John Alexander OAM, MP |
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![]() Alexander in 2013
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Member of the Australian Parliament for Bennelong |
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Assumed office 21 August 2010 |
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Preceded by | Maxine McKew |
Majority | 7.8% |
Personal details | |
Born | John Gilbert Alexander 4 July 1951 Sydney, New South Wales |
Nationality | Australian |
Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
Spouse(s) | Rosemary Brown (div.) |
Domestic partner | Gillian Lloyd |
Children | 3 |
Residence | Sydney |
Occupation | Politician, Tennis player |
Website | Official website |
Nickname(s) | J.A. |
![]() John Alexander at the 1970 International Dutch Championships in Hilversum.
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Country (sports) | Australia |
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Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) |
Turned pro | 1969 |
Retired | 1985 |
Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
Prize money | $1,214,079 |
Singles | |
Career record | 515–385 (Grand Slam, Grand Prix and WCT level, and Davis Cup) |
Career titles | 7 |
Highest ranking | No. 8 (15 December 1975) |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
Australian Open | SF (1973, 1977Jan, 1977Dec) |
French Open | 4R (1975, 1978, 1983) |
Wimbledon | 4R (1969, 1978) |
US Open | 4R (1971, 1973) |
Other tournaments | |
WCT Finals | SF (1975) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 451–300 (Grand Slam, Grand Prix and WCT level, and Davis Cup) |
Career titles | 28 |
Highest ranking | No. 15 (23 August 1977) |
Grand Slam Doubles results | |
Australian Open | W (1975, 1982) |
French Open | F (1975) |
Wimbledon | F (1977) |
US Open | QF (1972, 1973, 1974) |
Team competitions | |
Davis Cup | W (1977) |
John Gilbert Alexander OAM MP (born 4 July 1951 in Sydney) is a former professional touring tennis player and current Australian politician.
Contents
Political career
As a Liberal Party candidate John Alexander won the seat of Bennelong from the Australian Labor Party in the 2010 election with a swing of 4.52 points, giving a two-party-preferred margin of 3.1 points.[1]
Alexander delivered his maiden speech to parliament on 28 October 2010,[2] detailing his particular interest in areas of preventative health, infrastructure, transport and sustainable growth. During his first term Alexander was put in charge of several internal policy committees, with a particular focus on regional development and policies to tackle urban congestion.
In October 2011 Alexander ran the inaugural Bennelong Cup Table Tennis Test match, involving players from China, Korea and Australia playing in a formal competition in Ryde. In October 2012 the opening games were played in the Great Hall of Parliament House – the first competitive sporting event ever played there. The Ambassadors for China and Korea participated in a friendly competition with Alexander and Minister for Sport Kate Lundy. The Bennelong Cup is the celebration of Alexander's Bennelong Schools Table Tennis Program which has put tables in all 40 Bennelong schools in order to encourage social interaction between students of different cultural backgrounds, together with a healthy activity. The Bennelong Cup has continued every year since with an interschool tournament followed by international competition in Ryde, preceded by exhibition matches in Parliament House, Canberra.[3]
Alexander has also established a range of other local programs including Bennelong Gardens, which provides work opportunities for people with disabilities in specially designed market gardens, and Bennelong Village Business program which promotes the benefits of local small business shopping and negotiates discounted advertising rates for small businesses in the local newspaper. John Alexander received much publicity for his 100 km charity walk around Bennelong to raise money and awareness of motor neurone disease after the loss of two close friends to the disease.[4]
Alexander was not challenged in Liberal preselection in 2012. In the 2013 election Alexander was re-elected as Member for Bennelong, increasing his two party preferred margin to 7.8%.[5]
In September 2013 Alexander was appointed Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Tax & Revenue where he worked on improving access to 'light touch' tax returns for individuals with simple tax affairs. Following this he was appointed Chair of the House Standing Committee on Economics where he instigated an inquiry into home ownership and opportunities for tax reform.[6] Following Malcolm Turnbull's ascension to Prime Minister John Alexander was appointed Chair of the newly formed House Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport & Cities where he commenced an inquiry into transport connectivity, regional development, high speed rail and the use of value capture as an innovative funding mechanism.[7]
Alexander also currently serves as Chair of the Coalition Policy Committees on Infrastructure & Regional Development, and on Tourism, Chair of the Sydney Airport Community Forum, and Chair of the Australia-East Asia Parliamentary Network.
As a strong proponent of high speed rail linking Australia's eastern seaboard,[8] Alexander delivered the keynote speech at a high-speed rail conference at University of Melbourne in February 2014, highlighting the resultant opportunities for regional development and reduction in traffic congestion in major cities.[9]
Alexander was not challenged in Liberal preselection in 2016 and will be recontesting the seat of Bennelong for the Liberal Party.
Professional career
As Managing Director of Next Generation Clubs Australia, Alexander designed and built sport and fitness clubs; including the Ryde Aquatic Centre in Sydney to host the 2000 Summer Olympic Games water polo event, the development of Memorial Drive in Adelaide into a multi-function health and fitness facility, and Royal King's Park in Perth.
Shortly before his election to Parliament in 2010, Alexander's Tennis Professionals won a High Court case for the right to redevelop the White City Tennis Centre in Sydney.
Alexander also managed a variety of small businesses in the retail and sporting sectors.
Tennis career
During a tennis career spanning the late 1960s to mid-1980s, Alexander won 7 tour singles titles and 27 doubles titles, and earned a total of $1,214,079 (USD) in prize money.[10] He achieved a career best singles ranking of World No. 8 in December 1975. Alexander is the youngest player to represent Australia in the Davis Cup. He was also one of Australia's longest serving Davis Cup players, representing his country from 1968 to 1983. From 1974 to 1986 Alexander served as the resident tennis professional at Lamar Hunt's World Championship Tennis Peachtree World of Tennis Club in Peachtree Corners, Georgia US.
Alexander served as captain of the Australian Fed Cup team and worked as a sports commentator for Australian (Channel 7) and British (BBC) television networks for over 20 years. Alexander is known for his extensive knowledge (historical and technical) of tennis.
Singles (7 titles, 20 runner-ups)
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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Runner-up | 1. | 9 August 1970 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Clay | Željko Franulović | 4–6, 7–9, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 2. | 10 January 1971 | Hobart, Australia | Hard | Alex Metreveli | 6–7, 3–6, 6–4, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 3. | 18 January 1971 | Sydney, Australia | Hard | Phil Dent | 3–6, 4–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 4. | 15 May 1971 | Tehran, Iran | Clay | Marty Riessen | 7–6, 1–6, 3–6, 6–7 |
Runner-up | 5. | 2 December 1972 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | John Newcombe | 1–6, 6–7 |
Runner-up | 6. | 23 April 1973 | Gothenburg, Sweden | Carpet | Stan Smith | 7–5, 4–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 7. | 16 September 1973 | Seattle, USA | Tom Okker | 5–7, 4–6 | |
Runner-up | 8. | 18 January 1974 | Lakeway, USA | Cliff Richey | 6–7, 1–6 | |
Runner-up | 9. | 15 April 1974 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | Andrew Pattison | 3–6, 5–7 |
Winner | 1. | 17 February 1975 | Fort Worth, USA | Hard | Dick Stockton | 7–6(7–2), 4–6, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 10. | 24 March 1975 | Atlanta WCT, USA | Carpet | Mark Cox | 3–6, 6–7(3–7) |
Winner | 2. | 31 March 1975 | Tucson, USA | Hard | Ilie Năstase | 7–5, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 11. | 20 July 1975 | Chicago, USA | Carpet | Roscoe Tanner | 1–6, 7–6, 6–7 |
Runner-up | 12. | 14 March 1977 | St. Louis WCT, USA | Carpet | Jimmy Connors | 6–7(5–7), 2–6 |
Winner | 3. | 31 July 1977 | North Conway, USA | Clay | Manuel Orantes | 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 13. | 30 July 1978 | Louisville, USA | Clay | Harold Solomon | 2–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 14. | 31 July 1978 | North Conway, USA | Clay | Eddie Dibbs | 4–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 15. | 9 October 1978 | Brisbane, Australia | Grass | Mark Edmondson | 4–6, 6–7 |
Runner-up | 16. | 26 March 1979 | Milan, Italy | Carpet | John McEnroe | 4–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 17. | 2 April 1979 | Nice, France | Clay | Víctor Pecci | 3–6, 2–6, 5–7 |
Winner | 4. | 23 July 1979 | Louisville, USA | Hard | Terry Moor | 7–6, 6–7, 3–3, RET |
Runner-up | 18. | 10 September 1979 | Atlanta, USA | Hard | Eliot Teltscher | 3–6, 6–4, 2–6 |
Winner | 5. | 14 June 1982 | Bristol, Great Britain | Grass | Tim Mayotte | 6–3, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 19. | 13 September 1982 | Palermo, Italy | Clay | Mario Martinez | 4–6, 5–7 |
Winner | 6. | 13 December 1982 | Sydney, Australia | Grass | John Fitzgerald | 4–6, 7–6, 6–4 |
Winner | 7. | 10 January 1983 | Auckland, New Zealand | Hard | Russell Simpson | 6–4, 6–3, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 20. | 25 July 1983 | South Orange, USA | Clay | Brad Drewett | 6–4, 4–6, 6–7 |
Doubles (28 titles, 25 runner-ups)
Outcome | No. | Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Runner-up | 1. | 1970 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Grass | Phil Dent | Bob Lutz Stan Smith |
3–6, 6–8, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 2. | 1970 | Hilversum, Netherlands | Hard | Phil Dent | Bill Bowrey Owen Davidson |
3–6, 4–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 1. | 1970 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Clay | Phil Dent | Željko Franulović Jan Kodeš |
10–8, 6–2, 6–4 |
Winner | 2. | 1971 | Sydney Outdoor, Australia | Hard | Phil Dent | Mal Anderson Alex Metreveli |
6–7, 2–6, 6–3, 7–6, 7–6 |
Winner | 3. | 1971 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | Andrés Gimeno | Dick Crealy Allan Stone |
6–4, 7–5, 7–9, 6–4 |
Winner | 4. | 1971 | Gstaad, Switzerland | Clay | Phil Dent | John Newcombe Tom Okker |
5–7, 6–3, 6–4 |
Winner | 5. | 1971 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Hard | Phil Dent | Frank Froehling Clark Graebner |
7–6, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 3. | 1971 | Vancouver WCT, Canada | Phil Dent | Roy Emerson Rod Laver |
7–5, 7–6, 0–6, 5–7, 6–7 | |
Runner-up | 4. | 1972 | Quebec WCT, Canada | Terry Addison | Bob Carmichael Ray Ruffels |
6–4, 3–6, 5–7 | |
Runner-up | 5. | 1972 | St. Louis WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Phil Dent | John Newcombe Tony Roche |
6–7, 2–6 |
Winner | 6. | 1972 | Bretton Woods, U.S. | Hard | Fred Stolle | Nikola Pilić Cliff Richey |
7–6, 7–6 |
Winner | 7. | 1972 | Louisville WCT, U.S. | Clay | Phil Dent | Arthur Ashe Robert Lutz |
6–4, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 6. | 1973 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Grass | Phil Dent | Mal Anderson John Newcombe |
3–6, 4–6, 6–7 |
Winner | 8. | 1973 | Toronto WCT, Canada | Carpet | Phil Dent | Roy Emerson Rod Laver |
3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 7. | 1973 | Brussels WCT, Belgium | Carpet | Phil Dent | Bob Lutz Stan Smith |
4–6, 6–7 |
Winner | 9. | 1973 | Cincinnati, U.S. | Clay | Phil Dent | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez |
1–6, 7–6, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 8. | 1974 | Richmond WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Phil Dent | Nikola Pilić Allan Stone |
3–6, 6–3, 6–7 |
Winner | 10. | 1974 | Miami WCT, U.S. | Hard | Phil Dent | Tom Okker Marty Riessen |
4–6, 6–4, 7–5 |
Winner | 11. | 1974 | Monte Carlo WCT, Monaco | Clay | Phil Dent | Manuel Orantes Tony Roche |
7–6, 4–6, 7–6, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 9. | 1974 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | Syd Ball | Robert Lutz Stan Smith |
4–6, 6–7 |
Winner | 12. | 1975 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Grass | Phil Dent | Bob Carmichael Allan Stone |
6–3, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 10. | 1975 | Fort Worth WCT, U.S. | Hard | Phil Dent | Bob Lutz Stan Smith |
7–6, 6–7, 3–6 |
Winner | 13. | 1975 | San Antonio WCT, U.S. | Hard | Phil Dent | Mark Cox Cliff Drysdale |
7–6, 4–6, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 11. | 1975 | Tokyo Indoor, Japan | Carpet | Phil Dent | Bob Lutz Stan Smith |
4–6, 7–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 14. | 1975 | Las Vegas, U.S. | Hard | Phil Dent | Bob Carmichael Cliff Drysdale |
6–1, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 12. | 1975 | French Open, Paris | Clay | Phil Dent | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez |
4–6, 6–2, 2–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 15. | 1975 | Chicago, U.S. | Carpet | Phil Dent | Mike Cahill John Whitlinger |
6–3, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 13. | 1975 | North Conway, U.S. | Clay | Phil Dent | Haroon Rahim Erik Van Dillen |
6–7, 6–7 |
Winner | 16. | 1976 | Atlanta WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Phil Dent | Wojtek Fibak Karl Meiler |
6–3, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 14. | 1976 | St. Louis WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Phil Dent | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez |
4–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 17. | 1976 | Denver WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Phil Dent | Jimmy Connors Billy Martin |
6–7, 6–2, 7–5 |
Runner-up | 15. | 1977 | Houston WCT, U.S. | Hard | Phil Dent | Ilie Năstase Adriano Panatta |
3–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 16. | 1977 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | Phil Dent | Ross Case Geoff Masters |
3–6, 4–6, 6–3, 9–8, 4–6 |
Winner | 18. | 1977 | Cincinnati, U.S. | Clay | Phil Dent | Bob Hewitt Roscoe Tanner |
6–3, 7–6 |
Winner | 19. | 1977 | Washington, D.C., U.S. | Clay | Phil Dent | Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart |
7–5, 7–5 |
Winner | 20. | 1977 | Louisville, U.S. | Clay | Phil Dent | Chris Kachel Cliff Letcher |
6–1, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 17. | 1977 | Adelaide, Australia | Grass | Phil Dent | Syd Ball Kim Warwick |
6–3, 6–7, 4–6 |
Winner | 21. | 1977 | Sydney Outdoor, Australia | Grass | Phil Dent | Ray Ruffels Allan Stone |
7–6, 2–6, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 18. | 1977 | Australian Open–2, Melbourne | Grass | Phil Dent | Ray Ruffels Allan Stone |
6–7, 6–7 |
Winner | 22. | 1978 | Forest Hills WCT, U.S. | Clay | Phil Dent | Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart |
7–6, 7–6 |
Winner | 23. | 1978 | Atlanta, U.S. | Hard | Butch Walts | Mike Cahill Marcello Lara |
3–6, 6–4, 7–6 |
Winner | 24. | 1978 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Carpet | Phil Dent | Fred McNair Raúl Ramírez |
6–3, 7–6 |
Winner | 25. | 1978 | Brisbane, Australia | Grass | Phil Dent | Syd Ball Allan Stone |
6–3, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 19. | 1979 | Houston, U.S. | Clay | Geoff Masters | Gene Mayer Sherwood Stewart |
1–6, 7–5, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 20. | 1979 | Adelaide, Australia | Grass | Phil Dent | Colin Dibley Chris Kachel |
7–6, 6–7, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 21. | 1981 | Mexico City, Mexico | Clay | Ross Case | John Newcombe Tony Roche |
7–6, 3–6, 1–6 |
Runner-up | 22. | 1981 | Maui, U.S. | Hard | Jim Delaney | Tony Graham Matt Mitchell |
3–6, 6–3, 6–7 |
Winner | 26. | 1982 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Grass | John Fitzgerald | Andy Andrews John Sadri |
6–7, 6–2, 7–6 |
Winner | 27. | 1982 | Sydney Outdoor, Australia | Grass | John Fitzgerald | Cliff Letcher Craig Miller |
6–4, 7–6 |
Winner | 28. | 1983 | Bristol, England, England | Grass | John Fitzgerald | Tom Gullikson Johan Kriek |
7–5, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 23. | 1984 | Rome, Italy | Clay | Mike Leach | Ken Flach Robert Seguso |
6–3, 3–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 24. | 1984 | Bristol, UK | Grass | John Fitzgerald | Larry Stefanki Robert Van't Hof |
4–6, 7–5, 7–9 |
Runner-up | 25. | 1985 | Bristol, UK | Grass | Russell Simpson | Eddie Edwards Danie Visser |
4–6, 6–7 |
Singles performance timeline
Tournament | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | |
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Australian Open | A | 2R | 2R | 3R | 1R | SF | 3R | QF | A | SF | SF | QF | 1R | 1R | 3R | 4R | 2R | 1R | 1R |
French Open | 3R | 1R | 1R | 2R | A | 1R | A | 4R | A | A | 4R | A | A | A | 1R | 4R | 2R | A | |
Wimbledon | 2R | 4R | 2R | 2R | A | A | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 4R | 3R | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | A | |
US Open | A | 2R | A | 4R | 2R | 4R | 3R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 2R | A | 1R | 1R | A | A | A |
A = Did not participate
Personal
Alexander was married to Rosemary Brown, a former Olympic swimmer, for almost 10 years. They have three children: Emily (1990), Georgia (1991) and Charles (1994). Alexander lives with his children in the electorate of Bennelong in Sydney's inner north-west.
Honours
On 26 January 1992, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.[11]
On 30 August 2000, he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal.[12]
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ [5]
- ^ [6]
- ^ [7]
- ^ [8]
- ^ [9]
- ^ "John Alexander | Overview". ATP World Tour. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- ^ "John Alexander OAM". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
- ^ "John Alexander". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
External links
- Official website
- Search or browse Hansard for John Alexander at OpenAustralia.org
- John Alexander at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- John Alexander at the International Tennis Federation
- John Alexander at the Davis Cup
Parliament of Australia | ||
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Preceded by Maxine McKew |
Member for Bennelong 2010–present |
Incumbent |