Lionel Barthez

Who is Lionel Barthez?

Lionel Barthez is a former professional tennis player from France.

Barthez competed in four Grand Slams during his career. In the 1994 French Open he took the first two sets off world number 31 Ronald Agenor but lost in five. He and partner Stéphane Sansoni were unable to progress past the first round in the doubles. His next appearance was at the 1995 French Open, where he lost in the opening round to Norwegian player Christian Ruud and also failed to win a match in the men's doubles, partnering Thierry Guardiola. He also took part in the mixed doubles with Isabelle Demongeot and made the second round. In 1996 he played in his third successive French Open and once more lost his only singles match, to Gianluca Pozzi in four sets. He participated in the men's doubles with Gilles Bastie and the pair were unable to win their opening round fixture, although he did make the second round of the mixed doubles with Sandrine Testud.

The Frenchman was a quarter-finalist in the 1993 Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon, his best showing on tour as a singles player. In the doubles however he reached a semi-final with Bastie in 1996, at the Marseille Open.