PLAYER PROFILE

John-Patrick Smith

  • Born24 January 1989
  • Birth PlaceTownsville, Queensland
  • Height188 cm
  • PlaysLeft-handed
  • Pro Since2011
FOLLOW
“It'd be huge, I'm telling you. It would be the best feeling.”

— John-Patrick Smith, 12 Jan 2021

» Sweeny, Tomic, Smith march on in AO 2021 qualifying

On court

  • Started playing tennis aged seven
  • The drive to follow a professional tennis career kicked in at age 17
  • Enjoyed a successful junior career, peaking at No.6 in the ITF Junior rankings
  • Represented the University of Tennessee from 2007 to 2011; named an All-American in singles and doubles for four straight years, one of only two players in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) history to achieve the feat
  • Ranked No.1 in both singles and doubles during his American college career
  • Named Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Year in 2011
  • Won his first ITF Futures Pro Circuit event in 2011, securing the Oklahoma F19 title
  • Broke into the world’s top 300 for the first time in May 2012
  • Won his first Challenger title in 2012 at Winnetka; earned a second Challenger crown at Drummondville in 2015
  • Peaked at a career-high singles ranking of No.108 in September 2015, the same year he won through qualifying to the main draw of Wimbledon and the US Open
  • Qualified again at the US Open in 2017, and at Wimbledon in 2018
  • Won first career ATP doubles title in Atlanta in 2018 (with Nicholas Monroe)
  • Reached Australian Open 2019 mixed doubles final with compatriot Astra Sharma
  • Tennis idol is Andre Agassi
  • Favourite surface is hard courts
  • Feels his game most closely resembles that of John McEnroe
  • Names Marcos Baghdatis as the toughest opponent he’s ever faced
  • Dream tennis scenario would be to take on Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open
  • Would want Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Russell Crowe and Will Ferrell sitting in his entourage during an Australian Open match at Rod Laver Arena.

Off court

  • Nickname is “JP” or “J-bomber”
  • Enjoys rugby, surfing, and swimming
  • Graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Economics
  • Names democracy and capitalism as two of his loves
  • His perfect day would involve sitting by the beach
  • Would have followed a career on Wall Street had he not been a tennis player.

Year-end ranking history

2021 390
2020 310
2019 291
2018 200
2017 221
2016 232
2015 129
2014 201
2013 222
2012 246
2011 441
2010 NR
2009 NR
2008 1148

John-Patrick Smith in the news

Preston scores major breakthrough with first top-50 win at San Diego
Taylah Preston during her breakthrough win at San Diego. Picture: Getty Images
28 February, 2024

Perth teen Taylah Preston has recorded her first tour-level main-draw win at a WTA 500 tournament in America.
Read more
Saville leads a strong contingent of Aussies in action this week
Daria Saville. Picture: Getty Images
26 February, 2024

Daria Saville storms past Czech teen Linda Fruhvirtova to qualify at a WTA 500 hard-court tournament in San Diego.
Read more
Aussie weekly wrap: 14 Australians contest finals across historic week
Taylah Preston advanced to the biggest singles final of her career this week. Picture: Tennis Australia
26 February, 2024

The fast-rising Taylah Preston was among 14 Australian players to contest finals in professional tournaments this week.
Read more
Perez, Hunter to face-off in WTA 1000 doubles final at Dubai
SEVILLE, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 09: Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez of Team Australia celebrates after winning the Billie Jean King Cup Finals group stage doubles match between Australia and Kazakhstan at Estadio de La Cartuja on November 09, 2023 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images for ITF)
23 February, 2024

Ellen Perez and Storm Hunter, who are close friends and Australian team-mates, play each other in a WTA 1000 doubles final in Dubai.
Read more
read more articles