Brian Gottfried
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brian Edward Gottfried (born January 27, 1952) is a former tennis player from the United States who won 25 singles titles and 54 doubles titles during his professional career.
The right-hander reached his highest ranking on the ATP Tour on June 19, 1977, when he became # 3 in the world.
Contents |
[edit] Tennis career
[edit] Junior & College
Gottfried was born in Baltimore, Maryland. When he was five years old, some Japanese players stayed with his family while competing in a local tournament. Before leaving, they gave him a tennis racket as a present, thus launching his tennis career. In all, Gottfried won 14 national junior titles. He won the 1962 National 12-and-under singles title, and the doubles title with Jimmy Connors. Gottfried repeated the victory in 1963 with Dick Stockton. In 1964 he won the 12-and-under singles crown.
In 1970, as a freshman at Trinity University in Texas, he won the USTA Boys 18s singles championship, as well as the doubles championship with Alexander Mayer.[1] He was an All-American in 1971 and 1972. He was the runner-up in NCAA singles and doubles in 1972.
[edit] Professional career
Gottfried turned professional in 1972, and the following year he won his first career singles title in Las Vegas. In 1976 he reached 15 singles finals, winning 5, and was runner-up at the French Open. In April 1977, Newsweek said he was "simply the best male tennis player in the world at the moment."[2] He won the Italian Open doubles championship for four consecutive years (1974-77). He won the men's doubles at the French Open in 1975 and 1977. In 1976 he won the men's doubles at Wimbledon. He finished his career ranked tied for 22nd in the 50 all-time open era singles titles leaders (16), and tied for 12th in the doubles leaders.
His game was viewed as technically flawless, particularly his potent forehand volley, considered one of the best in the game. He honed his game to perfection with dedication and an addiction to practice. The story about his penchant for practice that is most often heard came from Arthur Ashe, who recalled how Gottfried missed a scheduled practice in Miami one afternoon in order to get married, but atoned by putting in a double session the next day.[3][4]
[edit] Grand Slam singles finals
[edit] Runner-up (1)
Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
1977 | French Open | Guillermo Vilas | 0–6, 3–6, 0–6 |
[edit] Singles titles (25)
No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score |
1. | 1973 | Johannesburg WCT, South Africa | Hard | Jaime Fillol | W/O |
2. | 1973 | Las Vegas, U.S. | Hard | Arthur Ashe | 6–1, 6–3 |
3. | 1974 | Paris Indoor, France | Hard (i) | Eddie Dibbs | 6–3, 5–7, 8–6, 6–0 |
4. | 1975 | Baltimore, U.S. | Carpet | Allan Stone | 3–6, 6–2, 6–3 |
5. | 1975 | Dayton Indoor, U.S. | Carpet | Geoff Masters | 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 |
6. | 1975 | Melbourne Indoor, Australia | Grass (i) | Harold Solomon | 6–2, 7–6, 6–1 |
7. | 1976 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Carpet | Arthur Ashe | 6–2, 6–2 |
8. | 1977 | Baltimore, U.S. | Carpet | Guillermo Vilas | 6–3, 7–6 |
9. | 1977 | Palm Springs, U.S. | Hard | Guillermo Vilas | 2–6, 6–1, 6–3 |
10. | 1977 | Washington Indoor, U.S. | Carpet | Robert Lutz | 6–1, 6–2 |
11. | 1977 | La Costa, U.S. | Hard | Marty Riessen | 6–3, 6–2 |
12. | 1977 | Vienna, Austria | Hard (i) | Wojtek Fibak | 6–1, 6–1 |
13. | 1978 | Washington Indoor, U.S. | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | 7–5, 7–6 |
14. | 1978 | Dayton, U.S. | Carpet | Eddie Dibbs | 2–6, 6–4, 7–6 |
15. | 1978 | Houston WCT, U.S. | Clay | Ilie Năstase | 3–6, 6–2, 6–1 |
16. | 1979 | Columbus, U.S. | Clay | Eddie Dibbs | 6–3, 6–0 |
17. | 1979 | Basel, Switzerland | Hard (i) | Johan Kriek | 7–5, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3 |
18. | 1980 | Surbiton, England | Grass | Sandy Mayer | 6–3, 6–3 |
19. | 1980 | Washington D.C., U.S. | Clay | José Luis Clerc | 7–5, 4–6, 6–4 |
20. | 1980 | Vienna, Austria | Hard (i) | Trey Waltke | 6–2, 6–4, 6–3 |
21. | 1980 | Paris Indoor, France | Carpet | Adriano Panatta | 4–6, 6–3, 6–1, 7–6 |
22. | 1981 | Stowe, U.S. | Hard | Tony Graham | 6–3, 6–3 |
23. | 1982 | Tampa, U.S. | Hard | Mike Estep | 6–7, 6–2, 6–4 |
24. | 1982 | Vienna, Austria | Hard (i) | Bill Scanlon | 6–1, 6–4, 6–0 |
25. | 1983 | Vienna, Austria | Hard (i) | Mel Purcell | 6–2, 6–3, 7–5 |
[edit] Runner-ups (26)
No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score |
1. | 1973 | Fort Worth, U.S. | Hard | Eddie Dibbs | 7–5, 6–2, 6–4 |
2. | 1973 | Christchurch, New Zealand | Other | Fred Stolle | 7–6, 6–4, 6–1 |
3. | 1974 | London, England | Carpet | Jimmy Connors | 6–2, 7–6 |
4. | 1975 | Denver WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Jimmy Connors | 6–3, 6–4 |
5. | 1975 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | Harold Solomon | 6–3, 6–2, 5–7, 6–2 |
6. | 1976 | Richmond WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Arthur Ashe | 6–2, 6–4 |
7. | 1976 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | Roscoe Tanner | 4–6, 7–5, 6–1 |
8. | 1976 | Johannesburg WCT, South Africa | Hard | Harold Solomon | 6–2, 6–7, 6–3, 6–4 |
9. | 1977 | Memphis, U.S. | Carpet | Björn Borg | 6–4, 6–3, 4–6, 7–5 |
10. | 1977 | Los Angeles PSW, U.S. | Carpet | Stan Smith | 6–4, 2–6, 6–3 |
11. | 1977 | Denver, U.S. | Carpet | Björn Borg | 7–5, 6–2 |
12. | 1977 | French Open, Paris | Clay | Guillermo Vilas | 6–0, 6–3, 6–0 |
13. | 1977 | Washington D.C., U.S. | Outdoor | Guillermo Vilas | 6–4, 7–5 |
14. | 1977 | Columbus, U.S. | Hard | Guillermo Vilas | 6–2, 6–1 |
15. | 1977 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Hard | Raúl Ramírez | 7–5, 3–6, 6–4 |
16. | 1977 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | Butch Walts | 4–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
17. | 1977 | Maui, U.S. | Hard | Jimmy Connors | 6–2, 6–0 |
18. | 1977 | Paris Indoor, France | Hard (i) | Corrado Barazzutti | 7–6, 7–6, 6–7, 3–6, 6–4 |
19. | 1978 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Carpet | Arthur Ashe | 6–2, 6–4 |
20. | 1979 | Rancho Mirage, U.S. | Hard | Roscoe Tanner | 6–4, 6–2 |
21. | 1979 | Washington Indoor, U.S. | Carpet | Roscoe Tanner | 6–4, 6–4 |
22. | 1981 | Brussels, Belgium | Carpet | Jimmy Connors | 6–2, 6–4, 6–3 |
23. | 1981 | London/Queen's Club, England | Grass | John McEnroe | 7–6, 7–5 |
24. | 1981 | Vienna, Austria | Hard (i) | Ivan Lendl | 1–6, 6–0, 6–1, 6–2 |
25. | 1982 | Columbus, U.S. | Hard | Jimmy Connors | 7–5, 6–0 |
26. | 1982 | Wembley, England | Carpet | John McEnroe | 6–3, 6–2, 6–4 |
[edit] Doubles titles (54)
No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partnering | Opponent in the final | Score |
1. | 1973 | Philadelphia WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Dick Stockton | Roy Emerson Rod Laver |
4–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
2. | 1973 | Las Vegas, U.S. | Hard | Dick Stockton | Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle |
6–7, 6–4, 6–4 |
3. | 1973 | Fort Worth, U.S. | Hard | Dick Stockton | Owen Davidson John Newcombe |
7–6, 6–4 |
4. | 1974 | Rome, Italy | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Juan Gisbert Ilie Năstase |
6–3, 6–2, 6–3 |
5. | 1974 | South Orange, U.S. | Hard | Raúl Ramírez | Anand Amritraj Vijay Amritraj |
7–6, 6–7, 7–6 |
6. | 1975 | Philadelphia WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | Dick Stockton Erik Van Dillen |
3–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
7. | 1975 | St. Petersburg WCT, U.S. | Hard | Raúl Ramírez | Charlie Pasarell Roscoe Tanner |
6–4, 6–4 |
8. | 1975 | La Costa WCT, U.S. | Hard | Raúl Ramírez | Charlie Pasarell Roscoe Tanner |
7–5, 6–4 |
9. | 1975 | Orlando WCT, U.S. | Hard | Raúl Ramírez | Colin Dibley Ray Ruffels |
6–4, 6–4 |
10. | 1975 | World Doubles WCT, Mexico | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | Mark Cox Cliff Drysdale |
7–6, 6–7, 6–2, 7–6 |
11. | 1975 | Dallas WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan |
7–5, 6–3, 4–6, 2–6, 7–5 |
12. | 1975 | Rome, Italy | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Jimmy Connors Ilie Năstase |
6–4, 7–6, 2–6, 6–1 |
13. | 1975 | French Open, Paris | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | John Alexander Phil Dent |
6–4, 2–6, 6–2, 6–4 |
14. | 1975 | Boston, U.S. | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | John Andrews Mike Estep |
4–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
15. | 1975 | Sydney Indoor, Australia | Hard (i) | Raúl Ramírez | Ross Case Geoff Masters |
6–4, 6–2 |
16. | 1975 | Perth, Australia | Hard | Raúl Ramírez | Ross Case Geoff Masters |
2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–0 |
17. | 1975 | Tokyo, Japan | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Juan Gisbert Manuel Orantes |
7–6, 6–4 |
18. | 1976 | Monterrey WCT, Mexico | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | Ross Case Geoff Masters |
6–2, 4–6, 6–3 |
19. | 1976 | Richmond WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | Arthur Ashe Tom Okker |
6–4, 7–5 |
20. | 1976 | St. Louis WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | John Alexander Phil Dent |
6–4, 6–2 |
21. | 1976 | México City WCT, México | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie |
6–4, 7–6 |
22. | 1976 | Jackson WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | Ross Case Geoff Masters |
7–5, 4–6, 6–0 |
23. | 1976 | Caracas WCT, Venezuela | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Jeff Borowiak Ilie Năstase |
7–5, 6–4 |
24. | 1976 | Rome, Italy | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Geoff Masters John Newcombe |
7–6, 5–7, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 |
25. | 1976 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | Raúl Ramírez | Ross Case Geoff Masters |
3–6, 6–3, 8–6, 2–6, 7–5 |
26. | 1976 | Washington D.C., U.S. | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Arthur Ashe Jimmy Connors |
6–3, 6–3 |
27. | 1976 | North Conway, U.S. | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Ricardo Cano Victor Pecci |
6–3, 6–0 |
28. | 1976 | Indianapolis, U.S. | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart |
6–2, 6–2 |
29. | 1976 | Woodlands Doubles, U.S. | Hard | Raúl Ramírez | Phil Dent Allan Stone |
6–1, 6–4, 5–7, 7–6 |
30. | 1976 | Barcelona, Spain | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan |
7–6, 6–4 |
31. | 1976 | Johannesburg WCT, South Africa | Hard | Sherwood Stewart | Juan Gisbert Stan Smith |
1–6, 6–1, 6–2, 7–6 |
32. | 1977 | Miami, U.S. | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Paul Kronk Cliff Letcher |
7–5, 6–4 |
33. | 1977 | Rome, Italy | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart |
6–7, 7–6, 7–5 |
34. | 1977 | French Open, Paris | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Wojtek Fibak Jan Kodeš |
7–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
35. | 1977 | North Conway, U.S. | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart |
7–5, 6–3 |
36. | 1977 | Paris Indoor, France | Hard (i) | Raúl Ramírez | Jeff Borowiak Roger Taylor |
6–2, 6–0 |
37. | 1978 | Memphis, U.S. | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | Phil Dent John Newcombe |
3–6, 7–6, 6–2 |
38. | 1978 | Dayton, U.S. | Carpet | Geoff Masters | Hank Pfister Butch Walts |
6–3, 6–4 |
39. | 1979 | Richmond WCT, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Ion Ţiriac Guillermo Vilas |
6–4, 6–3 |
40. | 1979 | Columbus, U.S. | Clay | Robert Lutz | Tim Gullikson Tom Gullikson |
4–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
41. | 1979 | Cincinnati, U.S. | Hard | Ilie Năstase | Robert Lutz Stan Smith |
1–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
42. | 1980 | Masters Doubles WCT, London | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | Wojtek Fibak Tom Okker |
3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 |
43. | 1980 | Memphis, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Rod Frawley Tomáš Šmíd |
6–3, 6–7, 7–6 |
44. | 1980 | North Conway, U.S. | Clay | Jimmy Connors | Kevin Curren Steve Denton |
7–6, 6–2 |
45. | 1980 | Columbus, U.S. | Hard | Sandy Mayer | Peter Fleming Eliot Teltscher |
6–4, 6–2 |
46. | 1980 | Sawgrass Doubles, U.S. | Hard | Raúl Ramírez | Robert Lutz Stan Smith |
7–6, 6–4, 2–6, 7–6 |
47. | 1981 | Milan, Italy | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | John McEnroe Peter Rennert |
7–6, 6–3 |
48. | 1982 | La Quinta, U.S. | Hard | Raúl Ramírez | John Lloyd Dick Stockton |
6–4, 3–6, 6–2 |
49. | 1982 | Sawgrass Doubles, U.S. | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Mark Edmondson Kim Warwick |
W/O |
50. | 1982 | Paris Indoor, France | Hard (i) | Bruce Manson | Jay Lapidus Richard Meyer |
6–4, 6–2 |
51. | 1982 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | Frew McMillan | Shlomo Glickstein Andrew Pattison |
6–2, 6–2 |
52. | 1983 | La Quinta, U.S. | Hard | Raúl Ramírez | Tian Viljoen Danie Visser |
6–3, 6–3 |
53. | 1983 | London/Queen's Club, England | Grass | Paul McNamee | Kevin Curren Steve Denton |
6–4, 6–3 |
54. | 1984 | North Conway, U.S. | Clay | Tomáš Šmíd | Cassio Motta Blaine Willenborg |
6–4, 6–2 |
[edit] Runner-ups (41)
No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partnering | Opponent in the final | Score |
1. | 1973 | Cincinnati, U.S. | Hard | Raúl Ramírez | John Alexander Phil Dent |
1–6, 7–6, 7–6 |
2. | 1973 | Hong Kong | Hard | Paul Gerken | Colin Dibley Rod Laver |
6–3, 5–7, 17-15 |
3. | 1974 | Atlanta WCT, U.S. | Clay | Dick Stockton | Robert Lutz Stan Smith |
6–3, 3–6, 7–6 |
4. | 1974 | Orlando WCT, U.S. | Hard | Dick Stockton | Owen Davidson John Newcombe |
7–6, 6–3 |
5. | 1974 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Jürgen Fassbender Hans-Jürgen Pohmann |
6–3, 6–4, 6–4 |
6. | 1974 | Chicago, U.S. | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | Tom Gorman Marty Riessen |
4–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
7. | 1974 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Hard | Raúl Ramírez | Ross Case Geoff Masters |
6–3, 6–2 |
8. | 1974 | Madrid, Spain | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Patrice Dominguez Antonio Muñoz |
6–1, 6–3 |
9. | 1974 | Tehran, Iran | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Manuel Orantes Guillermo Vilas |
7–6, 2–6, 6–2 |
10. | 1974 | Paris Indoor, France | Hard (i) | Raúl Ramírez | Patrice Dominguez François Jauffret |
7–5, 6–4 |
11. | 1974 | London, England | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | Jimmy Connors Ilie Năstase |
3–6, 7–6, 6–3 |
12. | 1975 | Dayton Indoor, U.S. | Carpet | Paul Gerken | Ray Ruffels Allan Stone |
7–6, 7–5 |
13. | 1975 | São Paulo WCT, Brazil | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | Ross Case Geoff Masters |
6–7, 7–6, 7–6 |
14. | 1975 | Caracas WCT, Venezuela | Hard | Raúl Ramírez | Ross Case Geoff Masters |
7–5, 4–6, 6–2 |
15. | 1975 | Washington D.C., U.S. | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Robert Lutz Stan Smith |
7–5, 2–6, 6–1 |
16. | 1975 | Melbourne Indoor, Australia | Grass | Raúl Ramírez | Ross Case Geoff Masters |
6–4, 6–0 |
17. | 1976 | French Open, Paris | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart |
7–6, 6–3, 6–1 |
18. | 1976 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | Bob Hewitt | Dick Stockton Roscoe Tanner |
6–3, 6–4 |
19. | 1976 | Vienna, Austria | Hard (i) | Raúl Ramírez | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan |
6–4, 4–0, ret. |
20. | 1976 | Wembley, England | Carpet | Wojtek Fibak | Stan Smith Roscoe Tanner |
7–6, 6–3 |
21. | 1977 | Washington Indoor, U.S. | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | Robert Lutz Stan Smith |
6–3, 7–5 |
22. | 1977 | U.S. Open, New York | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan |
6–4, 6–0 |
23. | 1977 | Maui, U.S. | Hard | Raúl Ramírez | Robert Lutz Stan Smith |
7–6, 6–4 |
24. | 1977 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard (i) | Raúl Ramírez | Wojtek Fibak Tom Okker |
6–3, 6–3 |
25. | 1977 | Wembley, England | Hard | Raúl Ramírez | Sandy Mayer Frew McMillan |
6–3, 7–6 |
26. | 1979 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | Raúl Ramírez | Peter Fleming John McEnroe |
4–6, 6–4, 6–2, 6–2 |
27. | 1979 | Washington, U.S. | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Marty Riessen Sherwood Stewart |
2–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
28. | 1979 | Basel, Switzerland | Hard (i) | Raúl Ramírez | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan |
6–3, 6–4 |
29. | 1979 | Vienna, Austria | Hard (i) | Raúl Ramírez | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan |
6–4, 3–6, 6–1 |
30. | 1980 | Baltimore WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Frew McMillan | Tim Gullikson Marty Riessen |
2–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
31. | 1980 | Philadelphia, U.S. | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | Peter Fleming John McEnroe |
6–3, 7–6 |
32. | 1980 | Richmond WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Frew McMillan | Fritz Buehning Johan Kriek |
3–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
33. | 1980 | French Open, Paris | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Victor Amaya Hank Pfister |
1–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–3 |
34. | 1980 | Paris Indoor, France | Carpet | Raymond Moore | Paolo Bertolucci Adriano Panatta |
6–4, 6–4 |
35. | 1980 | Sydney Outdoor, Australia | Grass | Vitas Gerulaitis | Peter McNamara Paul McNamee |
6–2, 6–4 |
36. | 1981 | Philadelphia, U.S. | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | Marty Riessen Sherwood Stewart |
6–2, 6–2 |
37. | 1981 | Richmond WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | Tim Gullikson Bernard Mitton |
3–6, 6–2, 6–3 |
38. | 1981 | Stowe, U.S. | Hard | Robert Lutz | Johan Kriek Larry Stefanki |
2–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
39. | 1982 | Tampa, U.S. | Hard | Hank Pfister | Tim Gullikson Tom Gullikson |
6–2, 6–3 |
40. | 1983 | Masters Doubles WCT, London | Carpet | Raúl Ramírez | Heinz Günthardt Balázs Taróczy |
6–3, 7–5, 7–6 |
41. | 1983 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | Mark Edmondson | Heinz Günthardt Balázs Taróczy |
7–6, 4–6, 6–4 |
[edit] Davis Cup
Gottfried was 7–7 in Davis Cup play for the US between 1975 and 1982.[5]
[edit] Halls of Fame & Awards
He received the ATP Sportsmanship award for 1984.
Gottfried was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in 1990.[6]
Gottfried, who is Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.[7]
[edit] Life after playing career
Gottfried now resides in Ponte Vedra, Florida, works with the ATP tour, and occasionally plays on the senior circuit.
In 2007 he joined the coaching staff at the Harold Solomon Tennis Institute in Fort Lauderdale.[8]
[edit] External links
- ATP Tour profile for Brian Gottfried
- Davis Cup profile for Brian Gottfried
- Jewish Sports bio
- Jews in Sports bio