
PLAYER PROFILE
Christopher O'Connell
5
AUSTRALIAN
RANKING
RANKING
75
ATP
RANKING
RANKING
- Age30
- Born 3 June 1994
- Birth PlaceSydney, Australia
- LivesSydney, Australia
- PlaysRight-handed
- CoachFernando Ibarrola
“Getting into the Top 100 is a huge goal of mine and I’m not far off now”
— Christopher O'Connell, 16 Jan 2020
» O’Connell bows out in Bendigo quarters
On court
- Began playing tennis at age four
- Realised at age 16 he was good enough to follow a professional tennis career
- Favourite surface is Plexicushion
- Tennis goals are to represent Australia in Davis Cup and reach the world’s top 100
- Achieved latter goal by making top-100 debut in July 2022
- Believes travelling is the best part of being a tennis player
- Tennis hero is Roger Federer; feels his game most closely resembles the Swiss’
- Ideal mixed doubles partner would be Sam Stosur because of her good volleys
- Dream tennis scenario would be to defeat a top 10 player in a night match at Rod Laver Arena
- Professional goals are to make a living playing tennis and to play Davis Cup for Australia
- Won a tour-leading 72 matches in 2019, claiming two ATP Challenger and three ITF Futures titles after beginning the season without an ATP ranking
- Won his first Grand Slam main draw match at the US Open in 2020
- Advanced to third round at Australian Open 2022, scoring first top-20 win against Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman in the second round
- Notched first ATP semifinal at San Diego in September 2022
- In 2023, upset world No.28 Roberto Bautista Agut en route to the ATP Doha quarterfinals, where he pushed eventual champion Daniil Medvedev to 7-5 in the third set.
Off court
- Describes himself as relaxed, chilled, lazy, neat and cool
- Favourite city in the world is Sydney, because of its beaches
- Favourite meal is penne carbonara
- Best piece of advice he’s received: “to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift”
- His perfect day would involve spending a morning at the beach followed a coffee and nice lunch, then an afternoon watching a live band with a few beers and mates
- Spent six months working part-time as a tennis coach and cleaning boats on Sydney’s Pittwater Harbour while sidelined with a knee injury in 2018.
Year-end ranking history
2023 | 68 |
2022 | 79 |
2021 | 175 |
2020 | 119 |
2019 | 128 |
2018 | 1185 |
2017 | 393 |
2016 | 240 |
2015 | 567 |
2014 | 487 |
2012 | 1655 |
2011 | 1745 |
Christopher O'Connell in the news
Ranking Movers: Gibson, Tomljanovic building momentum

8 April, 2025
Talia Gibson and Ajla Tomljanovic began their clay-court seasons in style, resulting in significant rises in this week's Ranking Movers.
Read moreTalia Gibson and Ajla Tomljanovic began their clay-court seasons in style, resulting in significant rises in this week's Ranking Movers.
Aussie Weekly Wrap: Smith breaks drought in Houston

7 April, 2025
John-Patrick Smith's first ATP-level doubles title in seven years headlines a successful week for the Aussies on Tour.
Read moreJohn-Patrick Smith's first ATP-level doubles title in seven years headlines a successful week for the Aussies on Tour.
O’Connell outlasts Jarry to reach Bucharest quarterfinals

4 April, 2025
Chris O'Connell punched his ticket to the quarterfinals in Bucharest, following an intense three-hour marathon against No.4 seed Nicolas Jarry.
Read moreChris O'Connell punched his ticket to the quarterfinals in Bucharest, following an intense three-hour marathon against No.4 seed Nicolas Jarry.
Kyrgios returns to winners’ list in Miami

20 March, 2025
Nick Kyrgios recorded his first win since October 2022 after coming from a set down to defeat American Mackenzie McDonald.
Read moreNick Kyrgios recorded his first win since October 2022 after coming from a set down to defeat American Mackenzie McDonald.