Erik van Dillen

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Erik van Dillen
Erik Van Dillen.jpg
van Dillen circa 1990
Country (sports)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Residence San Mateo, California
Born (1951-02-21) February 21, 1951 (age 74)
San Mateo
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Turned pro1964 (amateur tour)
Retired1982
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Singles
Career record274–269 [1]
Career titles9 [1]
Highest rankingNo. 36 (September 13, 1973)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open 2R (1977)
French Open 4R (1974, 1975)
Wimbledon 4R (1974)
US Open 3R (1979, 1980)
Doubles
Career record288–178
Career titles13
Highest rankingNo. 35 (August 23, 1977)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open F (1977)
French Open QF (1978)
Wimbledon F (1972)
US Open F (1971)

Erik van Dillen (born February 21, 1951) is an American retired tennis player who played over 25 Grand Slam championships at Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open. He was active from 1964 to 1982 and won 9 careers singles titles. [1]

Contents

Tennis career

Born in San Mateo, California, van Dillen first played tennis aged six years old. During his junior career, he won both the singles and doubles competitions at the "USTA Boys 16 & 18 National Championships" in Kalamazoo, Michigan, as well as winning other national titles in the 12- and 14-year-old divisions. In total, he won 12 U.S. junior titles and is the only player ever to win singles and doubles titles in all four age groups: 12, 14, 16, and 18. (Source USTA Yearbooks).[ citation needed ]

Van Dillen first played on the men's circuit in 1967 when he appeared at the U.S. Championships for the first time. In 1968, he had his first big win when he beat his future doubles partner and then American No. 1 Charlie Pasarell at the U.S. national tournament at Boston in five sets when only 17. He was ranked in the top 20 of the U.S. from 1968 to 1970 and the top 10 from 1971 to 1973.

In 1973, he won his biggest tournament beating Frew McMillan in Nottingham. In 1974, van Dillen had his best Grand Slam singles year reaching the last 16 at the French Open where he narrowly lost to eventual champion Björn Borg in five sets. At Wimbledon, he also reached the last 16, defeating Guillermo Vilas on the way. He repeated the last 16 appearance in Paris in 1975.

In 1978, van Dillen had a very strong grass-court season in England; he qualified at Nottingham and reached the last 16, and also won the doubles with Dick Stockton. At Wimbledon, he again qualified and then had the greatest win of his career defeating John McEnroe in five sets in the first round.

Van Dillen's last full year on the circuit was 1981 when he won two doubles titles and reached the semifinals of the Volvo International in North Conway with Roscoe Tanner. He also reached the semifinals in singles at Newport, Rhode Island.

He completed his career in 1982 by qualifying at his last singles event the prestigious Alan King Classic in Las Vegas and shortly after reached the final of the WCT Invitation event at Forest Hills in doubles with Dick Stockton.

Van Dillen played in the Wimbledon veterans doubles for a number of years and also played in a veterans event at Indian Wells.[ citation needed ]

Between 1960 and 1981, he beat six of the then-top players: John McEnroe, [2] Stan Smith, [3] Arthur Ashe, [4] Jimmy Connors, [5] Guillermo Vilas, [6] and Ilie Năstase. [7] At his peak, he was ranked 36th in the world in singles, and 35th in doubles. [8]

After tennis

Erik earned a degree in finance from the University of Southern California and an MBA from San Francisco State University. He joined IMG, a sports marketing agency. While at IMG, Erik worked with Joe Montana, Martina Navratilova, Arnold Palmer, Kristi Yamaguchi and Chris Evert and helped to build a number of sport and lifestyle events including the WTA Bank of the West Tennis Classic (formerly the Virginia Slims of Oakland), the US Open of Surfing (a 10-day sports and lifestyle exhibition), the Transamerica Seniors Golf Championship and the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon.[ citation needed ]

After the death of Mark McCormack in 2003, Erik left the company to create van Dillen Partners, a sports and lifestyle marketing agency. The agency works with professional sports and media associations; such as the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP), Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), Stanford University Athletics, ESPN, NBC Sports, Fox Sports Net, ABC Sports and CBS Sports.[ citation needed ]

Erik van Dillen Erik van Dillen (1964).jpg
Erik van Dillen

Career finals

Doubles (13 wins, 11 losses)

ResultW/LDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Jun 1971 London Queen's, UKGrass Flag of the United States.svg Stan Smith Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tom Okker
Flag of the United States.svg Marty Riessen
6–8, 6–4, 8–10
Win1–1Aug 1971 Cincinnati, U.S.Clay Flag of the United States.svg Stan Smith Flag of the United States.svg Sandy Mayer
Flag of the United States.svg Roscoe Tanner
6–1, 3–6, 6–4
Loss1–2Aug 1971Indianapolis, U.S.Clay Flag of the United States.svg Clark Graebner Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Željko Franulović
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Jan Kodeš
6–7, 7–5, 3–6
Loss1–3Sep 1971 South Orange, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Clark Graebner Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Carmichael
Flag of the United States.svg Tom Leonard
4–6, 6–4, 4–6
Loss1–4Sep 1971 US Open, New YorkGrass Flag of the United States.svg Stan Smith Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Newcombe
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roger Taylor
7–6, 3–6, 6–7, 6–4, 6–7
Loss1–5Jul 1972 Wimbledon, LondonGrass Flag of the United States.svg Stan Smith Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bob Hewitt
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Frew McMillan
2–6, 2–6, 7–9
Win2–5Feb 1973 Copenhagen, DenmarkCarpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Tom Gorman Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark Cox
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Stilwell
6–4, 6–4
Loss2–6Apr 1973 Vancouver, CanadaCarpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Tom Gorman Flag of France.svg Pierre Barthès
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roger Taylor
7–5, 3–6, 6–7
Loss2–7Apr 1973 Charlotte, U.S.Clay Flag of the United States.svg Tom Gorman Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tom Okker
Flag of the United States.svg Marty Riessen
6–7, 6–3, 3–6
Win3–7Jul 1973 Nottingham, UKGrass Flag of the United States.svg Tom Gorman Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Carmichael
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Frew McMillan
6–4, 6–1
Win4–7Jun 1974 Nottingham, UKGrass Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Pasarell Flag of the United States.svg Bob Lutz
Flag of the United States.svg Stan Smith
6–4, 9–7
Loss4–8Jan 1975 Philadelphia, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Dick Stockton Flag of the United States.svg Brian Gottfried
Flag of Mexico.svg Raúl Ramírez
6–3, 3–6, 6–7
Win5–8Feb 1975 Toronto, CanadaCarpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Dick Stockton Flag of India.svg Anand Amritraj
Flag of India.svg Vijay Amritraj
6–4, 7–5, 6–1
Win6–8Mar 1975 Memphis, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Dick Stockton Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark Cox
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Cliff Drysdale
1–6, 7–5, 6–4
Win7–8Aug 1975 North Conway, U.S.Clay Flag of Pakistan.svg Haroon Rahim Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Alexander
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Phil Dent
7–6, 7–6
Win8–8Jan 1976 Birmingham, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Connors Flag of the United States.svg Hank Pfister
Flag of the United States.svg Dennis Ralston
7–6, 6–4
Win9–8Jul 1976Cincinnati, U.S.Clay Flag of the United States.svg Stan Smith Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Dibbs
Flag of the United States.svg Harold Solomon
6–1, 6–1
Loss9–9Aug 1976 Louisville, U.S.Clay Flag of the United States.svg Stan Smith Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Byron Bertram
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Pat Cramer
3–6, 4–6
Loss9–10 Jan 1977 Australian Open Grass Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Pasarell Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Roche
4–6, 4–6
Win10–10Aug 1978 New Orleans, U.S.Carpet (i) Flag of the United States.svg Dick Stockton Flag of Egypt (1972-1984).svg Ismail El Shafei
Flag of New Zealand.svg Brian Fairlie
7–6, 6–3
Win11–10Aug 1978 Cleveland, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Dick Stockton Flag of the United States.svg Rick Fisher
Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Manson
6–1, 6–4
Win12–10Jul 1981 Newport, U.S.Grass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brad Drewett Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Kevin Curren
Flag of the United States.svg Billy Martin
6–2, 6–4
Win13–10Aug 1981 Cleveland, U.S.Hard Flag of the United States.svg Van Winitsky Flag of Australia (converted).svg Syd Ball
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ross Case
6–4, 5–7, 7–5
Loss13–11May 1982 Forest Hills, U.S.Clay Flag of the United States.svg Dick Stockton Flag of the United States.svg Tracy Delatte
Flag of the United States.svg Johan Kriek
4–6, 6–3, 3–6

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Players: van Dillen, Erik)" . The Tennis Base. Madrid: Tennismem SL. Retrieved November 3, 2023.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. Alfano, Peter (June 24, 1988). "Wimbledon exit for McEnroe on centre court". New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  3. "Head-to-head: Erik van Dillen against Stan Smith". ATP World Tour. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  4. "Head-to-head: Erik van Dillen against Arthur Ashe". ATP World Tour. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  5. Joel Drucker (June 2005). Jimmy Connors Saved My Life: A Personal Biography. ISBN   9781861058997 . Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  6. "Erik Van Dillen - Opponents". Scoreshelf.com. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  7. "Player profile - Erik VAN DILLEN (USA)". Davis Cup. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  8. "Tennis Players - Erik Van Dillen". ATP World Tour. Retrieved April 23, 2013.