1. Overview
Paradorn Srichaphan, born on June 14, 1979, is a Thai former professional tennis player. Nicknamed "Ball" or "Superball," he is celebrated for being the first male player from Asia to achieve a top 10 ranking in the world in men's singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), reaching a career-high of world No. 9 on May 12, 2003. His remarkable achievements on the court, coupled with his polite demeanor and traditional Thai greeting of `waiThai` (bowing with clasped hands) after matches, significantly boosted the popularity of tennis in Thailand and across Asia. Beyond his athletic career, Srichaphan has also ventured into various fields, including business, acting, and political activities, continuing to influence public life in Thailand. His journey highlights a significant era for Thai sports, inspiring a new generation of athletes.
2. Early Life and Education
Paradorn Srichaphan's foundation was laid by his supportive family and early introduction to tennis, shaping his path from a young age.
2.1. Birth and Family Background
Paradorn Srichaphan was born on June 14, 1979, in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand, though he grew up in Bangkok, the capital city. He is the youngest of three sons born to Channachai and Ubon Srichaphan. His father, Channachai, significantly influenced Paradorn's early tennis career by quitting his job as a bank employee to personally coach his son. His older brothers are named Thanathorn and Narathorn Srichaphan.
2.2. Education and Early Exposure to Tennis
Srichaphan attended Attawit Panichyakan School in the Bang Na District of Bangkok for his secondary education. He began playing tennis at the exceptionally young age of four. His father's dedication to coaching him from this early stage proved crucial. Later, he pursued higher education, graduating with a Bachelor of Social Science degree from Ramkhamhaeng University.
3. Junior Career
Paradorn Srichaphan's junior career showcased his burgeoning talent, marking him as a promising player before he transitioned to the professional circuit.
He played his first junior match in March 1993 at the age of 13 at a Grade 2 tournament in Thailand. He secured his inaugural junior title in November 1993. Srichaphan made his junior Grand Slam debut at the 1994 Wimbledon Championships, where he was defeated in the first round by the second seed, Ben Ellwood.
The year 1996 was a significant breakout period for Srichaphan. He claimed four junior titles during the year and notably reached the quarterfinals at three of the four junior Grand Slams: the Australian Open, Wimbledon Championships, and the US Open. These strong performances propelled his junior ranking to a career-high of world No. 10 by the end of 1996. Srichaphan concluded his junior career after a first-round loss at the 1997 Wimbledon Championships, finishing with an overall junior win-loss record of 94-48.
4. Professional Career
Paradorn Srichaphan's professional career was marked by a steady ascent, culminating in his historic entry into the world's top 10, before later years were affected by injuries leading to his retirement.
4.1. Early Years and Breakthrough (1997-2001)
Srichaphan turned professional in 1997 at the age of 18, making his ATP Tour debut at the 1997 Heineken Open in Singapore, where he faced and lost to former world No. 1 Jim Courier in three sets. Throughout 1997 and 1998, he primarily competed in ITF Futures and ATP Challenger Tour events, securing one ITF title.
In April 1999, Srichaphan recorded his first ATP win at the Salem Open, defeating Petr Luxa in straight sets before losing to Nicolas Kiefer. The following week at the Japan Open, he earned another win against Vincenzo Santopadre, again falling to Kiefer in the second round. After failing to qualify for the 1999 French Open, Srichaphan qualified for Wimbledon to make his Grand Slam main draw debut. There, he defeated Guillaume Raoux for his first Grand Slam victory, eventually losing to world No. 3 Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the second round. September and October 1999 saw Srichaphan reach his first ATP quarterfinal at the President's Cup and another quarterfinal at the Heineken Open Shanghai. The subsequent week, he advanced to his first ATP semifinal at the Heineken Open Singapore, notably defeating third seed Magnus Norman. Srichaphan broke into the world's top 100 in December 1999, finishing the year ranked No. 99, a significant leap from his No. 406 ranking at the beginning of the year.
By mid-2000, Srichaphan had established himself as a consistent presence on the ATP Tour, participating in all four Grand Slams that year, though he only secured one match win at the Australian Open against 14th seed Karol Kučera. He experienced a dip in his ranking in 2001, dropping out of the top 100.
4.2. Rise to Top 10 and Key Achievements (2002-2003)
The year 2002 marked Srichaphan's breakout season. He started by reaching his first ATP final at the Chennai Open, defeating higher-ranked opponents like Thomas Johansson and Andrei Pavel before losing to Guillermo Cañas. This result propelled his ranking from No. 120 to No. 86, returning him to the top 100. One week later at the Adidas International, he secured his first victory over a top 10 player by defeating top seed and world No. 6 Sébastien Grosjean. At the 2002 French Open, he reached the third round, overcoming 19th seed Thomas Enqvist. A month later at Wimbledon, Srichaphan caused a major upset by defeating third seed, world No. 4, former world No. 1, and former champion Andre Agassi in the second round in straight sets.
August 2002 was highly successful for Srichaphan. He reached the final of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, defeating players such as Sjeng Schalken, Jarkko Nieminen, and former world No. 1 Marcelo Ríos, ultimately losing to James Blake. One week later, he captured his first career ATP title at the TD Waterhouse Cup, triumphing over Juan Ignacio Chela in the final. In the latter part of 2002, Srichaphan continued his strong performance. He upset top seed and world No. 4 Marat Safin at the President's Cup and then achieved another notable win by defeating world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt at the Japan Open. He reached his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal at the Madrid Masters, where he defeated fourth seed and world No. 5 Tim Henman. He then won his second title at the Stockholm Open, beating Marcelo Ríos in the final. His year concluded with his first Masters 1000 semifinal at the Paris Masters, where he defeated world No. 3 Juan Carlos Ferrero and Andy Roddick, before losing to world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt. Srichaphan finished 2002 with a remarkable 49-25 win-loss record, jumping from No. 120 to a year-end ranking of No. 16. He secured six wins over top 10 players and was recognized with the ATP Most Improved Player of the Year award.
2003 saw Srichaphan continue his ascent, winning the Chennai Open without dropping a set, defeating Karol Kučera in the final. He reached his second Masters 1000 semifinal at the Miami Masters, overcoming former world No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov. On April 21, 2003, Srichaphan made history by breaking into the top 10 for the first time, becoming the first Asian male player to do so in the singles rankings. He reached his career-high ranking of world No. 9 on May 12, and was seeded 10th at the French Open, his highest Grand Slam seeding. At Wimbledon, he advanced to the fourth round, where he lost to Andy Roddick. Notably, en route to the fourth round, he defeated a 17-year-old Rafael Nadal in Nadal's first Grand Slam appearance, making Srichaphan the first player to defeat Nadal at a Grand Slam. He also reached the fourth round at the US Open, losing to Lleyton Hewitt. He defended his title at the TD Waterhouse Cup without dropping a set, defeating James Blake in the final. Srichaphan finished 2003 with a 50-28 win-loss record and a career-high year-end ranking of No. 11. He did not win any doubles titles at either the Challenger or ATP level throughout his career.
4.3. Later Career and Injuries (2004-2007)
Srichaphan's later career was marked by a gradual decline in performance and persistent injury issues. He began 2004 with a third consecutive final appearance at the Chennai Open, where he failed to defend his title, losing to top seed and world No. 7 Carlos Moyá. Two weeks later at the Australian Open, he reached the fourth round, defeating 19th seed and former world No. 1 Gustavo Kuerten, before being defeated by world No. 4 Andre Agassi. Srichaphan won his fifth and final ATP title at the Nottingham Open, where he was the top seed, defeating Thomas Johansson in the final. He failed to defend his TD Waterhouse Cup title, losing in the semifinals. After a third-round appearance at the US Open, he reached two more semifinals: at the China Open (lost to Mikhail Youzhny) and his home tournament, the Thailand Open, where he was the only player to win a set against world No. 1 Roger Federer before losing. He ended 2004 with a 44-30 win-loss record and a year-end ranking of No. 27.
The year 2005 proved to be more challenging. Srichaphan made a fourth consecutive final appearance at the Chennai Open, again losing to Carlos Moyá. He recorded only one win in seven Masters 1000 tournaments and his best Grand Slam result was a third-round showing at the US Open, which included a victory over world No. 6 Nikolay Davydenko. Other notable results included a quarterfinal at the Rotterdam Open (defeating world No. 5 Guillermo Coria), a semifinal at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic (lost to Andy Roddick), and his last final at the Stockholm Open (lost to James Blake). He finished 2005 with a 34-31 win-loss record and a year-end ranking of No. 42.
In 2006, Srichaphan's finals streak at the Chennai Open ended with a quarterfinal loss. He reached the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters, defeating players like Robby Ginepri, Juan Carlos Ferrero, David Nalbandian, and Jarkko Nieminen, before losing to world No. 1 Roger Federer. This performance boosted his ranking from No. 61 to No. 38. However, from late March to late August, he suffered a series of early losses, causing his ranking to fall. At the US Open, he defeated José Acasuso in the first round, which would be his final Grand Slam victory. After the US Open, he reached three more semifinals: at the China Open (defeating world No. 5 Nikolay Davydenko), the Thailand Open, and the Swiss Indoors (where he was once again the only player to win a set against Roger Federer in the entire tournament). Srichaphan ended 2006 with a 30-32 win-loss record, marking his first yearly record with more losses than wins since 2001, and a year-end ranking of No. 53.
4.4. Retirement and Comeback Attempts (2007-2010)
The year 2007 marked the end of Srichaphan's full-time professional career due to a series of injuries. He started the year at the Chennai Open, securing his last career match win against Simone Bolelli in the first round. Subsequently, he lost five consecutive matches between January and March, resulting in a 1-5 win-loss record for 2007. These losses included his final Grand Slam appearance at the 2007 Australian Open, where he lost to Dudi Sela. His inability to match his previous year's semifinal result at the Indian Wells Masters led to his ranking dropping 31 spots from No. 52 to No. 83.
At the Miami Masters, Srichaphan sustained a wrist injury during his first-round match against Luis Horna, forcing him to retire. This severe injury sidelined him for the remainder of 2007, and due to his inactivity, he dropped out of the ATP rankings entirely by March 2008. Although he began practicing for a return to the tour, his comeback attempt at the 2009 Thailand Open in doubles, partnering with fellow Thai player Danai Udomchoke, ended in a first-round loss to Michael Kohlmann and Alexander Peya. This match ultimately became the last tournament of his professional career.
In January 2010, Srichaphan participated in a few special exhibition matches in Thailand and Hong Kong. These included a mixed doubles event in Hua Hin, where he and Venus Williams defeated Danai Udomchoke and Maria Sharapova. He also competed in the "Hong Kong Tennis Classic 2010," a team event, where he notably defeated Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Michael Chang in singles matches. Despite his efforts, his hopes for a strong return were dashed in June 2010 when he was involved in a severe motorcycle accident that resulted in broken hands and a seriously injured knee, including dislocated wrists and a torn left foot. Due to the extent of these injuries, Paradorn Srichaphan officially announced his final retirement from professional tennis on June 4, 2010, during the PTT Thailand Open.
5. Playing Style
Paradorn Srichaphan was widely recognized for his exceptional athleticism on the court. He possessed remarkable speed and flexibility, which enabled him to retrieve and return shots from seemingly impossible or uncomfortable positions. This dynamic playing style made him one of the most entertaining players to watch on the tour. Srichaphan was also known for employing a very flat and powerful hitting style. His forehand was consistently regarded as his most effective and potent weapon, contributing significantly to his aggressive and exciting game.
6. National Team Representation
Paradorn Srichaphan proudly represented Thailand in various international team competitions, achieving notable success and carrying his nation's flag on prominent stages.
6.1. Olympics
Srichaphan made his Olympic Games debut at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, competing in the men's singles draw. He defeated Attila Sávolt in the first round but was eliminated in the second round by third seed Magnus Norman. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, Srichaphan had the distinguished honor of serving as Thailand's flag bearer during the opening ceremony. Despite being seeded 12th in the tournament, he was defeated in the first round of singles by Joachim Johansson.
6.2. Davis Cup
Srichaphan made his Davis Cup debut for the Thai national team in April 1998, at the age of 18. Over his career with the team from 1998 to 2006, he compiled a strong win-loss record of 33-13, with an impressive 31-10 record in singles matches. His contributions were vital in the Thailand Davis Cup team achieving championship status in the Asian zone.
6.3. Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games
Srichaphan achieved considerable success in regional multi-sport events. At the 1998 Asian Games held in Bangkok, he won a gold medal in the men's doubles event, partnering with his older brother, Narathorn Srichaphan. He followed this by winning a gold medal in men's singles at the subsequent 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, a title he secured without losing a single set. Additionally, Srichaphan was a triple gold medalist at the 1999 Southeast Asian Games, earning gold in singles, doubles (again alongside his brother Narathorn), and the team event. He also achieved a men's singles gold at the 19th SEA Games in Indonesia and a bronze medal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, as part of the team event.
6.4. Hopman Cup
Paradorn Srichaphan participated in the Hopman Cup, an international mixed-doubles team tennis tournament. In 2000, he partnered with Tamarine Tanasugarn after qualifying for the event. They surprisingly won their group stage, advancing to the finals where they ultimately lost to South Africa's team of Amanda Coetzer and Wayne Ferreira. They returned for the next edition in 2001 but were eliminated in the group stage.
7. Personal Life
Paradorn Srichaphan's personal life has often been in the public eye, marked by his widespread popularity, significant relationships, and diverse interests beyond tennis.
7.1. Public Image and Popularity
Srichaphan is widely recognized for his politeness and sportsmanship on the court. After each match, he would perform the `waiThai`, the traditional Thai greeting, by clasping his hands together and bowing towards the four corners of the stadium. This gesture, seen as a way of thanking his fans, became his distinctive trademark. His extraordinary success in tennis played a pivotal role in significantly boosting the popularity of the sport within Thailand.
He is immensely popular throughout Asia, particularly in his home country of Thailand. In 2002, The Nation newspaper named him "Thai of the Year" in recognition of his achievements. In 2003, Srichaphan was featured on the cover of Time magazine and was celebrated as one of the year's "Asian heroes," further solidifying his iconic status. His celebrity also led to numerous appearances in advertisements for various brands, including the Thai Ministry of Culture, Chevrolet, True Corporation, Samsung, and Krungthai Bank.
7.2. Marriages and Family
In November 2005, Srichaphan undertook a traditional Thai spiritual journey, spending a week as a Buddhist monk at a temple outside Bangkok. During this period, he adopted the Buddhist name Mahaviro, meaning "great and brave," wore saffron robes, and shaved his head, with his then-girlfriend, Odette Henriette Jacqmin, present for the ceremony.
Srichaphan's personal life gained significant media attention through his relationship and marriage to Miss Universe 2005, Natalie Glebova of Canada. Their engagement was announced in April 2007, and they married in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 29, 2007, an event that Thai media described as a "national event." However, in February 2011, Srichaphan and Glebova announced their separation after three years of marriage, citing "work commitments" that kept them apart as the reason.
Following his divorce from Glebova, Srichaphan remarried a non-celebrity woman and they have one daughter together. He currently resides in Thailand and remains involved in the tennis community by coaching young children.
7.3. Other Interests
Outside of his distinguished tennis career and family life, Paradorn Srichaphan has pursued various personal interests. He is a notable supporter of Everton F.C., a football club he has followed since the arrival of East Asian players like Li Tie and Li Weifeng. Beyond sports, he had a public relationship with Thai singer Tata Young around 2003, though their relationship reportedly ended due to parental opposition.
8. Awards and Honors
Throughout his career, Paradorn Srichaphan received several significant awards and honors, recognizing both his on-court achievements and his sportsmanship.
He was twice awarded the prestigious ATP Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award, receiving the honor in consecutive years, 2002 and 2003. This award is given to the player who best exemplifies sportsmanship on the tour. Additionally, in 2002, Srichaphan was recognized with the ATP Most Improved Player of the Year award, a testament to his rapid rise and success within that year. In 2002, he was also granted a royal decoration, "The Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn," from the Thai government and was exempted from military service.
9. Post-Retirement Activities
Since his official retirement from professional tennis, Paradorn Srichaphan has remained active in various professional and public engagements, spanning business, entertainment, politics, and continued involvement in tennis.
9.1. Business Ventures
In August 2009, prior to his official retirement, Paradorn Srichaphan ventured into the hospitality industry by opening an Italian cuisine restaurant in Bangkok named So-Le Cafe. Concurrently, he also launched an entrepreneurial endeavor with an herbal product company called Magic Thaiherbs, which specifically manufactures herbal medicine aimed at male vitality under the brand "Magic Iris." These ventures demonstrate his entrepreneurial spirit and desire to contribute to the local economy.
9.2. Acting and Media Appearances
Srichaphan has also made a foray into the entertainment industry. He took on an acting role in the Thai action film Bang Rajan 2, a sequel to the historical action film Bang Rajan, where he portrayed the character of Nai Man. Furthermore, he has worked as a television host, serving as a sports news announcer and tennis expert on the program "Chao Ni... Thi Mor Chit" (This Morning... at Mor Chit), broadcast on Channel 7 in Thailand.
9.3. Political Activities
In April 2011, Paradorn Srichaphan became involved in political activities, joining the Chart Pattana Puea Pandin Party, a political party supported by Suwat Liptapanlop, who was also the president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand. Initially, Srichaphan intended to run as a candidate in the 2011 general election. However, upon a review of his qualifications, it was discovered that he had not exercised his right to vote in the previous local election (the 2008 Bangkok Council election). This disqualification prevented him from running for office, and he instead remained a supporter of the party.
9.4. Coaching and Charity Matches
Srichaphan has continued to contribute to the sport of tennis in coaching capacities and through participation in exhibition and charity matches. He has taken on coaching roles, including serving as the captain for the Thailand Davis Cup team. He also plays a role in nurturing young talent through projects like "The Star" program for the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand.
Despite his retirement from the professional tour, he has made several appearances in special events. In October 2010, Srichaphan participated in the "ATP Champions Tour" in Chengdu, China, an event for former top-ranked and notable players. In this tournament, he defeated Pat Cash but lost to Guy Forget and former world No. 1 Pete Sampras. In January 2012, he competed in the "World Tennis Charity Invitation" in Hua Hin, Thailand, a charity tennis event aimed at raising funds for flood victims, where he notably defeated world No. 18 John Isner.
10. Career Statistics
This section provides an overview of Paradorn Srichaphan's professional career statistics.
10.1. ATP Tour Finals
Paradorn Srichaphan reached 11 singles finals on the ATP Tour, winning 5 titles and finishing as runner-up 6 times.
| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0-1 | January 2002 | Chennai, India | International Series | Hard | Guillermo Cañas (Argentina) | 4-6, 6-7(2-7) |
| Loss | 0-2 | August 2002 | Washington, United States | International Series Gold | Hard | James Blake (United States) | 6-1, 6-7(5-7), 4-6 |
| Win | 1-2 | August 2002 | Long Island, United States | International Series | Hard | Juan Ignacio Chela (Argentina) | 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 |
| Win | 2-2 | October 2002 | Stockholm, Sweden | International Series | Hard (i) | Marcelo Ríos (Chile) | 6-7(2-7), 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 |
| Win | 3-2 | January 2003 | Chennai, India | International Series | Hard | Karol Kučera (Slovakia) | 6-3, 6-1 |
| Loss | 3-3 | July 2003 | Indianapolis, United States | International Series Gold | Hard | Andy Roddick (United States) | 6-7(2-7), 4-6 |
| Win | 4-3 | August 2003 | Long Island, United States | International Series | Hard | James Blake (United States) | 6-2, 6-4 |
| Loss | 4-4 | January 2004 | Chennai, India | International Series | Hard | Carlos Moyá (Spain) | 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(5-7) |
| Win | 5-4 | June 2004 | Nottingham, United Kingdom | International Series | Grass | Thomas Johansson (Sweden) | 1-6, 7-6(7-4), 6-3 |
| Loss | 5-5 | January 2005 | Chennai, India | International Series | Hard | Carlos Moyá (Spain) | 6-3, 4-6, 6-7(5-7) |
| Loss | 5-6 | October 2005 | Stockholm, Sweden | International Series | Hard (i) | James Blake (United States) | 1-6, 6-7(6-8) |
10.2. ATP Challenger and ITF Futures Finals
Paradorn Srichaphan competed in ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals in both singles and doubles.
His singles record in these tournaments was 3 wins and 5 losses.
| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0-1 | May 1998 | Korea F1, Sogwipo | Futures | Hard | Lee Hyung-taik (South Korea) | 3-6, 3-6 |
| Win | 1-1 | November 1998 | Thailand F1, Bangkok | Futures | Hard | Miha Gregorc (Slovenia) | 6-7, 6-1, 6-3 |
| Win | 2-1 | January 1999 | India F3, Bombay | Futures | Hard | Michel Kratochvil (Switzerland) | 7-6, 6-2 |
| Loss | 2-2 | November 1999 | Yokohama, Japan | Challenger | Hard (i) | Lee Hyung-taik (South Korea) | 3-6, 0-6 |
| Loss | 2-3 | May 2000 | Birmingham, United States | Challenger | Clay | Ronald Agenor (Haiti) | 5-7, 3-6 |
| Loss | 2-4 | November 2000 | Charleroi, Belgium | Challenger | Carpet (i) | Jan Siemerink (Netherlands) | 6-7(2-7), 6-7(8-10) |
| Win | 3-4 | December 2001 | Bangkok, Thailand | Challenger | Hard | John Van Lottum (Netherlands) | 6-2, 6-3 |
| Loss | 3-5 | February 2002 | Brest, France | Challenger | Hard (i) | Irakli Labadze (Georgia) | 4-6, 5-7 |
In doubles, he reached 4 finals, with 1 win and 3 losses.
| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0-1 | November 1998 | Thailand F1, Bangkok | Futures | Hard | Narathorn Srichaphan (Thailand) | Chen Chih-Jung (Chinese Taipei) Lin Bing-Chao (Chinese Taipei) | 3-6, 6-3, 3-6 |
| Loss | 0-2 | July 1999 | Indonesia F4, Jakarta | Futures | Hard | Narathorn Srichaphan (Thailand) | Andrian Raturandang (Indonesia) Yong-Il Yoon (South Korea) | 2-6, 6-2, 4-6 |
| Win | 1-2 | December 1999 | Lucknow, India | Challenger | Grass | Kristian Pless (Denmark) | Jamie Delgado (United Kingdom) Martin Lee (United Kingdom) | 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 |
| Loss | 1-3 | January 2001 | Waikoloa, United States | Challenger | Hard | Mike Bryan (United States) | Paul Goldstein (United States) Jim Thomas (United States) | 6-3, 4-6, 3-6 |
10.3. Performance Timelines
A detailed year-by-year breakdown of Srichaphan's performance in major tournaments for both singles and doubles is provided below.
10.3.1. Singles
| Tournament | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | SR | W-L | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam tournaments | |||||||||||||
| Australian Open | Q1 | Q2 | 2R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 4R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 0 / 8 | 6-8 | 43% |
| French Open | A | Q1 | 1R | Q2 | 3R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | A | 0 / 6 | 3-6 | 33% |
| Wimbledon | A | 2R | 1R | 1R | 3R | 4R | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | 0 / 8 | 6-8 | 43% |
| US Open | A | Q3 | 1R | 1R | 2R | 4R | 3R | 3R | 2R | A | 0 / 7 | 9-7 | 56% |
| Win-Loss | 0-0 | 1-1 | 1-4 | 0-3 | 5-4 | 7-4 | 6-4 | 3-4 | 1-4 | 0-1 | 0 / 29 | 24-29 | 45% |
| Olympic Games | |||||||||||||
| Summer Olympics | NH | 2R | Not Held | 1R | Not Held | 0 / 2 | 1-2 | 33% | |||||
| ATP Tour Masters 1000 | |||||||||||||
| Indian Wells | A | A | Q1 | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 3R | SF | 1R | 0 / 7 | 8-7 | 53% |
| Miami | A | A | A | Q2 | 2R | SF | 4R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 0 / 6 | 7-6 | 54% |
| Monte Carlo | A | A | A | A | Q1 | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | 0 / 4 | 1-4 | 20% |
| Rome | A | A | A | A | Q2 | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | A | 0 / 4 | 1-4 | 20% |
| Hamburg | A | A | A | Q1 | Q1 | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | 0 / 4 | 0-4 | 0% |
| Canada | A | A | 2R | 1R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 2R | A | 0 / 7 | 6-7 | 46% |
| Cincinnati | A | A | A | Q1 | Q2 | 1R | 3R | 1R | 1R | A | 0 / 4 | 2-4 | 33% |
| Madrid | Not Held | QF | QF | 3R | A | 2R | A | 0 / 4 | 7-4 | 64% | |||
| Paris | A | A | A | A | SF | 3R | 2R | Q1 | 1R | A | 0 / 4 | 6-4 | 60% |
| Win-Loss | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 10-5 | 10-9 | 8-9 | 1-7 | 7-9 | 0-2 | 0 / 44 | 38-44 | 46% |
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||
| Titles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
| Finals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | ||
| Overall win-loss | 0-0 | 10-7 | 11-18 | 10-16 | 49-25 | 50-28 | 44-30 | 34-31 | 30-32 | 1-5 | 239-193 | ||
| Year-end ranking | 404 | 99 | 109 | 120 | 16 | 11 | 27 | 42 | 53 | 628 | 55.3% | ||
10.3.2. Doubles
| Tournament | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | SR | W-L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam tournaments | |||||||||
| Australian Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0-0 | 0% |
| French Open | A | A | A | 1R | 3R | 1R | 0 / 3 | 2-3 | 40% |
| Wimbledon | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0-0 | 0% |
| US Open | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | 0 / 1 | 0-1 | 0% |
| Win-Loss | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 0-1 | 0 / 4 | 2-4 | 33% |
| ATP Tour Masters 1000 | |||||||||
| Indian Wells | A | A | 1R | 1R | A | A | 0 / 2 | 0-2 | 0% |
| Monte Carlo | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 1 | 0-1 | 0% |
| Hamburg | Q1 | A | 2R | 1R | A | A | 0 / 2 | 1-2 | 33% |
| Rome | A | A | QF | 1R | A | 2R | 0 / 3 | 3-3 | 50% |
| Canada | A | A | 2R | A | A | A | 0 / 1 | 1-1 | 50% |
| Cincinnati | A | A | 2R | A | A | A | 0 / 1 | 1-1 | 50% |
| Win-Loss | 0-0 | 0-0 | 5-5 | 0-4 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 0 / 10 | 6-10 | 38% |
10.4. Record Against Top Players
Paradorn Srichaphan's match record against players who have been ranked world No. 10 or higher. Players who have been ranked world No. 1 are listed in boldface.
- Thomas Johansson (Sweden) 3-0
- Wayne Ferreira (South Africa) 3-1
- Michael Chang (United States) 3-2
- Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) 3-2
- Albert Costa (Spain) 2-0
- Karol Kučera (Slovakia) 2-0
- Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil) 2-0
- Marcelo Ríos (Chile) 2-0
- Robin Söderling (Sweden) 2-0
- Fernando Verdasco (Spain) 2-0
- Tommy Robredo (Spain) 2-1
- Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) 2-3
- Ivan Ljubičić (Croatia) 2-5
- Tim Henman (United Kingdom) 2-6
- Jonas Björkman (Sweden) 1-0
- Thomas Enqvist (Sweden) 1-0
- Nicolás Lapentti (Ecuador) 1-0
- Nicolás Massú (Chile) 1-0
- Jürgen Melzer (Austria) 1-0
- Rafael Nadal (Spain) 1-0
- Gilles Simon (France) 1-0
- Mario Ančić (Croatia) 1-1
- David Ferrer (Spain) 1-1
- Joachim Johansson (Sweden) 1-1
- Rainer Schüttler (Germany) 1-1
- Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) 1-1
- Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) 1-1
- Andre Agassi (United States) 1-2
- Tomáš Berdych (Czech Republic) 1-2
- Sébastien Grosjean (France) 1-2
- Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Russia) 1-2
- Todd Martin (United States) 1-2
- Juan Mónaco (Argentina) 1-2
- David Nalbandian (Argentina) 1-2
- Magnus Norman (Sweden) 1-2
- Radek Štěpánek (Czech Republic) 1-2
- Guillermo Cañas (Argentina) 1-3
- Àlex Corretja (Spain) 1-3
- Mardy Fish (United States) 1-3
- Marat Safin (Russia) 1-3
- Nicolas Kiefer (Germany) 1-4
- Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) 1-5
- Jiří Novák (Czech Republic) 1-5
- James Blake (United States) 1-7
- Andy Roddick (United States) 1-7
- Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) 0-1
- Arnaud Clément (France) 0-1
- Jim Courier (United States) 0-1
- Tommy Haas (Germany) 0-1
- Richard Krajicek (Netherlands) 0-1
- Magnus Larsson (Sweden) 0-1
- Andy Murray (United Kingdom) 0-1
- Mark Philippoussis (Australia) 0-1
- Marc Rosset (Switzerland) 0-1
- Richard Gasquet (France) 0-2
- Fernando González (Chile) 0-2
- Greg Rusedski (United Kingdom) 0-2
- Janko Tipsarević (Serbia) 0-2
- Roger Federer (Switzerland) 0-4
- Carlos Moyá (Spain) 0-4
10.5. Top 10 Wins
Paradorn Srichaphan achieved 10 victories against players ranked in the world's top 10 during his career.
| # | Player | Rank | Event | Surface | Rd | Score | Srichaphan's ATP Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | |||||||
| 1. | Sébastien Grosjean (France) | 6 | Sydney, Australia | Hard | 1R | 6-3, 6-4 | 86 |
| 2. | Andre Agassi (United States) | 4 | Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom | Grass | 2R | 6-4, 7-6(7-5), 6-2 | 67 |
| 3. | Marat Safin (Russia) | 4 | Tashkent, Uzbekistan | Hard | QF | 6-3, 7-6(7-5) | 31 |
| 4. | Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) | 1 | Tokyo, Japan | Hard | QF | 6-4, 6-3 | 31 |
| 5. | Tim Henman (United Kingdom) | 5 | Madrid, Spain | Hard (i) | 2R | 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 | 28 |
| 6. | Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) | 3 | Paris, France | Carpet (i) | 2R | 6-2, 6-3 | 21 |
| 2005 | |||||||
| 7. | Guillermo Coria (Argentina) | 5 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Hard (i) | 2R | 2-6, 7-6(7-2), 6-3 | 33 |
| 8. | Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) | 6 | US Open, New York, United States | Hard | 2R | 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 | 51 |
| 2006 | |||||||
| 9. | David Nalbandian (Argentina) | 4 | Indian Wells, United States | Hard | 4R | 6-7(5-7), 6-3, 6-2 | 61 |
| 10. | Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) | 5 | Beijing, China | Hard | QF | 6-2, 1-0, ret. | 47 |
11. Legacy and Influence
Paradorn Srichaphan's impact extended far beyond his individual match victories, leaving a lasting legacy on the sport of tennis, particularly in Thailand, and inspiring future generations of athletes. As the first male player from Asia to break into the world's top 10 ATP singles rankings, he shattered barriers and demonstrated that Asian players could compete at the highest level of professional tennis. His career-high ranking of No. 9 remains a historic achievement for the region.
Srichaphan's unique blend of powerful, entertaining play and his humble, polite demeanor, exemplified by his distinctive `waiThai` gesture after matches, endeared him to fans worldwide and made him a beloved national hero in Thailand. His success ignited a significant surge in tennis popularity across Thailand, inspiring countless young Thais to take up the sport and dream of emulating his achievements. He became a symbol of national pride, recognized as "Thai of the Year" and an "Asian Hero" by Time magazine, reflecting his profound social and cultural influence. Even after retirement, his continued involvement in coaching, charitable initiatives, and various business ventures underscores his commitment to developing the sport and contributing to his community. Paradorn Srichaphan is remembered not only as a formidable tennis player but also as a trailblazer who significantly elevated the profile of tennis in Asia and left an enduring mark on the global stage.