Haroon Rahim

Haroon Rahim
Country  Pakistan
Born 12 November 1949 (1949-11-12) (age 62)
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Height 5'10
Turned pro 1968
Plays Right-handed
Career prize money N/A
Singles
Career record 119–150
Career titles 2
Highest ranking No. 44 (2 July 1977)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open -
French Open 2R (1975)
Wimbledon 2R (1976), (1977)
US Open 3R (1971)
Doubles
Career record 101–127
Career titles 3
Highest ranking N/A
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open -
French Open 2R (1972)
Wimbledon 3R (1976)
US Open QF (1971)
Last updated on: 25 September 2008.

Haroon Rahim, (born 12 November 1949) is a Pakistani former tennis player. The former Pakistan and Asian number one, Rahim was the youngest tennis player ever to play for Pakistan in the Davis Cup at 15 years of age. He was also the highest ranking Pakistani tennis player ever (career high ATP ranking: 44 in 1977). He led the UCLA team to victory with Jeff Borowiak and Jimmy Connors in 1970–71 and was 1971 NCAA doubles champion with Jeff Borowiak.

He was from the Punjab city of Lahore, from a large family of avid tennis players. His father, Mir Abdur Rahim, was a civil servant who encouraged his children, sons and daughters, to play tennis. His father loved tennis so much that he said he wanted to die on the tennis court. In 1968, he died of a heart attack while playing doubles with friends at the picturesque Mayo Gardens, Lahore.

Haroon Rahim was only the second Pakistani after Khawaja Saeed Hai to make it to the Wimbledon's main draw. He played in many Grand Slams, in both singles and doubles. Rahim won two ATP titles, the first at Little Rock against former Wimbledon runner up, Alex Metreveli of the Soviet Union, and then the second at Cleveland, against the former record holder of the fastest serve, Australian, Colin Dibley, both in 1976.

He also lost a final to Spanish US Open winner and French Open finalist, Manuel Orantes.

He also won 3 doubles titles, one at Oslo in 1974, North Conway in 1975 and Little Rock in 1978. Success was also seen in the men's doubles where he made it to the quarter finals of the US Open, the third round of Wimbledon, and the second round of the French Open.

Haroon Rahim is the winner of the closest match ever played, he beat Tom Gorman 6-7 (3-5), 7-6 (5-1), 7-6 (5-4) Pennsylvania Grass Championships, as both players never losing their serve, each set went to a tie break with Haroon winning the match by just one point.

Last known to be in the US, Haroon lost contact with his family and his whereabouts is unknown.

Contents

Grand Slams

Performance Timeline (Singles)

Tournament 1977 1976 1975 1971
Australian Open - - - -
French Open - - 2R -
Wimbledon 2R 2R - -
US Open - - - 3R

Performance Timeline (Doubles)

Tournament 1976 1972 1971
Australian Open - - -
French Open - 2R -
Wimbledon 3R - -
US Open - - QF

ATP Tour titles (5)

Singles wins (2)

No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score
1. 29 January 1976 Cleveland, USA Carpet Alex Metreveli 6–4, 6–4
2. 24 April 1976 Little Rock, USA Carpet Colin Dibley 6–4, 7–5

Doubles wins (3)

No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents in the final Score
1. 16 November 1974 Oslo, Norway N/A Karl Meiler Jeff Borowiak
Vitas Gerulaitis		 6–3 6–2
2. 4 August 1975 North Conway, USA Clay Erik Van Dillen John Alexander
Phil Dent		 7–6 7–6
3. 31 January 1977 Little Rock, USA Carpet Colin Dibley Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 7–6(5) 6–4

ATP Tour Runner up (5)

Singles Runner up (2)

No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score
1. 17 March 1972 Caracas, Venezuela Hard Manuel Orantes 4–6, 5–7, 4–6
2. 31 January 1977 Little Rock, USA Carpet Sandy Mayer 2–6, 4–6

Doubles Runner up (3)

No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents in the final Score
1. 14 February 1971 New York, USA N/A Jimmy Connors Juan Gisbert Sr
Manuel Orantes		 6–7 2–6
2. 5 October 1975 Maui, USA Hard Jeff Borowiak Fred McNair
Sherwood Stewart		 6–3 6–7 3–6
3. 1 March 1976 Little Rock, USA Carpet Giuliano Pecci Syd Ball
Ray Ruffels		 3–6 7–6 3–6

External links