Oliver Crawford (tennis)

Crawford started playing tennis at two years-old. His parents had no tennis background.{{cite web|url=https://behindtheracquet.com/oliver-crawford/|website=Behind The Racquet|title=Oliver Crawford|date=January 4, 2024|accessdate=10 January 2024|archive-date=10 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110092839/https://behindtheracquet.com/oliver-crawford/|url-status=live}} His parents are from Birmingham, England and moved to work in Spartanburg, South Carolina, before he was born.{{cite web|title=Crawford has 'chills' in winning start to GB switch|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/67932357 |website=BBC Sport|first=Russell|last=Fuller|date=10 January 2024|accessdate=10 January 2024}} He graduated from Laurel Springs School, an online high school based in California, and attended the University of Florida.{{cite web|url=https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/national/college-spotlight--oliver-crawford--florida.html|website=usta.com|accessdate=10 January 2024|title=College Spotlight: Oliver Crawford, Florida|first=Arthur|last=Kapetanakis|date=November 27, 2018|archive-date=10 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110090616/https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/national/college-spotlight--oliver-crawford--florida.html|url-status=live}} He was named SEC Freshmen of the Year and before turning professional in 2020, was twice included as a First Team All-SEC and a three-time ITA All-America.{{cite web|url=https://www.wruf.com/headlines/2020/07/09/oliver-crawford-turns-pro/|website=wruf.com|accessdate=10 January 2024|title=Oliver Crawford turns pro|first=Alexa|last=Harley|date=July 9, 2020|archive-date=10 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110091918/https://www.wruf.com/headlines/2020/07/09/oliver-crawford-turns-pro/|url-status=live}}

A former world-number nine junior player, Crawford won his first senior title in October 2018 at a $25,000 USTA Pro Circuit event in Harlingen, Texas.{{cite web|url=https://www.usta.com/en/home/pro/pro-media---news/pro-circuit-round-up--oliver-crawford-wins-first-professional-ti.html|website=usta.com|accessdate=10 January 2024|title=Pro Circuit Round-up: Crawford wins first pro title|first=Arthur|last=Kapetanakis|date=October 22, 2018|archive-date=10 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110090621/https://www.usta.com/en/home/pro/pro-media---news/pro-circuit-round-up--oliver-crawford-wins-first-professional-ti.html|url-status=live}}

In March 2021, Crawford won his third title on the ITF World Tennis Tour when he defeated American Zane Khan 6-3 6–0 in the final of an M15 tournament in Pune, India.{{cite web|url=https://www.itftennis.com/en/news-and-media/articles/crawford-ends-compatriot-khans-winning-run-in-india/|first=Jamie|last=Renton|accessdate=10 January 2024|date=21 March 2021|website=ITF|title=CRAWFORD ENDS COMPATRIOT KHAN'S WINNING RUN IN INDIA|archive-date=10 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110085958/https://www.itftennis.com/en/news-and-media/articles/crawford-ends-compatriot-khans-winning-run-in-india/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/pune-american-oliver-crawford-wins-mens-itf-championships-singles-title-7249612/lite/|website=Indian Express|accessdate=10 January 2024|title=American Oliver Crawford wins Men's ITF Championships singles title|first=Ruchika|last=Goswamy|date=March 28, 2021|archive-date=10 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110090219/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/pune-american-oliver-crawford-wins-mens-itf-championships-singles-title-7249612/lite/|url-status=live}}

In his first event representing Britain he defeated Ilya Ivashka in the first round of qualifying for the 2024 Australian Open.{{cite web|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=10 January 2024|title=Norrie wins but Raducanu to miss another exhibition|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/67926893|date=9 January 2024|archive-date=10 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110092419/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/67926893|url-status=live}} He followed that with a win over Francesco Passaro in the second round.{{cite web|website=BBC Sport|first=Jonathan|last=Jureko|accessdate=11 January 2024|date=11 January 2024|title=Fran Jones retired, Emma Raducanu practices|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/67943087|archive-date=11 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111115427/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/67943087|url-status=live}} He lost to Vit Kopriva in the final qualifying round.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/67954873.amp|website=BBC Sport|date=12 January 2024|accessdate=12 January 2024|title=Jack Draper beats Alexander Bublik to reach Adelaide International final|archive-date=12 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112103646/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/67954873.amp|url-status=live}} He reached the final of the $25,000 ITF men's tennis tournament at the Arera Club in Bhopal on 21 January 2024 but had to award his opponent Bogdan Bobrov a walkover due to a back injury.{{cite web|url=https://www.itftennis.com/en/players/oliver-crawford/800439784/gbr/mt/s/activity/#pprofile-info-tabs|website=ITF|accessdate=21 January 2024|title=Oliver Crawford|archive-date=26 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626190921/https://www.itftennis.com/en/players/oliver-crawford/800439784/gbr/mt/s/activity/#pprofile-info-tabs|url-status=live}}

He made his Grand Slam tournament debut partnering Kyle Edmund in the men's doubles at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, losing in the first round to Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul in straight sets.{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/other-sport/kyle-edmund-still-confident-of-top-50-return-after-injury-nightmare-4693077|title=Kyle Edmund still confident of top-50 return after injury nightmare|publisher=Yorkshire Post|accessdate=8 April 2025}}

Although born in South Carolina after his parents left Britain in 1999, many of his extended family still live in Sutton Coldfield and London.

Crawford started representing Great Britain from January 2024.{{cite web|website=The Times|access-date=11 January 2024|date=11 January 2024|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/tennis/article/oliver-crawford-switch-from-us-to-gb-not-for-wimbledon-wild-cards-ftz62rswv|first=Stuart|last=Fraser|title=Oliver Crawford switch from US to GB 'not for Wimbledon wild cards'|archive-date=23 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123095658/https://www.thetimes.com/sport/tennis/article/oliver-crawford-switch-from-us-to-gb-not-for-wimbledon-wild-cards-ftz62rswv|url-status=live}}

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{{Top male singles tennis players by country|GBR}}

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Category:1999 births

Category:Living people

Category:Florida Gators men's tennis players

Category:Tennis players from South Carolina

Category:Sportspeople from Spartanburg, South Carolina

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:21st-century British sportsmen