Chris Lewis (tennis)
Chris Lewis is a former professional tennis player from New Zealand who reached the 1983 Wimbledon final as an unseeded player. He won three singles titles and achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 19 in April 1984. He also won eight doubles titles during his 12 years on the tour. Lewis was coached by Harry Hopman and Tony Roche.
He became the third player from New Zealand to reach the finals of a Grand Slam singles title after the second player from New Zealand, Onny Parun, had reached the finals of a Grand Slam singles title ten years before at the Australian Open. Lewis is the last player from New Zealand to reach the finals of a Grand Slam tournament.
Early life
Lewis was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and received his secondary education at Marcellin College and Lynfield College. He is the eldest of three sons. His brothers are David Lewis and Mark Lewis who also had significant competitive tennis careers.Tennis career
Juniors
Lewis reached the No. 1 junior world ranking in 1975, winning the Wimbledon boys' singles title and reaching the final of the US Open boys' singles.Pro tour
In reaching the 1983 Wimbledon final, after a five-set win over Kevin Curren in the semifinals, Lewis became the seventh unseeded man and only the second New Zealander after Anthony Wilding to reach a Wimbledon singles final. He lost the final to John McEnroe in three sets. He also reached the final at the Cincinnati Masters in 1981, again losing to John McEnroe in straight sets.After tennis
In the 1999 New Zealand general election, Lewis unsuccessfully stood for parliament as a list candidate for the Libertarianz party. Now resident in Irvine, California, Lewis is the co-founder of the , which is based at the in Irvine. His daughter, Geneva Lewis, born 1998, is a successful violinist.Equipment
Lewis was the first man in history to reach the final of one of the four tennis majors while using an oversize racquet, a Prince original graphite. He was also one of the first players equipped with custom made shoes designed for the grass surface.Grand Slam finals
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 finals
Career finals
Singles: 10 (3 titles, 7 runner-ups)
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 1. | Dec 1977 | Adelaide, Australia | Grass |  Tim Gullikson | 6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 2–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 1. | Jul 1978 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Clay |  Vladimir Zednik | 6–1, 6–4, 6–0 |
| Loss | 2. | Mar 1981 | Stuttgart Indoor, Germany | Hard | Ivan Lendl | 3–6, 0–6, 7–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 2. | May 1981 | Munich, Germany | Clay |  Christophe Roger-Vasselin | 4–6, 6–2, 2–6, 6–1, 6–1 |
| Loss | 3. | Aug 1981 | Cincinnati Masters, United States | Hard | John McEnroe | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 4. | Oct 1981 | Brisbane, Australia | Grass |  Mark Edmondson | 6–7, 6–3, 4–6 |
| Loss | 5. | Dec 1981 | Sydney Outdoor, Australia | Grass | Tim Wilkison | 4–6, 6–7, 3–6 |
| Loss | 6. | Apr 1982 | Hilton Head WCT, United States | Clay | Van Winitsky | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 7. | Jun 1983 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | John McEnroe | 2–6, 2–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 3. | Jan 1985 | Auckland, New Zealand | Hard | Wally Masur | 7–5, 6–0, 2–6, 6–4 |