Ray Ruffels
![]() AIS Head Tennis Coach Ray Ruffels in 1981 | |
Full name | Raymond Owen Ruffels |
---|---|
Country (sports) | ![]() |
Born | Sydney, Australia | 23 March 1946
Turned pro | 1968 (amateur from 1964) |
Retired | 1980 |
Plays | Left-handed (one-handed backhand) |
Singles | |
Career record | 452-316 |
Career titles | 13 |
Highest ranking | No. 27 (12 December 1976) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | SF (1968, 1969, 1976) |
French Open | 4R (1968) |
Wimbledon | QF (1967) |
US Open | 4R (1966) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 219–137 |
Career titles | 16 |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Australian Open | W (1977) |
Mixed doubles | |
Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
Wimbledon | F (1978) |
US Open | F (1978) |
Raymond Owen "Ray" Ruffels (born 23 March 1946)[1] is an Australian former professional tennis player and coach.
Playing career
[edit]Ruffels was an Australian Open semi-finalist in 1968, 1969 and 1975, and a quarter-finalist in 1970 and 1977. In 1978, partnering with Billie Jean King in mixed doubles competition, Ruffels reached the final at Wimbledon and the US Open.
He was a member of the Australian Davis Cup team in 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1977.[1]
Career finals
[edit]Doubles (16 titles, 7 runner-ups)
[edit]Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1–0 | 1970 | Merion, US | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 6–2, 7–5 |
Win | 2–0 | 1970 | Phoenix, US | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6, 6–3 |
Win | 3–0 | 1970 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 6–2, 5–7, 6–7, 6–3 |
Win | 4–0 | 1971 | Auckland, New Zealand | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–7, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
Loss | 4–1 | 1971 | Tehran WCT, Iran | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 7–6, 1–6 |
Loss | 4–2 | 1971 | Washington WCT, US | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7, 2–6 |
Win | 5–2 | 1972 | Toronto WCT, Canada | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 |
Win | 6–2 | 1972 | Quebec WCT, Canada | Indoor | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
Loss | 6–3 | 1974 | Christchurch, New Zealand | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | W/O | |
Win | 7–3 | 1975 | Auckland, New Zealand | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6, RET. |
Win | 8–3 | 1975 | Baltimore WCT, US | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 9–3 | 1975 | Dayton Indoor, US | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6, 7–5 |
Loss | 9–4 | 1975 | Orlando WCT, US | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 10–4 | 1975 | St. Louis, US | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–4 |
Win | 11–4 | 1976 | Dayton, US | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 3–6, 7–5 |
Win | 12–4 | 1976 | Little Rock, US | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–7, 6–3 |
Win | 13–4 | 1976 | Boston, US | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
Loss | 13–5 | 1976 | Bermuda | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 6–4, 6–7 |
Win | 14–5 | 1976 | Bangalore, India | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 7–6 |
Loss | 14–6 | 1977 | La Costa WCT, US | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 2–6 |
Win | 15–6 | 1977 | Perth, Australia | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 6–1 |
Loss | 15–7 | 1977 | Sydney Outdoor, Australia | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7, 6–2, 3–6 |
Win | 16–7 | 1977 | Australian Open-2, Melbourne | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6, 7–6 |
Coaching career
[edit]Ruffels was appointed the inaugural Head Coach of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) tennis program in 1981. He held this position until his retirement in January 1990.[2] Whilst at the AIS, Ruffels coached many young players that would have successful professional careers including: Pat Cash, Wally Masur, Darren Cahill, Todd Woodbridge, Richard Fromberg, Simon Youl and Johan Anderson.[3] After leaving the AIS, he coached Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, who as a doubles team won many major titles including the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.[4]
In 2009, he returned to Australia to work at the AIS after being a national coach for the United States Tennis Association player development program in California.[5]
In November 2016, he was awarded The President's Spirit of Tennis by Tennis Australia.
Personal
[edit]Ruffels married professional tennis player Anna-Maria Fernandez and they have two children, Ryan and Gabriela; both have taken up golf as a career.[6][7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Ray Ruffels". Tennis Australia. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ Australian Sports Commission. Annual report 1989-1990 (PDF).
- ^ "Tennis at the Australian Institute of Sport". Australian Web Archive. Archived from the original on 19 January 2000. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Ray Ruffels wins The President's Spirit of Tennis Award". Tennis Australia website. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- ^ "Ruffels returns to coach Aussie youngsters". Australia: ABC News. 24 July 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- ^ "The Inside Story: Ryan Ruffels". Golf Australia website. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- ^ "Little sister steals limelight". Golf Australia website. Retrieved 27 September 2017.