John Lloyd (tennis)
John Lloyd (born 27 August 1954 in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex) is a British former professional tennis player and now a well-known commentator. He reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 23 in 1978 and was the UK’s No. 1 in 1984 and 1985.
In singles, Lloyd made one Grand Slam final, at the December 1977 Australian Open, where he lost to Vitas Gerulaitis. He also had solid results in doubles and mixed doubles, winning two men’s doubles titles and reaching a high of No. 34 in doubles in 1986. His greatest mixed doubles success came with Wendy Turnbull, winning three Grand Slam titles: the French Open in 1982 and Wimbledon in 1983 and 1984.
Lloyd was part of Britain’s Davis Cup team that reached the final in 1978, ultimately losing to the United States. He is often noted as the first British man in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam singles final.
Off the court, Lloyd has had a long career as a coach and broadcaster. He worked as a BBC tennis commentator for many years, known for his colorful catchphrases about shots. He also served as Britain’s Davis Cup captain from 2006 to 2010.
Lloyd’s personal life has been prominent in the tennis world. He was the first husband of Chris Evert, marrying her in 1979 and divorcing in 1987. He is the younger brother of former British Davis Cup captain David Lloyd. After his first marriage, he lived in Florida, where he later faced and treated prostate cancer. He remains based in Palm Beach, Florida, with his partner Svetlana Carroll and has two children from his first marriage.
A lifelong tennis figure, Lloyd is a member of the All England Lawn Tennis Club and is known for his support of Wolverhampton Wanderers. He is credited with influencing Andy Murray’s fandom for the Wolves, and Murray has been seen wearing a Wolves shirt that Lloyd gave him.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 13:02 (CET).