Ion Țiriac

Ion Țiriac (Romanian pronunciation: [iˈon t͡siriˈak]; born 9 May 1939), also known as the 'Brașov Bulldozer'[3] is a Romanian businessman and former professional tennis and ice hockey player.[4] He is the current president of the Romanian Tennis Federation.[5]

Ion Țiriac
Country (sports) Romania
ResidenceBucharest, Romania
Born (1939-05-09) 9 May 1939
Brașov, Romania
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Turned pro1968 (amateur tour from 1962)
Retired1979
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HoF2013 (member page)
Singles
Career record167–177[1]
Career titles1
Highest rankingNo. 8 (1968, World's Top 10)[2]
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open2R (1977Jan)
French OpenQF (1968)
Wimbledon4R (1967, 1972)
US Open3R (1973)
Doubles
Career record294–141
Career titles22
Highest rankingNo. 19 (9 April 1979)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open2R (1977Jan)
French OpenW (1970)
WimbledonSF (1970)
Team competitions
Davis CupF (1969Ch, 1971Ch, 1972)
Medal record
Representing  Romania
Tennis
Summer Universiade
1961 SofiaSingles
1961 SofiaMixed Doubles
1965 BudapestSingles
1965 BudapestMixed Doubles
1965 BudapestDoubles

A former singles top 10 player on the ATP Tour, he is the winner of one grand slam title, the 1970 French Open in men's doubles. Țiriac was the first man to play against a woman in a sanctioned tennis tournament (against Abigail Maynard, in 1975). The highlight of his ice hockey career was participating as defenseman in the Romanian national team at the 1964 Winter Olympics.

After retirement, he became active as a tennis coach, advisor and player agent in the 1980s, taking under his wing Ilie Năstase, Manuel Orantes, Adriano Panatta, Guillermo Vilas, Henri Leconte and the young Boris Becker. Later, Țiriac developed the Mutua Madrid Open ATP masters tennis tournament, which he owns.[6] In 2013, he was elected as contributor into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.[7] He has currently been managing French tennis player Lucas Pouille since December 2016.

As a tennis player he played dramatic 5 setters against Rod Laver, Stan Smith, Jan Kodeš or Manuel Orantes. His singles record includes wins over Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith, Roscoe Tanner, Manuel Orantes, Andrés Gimeno, Adriano Panatta or Niki Pilić. He never won against compatriot Ilie Năstase in their six meetings. He played 3 Davis Cup finals (in 1969, 1971 and 1972).[8]

According to Forbes magazine, in 2019 he was ranked as the third richest businessman from Romania.[9]

Sports career

Țiriac was born in Transylvania, which is probably the reason why he has the nickname 'Count Dracula'.[10] He first appeared on the international sports scene as a child ping pong champion, then subsequently as an ice hockey player on the Romanian national team at the 1964 Winter Olympics. Shortly after that he switched to tennis as his main sport. With fellow Romanian Ilie Năstase he won the men's doubles in the 1970 French Open and reached the Davis Cup finals several times in the 1970s.[11]

John McPhee wrote of him that his drooping mustache suggests "that this man has been to places most people do not imagine exist. He appears to be a panatela ad, a triple agent from Alexandria, a used-car salesman from central Marrakesh. Tiriac has the air of a man who is about to close a deal in a back room behind a back room."[12]

Țiriac participated in the short period during the 1970s when women dabbled as coeds in established men's tennis tournaments. In his first match he defeated Abigail Maynard 6–0, 6–0 in their round one match at USTA pro circuit's Fairfiled County International Tennis Championship. It was the first time ever a female had entered a men’s tournament.[13][14]

After his retirement, he served as coach and manager for players such as Ilie Năstase, Guillermo Vilas, Mary Joe Fernández, Goran Ivanišević and Marat Safin.[15] He became the sports agent of Boris Becker and managed his career from 1984 to 1993.

Țiriac was president of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee from 1998 to 2004.

Țiriac ran major men's events in Germany, including the season-ending championships in Hanover. Although tennis is now a much smaller part of his portfolio and occupies only 5 percent of his time, he has taken particular pleasure and pride in making Madrid Tennis Open a combined men's and women's event with €7.2 million in total prize money.[16] The trophy awarded to the tournament winner bears his name.

Țiriac also holds the license for the BRD Năstase Țiriac Trophy tennis tournament since 1996. It is currently a €450,000 event, part of the ATP World Tour 250 series, held annually in Bucharest, Romania, just 2 weeks before the Madrid Open.

In 2012 he was nominated for the International Tennis Hall of Fame in the contributor category.[17]

On 13 July 2013 he joined the International Tennis Hall of Fame as a successful promoter and tournament director for numerous events including the two of the largest Masters 1000 events, the Italian Open and the Madrid Masters.

Business career
One of two Rolls-Royce Phantom IV owned by Țiriac, part of his car collection.[18]

After his retirement as a professional tennis player, Țiriac became a businessman in (then West) Germany. In 1987, he appeared in a TV commercial for Miller Lite beer with Bob Uecker, who extols Țiriac's supposed humorous qualities, laughing hysterically while Țiriac sits stone-faced.

Following the collapse of communism in Romania, he started numerous businesses and investments back home. In 1990, he founded Banca Țiriac, the first private bank in post-Communist Romania. Between that and several other enterprises (retail, insurance, auto leasing, auto dealerships, airlines, etc.), his fortune was estimated at over US$900 million in 2005.

Țiriac is an avid car collector. The Tiriac Collection represents the exhibition of cars and motorcycles under his ownership. Reopened to the public in May 2015, the collection includes historical vehicles manufactured since 1899 and also modern exotics with about 350 cars and 165 cars at full time display on a rotation basis.[19] Visitors will find the only collection in the world with 2 Rolls-Royce Phantoms IV, as well as exhibits that previously belonged to great names such as Sir Elton John, Sammy Davis Jr. or Bernie Ecclestone.

In 2006, Tiriac was selected as one of the 100 Greatest Romanians, ranking #77.

Ion Țiriac became the first Romanian to enter Forbes' List of billionaires in the 2007 Forbes rankings, ranking 840th in the world. His wealth was estimated at $1.0 billion as of 2010, according to the magazine.[20] In 2010, TOP 300 Capital declared Ion Țiriac the richest man in Romania with a wealth estimated at €1.5–€1.6 billion ($2–$2.2 billion).[21]

In 2018, Ion Tiriac ranked #1867 on the Forbes World's Billionaires list, with wealth listed at US $1.2 billion.[22]

Ion Tiriac on Romanian postage stamp

Personal life

Țiriac was married to Erika Braedt, a handball player, between 1963 and 1965.[23]

He has a son, Ion Țiriac Jr., with Mikette von Issenberg, a fashion model; and further two children, Karim Mihai and Ioana Natalia, with Sophie Ayad, an Egyptian journalist.[24][25][26]

Career statistics

Grand Slam finals

Doubles 2 (1–1)
Outcome Championship Partnering Opponents Score
1966 Runner-upFrench Championships Ilie Năstase Dennis Ralston
Clark Graebner		3–6, 3–6, 0–6
1970 WinnerFrench Open Ilie Năstase Arthur Ashe
Charlie Pasarell		6–2, 6–4, 6–3

Grand Prix and WCT Tour finals (24–25)

Singles (2–1)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Winner 1. 3 August 1970 Bavarian International Tennis Championships, Munich, Germany Clay Nikola Pilić 2–6, 9–7, 6–3, 6–4
Winner 2. 9 May 1971 Madrid, Spain Clay Ilie Năstase 7–5, 6–1, 6–0
Runner-up 1. 1 February 1972 Omaha, Nebraska, USA Hard (i) Ilie Năstase 6–2, 1–6, 1–6

Doubles (22–24)
Key
Grand Slam tournaments
Grand Prix Masters
Group 1 tournaments
Group 2 tournaments
Team events
OutcomeWeek ofTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponents in the finalScore in the final
1. Winner 1970 Philadelphia WCT, USA Carpet Ilie Năstase Arthur Ashe
Dennis Ralston		 6–4, 6–3
2. Winner 4 May 1970 French Open, Paris Clay Ilie Năstase Arthur Ashe
Charlie Pasarell		 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
3. Winner 1970 Rome, Italy Clay Ilie Năstase William Bowrey
Owen Davidson		 0–6, 10–8, 6–3, 6–8, 6–1
1. Runner-up 13 July 1970 Washington DC, USA Clay Ilie Năstase Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 5–7, 0–6
4. Winner 20 July 1970 Cincinnati, USA Clay Ilie Năstase Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 6–3, 6–4
2. Runner-up 27 July 1970 U.S. Clay Court Championships, Indianapolis Clay Ilie Năstase Arthur Ashe
Clark Graebner		 6–2, 4–6, 4–6
3. Runner-up 16 November 1970 Embassy British Indoor Championships, London Carpet Ilie Năstase Ken Rosewall
Stan Smith		 4–6, 3–6, 2–6
5. Winner 7 March 1971 Hampton, USA Hard (i) Ilie Năstase Clark Graebner
Thomaz Koch		 6–4, 4–6, 7–5
6. Winner 12 April 1971 Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Ilie Năstase Tom Okker
Roger Taylor		 1–6, 6–3, 6–3, 8–6
4. Runner-up 18 April 1971 Palermo, Sicily, Italy Clay Ilie Năstase Georges Goven
Pierre Barthes		 2–6, 3–6
5. Runner-up 22 May 1971 Brussels, Belgium Clay Ilie Năstase Marty Riessen
Tom Okker
7. Winner 6 February 1972 Kansas City, USA Indoor Ilie Năstase Andrés Gimeno
Manuel Orantes		 6–7, 6–4, 7–6
6. Runner-up 14 February 1972 Los Angeles, California, USA Ilie Năstase Jim Osborne
Jim McManus		 2–6, 7–5, 4–6
8. Winner 5 March 1972 Hampton, USA Hard (i) Ilie Năstase Andrés Gimeno
Manuel Orantes		 6–4, 7–6
9. Winner 24 April 1972 Rome, Italy Clay Ilie Năstase Lew Hoad
Frew McMillan		 3–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3, 5–3, RET.
7. Runner-up 13 May 1972 Bournemouth, England Clay Ilie Năstase Frew McMillan
Bob Hewitt		 5–7, 2–6
8. Runner-up 5 June 1972 Hamburg, Germany Clay Bob Hewitt Ilie Năstase
Jan Kodeš		 6–4, 0–6, 6–3, 2–6, 2–6
10. Winner 14 August 1972 Montreal, Canada Clay Ilie Năstase Jan Kodeš
Jan Kukal		 7–6, 6–3
9. Runner-up 4 February 1973 Des Moines, Iowa, USA Hard Juan Gisbert Jan Kukal
Jiří Hřebec		 6–4, 6–7, 1–6
10. Runner-up 3 March 1973 Hampton, Virginia, USA Hard Jimmy Connors Ilie Năstase
Clark Graebner		 6–4, 6–7, 1–6
11. Winner 26 March 1973 Valencia, Spain Clay Mike Estep Patrick Hombergen
Bernard Mignot		 6–4, 1–6, 10–8
11. Runner-up 2 April 1973 Barcelona, Spain Clay Mike Estep Manuel Orantes
Juan Gisbert		 4–6, 6–7
12. Runner-up 7 May 1973 Bournemouth, England Clay Adriano Panatta Ilie Năstase
Juan Gisbert		 4–6, 6–8
13. Runner-up 11 June 1973 Hamburg, Germany Clay Manuel Orantes Hans-Jürgen Pohmann
Jürgen Fassbender		 6–7, 6–7, 6–7
14. Runner-up 23 June 1973 Eastbourne, England Grass Manuel Orantes Jim McManus
Ove Nils Bengtson		 4–6, 6–4, 5–7
12. Winner 5 August 1973 Louisville, Kentucky, USA Clay Manuel Orantes Clark Graebner
John Newcombe		 0–6, 6–4, 6–3
15. Runner-up 13 August 1973 Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Clay Manuel Orantes Frew McMillan
Bob Carmichael		 3–6, 4–6
13. Winner 17 January 1977 Baltimore, Maryland, USA Carpet Guillermo Vilas Ross Case
Jan Kodeš		 6–3, 6–7, 6–4
16. Runner-up 7 February 1977 Springfield, Massachusetts Carpet Guillermo Vilas Frew McMillan
Bob Hewitt		 6–7, 6–2
14. Winner 28 March 1977 Nice, France Clay Guillermo Vilas Chris Kachel
Chris Lewis		 6–4, 6–1
17. Runner-up 31 July 1977 South Orange, New Jersey, US Clay Guillermo Vilas Colin Dibley
Wojciech Fibak		 1–6, 5–7
18. Runner-up 19 September 1977 Paris, France Clay Ilie Năstase Jacques Thamin
Christophe Roger-Vasselin		 2–6, 6–4, 3–6
15. Winner 26 September 1977 Aix-en-Provence, France Clay Ilie Năstase Patrice Dominguez
Rolf Norberg		 7–5, 7–6
16. Winner 3 October 1977 Tehran, Iran Clay Guillermo Vilas Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 1–6, 6–1, 6–4
17. Winner 3 October 1977 Tehran, Iran Clay Guillermo Vilas Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 1–6, 6–1, 6–4
18. Winner 21 November 1977 Buenos Aires, Argentina Clay Guillermo Vilas Ricardo Cano
Antonio Muñoz		 6–4, 6–0
19. Winner 23 May 1978 BMW Open, Munich, Germany Clay Guillermo Vilas Jürgen Fassbender
Tom Okker		 3–6, 6–4, 7–6
19. Runner-up 30 July 1978 South Orange, New Jersey, US Clay Guillermo Vilas John McEnroe
Peter Fleming		 3–6, 3–6
20. Winner 25 September 1978 Aix-en-Provence, France Clay Guillermo Vilas Jan Kodeš
Tomáš Šmíd		 7–6, 6–1
20. Runner-up 5 November 1978 Paris Bercy, France Hard Guillermo Vilas Andrew Pattison
Bruce Manson		 6–7, 2–6
21. Runner-up 1 January 1979 Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Grass Guillermo Vilas Bob Giltinan
Phil Dent		 6–8
22. Runner-up 29 January 1979 Richmond, Virginia, USA Carpet Guillermo Vilas John McEnroe
Brian Gottfried		 4–6, 3–6
21. Winner 19 March 1979 San José, Costa Rica Hard Guillermo Vilas Anand Amritraj
Colin Dibley		 7–6, 6–1
23. Runner-up 28 May 1979 French Open, Paris, France Clay Virginia Ruzici Wendy Turnbull
Bob Hewitt		 3–6, 6–2, 3–6
24. Runner-up 9 July 1979 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Guillermo Vilas John Marks
Mark Edmondson		 3–6, 6–2, 3–6
22. Winner 29 July 1979 Volvo International, North Conway, New Hampshire, USA Clay Guillermo Vilas John Sadri
Tim Wilkison		 6–4, 7–6

Performance timeline
Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# A P Z# PO G F-S SF-B NMS NH
(W) Won; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent; (P) postponed; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (F-S) silver or (SF-B) bronze Olympic medal; a (NMS) downgraded Masters Series/1000 tournament; (NH) not held. SR=strike rate (events won/competed)
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.
Tournament19651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978SRW–LWin %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Championships/Australian OpenAAAAAAAAAAAA2RA1R0 / 21–233.33
French Championships/French Open3R3R3RQF2R4R1R1R2RAAAAA0 / 915–962.50
WimbledonA1R4R2R2R2R3R4RA1R1RAA1R0 / 1011–1052.38
US National Championships/US OpenAAAA2RA2R2R3RAAAAA0 / 45–455.55
Win–Loss2–12–25–25–23–34–23–34–33–20–10–1n/a1–10–20 / 2532–2556.14

Companies

See also

References
  1. "Profile at atpworldtour.com". Forbes.
  2. Becker, Boris (2011). The Player, Transworld Digital, Kindle Edition.
  3. "Madrid Open preview".
  4. "#937 Ion Tiriac". Forbes. 10 March 2010.
  5. "ALEGERI FRT // VIDEO Ion Țiriac e noul președinte al Federației Române de Tenis! Victorie categorică la alegeri + cine sunt cei 4 vicepreședinți". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 19 June 2019.
  6. "Madrid Masters goes bling". tennisworldusa. 8 April 2011.
  7. "Hingis elected to International Tennis Hall of Fame". ITF Tennis. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  8. "Tiriac Upsets Smith in 3 Sets; Nastase, Ashe and Richey Gain". The New York Times. 18 July 1970.
  9. https://www.forbes.ro/articles/forbes-top-500-miliardari-ion-tiriac-prima-iubire-150942
  10. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402102043/http://thebiofile.com/2010/05/biofile-with-ion-tiriac
  11. Davis Cup Player Profile
  12. "AT WIMBLEDON WITH: Ion Tiriac; Tennis's Grandest Bad Boy," The New York Times.
  13. Kirkpatrick, Curry. "COUNT DRACULA". SI.com. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  14. "MEN'S USTA PRO CIRCUIT TENNIS TOURNAMENT RETURNS TO FAIRFIELD AFTER 24 YEARS | Cliff Drysdale Tennis". cliffdrysdale.com. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  15. "In praise of Safin – the head case". CNN. 2 September 2009.
  16. Clarey, Christopher (9 May 2009). "Spain at Last Brings the World to Its Clay". New York Times. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  17. "Hingis, Stich, Sukova nominated for tennis hall". 9 September 2012.
  18. The Tiriac Collection
  19. "Ion Tiriac´s Car Collection (Romania)". 4 September 2016.
  20. "the World's Billionaires – No. 937 Ion Tiriac". Forbers. 10 March 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  21. "TOP 300 Capital declares Ion Tiriac the richest man in Romania followed by businessmen Dinu Patriciu and Ioan Niculae". 18 October 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  22. https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/list/3/#version:static_header:source
  23. "Sergiu Nicolaescu: "Da, am cunoscut-o pe Erika"" (in Romanian). 27 February 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  24. "Fetița lui Țiriac, în vacanță în România" (in Romanian). Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  25. "Mama lui Tiriac jr., o milionara excentrica" (in Romanian). Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  26. "Jean Maurer dezvaluie motivul ranchiunii dintre Ion Tiriac si Sergiu Nicolaescu" (in Romanian). Retrieved 25 May 2012.
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