AIS Head Tennis Coach Ray Ruffels in 1981
| |
| Full name | Raymond Owen Ruffels |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  Australia |
| Born | (1946-03-23) 23 March 1946 (age 78) Sydney, Australia |
| Turned pro | 1968 (amateur from 1964) |
| Retired | 1980 |
| Plays | Left-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 452-316 |
| Career titles | 13 |
| Highest ranking | No. 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 record | 219–137 |
| Career titles | 16 |
| 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.
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 Kinginmixed doubles competition, Ruffels reached the final at Wimbledon and the US Open.
He was a member of the Australian Davis Cup team in 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1977.[1]
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | 1970 | Merion, US | Hard | Bill Bowrey
|
 Jim McManus Jim Osborne
|
3–6, 6–2, 7–5 |
| Win | 2–0 | 1970 | Phoenix, US | Hard | Dick Crealy
|
 Jan Kodeš Charlie Pasarell
|
7–6, 6–3 |
| Win | 3–0 | 1970 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay | Bob Carmichael
|
 Željko Franulović Jan Kodeš
|
7–5, 6–2, 5–7, 6–7, 6–3 |
| Win | 4–0 | 1971 | Auckland, New Zealand | Grass | Bob Carmichael
|
 Brian Fairlie  Raymond Moore
|
6–3, 6–7, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
| Loss | 4–1 | 1971 | Tehran WCT, Iran | Clay | Bob Carmichael
|
John Newcombe Tony Roche
|
4–6, 7–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 4–2 | 1971 | Washington WCT, US | Clay | Bob Carmichael
|
 Tom Okker Marty Riessen
|
6–7, 2–6 |
| Win | 5–2 | 1972 | Toronto WCT, Canada | Carpet | Bob Carmichael
|
Roy Emerson Rod Laver
|
6–4, 4–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 6–2 | 1972 | Quebec WCT, Canada | Indoor | Bob Carmichael
|
John Alexander Terry Addison
|
4–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
| Loss | 6–3 | 1974 | Christchurch, New Zealand | Syd Ball
|
 Ismail El Shafei Roscoe Tanner
|
W/O | |
| Win | 7–3 | 1975 | Auckland, New Zealand | Grass | Bob Carmichael
|
Brian Fairlie Onny Parun
|
7–6, RET. |
| Win | 8–3 | 1975 | Baltimore WCT, US | Carpet | Dick Crealy
|
Ismail El Shafei Frew McMillan
|
6–4, 6–3 |
| Win | 9–3 | 1975 | Dayton Indoor, US | Carpet | Allan Stone
|
Paul Gerken Brian Gottfried
|
7–6, 7–5 |
| Loss | 9–4 | 1975 | Orlando WCT, US | Hard | Colin Dibley
|
Brian Gottfried  Raúl Ramírez
|
4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 10–4 | 1975 | St. Louis, US | Clay | Colin Dibley
|
Ross Case Geoff Masters
|
6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 11–4 | 1976 | Dayton, US | Carpet | Sherwood Stewart
|
 Jaime Fillol Charlie Pasarell
|
6–2, 3–6, 7–5 |
| Win | 12–4 | 1976 | Little Rock, US | Carpet | Syd Ball
|
 Giuliano Pecci  Haroon Rahim
|
6–3, 6–7, 6–3 |
| Win | 13–4 | 1976 | Boston, US | Clay | Allan Stone
|
Mike Cahill John Whitlinger
|
3–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
| Loss | 13–5 | 1976 | Bermuda | Clay | Dick Crealy
|
Mike Cahill John Whitlinger
|
4–6, 6–4, 6–7 |
| Win | 14–5 | 1976 | Bangalore, India | Clay | Bob Carmichael
|
 Chiradip Mukerjea Bhanu Nunna
|
6–2, 7–6 |
| Loss | 14–6 | 1977 | La Costa WCT, US | Hard | Allan Stone
|
Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan
|
4–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 15–6 | 1977 | Perth, Australia | Hard | Allan Stone
|
Nick Saviano John Whitlinger
|
6–2, 6–1 |
| Loss | 15–7 | 1977 | Sydney Outdoor, Australia | Grass | Allan Stone
|
John Alexander Phil Dent
|
6–7, 6–2, 3–6 |
| Win | 16–7 | 1977 | Australian Open-2, Melbourne | Grass | Allan Stone
|
John Alexander Phil Dent
|
7–6, 7–6 |
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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]
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.[5]
In November 2016, he was awarded The President's Spirit of Tennis by Tennis Australia.
Ruffels married professional tennis player Anna-Maria Fernandez and they have two children, Ryan and Gabriela; both have taken up golf as a career.[6][7]
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