Steve Denton

Steve Denton (born September 5, 1956) is a former professional tennis player. He is currently the head men's tennis coach at Texas A&M University.

After becoming an all-American at the University of Texas in 1978, Denton spent nine seasons playing for the ATP Tour. He reached the final of both the 1981 and 1982 Australian Open, and won the 1982 US Open doubles championship with Kevin Curren, attaining career-high rankings of World No. 12 in singles and World No. 2 in doubles. He won a total of 18 tour level doubles titles and, despite reaching 6 finals, never won a singles title. In 1984, his serve broke the world record, which would not be broken until 13 years later. After retiring from the pros, he moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, coaching several local junior tennis teams. In 2001, he debuted his college coaching career at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, where he led his teams to three conference championships and a first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. In 2006, he resigned to become the head coach at Texas A&M University.

For his accomplishments, he is a member of the ITA Hall of Fame, the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame, the Blue-Gray Tennis Class Hall of Fame, and the Longhorn Hall of Honor.

Playing career

High school and college

Denton attended Bishop High School in Bishop, Texas. As a prep, he won four consecutive UIL state 3A singles titles. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he played tennis from 1976 to 1979. He earned all-American honors in 1978. Along with teammate Kevin Curren, he won the U.S. Tennis Association amateur indoor and SWC doubles title in 1979. He completed his college career with an 85–22 singles record, which currently ranks third all-time in school history. He also compiled a 72–18 doubles record, and a 78–27 team record. For his collegiate and professional accomplishments, he was inducted into the Longhorn Hall of Honor in 2006.

Professional

Denton was ranked as high as World No. 12 on the ATP rankings in singles and No. 2 in doubles, both in 1983. Denton was known for his big serve and employed an unusual service motion which involved taking two steps forward prior to striking the ball. Current ATP rules prohibit such a motion (or any service motion involving a running or walking start). In 1984, Denton set a service record of that would stand for 13 years until it was broken in 1997 by Mark Philippoussis who recorded a delivery. The current record of is held by Sam Groth.

He reached six singles finals, most notably the Australian Open (in 1981 and 1982) and the Cincinnati Masters (in 1982). He also won 18 doubles titles (including the US Open and the Canada Masters) in 1982, and reaching 23 additional doubles finals.

Grand Slam finals

Singles (2 runners-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1981	Australian Open	Grass	Template:Flagicon Johan Kriek	6–2, 7–6, 6–7, 6–4
Loss	1982	Australian Open (2)	Grass	Template:Flagicon Johan Kriek	6–3, 6–3, 6–2

Doubles (1 championship, 1 runner-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Win	1982	US Open	Grass	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Victor Amaya Template:Flagicon Hank Pfister	6–2, 6–7, 5–7, 6–2, 6–4
Loss	1983	Australian Open	Grass	Template:Flagicon Sherwood Stewart	Template:Flagicon Mark Edmondson Template:Flagicon Paul McNamee	6–3, 7–6

Mixed Doubles (3 runners-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	1983	Wimbledon	Grass	Template:Flagicon Billie Jean King	Template:Flagicon John Lloyd Template:Flagicon Wendy Turnbull	6–7, 7–6, 7–5
Loss	1983	US Open	Grass	Template:Flagicon JoAnne Russell	Template:Flagicon Anne Smith Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	6–4, 7–6
Loss	1984	Wimbledon (2)	Grass	Template:Flagicon Kathy Jordan	Template:Flagicon John Lloyd Template:Flagicon Wendy Turnbull	6–3, 6–3

Grand Slam tournament performance timeline

Singles

Tournament	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	SR
Australian Open	Q3	F	F	3R	1R	2R	NH	1R	A	0 / 6
French Open	A	A	1R	A	1R	A	A	A	A	0 / 2
Wimbledon	Q2	1R	4R	1R	1R	2R	Q2	Q2	Q2	0 / 5
US Open	A	1R	4R	3R	2R	1R	A	A	A	0 / 5
Strike rate	0 / 0	0 / 3	0 / 4	0 / 3	0 / 4	0 / 3	0 / 0	0 / 1	0 / 0	0 / 18

Career finals

Doubles (18 wins, 21 losses)

Result	No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	1.	1979	Hong Kong	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Mark Turpin	Template:Flagicon Pat Du Pré Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz	3–6, 4–6
Win	1.	1980	Denver, U.S.	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Wojtek Fibak Template:Flagicon Heinz Günthardt	7–5, 6–2
Loss	2.	1980	Washington-2, U.S.	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Ferdi Taygan Template:Flagicon Brian Teacher	6–4, 3–6, 6–7
Loss	3.	1980	North Conway, U.S.	Clay	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Jimmy Connors Template:Flagicon Brian Gottfried	6–7, 2–6
Win	2.	1980	Indianapolis, U.S.	Clay	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Wojtek Fibak Template:Flagicon Ivan Lendl	3–6, 7–6, 6–4
Win	3.	1980	Barcelona, Spain	Clay	Template:Flagicon Ivan Lendl	Template:Flagicon Pavel Složil Template:Flagicon Balázs Taróczy	6–2, 6–7, 6–3
Win	4.	1980	Basel, Switzerland	Hard (i)	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Bob Hewitt Template:Flagicon Frew McMillan	6–7, 6–4, 6–4
Loss	4.	1980	Bologna, Italy	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Paul McNamee	Template:Flagicon Balázs Taróczy Template:Flagicon Butch Walts	6–2, 3–6, 0–6
Win	5.	1981	Monterrey WCT, Mexico	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Johan Kriek Template:Flagicon Russell Simpson	7–6, 6–3
Loss	5.	1981	Brussels, Belgium	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Sandy Mayer Template:Flagicon Frew McMillan	6–4, 3–6, 3–6
Loss	6.	1981	London/Queen's Club, England	Grass	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Pat Du Pré Template:Flagicon Brian Teacher	6–3, 6–7, 9–11
Win	6.	1981	Indianapolis, U.S.	Clay	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Raúl Ramírez Template:Flagicon Van Winitsky	6–3, 5–7, 7–5
Win	7.	1981	Vienna, Austria	Hard (i)	Template:Flagicon Tim Wilkison	Template:Flagicon Sammy Giammalva Jr. Template:Flagicon Fred McNair	4–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win	8.	1981	Stockholm, Sweden	Hard (i)	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Sherwood Stewart Template:Flagicon Ferdi Taygan	6–7, 6–4, 6–0
Loss	7.	1982	Masters Doubles WCT, London	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Heinz Günthardt Template:Flagicon Balázs Taróczy	7–6, 3–6, 5–7, 4–6
Win	9.	1982	Denver, U.S.	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Phil Dent Template:Flagicon Kim Warwick	6–4, 6–4
Win	10.	1982	Memphis, U.S.	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Peter Fleming Template:Flagicon John McEnroe	7–6, 4–6, 6–2
Loss	8.	1982	Munich-2 WCT, Germany	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Mark Edmondson Template:Flagicon Tomáš Šmíd	6–4, 5–7, 2–6
Win	11.	1982	Frankfurt, Germany	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Mark Edmondson	Template:Flagicon Tony Giammalva Template:Flagicon Tim Mayotte	6–7, 6–3, 6–3
Win	12.	1982	Houston, U.S.	Clay	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Mark Edmondson Template:Flagicon Peter McNamara	7–5, 6–4
Win	13.	1982	Toronto, Canada	Hard	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Peter Fleming Template:Flagicon John McEnroe	6–7, 7–5, 6–2
Loss	9.	1982	Cincinnati, U.S.	Hard	Template:Flagicon Mark Edmondson	Template:Flagicon Peter Fleming Template:Flagicon John McEnroe	2–6, 3–6
Win	14.	1982	US Open, New York	Hard	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Victor Amaya Template:Flagicon Hank Pfister	6–2, 6–7, 5–7, 6–2, 6–4
Loss	10.	1982	Sydney Indoor, Australia	Hard (i)	Template:Flagicon Mark Edmondson	Template:Flagicon John McEnroe Template:Flagicon Peter Rennert	3–6, 6–7
Win	15.	1983	Philadelphia, U.S.	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Peter Fleming Template:Flagicon John McEnroe	6–4, 7–6
Win	16.	1983	Munich WCT, Germany	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Heinz Günthardt Template:Flagicon Balázs Taróczy	7–5, 2–6, 6–1
Win	17.	1983	Houston WCT, U.S.	Clay	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Mark Dickson Template:Flagicon Tomáš Šmíd	7–6, 6–7, 6–1
Win	18.	1983	Las Vegas, U.S.	Hard	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Tracy Delatte Template:Flagicon Johan Kriek	6–3, 7–5
Loss	11.	1983	Forest Hills WCT, U.S.	Clay	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Tracy Delatte Template:Flagicon Johan Kriek	7–6, 5–7, 3–6
Loss	12.	1983	London/Queen's Club, England	Grass	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Brian Gottfried Template:Flagicon Paul McNamee	4–6, 3–6
Loss	13.	1983	Dallas, U.S.	Hard	Template:Flagicon Sherwood Stewart	Template:Flagicon Nduka Odizor Template:Flagicon Van Winitsky	3–6, 5–7
Loss	14.	1983	Tokyo Indoor, Japan	Carpet	Template:Flagicon John Fitzgerald	Template:Flagicon Mark Edmondson Template:Flagicon Sherwood Stewart	1–6, 4–6
Loss	15.	1983	Wembley, England	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Sherwood Stewart	Template:Flagicon Peter Fleming Template:Flagicon John McEnroe	3–6, 4–6
Loss	16.	1983	Australian Open, Melbourne	Grass	Template:Flagicon Sherwood Stewart	Template:Flagicon Mark Edmondson Template:Flagicon Paul McNamee	3–6, 6–7
Loss	17.	1984	Richmond WCT, U.S.	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon John McEnroe Template:Flagicon Patrick McEnroe	6–7, 2–6
Loss	18.	1984	Brussels, Belgium	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Tim Gullikson Template:Flagicon Tom Gullikson	4–6, 7–6, 6–7
Loss	19.	1984	Milan, Italy	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Pavel Složil Template:Flagicon Tomáš Šmíd	4–6, 3–6
Loss	20.	1985	Memphis, U.S.	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Kevin Curren	Template:Flagicon Pavel Složil Template:Flagicon Tomáš Šmíd	6–1, 3–6, 4–6
Loss	21.	1985	Atlanta, U.S.	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Tomáš Šmíd	Template:Flagicon Paul Annacone Template:Flagicon Christo van Rensburg	4–6, 3–6
Loss	22.	1987	Cincinnati, U.S.	Hard	Template:Flagicon John Fitzgerald	Template:Flagicon Ken Flach Template:Flagicon Robert Seguso	5–7, 3–6
Loss	23.	1988	Tokyo Outdoor, Japan	Hard	Template:Flagicon David Pate	Template:Flagicon John Fitzgerald Template:Flagicon Johan Kriek	4–6, 7–6, 4–6

Singles: 6 (6 losses)

Result	No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1.	1981	Australian Open, Melbourne	Grass	Template:Flagicon Johan Kriek	2–6, 6–7, 7–6, 4–6
Loss	2.	1982	Metz, France	Hard (i)	Template:Flagicon Erick Iskersky	4–6, 3–6
Loss	3.	1982	Cincinnati, U.S.	Hard	Template:Flagicon Ivan Lendl	2–6, 6–7
Loss	4.	1982	Australian Open, Melbourne	Grass	Template:Flagicon Johan Kriek	3–6, 3–6, 2–6
Loss	5.	1983	Richmond WCT, U.S.	Carpet	Template:Flagicon Guillermo Vilas	3–6, 5–7, 4–6
Loss	6.	1984	Richmond WCT, U.S.	Carpet	Template:Flagicon John McEnroe	3–6, 6–7

Coaching career

Denton made his first head coaching debut at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi in 2001. In his five seasons there, he led the Islanders to three Southland Conference regular-season championships, two tournament championships, and the team's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. He was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year twice, in 2004 and 2005. He finished with a 64–48 overall record.

On August 8, 2006, Denton became the head men's tennis coach at Texas A&M University. After struggling for two years in Big 12 Conference play, Denton led the Aggies to a 5-1 conference record and 2nd-place finish in his third year, earning Big 12 Coach of the Year honors.

External links

• Official Texas A&M coach bio
• Template:ATP
• Template:ITF