Sébastien Leblanc
Encyclopedia
Sébastien Leblanc is a former tour professional tennis player. Leblanc captured three junior Grand Slam
titles and played Davis Cup
for Canada
. More of a doubles specialist, he won five Challenger events in doubles and reached a career-high doubles ranking of World No. 127.
to capture first the 1990 French Open
junior doubles title and then a month later the 1990 Wimbledon
junior doubles title. In both finals they defeated the South African duo of Marcos Ondruska
and Clinton Marsh in three sets, 6-7, 7-6, 9-7 at Roland Garros and 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3. Then in August Leblanc teamed with another Montrealer, Greg Rusedski
, to capture the U.S. Open junior doubles crown, defeating Marten Renström and Mikael Tillström in the final, 6-7 6-3 6-4. Leblanc did not compete in the 1990 Australian Open
missing out on a chance for completing the 'Grand Slam'. In singles he lost in the first round at both Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows and reached the third round of Wimbledon, falling to eventual champion Leander Paes
in three sets.
. The resident of St. Bruno, Quebec won the Aptos Challenger three times in succession - from 1995 through 1997 - the first time playing with Brian MacPhie
and the later two times partnering fellow Québécois and Montrealer Jocelyn Robichaud
. In ATP Tour and Grand Slam events, Leblanc posted a career win-loss of 8 and 22 with his best result being reaching the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open in 1991, partnering Lareau. Leblanc also reached the second round of the 1992 Summer Olympics
tournament, partnering Brian Gyetko. He played in the main draw of one Grand Slam event at senior level, the 1997 Australian Open
- he and partner Mark Keil
lost in the first round.
In singles, Leblanc reached a career-high ranking of World No. 361, in August 1996. His career Challenger event win-loss record stood at 3 wins, 9 losses, while at ATP Tour level it was 1 and 4. His sole top flight match win was over World No. 18 Tim Henman
in the opening round of the Canadian Open.
, played in April. He defeated José de Armas
in a dead rubber, 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-0 in a tie Canada swept 5-0. The victory allowed gave Canada a place in qualifying for the World Group. They lost the qualifying tie in September however to Slovakia
1-4, despite playing the tie at home (in Jarry Stadium).
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
titles and played Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
for Canada
Canada Davis Cup team
The Canada Davis Cup team represents Canada in Davis Cup tennis competition and is governed by Tennis Canada.Canada currently competes in the Americas Zone of Group I. The team's best result came in its first appearance in 1913 when it reached the World Group final, losing to the United States 0–3...
. More of a doubles specialist, he won five Challenger events in doubles and reached a career-high doubles ranking of World No. 127.
Junior career
Leblanc teamed with fellow Québécois and Montrealer Sébastien LareauSébastien Lareau
Sébastien Lareau is a former touring professional tennis player.-As a singles player:The right-handed Lareau achieved a career best singles ranking of World No. 76 in April 1995. In January 1999 he reached a career second best ranking of World No. 78. He had a career ATP tour event win-loss...
to capture first the 1990 French Open
1990 French Open
List of the 1990 French Open Champions.-Men's singles: Andrés Gómez def. Andre Agassi, 6–3, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4*It was Gómez's 3rd title of the year, and his 20th overall. It was his 1st career Grand Slam title....
junior doubles title and then a month later the 1990 Wimbledon
1990 Wimbledon Championships
The 1990 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament played on :grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London in England...
junior doubles title. In both finals they defeated the South African duo of Marcos Ondruska
Marcos Ondruska
Marcos Ondruska is a former tennis player from South Africa, who turned professional in 1989. He represented his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, where he defeated Goran Ivanišević in the first round before falling to Norway's Christian Ruud...
and Clinton Marsh in three sets, 6-7, 7-6, 9-7 at Roland Garros and 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3. Then in August Leblanc teamed with another Montrealer, Greg Rusedski
Greg Rusedski
Gregory "Greg" Rusedski is a British Canadian former tennis player who turned professional in 1991 and played until his retirement on 7 April 2007, at the age of 33...
, to capture the U.S. Open junior doubles crown, defeating Marten Renström and Mikael Tillström in the final, 6-7 6-3 6-4. Leblanc did not compete in the 1990 Australian Open
1990 Australian Open
The 1990 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts at Flinders Park in Melbourne in Victoria in Australia. It was the 78th edition of the Australian Open and was held from 15 through 28 January 1990.-Men's Singles:...
missing out on a chance for completing the 'Grand Slam'. In singles he lost in the first round at both Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows and reached the third round of Wimbledon, falling to eventual champion Leander Paes
Leander Paes
Leander Adrian Paes, pronounced pās, is an Indian professional tennis player who currently features in the doubles events in the ATP tour and the Davis Cup tournament...
in three sets.
Senior career
Leblanc won the 1991 Montebello Challenger partnering Lareau and the 1995 Santiago Challenger playing with Brandon CoupeBrandon Coupe
Bramdon Coupe , is a former professional tennis player from the United States. He enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career he won 1 doubles title. He achieved a career-high doubles ranking of World No...
. The resident of St. Bruno, Quebec won the Aptos Challenger three times in succession - from 1995 through 1997 - the first time playing with Brian MacPhie
Brian MacPhie
Brian MacPhie , is a former professional tennis player from the United States.MacPhie enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career he won 7 doubles titles. He achieved a career-high doubles ranking of World No. 22 in 2002.-Doubles titles :-Runner-ups :-External links:...
and the later two times partnering fellow Québécois and Montrealer Jocelyn Robichaud
Jocelyn Robichaud
Jocelyn Robichaud is a former tour professional tennis player. Robichaud captured three junior Grand Slam titles and played Davis Cup for Canada. More of a doubles specialist, he won three Challenger events in doubles and reached a career-high ATP doubles ranking of World No...
. In ATP Tour and Grand Slam events, Leblanc posted a career win-loss of 8 and 22 with his best result being reaching the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open in 1991, partnering Lareau. Leblanc also reached the second round of the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
tournament, partnering Brian Gyetko. He played in the main draw of one Grand Slam event at senior level, the 1997 Australian Open
1997 Australian Open
The 1997 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts at Melbourne Park in Melbourne in Victoria in Australia. It was the 85th edition of the Australian Open and was held from 13 through 26 January 1997.-Men's Singles:...
- he and partner Mark Keil
Mark Keil
Mark Keil is a former professional tennis player from the United States and now tennis coach who won 5 ATP World Tour doubles tournaments and was runner up at 8 more.-Early life and college:...
lost in the first round.
In singles, Leblanc reached a career-high ranking of World No. 361, in August 1996. His career Challenger event win-loss record stood at 3 wins, 9 losses, while at ATP Tour level it was 1 and 4. His sole top flight match win was over World No. 18 Tim Henman
Tim Henman
Timothy Henry "Tim" Henman OBE is a retired English professional tennis player and former British Number One. Henman played a serve-and-volley style of tennis that suited the grass courts of Wimbledon. He was the first player from the United Kingdom since Roger Taylor in the 1970s to reach the...
in the opening round of the Canadian Open.
Davis Cup
Lareau sole rubber appearance came surprisingly in singles, in a 1997 America Group I semi-final tie versus VenezuelaVenezuela Davis Cup team
The Venezuela Davis Cup team represents Venezuela in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Federación Venezolana de Tenis.Venezuela currently compete in the Americas Zone Group II. They have never competed in the World Group, but reached the Play-offs in 1995 and 2002....
, played in April. He defeated José de Armas
José de Armas
José de Armas is a Venezuelan professional tennis player.-Runner-Up :-External links:*...
in a dead rubber, 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-0 in a tie Canada swept 5-0. The victory allowed gave Canada a place in qualifying for the World Group. They lost the qualifying tie in September however to Slovakia
Slovakia Davis Cup team
The Slovakia Davis Cup team represents Slovakia in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Slovak Tennis Association.Slovakia finished as runners-up in 2005, losing 3-2 to Croatia in the final. They currently compete in the Europe/Africa Zone of Group I...
1-4, despite playing the tie at home (in Jarry Stadium).
Sources
- ITF Juniors activity page (adjust filter - Leblanc's results occurred in 1989 and 1990)
- ATP profile page
- ATP doubles activity page
- ATP singles activity page