Jan Norbäck

Jan Norbäck (born 6 March 1956) is a former professional tennis player from Sweden.

Jan Norbäck
Full nameJan Norbäck
Country (sports) Sweden
Born (1956-03-06) 6 March 1956
Hudiksvall, Sweden
PlaysLeft-handed
Singles
Career record36–76
Career titles1
Highest rankingNo. 98 (2 March 1981)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open2R (1977)
French Open3R (1981)
Wimbledon2R (1977, 1979)
US Open2R (1979)
Doubles
Career record26–64
Career titles0
Grand Slam Doubles results
French Open1R (1977)
Wimbledon1R (1978)
US Open1R (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)

Biography

Born in Hudiksvall, Norbäck was based out of Torshälla.

Norbäck played three Davis Cup matches for Sweden, all in the 1977 tournament, the first a win in a doubles rubber against Monaco with Douglas Palm early in the campaign.[1] His other two matches came in Sweden's Europe Zone A semi-final against Italy in Bastad. The youngest player in either team, Norbäck partnered with Rolf Norberg in the doubles, with Sweden needing a win over the Italian pairing of Paolo Bertolucci and Adriano Panatta to keep the tie alive.[2] They were unable to, losing in four sets. In the reverse singles, Norbäck replaced Rolf Norberg for a dead rubber against Antonio Zugarelli and was able to secure a consolation win for the Swedes.[3]

His only title on the Grand Prix circuit came at Zurich in 1977. He didn't drop a set all tournament, with wins over Georges Goven, Lajos Levai, Juan Ignacio Muntañola, Nicola Spear, then in the final Jacek Niedźwiedzki.

Norbäck lost a match at the 1979 U.S. Pro Tennis Championships in unusual circumstances after he was defaulted for turning up late. Due to meet Manuel Orantes in the second round, he had spent the day with friends in New Hampshire, as a conversation with the referee-in-chief had left him under the impression his match was to be played late in the evening. When he arrived in Boston for his match he was informed Orantes had been awarded the win as he was over 30 minutes late, well above the 15-minute time limit allowance.[4]

He made main draw appearances in all four Grand Slam events and his best performance was at the 1981 French Open when he made the third round.[5]

Grand Prix career finals

Singles: 1 (1–0)
Result No. Year Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 1. 1977 Zurich, Switzerland Hard Jacek Niedźwiedzki 7–5, 6–2

See also

References
  1. "Tennis". Herald-Journal. 17 April 1977. p. B3. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  2. "Italy Has Net Lead". The Spokesman-Review. 16 July 1977. p. 13. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  3. "People in sport". Ottawa Citizen. 18 July 1977. p. 25. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  4. "Norback learns a painful lesson". The Tuscaloosa News. 24 August 1979. p. 12. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  5. "French Open". The Pantagraph. 31 May 1981. p. 20. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
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