Brian Gottfried - Biography

Brian Edward Gottfried (born January 27, 1952) is a retired 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 Association of Tennis Professionals tour on June 19, 1977, when he became World No. 3.

תוכן עניינים

Tennis career

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. He was an All-American in 1971 and 1972. He was the runner-up in NCAA singles and doubles in 1972.

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." He won the Italian Open doubles championship in 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 title 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 among the doubles leaders.

His game was viewed as technically flawless and workman-like, 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.

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 1 (1 runner-up)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Opponents in the final Score in the final
Runner-up 1977 French Open Clay Guillermo Vilas 6–0, 6–3, 6–0

Doubles: 7 (3 titles, 4 runner-ups)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents in the final Score in the final
Winner 1975 French Open Clay Raúl Ramírez John Alexander
Phil Dent
6–4, 2–6, 6–2, 6–4
Runner-up 1976 French Open Clay Raúl Ramírez Fred McNair
Sherwood Stewart
7–6, 6–3, 6–1
Winner 1976 Wimbledon Grass Raúl Ramírez Ross Case
Geoff Masters
3–6, 6–3, 8–6, 2–6, 7–5
Winner 1977 French Open Clay Raúl Ramírez Wojtek Fibak
Jan Kodeš
7–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
Runner-up 1977 US Open Clay Raúl Ramírez Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan
6–4, 6–0
Runner-up 1979 Wimbledon Grass Raúl Ramírez Peter Fleming
John McEnroe
4–6, 6–4, 6–2, 6–2
Runner-up 1980 French Open Clay Raúl Ramírez Victor Amaya
Hank Pfister
1–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–3

Grand Prix, WCT, and Grand Slam singles finals (51)

Titles (25)

No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in Final Score in Final
1. 1973 Johannesburg WCT, South Africa Hard Jaime Fillol walkover
2. 1973 Las Vegas, Nevada, 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, Maryland, U.S. Carpet Allan Stone 3–6, 6–2, 6–3
5. 1975 Dayton, Ohio, U.S. Carpet Geoff Masters 6–4, 4–6, 6–4
6. 1975 Melbourne, Australia Grass (i) Harold Solomon 6–2, 7–6, 6–1
7. 1976 Los Angeles Carpet Arthur Ashe 6–2, 6–2
8. 1977 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. Carpet Guillermo Vilas 6–3, 7–6
9. 1977 Palm Springs, California, 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, California, 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, Ohio, 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, Ohio, 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, United Kingdom Grass Sandy Mayer 6–3, 6–3
19. 1980 Washington, D.C. 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, Vermont, U.S. Hard Tony Graham 6–3, 6–3
23. 1982 Tampa, Florida, 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

Runner-ups (26)

No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in Final Score in Final
1. 1973 Fort Worth, Texas, 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 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, South Africa Hard Harold Solomon 6–2, 6–7, 6–3, 6–4
9. 1977 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. Carpet Björn Borg 6–4, 6–3, 4–6, 7–5
10. 1977 Los Angeles Carpet Stan Smith 6–4, 2–6, 6–3
11. 1977 Denver, Colorado, 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. Outdoor Guillermo Vilas 6–4, 7–5
14. 1977 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. Hard Guillermo Vilas 6–2, 6–1
15. 1977 Los Angeles 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, Hawaii, 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 Carpet Arthur Ashe 6–2, 6–4
20. 1979 Rancho Mirage, California, 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 Queen's Club Championships, London 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, Ohio, U.S. Hard Jimmy Connors 7–5, 6–0
26. 1982 Wembley, United Kingdom Carpet John McEnroe 6–3, 6–2, 6–4

Grand Prix, WCT, and Grand Slam doubles finals (95)

Titles (54)

No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponent in Final Score in Final
1. 1973 Philadelphia WCT, United States Carpet Dick Stockton Roy Emerson
Rod Laver
4–6, 6–3, 6–4
2. 1973 Las Vegas, United States Hard Dick Stockton Ken Rosewall
Fred Stolle
6–7, 6–4, 6–4
3. 1973 Fort Worth, United States Hard Dick Stockton Owen Davidson
John Newcombe
7–6, 6–4
4. 1974 Rome, Italy Clay Raúl Ramírez Juan Gisbert Sr.
Ilie Năstase
6–3, 6–2, 6–3
5. 1974 South Orange, United States Hard Raúl Ramírez Anand Amritraj
Vijay Amritraj
7–6, 6–7, 7–6
6. 1975 Philadelphia WCT, United States Carpet Raúl Ramírez Dick Stockton
Erik Van Dillen
3–6, 6–3, 7–6
7. 1975 St. Petersburg WCT, United States Hard Raúl Ramírez Charlie Pasarell
Roscoe Tanner
6–4, 6–4
8. 1975 La Costa WCT, United States Hard Raúl Ramírez Charlie Pasarell
Roscoe Tanner
7–5, 6–4
9. 1975 Orlando WCT, United States 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, United States 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, United States 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 Sr.
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, United States Carpet Raúl Ramírez Arthur Ashe
Tom Okker
6–4, 7–5
20. 1976 St. Louis WCT, United States 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, United States 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., United States Clay Raúl Ramírez Arthur Ashe
Jimmy Connors
6–3, 6–3
27. 1976 North Conway, United States Clay Raúl Ramírez Ricardo Cano
Victor Pecci
6–3, 6–0
28. 1976 Indianapolis, United States Clay Raúl Ramírez Fred McNair
Sherwood Stewart
6–2, 6–2
29. 1976 Woodlands Doubles, United States 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 Sr.
Stan Smith
1–6, 6–1, 6–2, 7–6
32. 1977 Miami, United States 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, United States 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, United States Carpet Raúl Ramírez Phil Dent
John Newcombe
3–6, 7–6, 6–2
38. 1978 Dayton, United States Carpet Geoff Masters Hank Pfister
Butch Walts
6–3, 6–4
39. 1979 Richmond WCT, United States Carpet John McEnroe Ion Ţiriac
Guillermo Vilas
6–4, 6–3
40. 1979 Columbus, United States Clay Robert Lutz Tim Gullikson
Tom Gullikson
4–6, 6–3, 7–6
41. 1979 Cincinnati, United States 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, United States Carpet John McEnroe Rod Frawley
Tomáš Šmíd
6–3, 6–7, 7–6
44. 1980 North Conway, United States Clay Jimmy Connors Kevin Curren
Steve Denton
7–6, 6–2
45. 1980 Columbus, United States Hard Sandy Mayer Peter Fleming
Eliot Teltscher
6–4, 6–2
46. 1980 Sawgrass Doubles, United States 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, United States Hard Raúl Ramírez John Lloyd
Dick Stockton
6–4, 3–6, 6–2
49. 1982 Sawgrass Doubles, United States 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, United States 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, United States Clay Tomáš Šmíd Cassio Motta
Blaine Willenborg
6–4, 6–2

Runner-ups (41)

No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponent in Final Score in Final
1. 1973 Cincinnati, United States 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, United States Clay Dick Stockton Robert Lutz
Stan Smith
6–3, 3–6, 7–6
4. 1974 Orlando WCT, United States 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, United States Carpet Raúl Ramírez Tom Gorman
Marty Riessen
4–6, 6–3, 7–5
7. 1974 Los Angeles, United States 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, United States 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., United States 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, United States 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, United States 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, United States 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, United States 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, United States Carpet Frew McMillan Tim Gullikson
Marty Riessen
2–6, 6–3, 6–4
31. 1980 Philadelphia, United States Carpet Raúl Ramírez Peter Fleming
John McEnroe
6–3, 7–6
32. 1980 Richmond WCT, United States 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, United States Carpet Raúl Ramírez Marty Riessen
Sherwood Stewart
6–2, 6–2
37. 1981 Richmond WCT, United States Carpet Raúl Ramírez Tim Gullikson
Bernard Mitton
3–6, 6–2, 6–3
38. 1981 Stowe, United States Hard Robert Lutz Johan Kriek
Larry Stefanki
2–6, 6–1, 6–2
39. 1982 Tampa, United States 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

Davis Cup

Gottfried was 7–7 in Davis Cup play for the US between 1975 and 1982.

Halls of Fame & awards

Gottfried won the 1974 & 1975 ATP Doubles Team of the Year Award with partner Raúl Ramírez.

He also won the 1976 ATP Most Improved Player Award.

He received the ATP Sportsmanship award for 1984.

Gottfried was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in 1990.

Gottfried, who is Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.

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 Gottfried joined the coaching staff at the Harold Solomon Tennis Institute in Fort Lauderdale.

In 2010, Gottfried is coaching at the Bolletieri Academy in Florida.

See also

  • List of select Jewish tennis players


External links







המאמר מזכיר את האנשים הבאים: Brian Gottfried

המידע הזה מתפרסם לפי רישיון לשימוש חופשי במסמכים של גנו (GFDL)
אתה צריך להכנס למערכת על מנת לערוך את המאמר

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