Portrait of Sjeng Schalken

Birthday profile

Sjeng Schalken

Sjeng Schalken, Dutch tennis player

Born
September 8, 1976
Age in 2026
50
Zodiac sign
Virgo
Birth year
1976

About Sjeng Schalken

Sjeng Schalken (Dutch pronunciation: [ɕɛŋ ˈsxɑlkə(n)]; born 8 September 1976) is a coach and a former professional tennis player from the Netherlands. == Playing style == A right-handed baseliner with a single-handed backhand, Schalken's game is characterised by his consistency of both wings and his continental technique on both the forehand and backhand. The latter is his major weapon, a rallying shot that is also capable of being struck for winners either cross-court or down the line. The player he admired most while growing up was Ivan Lendl. Schalken is known for his placid on-court demeanour, seemingly reacting in the same manner whether trailing or leading. But as a junior and a young pro he had an explosive temper that, he has stated, hindered him in many matches and caused him to lose through not thinking clearly. Only in 1999 did he manage to suppress his emotional side while on court and develop a more level-headed temperament, although he was disqualified from the Nasdaq-100 Open in 2004 for verbally abusing the umpire. == Career == === Juniors === Schalken was an outstanding junior, winning the US Open junior event in 1994, turning professional the same year. Junior Grand Slam results – Singles: Australian Open: A (-) French Open: 3R (1993, 1994) Wimbledon: SF (1994) US Open: W (1994) == Junior Grand Slam finals == === Singles: 1 (title) === === Pro tour === He won his first career title on clay in Valencia at the age of 19, defeating Gilbert Schaller in the final. He was the youngest winner on tour for that year, 1995, and the next year as well when he defeated Younes El Aynaoui in the final in Jakarta for his second title.

Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.

Career and life highlights

Sjeng Schalken timeline

  1. He was the youngest winner on tour for that year, 1995, and the next year as well when he defeated Younes El Aynaoui in the final in Jakarta for his second title.
  2. Schalken won his fourth title against Tommy Haas in Auckland in January 1999, exactly three years after his younger brother died of cancer, and dedicated the victory to him.
  3. During the 1990s Schalken's Grand Slam record was meagre, amassing a win/loss total of only 4–14 up until the start of 1999.

The world when Sjeng Schalken was born

Sjeng Schalken was born in 1976. The year snapshot below places that birthday in its cultural and historical setting: the music and films people were following, the headlines shaping public life, and the everyday prices families encountered.

Culture in 1976

  • #1 song"Silly Love Songs" – Wings
  • Top movieRocky
  • Top TV showHappy Days
  • Best-selling bookRoots – Alex Haley

Headlines and milestones

  • Major sports momentNadia Comaneci scores first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics
  • Top headlineAmerica celebrates its 200th birthday
  • Technology milestoneApple Computer founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak
  • Defining fadCB radios
  • Notable inventionLaser printer
  • World population4.16 billion

United States snapshot

  • U.S. leaderGerald Ford
  • Sports championCincinnati Reds (World Series)
  • Also wonBoston Celtics (NBA)
  • U.S. population218.0M

1976 versus 2026

These figures put everyday life in Sjeng Schalken's birth year beside the site's latest United States snapshot.

Measure19762026
Gas$0.59$3.45/gal
Average home$48,000$435,000
Average income$14,958$67,500
Minimum wage$2.30$7.25/hr (federal)
Movie ticket$2.13$11.95
Postage stamp$0.13$0.73
Population218.0M341 million

Sources and editorial standards

This profile combines a biographical source with structured birthday and historical context. Sources recorded for this profile: Wikipedia, ATP Tour. See our editorial policy for sourcing, corrections, and review standards.

Read the source biography on Wikipedia. Wikipedia text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.