Ray Ruffels

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Ray Ruffels
Australian Institute of Sport coaches - Ray Ruffels.jpg
AIS Head Tennis Coach Ray Ruffels in 1981
Full nameRaymond Owen Ruffels
Country (sports)Flag of Australia (converted).svg 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 Open SF (1968, 1969, 1976)
French Open 4R (1968)
Wimbledon QF (1967)
US Open 4R (1966)
Doubles
Career record219–137
Career titles16
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.

Contents

Playing career

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

Doubles (16 titles, 7 runner-ups)

ResultW–LDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–01970 Merion, USHard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill Bowrey Flag of the United States.svg Jim McManus
Flag of the United States.svg Jim Osborne 		3–6, 6–2, 7–5
Win2–01970 Phoenix, USHard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Crealy Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Jan Kodeš
Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Pasarell 		7–6, 6–3
Win3–01970 Buenos Aires, ArgentinaClay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Carmichael Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Željko Franulović
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Jan Kodeš 		7–5, 6–2, 5–7, 6–7, 6–3
Win4–01971 Auckland, New ZealandGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Carmichael Flag of New Zealand.svg Brian Fairlie
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Raymond Moore 		6–3, 6–7, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
Loss4–11971 Tehran WCT, IranClay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Carmichael Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Newcombe
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Roche 		4–6, 7–6, 1–6
Loss4–21971 Washington WCT, USClay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Carmichael Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tom Okker
Flag of the United States.svg Marty Riessen 		6–7, 2–6
Win5–21972 Toronto WCT, CanadaCarpet Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Carmichael Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver 		6–4, 4–6, 6–4
Win6–21972 Quebec WCT, CanadaIndoor Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Carmichael Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Alexander
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Addison 		4–6, 6–3, 7–5
Loss6–31974 Christchurch, New Zealand Flag of Australia (converted).svg Syd Ball Flag of Egypt (1972-1984).svg Ismail El Shafei
Flag of the United States.svg Roscoe Tanner 		W/O
Win7–31975 Auckland, New ZealandGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Carmichael Flag of New Zealand.svg Brian Fairlie
Flag of New Zealand.svg Onny Parun 		7–6, RET.
Win8–31975 Baltimore WCT, USCarpet Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Crealy Flag of Egypt (1972-1984).svg Ismail El Shafei
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Frew McMillan 		6–4, 6–3
Win9–31975 Dayton Indoor, USCarpet Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Stone Flag of the United States.svg Paul Gerken
Flag of the United States.svg Brian Gottfried 		7–6, 7–5
Loss9–41975 Orlando WCT, US Hard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Colin Dibley Flag of the United States.svg Brian Gottfried
Flag of Mexico.svg Raúl Ramírez 		4–6, 4–6
Win10–41975 St. Louis, US Clay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Colin Dibley Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ross Case
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Masters 		6–4, 6–4
Win11–41976 Dayton, USCarpet Flag of the United States.svg Sherwood Stewart Flag of Chile.svg Jaime Fillol
Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Pasarell 		6–2, 3–6, 7–5
Win12–41976 Little Rock, USCarpet Flag of Australia (converted).svg Syd Ball Flag of Paraguay.svg Giuliano Pecci
Flag of Pakistan.svg Haroon Rahim 		6–3, 6–7, 6–3
Win13–41976 Boston, USClay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Stone Flag of the United States.svg Mike Cahill
Flag of the United States.svg John Whitlinger 		3–6, 6–3, 7–6
Loss13–51976 Bermuda Clay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Crealy Flag of the United States.svg Mike Cahill
Flag of the United States.svg John Whitlinger 		4–6, 6–4, 6–7
Win14–51976 Bangalore, IndiaClay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Carmichael Flag of India.svg Chiradip Mukerjea
Flag of India.svg Bhanu Nunna 		6–2, 7–6
Loss14–61977 La Costa WCT, USHard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Stone Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bob Hewitt
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Frew McMillan 		4–6, 2–6
Win15–61977 Perth, AustraliaHard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Stone Flag of the United States.svg Nick Saviano
Flag of the United States.svg John Whitlinger 		6–2, 6–1
Loss15–71977 Sydney Outdoor, AustraliaGrass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Stone Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Alexander
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Phil Dent 		6–7, 6–2, 3–6
Win16–71977Australian Open-2, Melbourne Grass Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Stone Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Alexander
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Phil Dent 		7–6, 7–6

Coaching career

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

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]

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References

  1. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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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