Mel Purcell (born July 18, 1959) is a former professional tennis player and coach from the U.S. His career-high singles ranking was world No. 21, achieved in November 1980. Purcell's finest moment was when he reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 1983. He was head coach of the Murray State University men's tennis team from 1996 to 2016.
Purcell graduated Murray High School and went on to Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis), where he played for one year. He transferred to the University of Tennessee, where in 1980 he won an NCAA doubles championship with teammate Rodney Harmon.
The next year, he played at Wimbledon, the first of six appearances (1981–85, 1987). He reached the quarterfinals in 1983, beating Tim Wilkison, Stuart Bale, Andreas Maurer and Brian Gottfried.
Purcell played in the US Open 10 times (1978–87) where he recorded victories over Stan Smith, Andrés Gómez and Ilie Năstase, among others. During this time, he was part of a rare match where he lost to fifth-seeded José Luis Clerc in the third round of the 1981 US Open despite winning two sets 6–0. He competed in the French Open six times (1981–84, 1987–88) where he twice reached the fourth round in singles and in 1981 reached the doubles quarterfinals with Vincent Van Patten.
Another career highlight was beating Ivan Lendl at the U.S. Pro Tennis Championships in Boston in 1982.
Injuries to his elbow from a car accident and a pulled stomach muscle slowed his career in 1985, but a year later, he beat Boris Becker in the German Open.
Purcell won three ATP singles titles in 1981: at Atlanta, Tampa and Tel Aviv. He also teamed to claim four doubles titles: at Delray Beach (1982 with Chip Hooper), Munich (1982 with Eliot Teltscher) and Vienna (1983 with Stan Smith and 1987 with Tim Wilkison).
5–7, 3–6 |
4–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
6–4, 6–2 |
6–1, 6–1 |
2–6, 1–6 |
4–6, 0–6 |
1–6, 2–6, 3–6 |
2–6, 3–6, 5–7 |
Loss | 0–1 | Mar 1981 | ATP Denver, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Dick Stockton | Andrew Pattison Butch Walts | 3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 1–1 | Jan 1982 | Delray Beach WCT, U.S. | Clay | Eliot Teltscher | Tomáš Šmíd Balázs Taróczy | 6–4, 7–6 |
Loss | 1–2 | Feb 1982 | Monterrey WCT, Mexico | Carpet (i) | Tracy Delatte | Victor Amaya Hank Pfister | 3–6, 7–6, 3–6 |
Win | 2–2 | May 1982 | Munich, Germany | Clay | Chip Hooper | Tian Viljoen Danie Visser | 6–4, 7–6 |
Win | 3–2 | Oct 1983 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet (i) | Stan Smith | Marcos Hocevar Cássio Motta | 6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 3–3 | Jul 1986 | Boston, U.S. | Clay | Dan Cassidy | Hans Gildemeister Andrés Gómez | 6–4, 5–7, 0–6 |
Loss | 3–4 | Oct 1987 | Scottsdale, U.S. | Hard | Dan Goldie | Rick Leach Jim Pugh | 3–6, 2–6 |
Win | 4–4 | Oct 1987 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet (i) | Tim Wilkison | Emilio Sánchez Javier Sánchez | 6–3, 7–5 |
He was still playing matches on the Jimmy Connors Champions Tour in his 40s, where he played against and sometimes beat Jimmy Connors, Björn Borg, and John McEnroe.
Purcell hosts a tennis camp every summer for children and teens.
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