Philip Bester
Biography
Philip Bester (born October 6, 1988 in Sonthofen, Germany) is a Canadian former professional tennis player. He is of Polish descent from and now resides in North Vancouver, British Columbia. He reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 225 on July 27, 2015 and a career-high junior ranking of No. 8 on January 2, 2006. Bester was a finalist at the 2006 junior French Open and in doing so, he became the first Canadian male to reach a Grand Slam final in singles. At the 2015 Pan American Games, he won a silver medal in mixed doubles with Gabriela Dabrowski. Also in 2015, he reached his first ATP Challenger singles final, losing to Vincent Millot in Granby. He retired in 2017.
Bester was coached by his dad Alek Bester from age 5 when he started. Alek, a long time P.E. teacher at York House School in Vancouver, was the core of Philip's physical and tennis development till around the age of 16. Rufus Nel a high performance coach from South Africa was also a big part of Philip's early development, contributing his tennis knowledge and expertise on the game of tennis. At age 13, still coached by his dad, Philip moved down to Florida to attend the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. There he spent 4 years, before teaming up with Jon Sorbo for the 2006 year.
ATP Challenger Tour and ITF Futures finals
Singles: 19 (9 titles, 10 runners-up)
| Legend |
|---|
| ATP Challenger Tour (0–1) |
| ITF Futures (9–9) |
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | May 2009 | USA F11, Tampa | Futures | Clay | Haydn Lewis (BAR) | 6–2, 7–6(9–7) |
| Loss | 1–1 | Jun 2010 | France F9, Toulon | Futures | Clay | Augustin Gensse (FRA) | 1–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 2–1 | Jul 2010 | France F12, Saint-Gervais | Futures | Clay | Augustin Gensse (FRA) | 6–2, 2–6, 6–2 |
| Loss | 2–2 | Sep 2010 | Spain F33, Móstoles | Futures | Clay | Roberto Bautista-Agut (ESP) | 7–6(7–4), 4–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 3–2 | Oct 2010 | USA F28, Birmingham | Futures | Clay | James Lemke (AUS) | 0–6, 6–2, 6–0 |
| Win | 4–2 | Nov 2010 | USA F31, Amelia Island | Futures | Clay | Ádám Kellner (HUN) | 7–6(7–2), 6–4 |
| Win | 5–2 | Jun 2011 | USA F14, Chico | Futures | Hard | Blake Strode (USA) | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Win | 6–2 | Jul 2013 | Canada F3, Kelowna | Futures | Hard | Brayden Schnur (CAN) | 6–7(9–11), 7–6(8–6), 6–3 |
| Loss | 6–3 | Aug 2013 | Canada F5, Calgary | Futures | Hard | Brayden Schnur (CAN) | 6–7(5–7), 6–3, 6–7(4–7) |
| Loss | 6–4 | Sep 2013 | Canada F9, Markham | Futures | Hard (i) | Filip Peliwo (CAN) | Walkover |
| Loss | 6–5 | Sep 2014 | Canada F11, Markham | Futures | Hard (i) | Farris Fathi Gosea (GBR) | 6–7(8–10), 6–3, 4–6 |
| Loss | 6–6 | Dec 2014 | Mexico F15, Mérida | Futures | Hard | Dennis Novikov (USA) | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 7–6 | Mar 2015 | Italy F2, Trento | Futures | Carpet (i) | Quentin Halys (FRA) | 3–6, 7–5, 6–3 |
| Loss | 7–7 | Mar 2015 | Canada F1, Gatineau | Futures | Hard (i) | Tennys Sandgren (USA) | 3–6, 6–7(7–9) |
| Win | 8–7 | Jun 2015 | Canada F3, Richmond | Futures | Hard | Brayden Schnur (CAN) | 3–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–4) |
| Loss | 8–8 | Jul 2015 | Granby, Canada | Challenger | Hard | Vincent Millot (FRA) | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 8–9 | Jan 2016 | USA F1, Los Angeles | Futures | Hard | Stefan Kozlov (USA) | 6–7(7–9), 7–6(7–3), 3–6 |
| Win | 9–9 | Jul 2016 | Canada F5, Saskatoon | Futures | Hard | Peter Polansky (CAN) | 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 |
| Loss | 9–10 | Apr 2017 | USA F13, Little Rock | Futures | Hard | Brayden Schnur (CAN) | 6–7(4–7), 1–6 |
Doubles: 35 (20 titles, 15 runners-up)
| Legend |
|---|
| ATP Challenger Tour (7–2) |
| ITF Futures (13–13) |
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Jul 2005 | Granby, Canada | Challenger | Hard | Frank Dancevic (CAN) | Johan Landsberg (SWE) Lu Yen-hsun (TPE) |
6–4, 6–7(5–7), 5–7 |
| Loss | 0–2 | Sep 2007 | USA F22, Claremont | Futures | Hard | Glenn Weiner (USA) | Nikita Kryvonos (USA) Michael McClune (USA) |
4–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 0–3 | Sep 2007 | USA F23, Costa Mesa | Futures | Hard | Glenn Weiner (USA) | Brad Pomeroy (USA) Arnar Sigurdsson (ISL) |
6–3, 3–6, [4–10] |
| Win | 1–3 | Nov 2007 | Mexico F12, Mazatlán | Futures | Hard | Glenn Weiner (USA) | Fernando Cabrera (MEX) Carlos Palencia (MEX) |
6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 2–3 | Jul 2008 | Granby, Canada | Challenger | Hard | Peter Polansky (CAN) | Alberto Francis (USA) Nicholas Monroe (USA) |
2–6, 6–1, [10–5] |
| Win | 3–3 | Apr 2009 | USA F7, Mobile | Futures | Hard | Milos Raonic (CAN) | Lester Cook (USA) Treat Huey (PHI) |
6–3, 1–6, [10–5] |
| Loss | 3–4 | May 2009 | USA F10, Orange Park | Futures | Clay | Greg Ouellette (USA) | Marcus Fugate (USA) Todd Paul (USA) |
4–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 3–5 | Jun 2009 | USA F14, Chico | Futures | Hard | Greg Ouellette (USA) | Daniel Yoo (KOR) Denis Zivkovic (USA) |
1–6, 6–7(3–7) |
| Win | 4–5 | Oct 2009 | USA F26, Mansfield | Futures | Hard | Jonathan Eysseric (FRA) | Brett Joelson (USA) Todd Paul (USA) |
6–4, 6–7(3–7), [10–7] |
| Win | 5–5 | Jun 2010 | France F9, Toulon | Futures | Clay | Jonathan Eysseric (FRA) | Ashwin Kumar (AUS) Rupesh Roy (IND) |
6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 6–5 | Jul 2010 | France F10, Montauban | Futures | Clay | Jonathan Eysseric (FRA) | Julien Obry (FRA) Albano Olivetti (FRA) |
Walkover |
| Loss | 6–6 | Jul 2010 | France F12, Saint-Gervais | Futures | Clay | Laurent Rochette (FRA) | Jérôme Inzerillo (FRA) Romain Jouan (FRA) |
6–2, 4–6, [7–10] |
| Loss | 6–7 | Sep 2010 | Spain F32, Oviedo | Futures | Clay | Kamil Pajkowski (CAN) | Pablo Carreño Busta (ESP) Andoni Vivanco-Guzmán (ESP) |
2–6, 6–4, [5–10] |
| Win | 7–7 | Sep 2010 | Spain F33, Móstoles | Futures | Hard | Kamil Pajkowski (CAN) | Óscar Burrieza (ESP) Javier Martí (ESP) |
7–6(7–5), 4–6, [13–11] |
| Win | 8–7 | Oct 2010 | USA F28, Birmingham | Futures | Clay | Kamil Pajkowski (CAN) | Dennis Blömke (GER) James Lemke (AUS) |
6–7(4–7), 6–4, [10–5] |
| Win | 9–7 | Feb 2011 | Burnie, Australia | Challenger | Hard | Peter Polansky (CAN) | Marinko Matosevic (AUS) Jose Rubin Statham (NZL) |
6–4, 3–6, [14–12] |
| Win | 10–7 | May 2012 | USA F13, Tampa | Futures | Clay | Kamil Pajkowski (CAN) | Haydn Lewis (BAR) Olivier Sajous (HAI) |
7–6(8–6), 6–1 |
| Loss | 10–8 | Jul 2012 | Canada F3, Kelowna | Futures | Hard | Kamil Pajkowski (CAN) | Érik Chvojka (CAN) Greg Ouellette (USA) |
7–6(10–8), 4–6, [8–10] |
| Win | 11–8 | Jul 2012 | Granby, Canada (2) | Challenger | Hard | Vasek Pospisil (CAN) | Yuichi Ito (JPN) Takuto Niki (JPN) |
6–1, 6–2 |
| Loss | 11–9 | Jul 2014 | Canada F4, Kelowna | Futures | Hard | Matt Seeberger (USA) | Carl Eguez (USA) Anderson Reed (USA) |
6–7(2–7), 6–7(4–7) |
| Loss | 11–10 | Aug 2014 | Canada F8, Winnipeg | Futures | Hard | Marcus Daniell (NZL) | Dimitar Kutrovsky (BUL) Saketh Myneni (IND) |
5–7, 5–7 |
| Loss | 11–11 | Nov 2014 | Italy F38, Santa Margherita di Pula | Futures | Clay | Matteo Volante (ITA) | Gastón-Arturo Grimolizzi (ARG) Giorgio Portaluri (ITA) |
4–6, 6–0, [6–10] |
| Win | 12–11 | Nov 2014 | Italy F39, Santa Margherita di Pula | Futures | Clay | Matteo Volante (ITA) | Gastón-Arturo Grimolizzi (ARG) Giorgio Portaluri (ITA) |
6–2, 6–4 |
| Win | 13–11 | Dec 2014 | Mexico F15, Mérida | Futures | Hard | Eric Quigley (USA) | Dean O'Brien (RSA) Juan Carlos Spir (COL) |
4–6, 7–6(7–5), [12–10] |
| Win | 14–11 | Mar 2015 | Drummondville, Canada | Challenger | Hard (i) | Chris Guccione (AUS) | Frank Dancevic (CAN) Frank Moser (GER) |
6–4, 7–6(8–6) |
| Loss | 14–12 | Apr 2015 | USA F12, Harlingen | Futures | Hard | Dimitar Kutrovsky (BUL) | Deiton Baughman (USA) Hunter Nicholas (USA) |
3–6, 6–7(3–7) |
| Win | 15–12 | Jul 2015 | Canada F4, Kelowna | Futures | Hard | Matt Seeberger (USA) | Hunter Nicholas (USA) Raymond Sarmiento (USA) |
7–6(8–6), 6–4 |
| Win | 16–12 | Jul 2015 | Granby, Canada (3) | Challenger | Hard | Peter Polansky (CAN) | Enzo Couacaud (FRA) Luke Saville (AUS) |
6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–2), [10–7] |
| Win | 17–12 | Feb 2016 | Cuernavaca, Mexico | Challenger | Hard | Peter Polansky (CAN) | Marcelo Arévalo (ESA) Sergio Galdós (PER) |
6–4, 3–6, [10–6] |
| Win | 18–12 | Jun 2016 | Canada F3, Richmond | Futures | Hard | Peter Polansky (CAN) | Farris Fathi Gosea (GBR) Tim Kopinski (USA) |
7–6(7–2), 6–2 |
| Win | 19–12 | Jul 2016 | Canada F5, Saskatoon | Futures | Hard | Peter Polansky (CAN) | Christian Lakoseljac (CAN) David Volfson (CAN) |
6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 20–12 | Sep 2016 | Cary, United States | Challenger | Hard | Peter Polansky (CAN) | Stefan Kozlov (USA) Austin Krajicek (USA) |
6–2, 6–2 |
| Loss | 20–13 | Sep 2016 | Columbus, United States | Challenger | Hard (i) | Peter Polansky (CAN) | Miķelis Lībietis (LAT) Dennis Novikov (USA) |
5–7, 6–7(4–7) |
| Loss | 20–14 | Apr 2017 | USA F12, Memphis | Futures | Hard | Alex Lawson (USA) | Lloyd Glasspool (GBR) Mackenzie McDonald (USA) |
2–6, 6–7(3–7) |
| Loss | 20–15 | Apr 2017 | USA F13, Little Rock | Futures | Hard | Ante Pavić (CRO) | Luke Bambridge (GBR) Gavin van Peperzeel (AUS) |
6–2, 3–6, [9–11] |
Junior Grand Slam finals
Singles: 1 (1 runner-up)
| Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 2006 | French Open | Clay | Martin Kližan (SVK) | 3–6, 1–6 |
Singles performance timeline
| Tournament | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | SR | W–L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam Tournaments | ||||||||
| Australian Open | Q1 | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| French Open | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| Wimbledon | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| US Open | A | A | A | A | Q1 | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| Win–Loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |