Robert Lutz (born August 29, 1947) is an American former amateur and a professional tennis player of the 1960s and 1970s. He and Stan Smith were one of the best doubles teams of all time. Bud Collins ranked Lutz as world No. 7 in singles in 1972.[1] From 1967 to 1977, he was ranked amongst the top-10 American players eight times, with his highest ranking being No. 5 in both 1968 and 1970.
Country (sports) | ![]() |
---|---|
Born | San Clemente, California, United States | August 29, 1947
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Turned pro | 1970 (amateur from 1965) |
Retired | 1982 |
Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
Prize money | $1,165,276 |
Singles | |
Career record | 468–303 (60.7%) in pre Open-Era & Open Era |
Career titles | 11 |
Highest ranking | No. 7 (1972, Bud Collins)[1] |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | SF (1971) |
French Open | 4R (1971) |
Wimbledon | QF (1969) |
US Open | 4R (1967, 1971, 1972, 1978, 1982) |
Other tournaments | |
WCT Finals | SF (1976) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 494–215 |
Career titles | 43 |
Highest ranking | No. 6 (April 30, 1977) |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Australian Open | W (1970) |
French Open | F (1974) |
Wimbledon | F (1974, 1980, 1981) |
US Open | W (1968, 1974, 1978, 1980) |
Career edit
Lutz won the 1967 NCAA singles title, and with Stan Smith, won the NCAA doubles crown in 1967 and 1968. He won the men's singles in the Ojai Tennis Tournament in 1966.[2]
During his career, he won 11 singles titles, the most important being the U.S. Pro Tennis Championships in 1972 and the Paris Masters in 1978. He reached 15 other singles finals, including Cincinnati in 1974. He won 43 doubles titles, 37 of which were won with Stan Smith, and he reached 30 other doubles finals. With Smith, he formed the only team to win the doubles title at U.S. Championships on four different surfaces (clay, grass, hard and indoor).[3] His doubles titles include the US Open in 1980, 1978, 1974, and 1968; the Australian Open in 1970 and Cincinnati in 1969. In addition, he played on five winning Davis Cup teams between 1968 and 1981 and had a 14–2 record playing doubles.[4] Lutz was nominated for the ITF Tennis Hall of Fame thanks to these achievements.[5]
Honors and personal life edit
He was inducted into the Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984.[6] Lutz, a 1971 graduate of the University of Southern California, was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2009.[7][8] He has been living in San Clemente, California since 1973 with his wife Sharon and their daughters Samantha and Allison.[9]
Career finals edit
Singles edit
Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 0–1 | 1968 | U.S. Championships, Boston | Grass | Arthur Ashe | 6–4, 3–6, 10–8, 0–6, 4–6 |
Win | 1–1 | 1970 | Manchester, England | Grass | Tom Gorman | 6–2, 9–7 |
Win | 2–1 | 1970 | Columbus, U.S. | Hard | Tom Gorman | 7–5, 1–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
Win | 3–1 | 1971 | Sacramento, U.S. | Hard | Alex Olmedo | 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 4–1 | 1971 | Cologne WCT, West Germany | Carpet (i) | Jeff Borowiak | 6–3, 6–7, 6–3, 6–2 |
Loss | 4–2 | 1971 | Barcelona WCT, Spain | Clay | Manuel Orantes | 4–6, 3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 5–2 | 1972 | Boston WCT, U.S. | Hard | Tom Okker | 6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
Loss | 5–3 | 1972 | Essen WCT, West Germany | Carpet (i) | Nikola Pilić | 6–4, 4–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–7 |
Loss | 5–4 | 1972 | Rome, Italy | Carpet (i) | Arthur Ashe | 2–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–7 |
Loss | 5–5 | 1973 | Philadelphia WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Stan Smith | 6–7, 6–7, 6–4, 4–6 |
Loss | 5–6 | 1974 | Cincinnati, U.S. | Hard | Marty Riessen | 6–7, 6–7 |
Win | 6–6 | 1975 | Tokyo WCT, Japan | Carpet | Stan Smith | 6–4, 6–4 |
Loss | 6–7 | 1975 | Columbus, U.S. | Clay | Vijay Amritraj | 4–6, 5–7 |
Loss | 6–8 | 1975 | Sydney Indoor, Australia | Hard (i) | Stan Smith | 6–7, 2–6 |
Loss | 6–9 | 1976 | Rome WCT, Italy | Carpet (i) | Arthur Ashe | 2–6, 6–0, 3–6 |
Loss | 6–10 | 1976 | Rotterdam WCT, Netherlands | Carpet (i) | Arthur Ashe | 3–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 6–11 | 1976 | Maui, U.S. | Hard | Harold Solomon | 3–6, 7–5, 5–7 |
Loss | 6–12 | 1977 | Ocean City, U.S. | Hard | Vitas Gerulaitis | 6–3, 1–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 6–13 | 1977 | Washington Indoor, US | Carpet (i) | Brian Gottfried | 1–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 6–14 | 1978 | Columbus, U.S. | Clay | Arthur Ashe | 3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 7–14 | 1978 | Paris Indoor, France | Hard (i) | Tom Gullikson | 6–2, 6–2, 7–6 |
Win | 8–14 | 1979 | Taipei, Taiwan | Carpet | Pat DuPré | 6–3, 6–4, 2–6, 6–3 |
Win | 9–14 | 1980 | Columbus, U.S. | Hard | Terry Rocavert | 6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 10–14 | 1980 | Stowe, U.S. | Hard | Johan Kriek | 6–3, 6–1 |
Win | 11–14 | 1980 | Cologne, West Germany | Carpet (i) | Nick Saviano | 6–4, 6–0 |
Loss | 11–15 | 1983 | Tampa, U.S. | Carpet | Johan Kriek | 2–6, 4–6 |
Doubles edit
Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1–0 | 1968 | US Open, New York | Grass | Stan Smith | Arthur Ashe Andrés Gimeno |
11–9, 6–1, 7–5 |
Win | 2–0 | 1969 | Cincinnati, U.S. | Clay | Stan Smith | Arthur Ashe Charlie Pasarell |
6–3, 6–4 |
Win | 3–0 | 1970 | Australian Open, Sydney | Grass | Stan Smith | John Alexander Phil Dent |
8–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 3–1 | 1970 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Hard | Stan Smith | Tom Okker Marty Riessen |
6–7, 2–6 |
Win | 4–1 | 1970 | Berkeley, U.S. | Hard | Stan Smith | Roy Barth Tom Gorman |
6–2, 7–5, 4–6, 6–2 |
Loss | 4–2 | 1971 | Dallas WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Charlie Pasarell | Tom Okker Marty Riessen |
3–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 4–3 | 1971 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard (i) | Arthur Ashe | Tom Gorman Stan Smith |
4–6, 3–6 |
Win | 5–3 | 1972 | Philadelphia WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Arthur Ashe | John Newcombe Tony Roche |
6–3, 6–7, 6–3 |
Loss | 5–4 | 1972 | Louisville WCT, U.S. | Clay | Arthur Ashe | John Alexander Phil Dent |
4–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 5–5 | 1972 | Boston WCT, U.S. | Hard | Arthur Ashe | John Newcombe Tony Roche |
3–6, 6–1, 6–7 |
Loss | 5–6 | 1972 | Rotterdam WCT, Netherlands | Carpet (i) | Arthur Ashe | Roy Emerson John Newcombe |
6–7, 6–7 |
Win | 6–6 | 1973 | Brussels WCT, Belgium | Carpet (i) | Stan Smith | John Alexander Phil Dent |
6–4, 7–6 |
Win | 7–6 | 1973 | Johannesburg WCT, South Africa | Hard | Stan Smith | Frew McMillan Allan Stone |
6–1, 6–4, 6–4 |
Win | 8–6 | 1973 | World Doubles WCT, Montreal | Carpet (i) | Stan Smith | Tom Okker Marty Riessen |
6–2, 7–6, 6–0 |
Win | 9–6 | 1974 | Atlanta WCT, U.S. | Clay | Stan Smith | Brian Gottfried Dick Stockton |
6–3, 3–6, 7–6 |
Win | 10–6 | 1974 | New Orleans WCT, U.S. | Other | Stan Smith | Owen Davidson John Newcombe |
4–6, 6–4, 7–6 |
Loss | 10–7 | 1974 | French Open, Paris | Clay | Stan Smith | Dick Crealy Onny Parun |
3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 7–5, 1–6 |
Loss | 10–8 | 1974 | Nottingham, England | Grass | Stan Smith | Charlie Pasarell Erik van Dillen |
4–6, 7–9 |
Loss | 10–9 | 1974 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | Stan Smith | John Newcombe Tony Roche |
6–8, 4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 11–9 | 1974 | Boston, U.S. | Clay | Stan Smith | Hans-Jürgen Pohmann Marty Riessen |
3–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
Loss | 11–10 | 1974 | Columbus, U.S. | Hard | Tom Gorman | Anand Amritraj Vijay Amritraj |
def. |
Win | 12–10 | 1974 | US Open, New York | Grass | Stan Smith | Patricio Cornejo Jaime Fillol |
6–3, 6–3 |
Win | 13–10 | 1974 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | Stan Smith | John Alexander Syd Ball |
6–4, 7–6 |
Win | 14–10 | 1975 | Fort Worth WCT, U.S. | Hard | Stan Smith | John Alexander Phil Dent |
6–7, 7–6, 6–3 |
Win | 15–10 | 1975 | Tokyo Indoor, Japan | Carpet (i) | Stan Smith | John Alexander Phil Dent |
6–4, 6–7, 6–2 |
Win | 16–10 | 1975 | Houston, U.S. | Clay | Stan Smith | Mike Estep Russell Simpson |
7–5, 7–6 |
Win | 17–10 | 1975 | Washington D.C., U.S. | Clay | Stan Smith | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez |
7–5, 2–6, 6–1 |
Win | 18–10 | 1975 | Columbus, U.S. | Clay | Stan Smith | Jürgen Fassbender Hans-Jürgen Pohmann |
6–2, 6–7, 6–3 |
Win | 19–10 | 1976 | Indianapolis WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Stan Smith | Vitas Gerulaitis Tom Gorman |
6–2, 6–4 |
Win | 20–10 | 1976 | Barcelona WCT, Spain | Clay | Stan Smith | Wojciech Fibak Karl Meiler |
6–3, 6–3 |
Win | 21–10 | 1976 | Rome WCT, Italy | Clay | Stan Smith | Dick Crealy Frew McMillan |
6–7, 6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 21–11 | 1976 | World Doubles WCT, Kansas City | Carpet (i) | Stan Smith | Wojciech Fibak Karl Meiler |
3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 3–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 21–12 | 1976 | Las Vegas, U.S. | Hard | Stan Smith | Arthur Ashe Charlie Pasarell |
4–6, 2–6 |
Win | 22–12 | 1976 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Hard | Stan Smith | Arthur Ashe Charlie Pasarell |
6–2, 3–6, 6–3 |
Loss | 22–13 | 1977 | Memphis, U.S. | Hard | Stan Smith | Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart |
6–4, 6–7, 6–7 |
Win | 23–13 | 1977 | Washington Indoor, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Stan Smith | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez |
6–3, 7–5 |
Loss | 23–14 | 1977 | Los Angeles PSW U.S. | Hard | Stan Smith | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan |
3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 24–14 | 1977 | Las Vegas, U.S. | Hard | Stan Smith | Bob Hewitt Raúl Ramírez |
6–3, 3–6, 6–4 |
Win | 25–14 | 1977 | Columbus, US | Clay | Stan Smith | Peter Fleming Gene Mayer |
4–6, 7–5, 6–2 |
Win | 26–14 | 1977 | Maui, U.S. | Hard | Stan Smith | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez |
7–6, 6–4 |
Win | 27–14 | 1977 | Johannesburg WCT, South Africa | Hard | Stan Smith | Peter Fleming Raymond Moore |
6–3, 7–5, 6–7, 7–6 |
Win | 28–14 | 1978 | Springfield, U.S. | Carpet | Stan Smith | Jan Kodeš Marty Riessen |
6–3, 6–3 |
Win | 29–14 | 1978 | Washington Indoor, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Stan Smith | Arthur Ashe John McEnroe |
6–7, 7–5, 6–1 |
Loss | 29–15 | 1978 | Rotterdam WCT, Netherlands | Carpet (i) | Stan Smith | Fred McNair Raúl Ramírez |
2–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 29–16 | 1978 | World Doubles WCT, Kansas City | Carpet (i) | Stan Smith | Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker |
7–6, 4–6, 0–6, 3–6 |
Win | 30–16 | 1978 | US Open, New York | Hard | Stan Smith | Marty Riessen Sherwood Stewart |
1–6, 7–5, 6–3 |
Loss | 30–17 | 1978 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | Stan Smith | Peter Fleming John McEnroe |
7–5, 4–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 30–18 | 1978 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard (i) | Stan Smith | Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker |
3–6, 2–6 |
Win | 31–18 | 1979 | Denver, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Stan Smith | Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker |
7–6, 6–3 |
Win | 32–18 | 1979 | Washington Indoor, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Stan Smith | Bob Carmichael Brian Teacher |
6–4, 7–5, 3–6, 7–6 |
Loss | 32–19 | 1979 | New Orleans, U.S. | Carpet | Stan Smith | Peter Fleming John McEnroe |
1–6, 3–6 |
Win | 33–19 | 1979 | Newport, U.S. | Grass | Stan Smith | John James Chris Kachel |
6–4, 7–6 |
Win | 34–19 | 1979 | Columbus, U.S. | Clay | Brian Gottfried | Tim Gullikson Tom Gullikson |
4–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
Win | 35–19 | 1979 | Cleveland, U.S. | Hard | Stan Smith | Francisco González Fred McNair |
6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 35–20 | 1979 | Cincinnati, U.S. | Hard | Stan Smith | Brian Gottfried Ilie Năstase |
6–1, 3–6, 6–7 |
Loss | 35–21 | 1979 | US Open, New York | Hard | Stan Smith | Peter Fleming John McEnroe |
2–6, 4–6 |
Win | 36–21 | 1979 | Hong Kong | Hard | Pat DuPré | Steve Denton Mark Turpin |
6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 36–22 | 1979 | Taipei, Taiwan | Carpet | Pat DuPré | Mark Edmondson John Marks |
1–6, 6–3, 4–6 |
Win | 37–22 | 1980 | Tulsa, U.S. | Hard (i) | Dick Stockton | Francisco González Fred McNair |
2–6, 7–6, 6–2 |
Win | 38–22 | 1980 | Las Vegas, U.S. | Hard | Stan Smith | Wojciech Fibak Gene Mayer |
6–2, 7–5 |
Loss | 38–23 | 1980 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | Stan Smith | Peter McNamara Paul McNamee |
6–7, 3–6, 7–6, 4–6 |
Win | 39–23 | 1980 | Stowe, U.S. | Hard | Bernard Mitton | Ilie Năstase Ferdi Taygan |
6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 40–23 | 1980 | US Open, New York | Hard | Stan Smith | Peter Fleming John McEnroe |
7–6, 3–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3 |
Loss | 40–24 | 1980 | Sawgrass Doubles, U.S. | Hard | Stan Smith | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez |
6–7, 4–6, 6–2, 6–7 |
Win | 41–24 | 1980 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet (i) | Stan Smith | Heinz Günthardt Pavel Složil |
6–1, 6–2 |
Loss | 41–25 | 1980 | Stockholm, Sweden | Carpet (i) | Stan Smith | Heinz Günthardt Paul McNamee |
7–6, 3–6, 2–6 |
Win | 42–25 | 1980 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | Stan Smith | Heinz Günthardt Paul McNamee |
6–7, 6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 42–26 | 1981 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | Stan Smith | Peter Fleming John McEnroe |
4–6, 4–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 42–27 | 1981 | Stowe, U.S. | Hard | Brian Gottfried | Johan Kriek Larry Stefanki |
6–2, 1–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 42–28 | 1981 | Cincinnati, U.S. | Hard | Stan Smith | John McEnroe Ferdi Taygan |
6–7, 3–6 |
Loss | 42–29 | 1981 | Sawgrass Doubles, U.S. | Hard | Stan Smith | Heinz Günthardt Peter McNamara |
6–7, 6–3, 6–7, 7–5, 4–6 |
Loss | 42–30 | 1982 | La Costa WCT, U.S. | Hard | Raúl Ramírez | Fritz Buehning Johan Kriek |
6–3, 6–7, 3–6 |
Win | 43–30 | 1982 | Hartford WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Dick Stockton | Mike Cahill Tracy Delatte |
7–6, 6–3 |
Grand Slam finals edit
Doubles edit
Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1968 | US Open | Grass | Stan Smith | Arthur Ashe Andrés Gimeno |
11–9, 6–1, 7–5 |
Win | 1970 | Australian Open | Grass | Stan Smith | John Alexander Phil Dent |
8–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 1974 | French Open | Clay | Stan Smith | Dick Crealy Onny Parun |
3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 7–5, 1–6 |
Loss | 1974 | Wimbledon | Grass | Stan Smith | John Newcombe Tony Roche |
6–8, 4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 1974 | US Open (2) | Clay | Stan Smith | Patricio Cornejo Jaime Fillol |
6–3, 6–3 |
Win | 1978 | US Open (3) | Hard | Stan Smith | Marty Riessen Sherwood Stewart |
1–6, 7–5, 6–3 |
Loss | 1979 | US Open | Hard | Stan Smith | Peter Fleming John McEnroe |
4–6, 4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 1980 | US Open (4) | Hard | Stan Smith | Peter Fleming John McEnroe |
7–6, 3–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3 |
Loss | 1980 | Wimbledon | Grass | Stan Smith | Peter McNamara Paul McNamee |
6–7, 3–6, 7–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 1981 | Wimbledon | Grass | Stan Smith | Peter Fleming John McEnroe |
4–6, 4–6, 4–6 |
References edit
- ^ a b Collins, Bud (2003). Total Tennis: The Ultimate Tennis Encyclopedia, p. 917.
- ^ Past championsojaitourney.org December 2012 Archived March 1, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Emery, David, ed. (1983). Who's Who in International Tennis. London: Sphere. p. 74. ISBN 9780722133200.
- ^ "Davis Cup player profile". International Tennis Federation (ITF).
- ^ "International Tennis Hall Of Fame Announces Ballot Names For 2010 Induction". Archived from the original on October 6, 2011.
- ^ "ITA Men's Hall of Fame". Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
- ^ Mark Garcia (July 17, 2009). "San Clemente's Lutz to be inducted into tennis hall of fame". The Orange County Register.
- ^ "USC Hall of Fame" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
- ^ "Tennis column: Q&A - Catching up with Bob Lutz". The Daily Courier. October 13, 2011.
External links edit
- Bob Lutz at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- Bob Lutz at the International Tennis Federation
- Bob Lutz at the Davis Cup