Wikipedia

Ray Ruffels

Raymond Owen "Ray" Ruffels (born 23 March 1946)[1] is an Australian former professional tennis player and coach.

Ray Ruffels
AIS Head Tennis Coach Ray Ruffels in 1981
Full nameRaymond Owen Ruffels
Country (sports) Australia
Born (1946-03-23) 23 March 1946 (age 78)
Sydney, Australia
Turned pro1968 (amateur from 1964)
Retired1980
PlaysLeft-handed (one-handed backhand)
Singles
Career record452-316
Career titles13
Highest rankingNo. 27 (12 December 1976)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenSF (1968, 1969, 1976)
French Open4R (1968)
WimbledonQF (1967)
US Open4R (1966)
Doubles
Career record219–137
Career titles16
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenW (1977)
Mixed doubles
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
WimbledonF (1978)
US OpenF (1978)

Playing career

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Ruffels was an Australian Open semi-finalist in 1968, 1969 and 1976, 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. Ruffels beat newly crowned US Open champion Stan Smith at the Wembley tournament in 1971.[2] He had two wins over Ken Rosewall and one over John Newcombe in ATP events.[3] He won five open era ATP singles titles at Hobart in 1968, Brisbane in 1969, Haverford in 1970, Auckland in 1972 and Perth indoors in 1976.[4]

He was a member of the Australian Davis Cup team in 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1977.[1]

Career finals

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Doubles (16 titles, 7 runner-ups)

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Result W–L Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1–0 1970 Merion, US Hard   Bill Bowrey   Jim McManus
  Jim Osborne 		3–6, 6–2, 7–5
Win 2–0 1970 Phoenix, US Hard   Dick Crealy   Jan Kodeš
  Charlie Pasarell 		7–6, 6–3
Win 3–0 1970 Buenos Aires, Argentina Clay   Bob Carmichael   Željko Franulović
  Jan Kodeš 		7–5, 6–2, 5–7, 6–7, 6–3
Win 4–0 1971 Auckland, New Zealand Grass   Bob Carmichael   Brian Fairlie
  Raymond Moore 		6–3, 6–7, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
Loss 4–1 1971 Tehran WCT, Iran Clay   Bob Carmichael   John Newcombe
  Tony Roche 		4–6, 7–6, 1–6
Loss 4–2 1971 Washington WCT, US Clay   Bob Carmichael   Tom Okker
  Marty Riessen 		6–7, 2–6
Win 5–2 1972 Toronto WCT, Canada Carpet   Bob Carmichael   Roy Emerson
  Rod Laver 		6–4, 4–6, 6–4
Win 6–2 1972 Quebec WCT, Canada Indoor   Bob Carmichael   John Alexander
  Terry Addison 		4–6, 6–3, 7–5
Loss 6–3 1974 Christchurch, New Zealand   Syd Ball   Ismail El Shafei
  Roscoe Tanner 		W/O
Win 7–3 1975 Auckland, New Zealand Grass   Bob Carmichael   Brian Fairlie
  Onny Parun 		7–6, RET.
Win 8–3 1975 Baltimore WCT, US Carpet   Dick Crealy   Ismail El Shafei
  Frew McMillan 		6–4, 6–3
Win 9–3 1975 Dayton Indoor, US Carpet   Allan Stone   Paul Gerken
  Brian Gottfried 		7–6, 7–5
Loss 9–4 1975 Orlando WCT, US Hard   Colin Dibley   Brian Gottfried
  Raúl Ramírez 		4–6, 4–6
Win 10–4 1975 St. Louis, US Clay   Colin Dibley   Ross Case
  Geoff Masters 		6–4, 6–4
Win 11–4 1976 Dayton, US Carpet   Sherwood Stewart   Jaime Fillol
  Charlie Pasarell 		6–2, 3–6, 7–5
Win 12–4 1976 Little Rock, US Carpet   Syd Ball   Giuliano Pecci
  Haroon Rahim 		6–3, 6–7, 6–3
Win 13–4 1976 Boston, US Clay   Allan Stone   Mike Cahill
  John Whitlinger 		3–6, 6–3, 7–6
Loss 13–5 1976 Bermuda Clay   Dick Crealy   Mike Cahill
  John Whitlinger 		4–6, 6–4, 6–7
Win 14–5 1976 Bangalore, India Clay   Bob Carmichael   Chiradip Mukerjea
  Bhanu Nunna 		6–2, 7–6
Loss 14–6 1977 La Costa WCT, US Hard   Allan Stone   Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan 		4–6, 2–6
Win 15–6 1977 Perth, Australia Hard   Allan Stone   Nick Saviano
  John Whitlinger 		6–2, 6–1
Loss 15–7 1977 Sydney Outdoor, Australia Grass   Allan Stone   John Alexander
  Phil Dent 		6–7, 6–2, 3–6
Win 16–7 1977 Australian Open-2, Melbourne Grass   Allan Stone   John Alexander
  Phil Dent 		7–6, 7–6

Coaching career

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Ruffels was appointed head national tennis coach of Tennis Australia in 1980.[5] He 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.[5][6] 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.[7] 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.[8]

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.[9]

In November 2016, he was awarded The President's Spirit of Tennis by Tennis Australia.

Personal

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Ruffels married professional tennis player Anna-Maria Fernandez and they have two children, Ryan and Gabriela; both have taken up golf as a career.[10][11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ray Ruffels". Tennis Australia. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Smith ousted By Ruffels". The Canberra Times. 27 October 1971. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Tennis player, umpire argue over out call". The Canberra Times. 21 October 1976. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Ray Ruffels". ATP. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Ruffels to vacate AIS". The Canberra Times. 4 August 1989. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  6. ^ Australian Sports Commission. Annual report 1989-1990 (PDF).
  7. ^ "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)
  8. ^ "Ray Ruffels wins The President's Spirit of Tennis Award". Tennis Australia website. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  9. ^ "Ruffels returns to coach Aussie youngsters". Australia: ABC News. 24 July 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  10. ^ "The Inside Story: Ryan Ruffels". Golf Australia website. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Little sister steals limelight". Golf Australia website. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
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