Back ميلاني ساوث Arabic Melanie South Danish Melanie South German Melanie South EML Melanie South Estonian ملانی جنوب Persian Melanie South Finnish Melanie South Hungarian Melanie South Italian मेलनी साउथ Marathi
 South at the 2007 Wimbledon Championships | |
| Full name | Melanie Jayne South |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United Kingdom |
| Residence | New Malden, London |
| Born | 3 May 1986 Kingston, London |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Turned pro | 2004 |
| Retired | 2013 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $464,831 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 301–257 |
| Career titles | 6 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 99 (2 February 2009) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (2009) |
| French Open | 1R (2009) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2006) |
| US Open | Q3 (2008) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 236–156 |
| Career titles | 24 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 120 (9 March 2009) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2008, 2009) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | QF (2007) |
| Team competitions | |
| Fed Cup | 2–2 |
Melanie Jayne South (born 3 May 1986) is a former English tennis player. She won six singles and 24 doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. On 2 February 2009, she reached her best singles ranking of world No. 99. On 9 March 2009, she peaked at No. 120 in the doubles rankings.
Her greatest success in a Grand Slam tournament came in the first round of the 2006 Wimbledon Championships when she came back from one set down to beat world No. 14, Francesca Schiavone, in a match witnessed by Martina Navratilova. At the time, South was ranked No. 305 in the world and had reached the main-draw courtesy of a wildcard. Not since the third round of the 1998 tournament, when Samantha Smith beat then-world No. 7, Conchita Martínez, had a British woman beaten an opponent of a similar ranking at Wimbledon.[1] She lost in the second round to Shenay Perry, the world No. 62.[2] Outside of Wimbledon, South reached the first round of the 2009 Australian Open without needing to qualify or receiving a wildcard. This was the first time in her career that her ranking was high enough to grant her access to a Grand Slam main draw without a wildcard. She lost to world No. 17 Marion Bartoli in round one.[3]
South announced her retirement from professional tennis on 2 December 2013 in order to focus on a coaching career.[4][5]
- ^ Harris, Nick (29 June 2006). "South sees off Schiavone on day of British success". The Independent. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ Preston, Eleanor (30 June 2006). "South flickers then fades as home hope fizzles out". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ Gilmour, Rod (19 January 2009). "British girls Melanie South and Katie O'Brien bow out in Australian Open". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ "Mel South announces retirement". sportinglife.aol.co.uk. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
- ^ "Mel South Announces Retirement From Tennis". Lawn Tennis Association. 2 December 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.