Tommy Ho


Thomas Ho (born June 17, 1973, in Winter Haven, Florida) is a former professional tennis player from the United States. His parents are immigrants from Taiwan.[1]

Tommy Ho
Full nameThomas Ho
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceHouston, Texas, United States
Born (1973-06-17) June 17, 1973
Winter Haven, United States
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Turned pro1988
Retired1998
PlaysLeft-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize money$793,819
Singles
Career record36–66
Career titles0
4 Challengers
Highest rankingNo. 85 (June 26, 1995)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open2R (1995)
French Open1R (1995)
Wimbledon2R (1995)
US Open3R (1992)
Doubles
Career record57–40
Career titles4
Highest rankingNo. 13 (January 8, 1996)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open3R (1996)
French OpenSF (1995)
Wimbledon2R (1995)
US Open3R (1994)
Tommy Ho
Traditional Chinese何思模
Simplified Chinese何思模

Tennis career

Juniors

Ho first came to the tennis world's attention as an exceptionally successful junior player. He won several junior tennis events in the 1980s, and set a number of 'youngest-ever' records.

Pro tour

In August 1988, Ho became the youngest male player in the open era to play in the main draw of the US Open singles at the age of 15 years and 2 months. He lost the first round match to Johan Kriek 6–4, 7–6, 7–6. That same month, Ho became the second youngest male player to win a main draw match at a top-level tour event when he beat Matt Anger in the first round at Rye Brook 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, just after Argentina's Franco Davín.

Ho's early successes drew many comparisons with Michael Chang, another Asian American tennis player who achieved great success as a junior. However Ho did not manage to make the same kind of impact on the professional circuit as Chang (who went on to win the French Open and reach the World No. 2 singles ranking). Ho enjoyed some success in satellite tournaments, but did not win any top-level singles events on the tour. He did, however, win four tour doubles titles (Beijing in 1994, and Beijing, Hong Kong and Indian Wells in 1995).

Ho's professional career was hampered by injuries. In 1995, Ho and Brett Steven became the fastest-ever losers of a match at Wimbledon. In the very first point of their Men's Doubles match, Steven served and Ho tried to intercept the return at the net, only to injure his back. The pair thus had had to forfeit the match after just one rally, which had lasted all of five seconds. The back injury was to recur again in future years, and eventually led to Ho's retirement from the tour in 1997.

During his professional career, Ho reached career-high rankings of World No. 85 in singles and World No. 13 in doubles. His career prize-money totalled $793,819.

Post-retirement

Since retiring from the tour, Ho has completed a degree at Rice University in Houston and worked as a tennis journalist.

In 2011, Ho was inducted into the USTA Florida Hall of Fame.

He is currently a partner at global recruiting firm Heidrick & Struggles in Houston, TX.

Doubles titles

Legend (Doubles)
Grand Slam tournaments (0)
Tennis Masters Cup (0)
ATP Masters Series (1)
ATP International Series Gold (0)
ATP International Series (3)
No. Date Tournament Surface Partner in Final Opponent in Final Score in Final
1. Oct 1994 Beijing, China Carpet Kent Kinnear David Adams
Andrei Olhovskiy
7–6, 6–3
2. Mar 1995 Indian Wells, U.S. Hard Brett Steven Gary Muller
Piet Norval
6–4, 7–6
3. Apr 1995 Hong Kong Hard Mark Philippoussis John Fitzgerald
Anders Järryd
6–1, 6–7, 7–6
4. Oct 1995 Beijing, China Carpet Sébastien Lareau Dick Norman
Fernon Wibier
7–6, 7–6

Runners-up (3)

No. Date Tournament Surface Partner in Final Opponent in Final Score in Final
1. Feb 1995 Memphis, U.S. Hard (i) Brett Steven Jared Palmer
Richey Reneberg
6–4, 6–7, 1–6
2. Nov 1995 Moscow, Russia Carpet Brett Steven Byron Black
Jared Palmer
4–6, 6–3, 3–6
3. Jan 1996 Adelaide, Australia Hard Jonas Björkman Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
5–7, 6–7

References

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