The former tennis player, Stefan Bengt Edberg
The former professional tennis player from Sweden, Stefan Bengt Edberg was born on 19thJanuary 1966 in the city of Vaservik. Stefan was famous as one of the best volley and serve players of his time beyond any doubt. He grabbed a total of six major singles trophies as well as three Grand Slam doubles titles throughout his professional tennis career.
The right handed Bengt first came to the limelight as a junior tennis contender. The Swede captured all four of the major trophies back in 1983 and registered his name as the only player to win all four of the junior Grand Slam competitions. During the same year, Stefan also won the very first doubles trophy of his career.
The 1.88 meters tall Edberg turned pro back in 1983. The next year he succeeded in his first high level singles competition in Milan. During the same year, the Swede also succeeded in the 1984 Summer Olympics tennis competition. Moreover, he also made his way into the finals of the French Open doubles event along with his partner Jarryd and ultimately ended the year as number one doubles player in the world.
His admirers from the United States of America first turned their attention to the young Swede when he succeeded in Memphis back in 1985. Talking about his Grand Slam victories, Stefan’s first two major titles came at the hard court Australian Open tournament first in 1985 when he knocked down Mats Wilander and later on in 1987 by dismissing Pat Cash in a total of five sets that later on turned out to be the last Aussie being contested on the grass surface.
Moreover, the Swede also triumphed in the Australian Open doubles final back in 1987 along with his partner Anders Jarryd.
In 1988, he made his way into the first of three finals at the grass court Grand Slam tournament in a row. Another interesting fact is that, he faced Boris Becker in all of the three finals at the All England Club.
Two years later, in 1990, Stefan called off the match while playing the final of the Australian Open tournament as a result of his muscle injury. He met Ivan Lendl during that final match. However, after recovering, the Swede tennis ace, Edberg once again recaptured is top ranking back in 1990 during the month of August after his victory at the super nine championships in Cincinnati.
He enjoyed the top ranking for not only the rest of the season and for most of the next two years as well. The Swede remained at the top spot for a total of seventy two weeks in his professional tennis career.
Stefan's last two major singles victories came at the United States Open Championship back in 1991 by knocking down Jim Courier as well as in 1992 by defeating Pete Sampras at the Flushing Meadows in the city of New York.
The right handed tennis ace made his final major singles final appearances at the hard court Australian Open tournament, where he was knocked down by Jim Couriers in a total of four sets on both occasions back in 1992 as well as in 1993.
As far as his doubles titles are concerned, Edberg grabbed his third as well as final major doubles trophy at the Australian Open championship along with his partner Petr Korda.
However, what remained a wish till the end of his career was a final victory at the Grand Slam clay court French Open tournament. Although, Stefan made his way into the final of the French Open tournament back in 1989 however he was knocked down by Michael Chang in a total of five sets. With this victory, Michael registered his name as the youngest ever tennis ace from the men’s side to grab a major title.
As far as Stefan’s favourite surfaces are concerned, he was fond of playing on quick ones. Out of his total of six major single trophies, the Swede tennis ace, Stefan Bengt Edberg grabbed four on the grassy surfaces of the Aussies as well as Wimbledon where as two came on the hard one’s at the Flushing meadows in the city of New York.
Edberg announced his retirement from the professional sports of tennis back in 1996 and still resides in his native place, Sweden.
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