Mike Estep (born July 19, 1949) is a former professional tennis player from the United States.

During his career Estep won 2 singles titles and 7 doubles titles. He achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 59 in August 1973.

In 1983 until 1986 he coached Martina Navratilova. Later he worked with Carling Bassett, Hana Mandlíková, Jana Novotná and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario.

He was a board member of the Association of Tennis Professionals from 1982 to 1989, holding the position of chairman of the ATP ranking Committee at the same time. He also worked with the U.S. Tennis Association, creating a method for ranking juniors in 1999 that is now used nationwide, and serving on the junior development council for Texas from 1993 to 1995.

Estep resides in Hurst, Texas.

Early life

Estep grew up in Dallas, where he graduated from the St. Mark's School of Texas. As a junior tennis player, Estep held a No 1 national ranking for five straight years (from 1963 to 1967). Estep was named the Texas High School Player of the Year, and led the U.S. to the Sunshine Cup Title and played on the U.S. Junior Davis Cup Team. When Estep and George Taylor won the USTA national junior doubles tournament, they became the first team of Texans to win a national tennis championship.

College tennis

At Rice University, Estep was an All American tennis player for three years. As a senior in 1970, he won the Southwest Conference titles in both singles and doubles. At the NCAA Division 1 annual tournament, Estep was an NCAA doubles semifinalist (1968), a singles finalist (1969), and a singles semifinalist (1970). He graduated from Rice with a degree in political science.

Grand Prix and WCT finals

Singles: 4 (2 titles, 2 runner-ups)

ResultW/LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0Aug 1973Merion, U.S.GrassUnited States Gene Scott7–5, 3–6, 7–6, 3–6, 7–5
Win2–0Feb 1976Khartoum, SudanHardBrazil Thomaz Koch6–4, 6–7, 6–4, 6–3
Loss2–1May 1982Tampa, U.S.HardUnited States Brian Gottfried7–6(8–6), 2–6, 4–6
Loss2–2Jul 1982Newport, U.S.GrassUnited States Hank Pfister1–6, 5–7

Doubles: 16 (7 titles, 9 runner-ups)

ResultW/LYearTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0Jan 1973Omaha, U.S.Hard (i)United States William BrownUnited States Jimmy Connors Spain Juan Gisbert Sr.default
Win2–0Feb 1973Salt Lake City, U.S.Hard (i)Mexico Raúl RamírezCzechoslovakia Jiří Hřebec Czechoslovakia Jan Kukal6–4, 7–6
Win3–0Feb 1973Calgary, CanadaIndoorRomania Ilie NăstaseHungary Szabolcs Baranyi Hungary Péter Szőke6–7, 7–5, 6–3
Win4–0Apr 1973Valencia, SpainClayRomania Ion ȚiriacBelgium Patrick Hombergen Belgium Bernard Mignot6–4, 1–6, 10–8
Loss4–1Apr 1973Barcelona, SpainClayRomania Ion ȚiriacSpain Juan Gisbert Sr. Spain Manuel Orantes4–6, 6–7
Win5–1Nov 1973Djakarta, IndonesiaHardAustralia Ian FletcherAustralia John Newcombe Australia Allan Stone7–5, 6–4
Win6–1Jan 1974Philadelphia WCT, U.S.CarpetSouth Africa Pat CramerFrance Jean-Baptiste Chanfreau France Georges Goven6–1, 6–1
Loss6–2Mar 1974Hampton, U.S.CarpetSouth Africa Pat CramerSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Željko Franulović Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić6–4, 5–7, 1–6
Loss6–3Oct 1974Melbourne, AustraliaClayAustralia Paul KronkUnited States Grover Raz Reid Australia Allan Stone6–7, 4–6
Loss6–4Nov 1974Manila, PhilippinesClayMexico Marcello LaraAustralia Syd Ball Australia Ross Case3–6, 6–7, 7–9
Win7–4Mar 1975Washington Indoor WCT, U.S.CarpetNew Zealand Jeff SimpsonIndia Anand Amritraj India Vijay Amritraj7–6, 6–3
Loss7–5Apr 1975Houston, U.S.ClayNew Zealand Jeff SimpsonUnited States Robert Lutz United States Stan Smith5–7, 6–7
Loss7–6Aug 1975Boston, U.S.ClayUnited States John AndrewsUnited States Brian Gottfried Mexico Raúl Ramírez6–4, 3–6, 6–7
Loss7–7Nov 1976Cologne, GermanyCarpetRhodesia Colin DowdeswellSouth Africa Bob Hewitt South Africa Frew McMillan1–6, 6–3, 6–7
Loss7–8Jul 1981Stuttgart Outdoor, GermanyClayAustralia Mark EdmondsonAustralia Peter McNamara Australia Paul McNamee6–2, 4–6, 6–7
Loss7–9Oct 1981Brisbane, AustraliaGrassAustralia Mark EdmondsonAustralia Rod Frawley New Zealand Chris Lewis5–7, 6–4, 6–7

Coaching

Estep entered coaching after retiring from competitive tennis in 1983.

He is best known for coaching Martina Navratilova during her rise to dominance.

External links