Brian Vahaly
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| Country (sports) |  United States |
|---|---|
| Residence | Washington, DC |
| Born | July 19, 1979 Camden, New Jersey |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Turned pro | 2001 |
| Retired | November 2007 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $1,996,775 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 41–43 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 57 (17 March 2003) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2004) |
| French Open | 2R (2003) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2003) |
| US Open | 2R (2002, 2003) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 26–17 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 74 (15 September 2003) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| French Open | 2R (2003) |
| Wimbledon | 1R (2004) |
| US Open | 2R (2000) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Career record | 0–1 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| US Open | 1R (2003) |
Brian Vahaly (born July 19, 1979) is an American former professional tennis player and a graduate of University of Virginia.[1] He reached the quarterfinals of the 2003 Indian Wells Masters (defeating world no. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero en route) and achieved a career-high of world no. 57 in March 2003.
Early career
He began playing tennis at the age of two with his parents Barry and Karen. As a junior, Brian Vahaly captured the Easter Bowl 18s title and reached the final of the Coffee Bowl in Costa Rica in 1997. His best junior Grand Slam result was reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon that same year, where he finished 17th in the world junior rankings.
College Tennis Player
Vahaly went on to play four years of collegiate tennis at the University of Virginia from 1998 to 2001, where he racked up a trailblazing series of accomplishments: three-time All-American, first ACC player to reach the finals of the All-American and NCAA singles championships, and graduating from UVA as the school's most successful player.[1]
In 2000, he won the United States Amateur Championships (Men's Tennis). In 2001, Vahaly reached the singles final at the NCAA Championships, and lost in the doubles semifinal with Huntley Montgomery, but finished as the no. 1 player in doubles and no. 5 in singles (40-6).
Vahaly became UVA's first tennis All-American in 1999 and during the season was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year. In his last two seasons, he was a two-time ACC Player of Year, and as a senior he was named the University of Virginia Male Athlete of Year. He graduated with two majors in Finance and Business Management, and finished his career at Virginia as an Academic All-American.
Professional Tennis Career
In 2002, Vahaly enjoyed a breakthrough season on the ATP circuit, advancing to the semifinals of Memphis (falling to Andy Roddick) and the quarterfinals of Indian Wells. He battled James Blake at the US Open, and went on to defeat three top 10 ranked players: Fernando González,
2003 French Open Champion and former world no. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, and Tommy Robredo at Indian Wells. He later teamed with Andy Roddick in Washington, D.C., to defeat the no. 1 ranked doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan. In 2003 he played against Andre Agassi at the Australian Open, Araud Clement at the U.S. Open, and posted wins over Michael Chang and Vince Spadea. Also in March 2003, he reached his career high singles ranking of world no. 57 and in the same year, was recognized by People magazine in its issue of the 25 Hottest Bachelors. As unique as those honors were, Vahaly’s university experience distinguished him in two additional ways: at the time he was the only top 100 ranked ATP ranked player with a college degree, and the highest-ranking professional tennis player ever to graduate from the University of Virginia.
Vahaly played his last tournament at the U.S. Open, losing to Juan Martín del Potro. After the tournament, Vahaly revealed that the shoulder injury had plagued him for some time. On September 7, 2007, he underwent surgery to repair several tears to his right rotator cuff. Vahaly had two additional surgeries later that year.
Tennis Retirement and Career Change
Vahaly announced his retirement from professional tennis in 2007 on his website. He then moved to Washington, DC to work for McLean Capital in the operational turnaround space, where his team focused on finding struggling companies and revamping them for sale or to attract new investors. He later served as COO of two venture capital companies, Venturehouse Group, and NextGen Venture Partners. In 2017, Vahaly was named CFO of the boutique fitness brand [solidcore] where he led a massive period of growth, expanding from 10 to 80 locations in two years, making it the fastest growing corporate-owned boutique fitness concept in the country.
In 2021, Vahaly became CEO of YouFit Health Clubs, which he successfully led out of bankruptcy. Adopting the mantra “affordability and accessibility,” Vahaly’s goal is making fitness accessible for all by offering a variety of low-cost entry points with high-value amenities. Under his guidance, YouFit also launched YouFit Lifts in 2022, a community-focused program to benefit a variety of charities, including a pickleball tournament with earnings benefit Cancer Research Institute.
Paralleling his success in business, Vahaly remains committed to the world of professional tennis. In 2013, Vahaly was named to the USTA Board of Directors and became Treasurer in 2021. In this position he provides strategic input into growing the sport, while overseeing finances as Budget Chair, and many of the USTA’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. Vahaly was inducted to the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame in 2020. He is a sought-after thought leader on tennis and LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports.
LGBTQ+ advocate
Brian Vahaly is the first ATP player (current or former) to come out as gay, and did so on the podcast, Beyond the Baseline with Jon Wortheim. Vahaly then led the launch of US Open Pride in 2019, a roundtable with LGBTQ sports legends including Billie Jean King, Jason Collins, Adam Rippon and Billy Beane. As of 2021, US Open Pride day is held each year during the US Open. Vahaly continues to be an LGBTQ+ advocate who stands for overcoming hate, and making tennis more inclusive.
References
External links
- Brian Vahaly at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- Brian Vahaly at the International Tennis Federation
- TENNIS: U.S. Team Picked For the Davis Cup
- Video: Brian Vahaly on CNN International Sport
- Pacific Life Open - March 13, 2003
- RATCLIFFE ON: Vahaly retires on his own terms
- Vahaly establishes unprecedented mark
- [1]
