Ray Ruffels

Ray Ruffels
AIS Head Tennis Coach Ray Ruffels in 1981
Full name Raymond Owen Ruffels
Country (sports)  Australia
Born (1946-03-23) 23 March 1946
Sydney, Australia
Turned pro 1968 (amateur tour from 1964)
Retired 1980
Plays Left-handed (one-handed backhand)
Singles
Career record 164–167 (Open era)
Career titles 6
Highest ranking No. 27 (12 December 1976)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open SF (1968, 1969, 1975)
French Open 4R (1968)
Wimbledon QF (1967)
US Open 4R (1966)
Doubles
Career record 219–137
Career titles 16
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.

Personal

Ruffels married professional tennis player Anna-Maria Fernandez and they have two children, Ryan and Gabriela. Both children have taken up golf as a career.[2][3]

Playing career

Ruffels was an Australian Open semi-finalist in 1968, 1969 and 1975, 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.

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

Doubles titles (16)

Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents in the final Score in the final
Winner 1. 1970 Merion, US Hard Australia Bill Bowrey United States Jim McManus
United States Jim Osborne		 3–6, 6–2, 7–5
Winner 2. 1970 Phoenix, US Hard Australia Dick Crealy Czechoslovakia Jan Kodeš
United States Charlie Pasarell		 7–6, 6–3
Winner 3. 1970 Buenos Aires, Argentina Clay Australia Bob Carmichael Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Željko Franulović
Czechoslovakia Jan Kodeš		 7–5, 6–2, 5–7, 6–7, 6–3
Winner 4. 1971 Auckland, New Zealand Hard Australia Bob Carmichael New Zealand Brian Fairlie
South Africa Raymond Moore		 6–3, 6–7, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
Runner-up 1. 1971 Tehran WCT, Iran Clay Australia Bob Carmichael Australia John Newcombe
Australia Tony Roche		 4–6, 7–6, 1–6
Runner-up 2. 1971 Washington WCT, US Clay Australia Bob Carmichael Netherlands Tom Okker
United States Marty Riessen		 6–7, 2–6
Winner 5. 1972 Toronto WCT, Canada Carpet Australia Bob Carmichael Australia Roy Emerson
Australia Rod Laver		 6–4, 4–6, 6–4
Winner 6. 1972 Quebec WCT, Canada Indoor Australia Bob Carmichael Australia John Alexander
Australia Terry Addison		 4–6, 6–3, 7–5
Runner-up 3. 1974 Christchurch, New Zealand Australia Syd Ball Egypt Ismail El Shafei
United States Roscoe Tanner		 W/O
Winner 7. 1975 Auckland, New Zealand Grass Australia Bob Carmichael New Zealand Brian Fairlie
New Zealand Onny Parun		 7–6, RET.
Winner 8. 1975 Baltimore WCT, US Carpet Australia Dick Crealy Egypt Ismail El Shafei
South Africa Frew McMillan		 6–4, 6–3
Winner 9. 1975 Dayton Indoor, US Carpet Australia Allan Stone United States Paul Gerken
United States Brian Gottfried		 7–6, 7–5
Runner-up 4. 1975 Orlando WCT, US Hard Australia Colin Dibley United States Brian Gottfried
Mexico Raúl Ramírez		 4–6, 4–6
Winner 10. 1975 St. Louis, US Clay Australia Colin Dibley Australia Ross Case
Australia Geoff Masters		 6–4, 6–4
Winner 11. 1976 Dayton, US Carpet United States Sherwood Stewart Chile Jaime Fillol
United States Charlie Pasarell		 6–2, 3–6, 7–5
Winner 12. 1976 Little Rock, US Carpet Australia Syd Ball Paraguay Giuliano Pecci
Pakistan Haroon Rahim		 6–3, 6–7, 6–3
Winner 13. 1976 Boston, US Clay Australia Allan Stone United States Mike Cahill
United States John Whitlinger		 3–6, 6–3, 7–6
Runner-up 5. 1976 Bermuda Clay Australia Dick Crealy United States Mike Cahill
United States John Whitlinger		 4–6, 6–4, 6–7
Winner 14. 1976 Bangalore, India Clay Australia Bob Carmichael India Chiraid Mukherjea
India Bhanu Nunna		 6–2, 7–6
Runner-up 6. 1977 La Costa WCT, US Hard Australia Allan Stone South Africa Bob Hewitt
South Africa Frew McMillan		 4–6, 2–6
Winner 15. 1977 Perth, Australia Hard Australia Allan Stone United States Nick Saviano
United States John Whitlinger		 6–2, 6–1
Runner-up 7. 1977 Sydney Outdoor, Australia Grass Australia Allan Stone Australia John Alexander
Australia Phil Dent		 6–7, 6–2, 3–6
Winner 16. 1977 Australian Open-2, Melbourne Grass Australia Allan Stone Australia John Alexander
Australia Phil Dent		 7–6, 7–6

Coaching career

Ruffels 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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7]

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

References

  1. 1 2 "Ray Ruffels". Tennis Australia website. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  2. ↑ "The Inside Story: Ryan Ruffels". Golf Australia website. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  3. ↑ "Little sister steals limelight". Golf Australia website. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  4. ↑ Australian Sports Commission. Annual report 1989-1990 (PDF).
  5. ↑ "Tennis at the Australian Institute of Sport". Pandora Archive - Australian Institute of Sport. Archived from the original on 19 January 2000. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  6. ↑ "Ray Ruffels wins The President's Spirit of Tennis Award". Tennis Australia website. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  7. ↑ "Ruffels returns to coach Aussie youngsters". ABC News. 24 July 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
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