Alex Bolt (born 5 January 1993) is an Australian professional tennis player. He plays mainly on the ATP Challenger Tour. His career-high rankings by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) are world No. 125 in singles and world No. 81 in doubles. Highlights of Bolt's career thus far include quarterfinal appearances at the 2014 Australian Open men's doubles and at the 2017 Australian Open with Andrew Whittington and Bradley Mousley respectively.
Personal life
Bolt was born in Murray Bridge, South Australia. He began playing tennis at the age of seven and also spent time playing Australian rules football and basketball throughout his youth. During his hiatus from tennis in 2016, Bolt began playing local football for the Mypolonga Tigers in River Murray Football League and worked as a fence-builder.
Bolt is an avid supporter of the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League.
In August 2021, Bolt tested positive for COVID-19.
Career
2010-2012: Career beginnings
Bolt began his tennis career in Murray Bridge competing in the Murray Bridge Lawn Tennis Association. He made his ITF debut in October 2010 at the Australia F8, where he made the second round.
Throughout 2011, Bolt competed on the Futures circuit. His best performance was a semi final result in the Australian F7 in September. Bolt finished 2011 with a ranking of 897.
Bolt lost in the first round of qualifying for the 2012 Brisbane International to countryman, Luke Saville. Bolt spent the rest of 2012 competing on the Futures Circuit and reached his first final and winning the Australian F7 in Happy Valley, South Australia; this was his first career title. He competed in four finals from October–December; winning one. Bolt ended 2012 with a ranking of 483.
2013
Bolt entered the qualifying rounds of Sydney International, where he made the second round, before losing to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. He also made the second round of qualifying for the 2013 Australian Open, losing a tight contest 4–6, 7–5, 6–8 to Florent Serra.
Between February and May, Bolt competed in a number of Future tournaments, making the semi-finals in Australia F1, F2 and China F1. He lost in the first round of qualifying in the 2013 French Open to James Duckworth.
From June – September, Bolt played a number of Futures throughout Europe, mainly on clay, before returning to Australia the play in the futures there. his best result reaching the final of Cairns F7, losing to his doubles partner Andrew Whittington, 4–6, 4–6. Bolt ended 2013 with a ranking of 364.
2014: Major wildcard & debut in doubles, First Challenger title
Bolt was given wildcards into both the 2014 Brisbane International and 2014 Australian Open qualifying, but lost in round 1 in both. Whittington and Bolt were given wildcards into the Men's doubles main draw. The pair defeated the No. 3 seeds David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco in round two, ultimately losing at the quarter-final stage to number 8 seed Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjić. The match was played on Rod Laver Arena; the pairs first appearance on centre court.
In February, he made the quarter-final of the Burnie Challenger, losing to eventual runner-up Hiroki Moriya; before playing a number of Australian Futures, winning the F4 and coming runner-up in F5.
Bolt's won his first ATP Challenger Tour on 3 May at the China International against Nikola Mektić in straight sets, increasing his ranking to a career high of #240. He also won the doubles, pairing with Andrew Whittington. At Wimbledon, Bolt fell just short of making his grand slam debut, losing in the final round of qualifying to Russian Konstantin Kravchuk in four sets. In September, Bolt made the semi-finals of the Napa Challenger.
2015: Masters 1000 debut
Bolt commenced 2015 at the Onkaparinga Challenger where he lost in the semifinals to Ryan Harrison. Bolt missed the 2015 Australian Open singles, but played in the doubles as a wildcard pair with A. Whittington, reaching the third round. In February, Bolt made his second career ATP Challenger Tour final in Burnie. He lost in straight sets to Chung Hyeon.
In March, Bolt made his first ATP Masters 1000 main draw in Indian Wells, after two wins in qualification. He lost in straight sets to Robin Haase in the 1st round.