Andrew Sznajder (pronounced: shnigh-der) (born 25 May 1967) is a Canadian former professional tour
tennis
Tennis is a racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball ...
player.
Sznajder achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 46 in September 1989. This was the highest any Canadian male was ranked in singles by the
ATP until
Greg Rusedski
Gregory Rusedski (born 6 September 1973) is a British and Canadian former tennis player. He was the British No. 1 in 1997, 1999 and 2006, and reached the ATP ranking of world No. 4 for periods from 6 October 1997 to 12 October 1997 and from 25 ...
made it to No. 41 (before becoming a British citizen; subsequently in February 2011,
Milos Raonic
Milos Raonic (; sr, Милош Раонић, Miloš Raonić, ; born December 27, 1990) is a Canadian inactive professional tennis player. He has been ranked as high as world No. 3 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), wh ...
reached World No. 37). He was inducted into the Canada Tennis Hall of Fame.
Early life
Sznajder was born in
Preston,
Lancashire
Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly.
The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...
, England, moved to Canada at age seven, and is Jewish.
He lives in
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville is a town in Regional Municipality of Halton, Halton Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located on Lake Ontario between Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, Hamilton. At its Canada 2021 Census, 2021 census population of 213,759, it is List of tow ...
.
Tennis career
He was named Tennis Canada's "Most Improved Player" in 1985, and "Male Player of the Year" in 1986.
Over his career, he was a five-time Canada national champion.
Sznajder was a record six-time winner of the Canadian Closed singles championship and three-time Tennis Canada singles Player of the Year.
Prior to his pro career, Sznajder played college tennis at
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University () is a private research university affiliated with the Churches of Christ with its main campus in Los Angeles County, California. Pepperdine's main campus consists of 830 acres (340 ha) overlooking the Pacific Ocean and t ...
for the
Pepperdine Waves
The Pepperdine Waves are the athletics teams of Pepperdine University, located outside the city of Malibu, California. They compete at the Division I level of the NCAA. The school is a member of the West Coast Conference for the majority of its ...
, and was a two-time
All-American selection (1987 and 1988; he was # 3 in college rankings both years).
His .800 won-lost percentage there (40–10) is the 6th-best in the school's history.
In 1988, he won the
Intercollegiate Tennis Association
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is the governing body and coaches association of college tennis, both an advocate and authority, overseeing men’s and women’s varsity tennis at all levels – NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NC ...
indoor individual championship. He turned pro in his second year.
The summer of 1989 was his best season as a pro – he won the Chicoutimi challenger event, reached the 3rd round at both the Stratton Mountain and Indianapolis
Grand Prix
Grand Prix ( , meaning ''Grand Prize''; plural Grands Prix), is a name sometimes used for competitions or sport events, alluding to the winner receiving a prize, trophy or honour
Grand Prix or grand prix may refer to:
Arts and entertainment ...
events, the quarter finals of the
Canadian Open and
Los Angeles Grand Prix tournament, and the 2nd round of the
U.S. Open.
In July 1989 he defeated world # 24
Jay Berger
Jay Berger (born November 26, 1966) is an American former professional tennis player. He won three singles and one doubles title on the ATP Tour and reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 7 in April 1990.
Early and personal life
...
in Stratton Mountain, 6–2, 2–6, 6–3, in August he beat # 23
Kevin Curren
Kevin Melvyn Curren (born 2 March 1958) is a South African former professional tennis player. He played in two Grand Slam singles finals and won four Grand Slam doubles titles, reaching a career-high singles ranking of world No. 5 in July 19 ...
in Montreal, 6–2, 2–6, 6–3, and in September he upset # 8
Tim Mayotte
Timothy Mayotte (born August 3, 1960) is a former professional tennis player from the United States.
Professional career
A tall serve-and-volleyer, Mayotte learned to play the game on the public courts of Forest Park in his hometown of Springfi ...
in Los Angeles, 6–4, 3–6, 7–5.
In April 1990, Sznajder was a finalist of the Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix event. In November he upset world # 35
Karel Nováček
Karel Nováček (born 30 March 1965) is a retired Czech former top ten tennis player born in Prostějov, Czechoslovakia (Czech Republic). In his career, Nováček won 13 singles titles and six doubles titles. His highest singles ranking was Wor ...
6–4, 6–3, in Brazil.
Upon retiring from the tour, Sznajder worked as Product Manager at PageNet Canada Inc. for 10 years. He then founded his own tennis health and racquet club software company, and directs his own tennis academy ASTA, and GSM Tennis Club, in
Kitchener, Ontario
)
, image_flag = Flag of Kitchener, Ontario.svg
, image_seal = Seal of Kitchener, Canada.svg
, image_shield=Coat of arms of Kitchener, Canada.svg
, image_blank_emblem = Logo of Kitchener, Ontario.svg
, blank_emblem_type = ...
.
He continued to play competitively, and captured the 2002 Ontario Indoor Championship.
"Andrew Sznajder,"
GPTCA.
After retiring, Sznajder became a top-ranking competitor on the ITF sanctioned Wilson/Mayfair Senior Circuit Over-35s.
In 2002 he was inducted into the Canada Tennis Hall of Fame.
Olympics
Sznajder represented Canada at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Canada competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, held from 25 July to 9 August 1992. 295 competitors, 179 men and 116 women, took part in 199 events in 24 sports.
The Barcelona Olympics were at the time Canada's second most succes ...
, reaching the 2nd round.
Davis Cup
As a Canada Davis Cup team
The Canada men's national tennis team represents Canada in Davis Cup tennis competition since 1913. They are overseen by Tennis Canada, the governing body of tennis in Canada.
The team won their first Davis Cup in 2022, beating Australia 2-0 in ...
competitor, he had a career win-lose record of 14–10, all in singles, including a win and a loss in a losing tie to Spain in the first round of the 1991 World Group. It was Canada's first appearance in the World Group.
ATP career finals
Singles: 1 (1 runner-up)
ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals
Singles: 4 (1–3)
Doubles: 1 (1–0)
Performance timeline
Singles
See also
* List of select Jewish tennis players
References
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sznajder, Andrew
1967 births
Living people
Canadian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Canadian male tennis players
British emigrants to Canada
Jewish Canadian sportspeople
Jewish tennis players
Olympic tennis players of Canada
Sportspeople from Oakville, Ontario
Pepperdine Waves men's tennis players
Racket sportspeople from Ontario
Tennis players at the 1992 Summer Olympics