Leif
Shiras
Male
United States of America
1959-01-28
Norwalk CT, United States of America
Shiras attended high school at Shorewood High School in Shorewood, Wisconsin.
Prior to his professional career, Shiras played tennis at Princeton University.
He spent a very typical playing career for most American tennis players of his time: in the late 1970s, he studied at Princeton University for several years, while playing for him in the NCAA tennis league, where he established himself as an excellent high-level player, he was an NCAA All-American in 1979 and 1980.
After graduation, Leif tried his hand at pro-tour and achieved local success relatively quickly, entering and gaining a foothold in the first hundred single player ratings. At this level, he regularly played in tournaments of the elite Grand Prix series and Grand Slam tournaments.
During his career as a player, Shiras reached one top-level final – at the Queen's Club Championships in 1984, where he lost to John McEnroe 1–6, 6–3, 2–6 having beaten No.1. Ivan Lendl (7-5, 6-3) in the first round (Lendl lost the No.1 spot due to his defeat for a week).
His best singles performance at a Grand Slam event came at Wimbledon in 1989, where he reached the fourth round. His career-high ranking was World No. 31 in singles (in 1984) and World No. 57 in doubles in (in 1988).
The American doubles career was not unsuccessful either: in the men's doubles ranking he was able to enter the Top60, having achieved several semifinals at the Grand Prix competitions; and in the competitions among mixed couples, he’s listed one semi-final of the Grand Slam tournament: at the US Open-1985, where Leif and Katie Horvath lost only to future winners: Martina Navratilova and Heinz Gunthardt (6-4, 6-2).
He won 3 Challenger singles titles: at Spring in 1983, Fukuoka in 1986 and Munich in 1987.
In the early 1990s, the results of Shiras fell noticeably, and at the end of the 1991 season, the American ended his active playing career, though he then picked up a racket several times at exhibition competitions, and in the late 1990s he even played in the futures qualification next to with his place of residence then.
Shiras retired from the professional tour in 1990. Having completed his playing career, Leif was in great demand on television as a leading and sports commentator, soon becoming one of the faces of tennis broadcasting on a number of major English-language channels. In 2003, with the organization of a profile tennis channel in the USA, Shiras became a member of his commentary team, along with other former players. Since then, he has worked as a tennis journalist, primarily as a commentator for the Tennis Channel, British Sky Sports and Fox Sports. In 1993, he moved from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to where he currently resides, in Laguna Hills, California, with his two sons, Emmett and Austin, and his wife Maria. Leif broke into broadcasting tennis with Barry MacKay as his partner.
In 1995, Shiras won the Wimbledon over-35 men's doubles title (partnering Paul McNamee).
In 2010, as the member of the Class of 2010, he was inducted into the ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in Athens, Georgia.
1979 - 1990
2
242
131
1983 - Spring, Texas (Open)
1983 - United States 5 Satellite - Leg 4 (Open)
Round 1
Sergi Bruguera 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-1
6-4
6-3
Round 1
Paul Annacone 1 *
Leif Shiras
2-6
3-6
6-3
6-3
8-6
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Slobodan Zivojinovic
7-6
6-4
3-6
3-6
6-4
Round 2
Aki Rahunen 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-0
6-1
6-1
Round 1
Leonardo Lavalle 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-6
2-6
7-6
6-2
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Johan C. Kriek
7-6
6-2
6-2
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Jeremy Bates
4-6
7-5
6-3
6-2
Round 3
Leif Shiras 1 *
Kevin Curren
4-6
6-3
5-7
7-6
6-3
Round 4
Paul Chamberlin 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-5
6-4
7-6
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Sergi Bruguera
6-1
2-6
6-3
4-6
6-4
Round 2
Alexander Vladimirovich Volkov 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
6-4
6-4
Round 1
Jimmy Connors 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
7-6
6-1
Round 1
Barry Moir 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
6-4
5-7
0-6
6-2
Round 1
Danie Visser 1 *
Leif Shiras
4-6
6-2
6-3
7-6
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Michael Jan (Mike) Kures
6-3
6-4
6-3
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Claudio Panatta
6-3
7-6
3-6
7-6
Round 3
Peter Doohan 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-7
4-6
6-3
6-4
12-10
Round 1
Jonas B. Svensson Jr. 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
6-0
6-2
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Guy Forget
6-4
1-6
6-3
6-2
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Marc Flur
4-6
1-6
6-4
6-0
9-7
Round 3
Mats Wilander 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
6-3
6-2
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Leighton Alfred
6-3
7-6
6-3
Round 2
Ben Testerman 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
6-7
4-6
6-1
7-5
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Danie Visser
6-3
6-4
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Mark Woodforde
7-5
7-6
Quarterfinals
Eddie Edwards 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
6-2
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Colin Dowdeswell
6-1
6-2
Round 2
Amos Mansdorf 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
6-4
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Terry Moor
6-4
7-5
Round 2
Russell Simpson 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-7
6-1
6-3
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Pavel Slozil
4-6
7-6
7-6
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Heinz Gunthardt
7-6
6-3
Round 3
Jimmy Connors 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-7
6-2
7-6
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Charles Honey
4-6
6-1
6-4
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Bob Green
6-7
7-6
6-4
Round 2
Nduka Odizor 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
7-6
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Patrick McEnroe
7-6
3-6
6-3
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Eric Riley
6-2
7-5
Round 3
Andy Kohlberg 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-7
6-4
6-1
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
David Lewis
3-6
6-2
8-6
Round 2
Kelly Evernden 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-7
6-3
6-3
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Derek Tarr
7-6
7-5
Round 2
Jimmy Arias 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
2-6
6-2
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Peter Doohan
3-6
7-5
7-5
Round 2
David Pate 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
6-2
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Ben Testerman
6-2
4-6
6-4
Round 2
Jimmy Connors 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
6-4
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Bob Green
6-3
6-7
6-3
Round 2
Pat Cash 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-6
6-4
Round 1
Peter Fleming 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
7-6
Round 1
Michiel Schapers 1 *
Leif Shiras
4-6
7-6
6-4
Round 1
Glenn W. Layendecker 1 *
Leif Shiras
3-6
6-3
7-5
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Dale Power
6-3
6-2
Quarterfinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
Joseph Brabenec
7-5
6-2
Semifinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
Bill Cowan
7-5
6-4
Final
Michael (Mike) Leach 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-5
6-3
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Chris Pridham
6-3
3-6
6-3
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Michael Robertson
7-5
6-3
Quarterfinals
Scott McCain 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-1
6-3
Round 1
Eddie Edwards 1 *
Leif Shiras
1-6
6-2
6-3
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Danie Visser
7-5
6-4
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Jay J. Lapidus
6-4
2-6
7-6
Quarterfinals
Peter Fleming 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
6-3
Round 1
Andres Gomez 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
7-6
Round 1
Paul Annacone 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
7-6
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Brad D. Drewett
7-5
6-4
Round 2
Brad Gilbert 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
4-6
6-1
Round 2
Hank Pfister 1 *
Leif Shiras
3-6
6-3
6-4
6-2
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Michiel Schapers
6-2
6-7
7-6
7-6
Round 2
Tim Gullikson 1 *
Leif Shiras
3-6
6-3
6-4
6-4
Round 1
Kelvin Belcher 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
6-7
6-4
4-6
6-3
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Scott McCain
7-6
7-6
Round 2
Shakhar Perkiss 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
7-6
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Thomas Hogstedt
6-7
6-4
6-3
Round 2
Eliot Teltscher 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
6-2
Round 1
Paul McNamee 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
6-2
Round 1
Russell Simpson 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-6
6-4
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Ivan Lendl
7-5
6-2
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Chip Hooper
4-6
7-6
7-5
Round 3
Leif Shiras 1 *
Brian Teacher
4-6
6-4
9-7
Quarterfinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
Guy Forget
6-4
7-5
Semifinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
Rodney Harmon
6-3
6-4
Final
John McEnroe 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-1
3-6
6-2
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Joe Heldmann
6-4
3-6
6-0
Round 2
Mario Martinez 1 *
Leif Shiras
4-6
7-6
6-2
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Givaldo Barbosa
7-6
4-6
7-5
Round 2
Miloslav Mecir sr 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
1-6
6-4
Round 1
John Alexander 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-6
7-6
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Jeremy Bates
6-3
7-6
Round 2
Greg J. Whitecross 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-5
6-4
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Greg Holmes
6-4
6-4
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Daniel (Danny) Saltz
6-3
6-3
Quarterfinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
Tom Gullikson
7-6
6-7
7-6
Semifinals
Vijay Amritraj 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
6-3
Round 1
Marcel Freeman 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
6-7
7-5
Round 1
Van Alan Winitsky 1 *
Leif Shiras
3-6
6-3
6-4
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Jan Van Langendonck
7-5
6-2
Round 2
Johan C. Kriek 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
6-0
Round 1
Vijay Amritraj 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
6-0
Round 1
Eddie Edwards 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-6
1-6
6-3
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Craig A. Miller
3-6
6-4
7-5
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
John Boytim
6-2
7-6
Quarterfinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
David Dowlen
6-3
6-4
Semifinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
Andy Kohlberg
7-5
6-3
Final
Vijay Amritraj 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-5
4-6
7-6
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Jay J. Lapidus
4-6
6-4
7-6
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Trey H. Waltke
6-2
6-1
Quarterfinals
Martin (Marty) Davis 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
7-5
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Gilles Moretton
7-6
4-6
6-4
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Huub van Boeckel
3-6
7-6
6-4
Quarterfinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
Larry Stefanki
7-6
4-6
7-6
Semifinals
Tim Wilkison 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
6-3
Round 1
Joseph Brabenec 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
6-3
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
V. Erick Iskersky
6-3
3-6
6-3
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Bob Green
7-6
5-7
6-3
Quarterfinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
Bud Schultz
6-4
6-3
Semifinals
John Sadri 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
7-6
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Glenn Michibata
6-2
6-7
6-4
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Greg Holmes
6-1
6-4
Quarterfinals
Johan C. Kriek 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-6
7-6
Round 1
Tony Giammalva 1 *
Leif Shiras
3-6
6-3
6-2
6-4
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Rod Frawley
6-4
7-6
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
John Fitzgerald
6-4
6-7
7-6
Quarterfinals
Brad D. Drewett 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-5
6-4
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Thomas S. (Tom) Cain
6-1
7-5
Round 2
Schalk van der Merwe 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
6-3
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
John Southcombe
6-1
6-4
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Russell Barlow
4-6
6-3
6-4
Round 3
Eric Korita 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
6-2
6-3
Round 1
Tomm Warneke 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
6-4
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Antonio (Tony) Morandini
7-5
3-6
6-4
Round 2
Ivan Kley 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
6-2
Round 1
Chris Johnstone 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-6
6-7
6-0
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Robin Drysdale
2-6
7-6
6-3
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Randy Druz
6-3
6-2
Round 3
Bernie Mitton 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-6
7-5
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Juan Farrow
5-7
6-4
7-5
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Larry Stefanki
4-6
6-3
6-2
Quarterfinals
Jonathan Canter 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-5
ret.
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Andy Kohlberg
6-4
6-1
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
David Dowlen
3-6
7-6
6-2
Quarterfinals
Greg J. Whitecross 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-7
6-4
7-5
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Bruce Brescia
6-4
7-5
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Doug Boswell
6-2
4-6
6-4
Round 3
Leif Shiras 1 *
Robert Nelson
6-2
6-2
Quarterfinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
Derek Tarr
3-6
6-3
6-0
Semifinals
Ben Testerman 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
6-1
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Remi Osho
6-3
6-7
6-3
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Kelvin Belcher
7-6
6-3
Round 3
Andis Luters 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
1-6
6-3
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
R. Luttrell
6-4
7-5
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
John Benson
6-1
7-6
Round 3
Richard Akel 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
4-6
6-1
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Ricky Nelson
6-3
6-3
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Alexander Zalesky
6-1
6-1
Round 3
Leif Shiras 1 *
Paul C. Kronk
6-4
6-4
Quarterfinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
Karl Richter
6-4
6-2
Semifinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
Howard Sands
6-1
4-6
6-2
Final
Leif Shiras 1 *
Derek Tarr
6-4
6-3
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Brian Joelson
6-4
6-3
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Tom Csipkay
6-7
6-2
7-6
Quarterfinals
Randy Nixon 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
6-1
Round 1
Brian Levine 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
7-5
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Jacques Grandjean
7-5
7-6
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Fernando Maynetto
6-3
6-3
Quarterfinals
Larry Stefanki 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-1
6-2
Round 1
Leo Palin 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
6-1
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Gene Malin
6-3
6-3
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
T. Judson
6-4
6-1
Quarterfinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
Marcel Freeman
2-6
6-3
6-4
Semifinals
Kevin Kerns 1 *
Leif Shiras
4-6
7-6
6-4
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Randy Druz
6-2
7-5
Round 2
Marcel Freeman 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
2-6
7-6
Round 1
David Graham 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-5
7-5
Round 1
Carlos A. Kirmayr 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
6-1
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
John Benson
6-1
2-6
6-1
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Scott McCain
7-5
6-3
Quarterfinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
Juan Farrow
7-6
7-6
Semifinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
Lloyd Bourne
2-6
6-2
7-6
Final
Leif Shiras 1 *
Ross Case
6-1
6-0
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Phil Lehnhoff
6-4
6-1
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Ricardo Acuna
7-6
1-6
7-5
Round 3
Brian Joelson 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
6-2
Round 1
Matt Mitchell 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-5
6-2
6-2
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Wayne R. Pascoe
7-6
6-3
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
John Lloyd
7-6
6-1
Round 3
Leif Shiras 1 *
Ferdi Taygan
6-4
6-4
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Roberto Saad
6-3
6-4
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Steve Meister
6-2
1-6
6-3
Round 3
Mike Bauer 1 *
Leif Shiras
5-7
6-0
6-4
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Robert Crames
6-3
6-4
Round 2
David Schneider 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
6-4
Round 1
Jeff Simpson 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
4-6
7-6
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
David Schneider
6-0
6-1
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
David Lewis
6-7
7-6
6-4
Round 3
Rick Fagel 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
6-1
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
D. Wilburn
6-1
6-1
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
John Hayes
7-6
3-6
6-4
Round 3
Leif Shiras 1 *
Mike Bauer
6-4
6-4
Quarterfinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
Srinivasan Vasudevan
6-1
6-1
Semifinals
Bruce Foxworth 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
6-2
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Dale Power
6-1
6-4
Round 2
Rick Fagel 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-1
6-4
Round 1
Mike Gandolfo 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-5
6-3
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Erik Van't Hof
6-4
4-6
6-4
Round 2
Randy Druz 1 *
Leif Shiras
4-6
6-1
6-2
Round 1
Andrew (Andy) Avrams 1 *
Leif Shiras
5-7
7-5
6-1
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Tom Lucci
6-
4-6
6-3
Round 2
Greg Amaya 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-5
6-2
Quarterfinals
Martin Wostenholme 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-1
6-1
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Russell Simpson
6-4
1-6
7-5
Round 2
Morris Chesney (Skip) Strode 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-6
6-4
Round 1
Charles (Buzz) Strode 1 *
Leif Shiras
4-6
7-6
7-6
Round 1
Marcel Freeman 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
7-6
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
H. Jolly
6-4
6-4
Round 2
Garth Haynes 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
6-4
Round 3
Daniel (Danny) Saltz 1 *
Leif Shiras
7-6
6-0
Round 2
Guillermo Stevens 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
7-5
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Peter Lamb
6-3
6-3
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
George Hardie III
7-5
6-3
Round 3
Sean Brawley 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
6-3
Round 1
Joel Hoffman 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
6-1
Round 1
Carey Brading 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
4-6
6-2
Round 1
David Siegler 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
5-7
7-6
Round 1
Chip Hooper 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
6-1
6-3
Round 1
Gene Mayer 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-1
6-0
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Scott Bondurant
2-6
7-5
6-1
Round 3
Leif Shiras 1 *
Scott McCain
6-2
6-3
Round 4
Leif Shiras 1 *
Pender Murphy
6-3
7-5
Quarterfinals
Leif Shiras 1 *
Chip Hooper
6-1
6-2
Semifinals
Robert van't Hof 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
6-4
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Broderick Dyke
5-7
6-4
6-4
Round 3
Charles Batt 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-2
6-1
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Daniel (Danny) Saltz
6-4
6-2
Round 2
Leif Shiras 1 *
Martin Goldberg
Round 3
Leif Shiras 1 *
Bob Blazekovic
7-6
6-1
Quarterfinals
Jim Gurfein 1 *
Leif Shiras
3-0
ret.
Round 1
Billy Nealon 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-4
6-2
Round 1
Leif Shiras 1 *
Matt Horwitch
6-3
6-4
Round 2
V. Erick Iskersky 1 *
Leif Shiras
3-6
6-2
6-1
Semifinals
Keith West 1 *
Leif Shiras
6-3
7-6
Semifinals
Juan Farrow 1 *
Leif Shiras
2-6
6-4
6-2