Ricardo Ycaza

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Ricardo Ycaza
Country (sports)Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador
Born (1958-02-16) 16 February 1958 (age 67)
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Turned pro1977
Retired1986
PlaysRight-handed
Prize money $133,237
Singles
Career record61–95
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 44 (20 July 1981)
Grand Slam singles results
French Open 4R (1981)
Wimbledon 2R (1979)
US Open 3R (1977)
Doubles
Career record108–96
Career titles3
Highest rankingNo. 47 (4 January 1982)

Ricardo Ycaza (born 16 February 1958) is an Ecuadorian tennis player who was a world top 10 junior, a Davis Cup stalwart, and a world top 100 touring professional.

Contents

Tennis career

His most noteworthy achievement was winning the 1976 US Open Junior tournament. In the semi-finals of that tournament, he staged a third-set comeback to defeat John McEnroe after saving two match points at 2–5 in the third set and after coming back from 2–4 in the third-set tiebreaker. (Ycaza was to face McEnroe three more times in junior tournaments, winning each time.) In the final, Ycaza defeated José Luis Clerc of Argentina. In May 1977, Ycaza again defeated John McEnroe in three sets to win the World Championship of Tennis Men's 21-and-under tournament in Houston, Texas.

Coached by Miguel Olvera at the Guayaquil Tennis Club, Ycaza had a successful junior career, winning numerous South American junior titles. At the college level, he achieved All-American status for the 1976–1977 NCAA season, playing for the University of Houston. Ycaza represented Ecuador in Davis Cup matches from 1973 through 1986, teaming up with long-time friend and French Open champion Andrés Gómez in several important doubles triumphs against the likes of Argentina and Brazil. After his playing days were over, Ycaza also served as Davis Cup captain for Ecuador.

Ycaza played on the professional tennis tour from 1977 to 1986. His career high rankings were world No. 45 in singles and No. 32 in doubles. During his professional career, he won three doubles tournaments (each with different partners). His best year on the professional tour was 1980 when he won doubles tournaments at Sarasota, Palermo, and Santiago.

ATP Tour finals

Singles(1 runner-up)

ResultW/LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Jun 1981 Brussels, BelgiumClay Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Marko Ostoja 6–4, 4–6, 5–7

Doubles (3 titles, 4 runners-up)

ResultW/LDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Apr 1978 Tulsa, U.S.Hard (i) Flag of Brazil.svg Carlos Kirmayr Flag of New Zealand.svg Russell Simpson
Flag of the United States.svg Van Winitsky
6–4, 6–7, 2–6
Win1–1Feb 1980 Sarasota, U.S.Clay Flag of Ecuador.svg Andrés Gómez Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Carter
Flag of the United States.svg Rick Fagel
6–3, 6–4
Win2–1Sep 1980 Palermo, ItalyClay Flag of Italy.svg Gianni Ocleppo Flag of Paraguay.svg Víctor Pecci
Flag of Hungary.svg Balázs Taróczy
6–2, 6–2
Loss2–2Sep 1980 Bordeaux, FranceCarpet (i) Flag of Italy.svg Gianni Ocleppo Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Feaver
Flag of France.svg Gilles Moretton
2–6, 3–6
Loss2–3Nov 1980Bogotá, ColombiaClay Flag of Ecuador.svg Andrés Gómez Flag of Chile.svg Álvaro Fillol
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg Carlos Kirmayr
4–6, 3–6
Win3–3Nov 1980 Santiago, ChileClay Flag of Chile.svg Belus Prajoux Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg Carlos Kirmayr
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg João Soares
4–6, 7–6, 6–4
Loss3–4Nov 1981 Quito, EcuadorClay Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Carter Flag of Chile.svg Hans Gildemeister
Flag of Ecuador.svg Andrés Gómez
5–7, 3–6