Mike De Palmer (October 17, 1961 – August 7, 2021) was a professional tennis player from the United States.

Mike De Palmer
Country (sports) United States
Born(1961-10-17)October 17, 1961
Tampa, Florida
DiedAugust 7, 2021(2021-08-07) (aged 59)
Knoxville, Tennessee
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
PlaysLeft-handed
Prize money$405,056
Singles
Career record76–85
Highest rankingNo. 35 (February 21, 1983)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open3R (1985)
French Open3R (1983)
Wimbledon3R (1983)
US Open3R (1982)
Doubles
Career record125–131
Career titles6
Highest rankingNo. 20 (November 3, 1986)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open3R (1985)
French Open3R (1985)
Wimbledon3R (1985, 1987, 1988)
US OpenSF (1985)

De Palmer enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career, he won six tour doubles titles and finished runner-up an additional six times. He achieved a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 20 in 1986.

DePalmer had a career high singles ranking of 35, with wins over Jimmy Connors, Vitas Gerulaitis, Mel Purcell, Peter Fleming, Peter Lundgren, Paul McNamee, Jakob Hlasek, and Tim Gullikson. He reached the singles final in Ancona, Italy, in 1982, losing to Anders Järryd 6-3, 6-2.

De Palmer coached Boris Becker from August 1995 to June 1999, as well as coaching other professional tennis players.

De Palmer died in Knoxville, Tennessee, on August 7, 2021, at the age of 59 because of complications from pancreatic cancer.[1] His father coached the tennis team at the University of Tennessee from 1981 to 1994.

Grand Prix and WCT finals

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Doubles: 12 (6 titles, 6 runner-ups)

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Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1. Sep 1984 San Francisco, U.S. Hard (i)   Sammy Giammalva Jr.   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe
3–6, 4–6
Win 1. Jul 1985 Livingston, U.S. Hard   Peter Doohan   Eddie Edwards
  Danie Visser
6–3, 6–4
Loss 2. Nov 1985 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i)   Gary Donnelly   Guy Forget
  Andrés Gómez
3–6, 4–6
Win 2. Nov 1985 Vienna, Austria Carpet (i)   Gary Donnelly   Sergio Casal
  Emilio Sánchez
6–4, 6–3
Loss 3. May 1986 Florence, Italy Clay   Gary Donnelly   Sergio Casal
  Emilio Sánchez
4–6, 6–7
Loss 4. Sep 1986 San Francisco, U.S. Hard (i)   Gary Donnelly   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe
4–6, 6–7(2–7)
Win 3. Oct 1986 Tokyo Indoor, Japan Carpet (i)   Gary Donnelly   Andrés Gómez
  Ivan Lendl
6–3, 7–5
Win 4. Oct 1986 Hong Kong, U.K. Hard   Gary Donnelly   Pat Cash
  Mark Kratzmann
7–6, 6–7, 7–5
Win 5. Nov 1986 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard (i)   Christo van Rensburg   Andrés Gómez
  Sherwood Stewart
3–6, 6–2, 7–6(7–4)
Loss 5. Mar 1987 Chicago, U.S. Carpet (i)   Gary Donnelly   Paul Annacone
  Christo van Rensburg
3–6, 6–7(4–7)
Win 6. May 1989 Florence, Italy Clay   Blaine Willenborg   Pietro Pennisi
  Simone Restelli
4–6, 6–4, 6–4
Loss 6. Jun 1989 Bristol, England Grass   Gary Donnelly   Paul Chamberlin
  Tim Wilkison
6–7, 4–6

References

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  1. ^ "Tennessee Mourns the Passing of Mike DePalmer Jr". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
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