Yannick Noah

Yannick Noah is a French former professional tennis player and singer, best known for his victory at the French Open in 1983. He was ranked as the World No. 1 in doubles and a career-high World No. 3 in singles.

After his playing career, he became a successful captain for both France's Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup teams and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Yannick Noah was born on May 18, 1960, in Sedan, in the north of France. He is biracial, with a Cameroonian father, Zacharie Noah, who was a professional footballer, and a French mother, Marie-Claire. He stands 193 cm tall, and he plays right-handed with a one-handed backhand.

After a sports injury in 1963, his father returned to Africa with his family, and Yannick spent his early years living in Cameroon. It was there that he was discovered at age 11 by tennis legends Arthur Ashe and Charlie Pasarell. He soon showed amazing talent, which led him to join the French Tennis Federation's training center in Nice in 1971.

After his retirement from the sport, Noah became a popular music performer and the co-founder of a charity organization for underprivileged children. He is also the father of former NBA player Joakim Noah.

Professional Career

Yannick Noah turned professional in 1977. During his nearly two-decade-long career, he captured 23 singles titles and 16 doubles titles. His defining moment came in 1983 when he won the French Open, his only major singles title.

He achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 3 in July 1986 and attained the World No. 1 doubles ranking the following month. In doubles, he also won the French Open in 1984 and was a finalist at the US Open in 1985. He was a successful captain of both France's Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup teams.

Noah officially retired from professional tennis in 1996 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005.

Career Record

Singles

• Career record: 478–209 (69.6%)
• Career titles: 23
• Highest ranking: No. 3 (July 7, 1986)

Best Grand Slam Singles Performances

• Australian Open – SF (1990)
• French Open – W (1983)
• Wimbledon – 3R (1979, 1985)
• US Open – QF (1983, 1985, 1989)

Other tournaments (Singles)

• Tour Finals – QF (1982)
• Grand Slam Cup – 1R (1990)
• WCT Finals – SF (1988)

Doubles

• Career record: 213–109 (66.1%)
• Career titles: 16
• Highest ranking: No. 1 (August 25, 1986)

Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances

• French Open – W (1984)
• US Open – F (1985)

Team competitions

• Davis Cup – F (1982)