernando Meligeni |6–0, 6–1 |- |4. |1993 |Jakarta, Indonesia |Hard |{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} Lan Bale |{{flagicon|GER}} Mathias Huning<br />{{flagicon|MAS}} Adam Malik |6–7, 7–6, 7–6 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nainkin, David}} Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:South African male tennis players Category:South African tennis coaches Category:South African expatriates in the United States Category:Tennis players from Durban