Vitas Gerulaitis
File:ABN-tennistoernooi in Rotterdam Vitas Gerulaitis in actie, Bestanddeelnr 929-6578.jpg
Vitas Gerulaitis at the 1978 ABN World Tennis Tournament
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Country (sports) | ![]() |
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Born | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
July 26, 1954
Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Southampton, New York, U.S. |
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
Turned pro | 1971 |
Retired | 1986 |
Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
Prize money | $2,778,748 |
Singles | |
Career record | 535–232 (69.75%) in Grand Prix, WCT and Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup |
Career titles | 26 |
Highest ranking | No. 3 (February 27, 1978) |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
Australian Open | W (1977Dec) |
French Open | F (1980) |
Wimbledon | SF (1977, 1978) |
US Open | F (1979) |
Other tournaments | |
Tour Finals | F (1979, 1981) |
WCT Finals | W (1978) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 164–123 (Grand Prix, WCT and Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup) |
Career titles | 8 |
Highest ranking | No. 43 (May 20, 1985) |
Grand Slam Doubles results | |
Australian Open | 1R (1983) |
French Open | QF (1980) |
Wimbledon | W (1975) |
US Open | 3R (1972) |
Vytautas Kevin Gerulaitis (26 July 1954 – 17 September 1994) was an American professional tennis player. In 1975, Gerulaitis won the men's doubles title at Wimbledon, partnering with Sandy Mayer. He won the men's singles title at one of the two Australian Open tournaments held in 1977 (Gerulaitis won the tournament that was held in December, while Roscoe Tanner won the earlier January tournament). Gerulaitis also won two Italian Open titles, in 1977 and 1979, and the WCT Finals in Dallas, in 1978.
Contents
Early life
Gerulaitis was born on July 26, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York, to Lithuanian immigrant parents, and grew up in Howard Beach, Queens.[1] He attended Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens, graduating in 1971. He attended Columbia College of Columbia University with the class of 1975 for one year before dropping out to pursue tennis full-time.[2] Gerulaitis was nicknamed "The Lithuanian Lion".[3] His younger sister Ruta was also a professional tennis player. Both siblings' native language was Lithuanian.[4]
Career highlights
Gerulaitis led the Pittsburgh Triangles to the World TeamTennis championship title at Pittsburgh's Civic Arena in 1975. Gerulaitis played for the Triangles from 1974 until 1976. He also played for the league's Indiana Loves franchise in 1977.
Gerulaitis was coached by Fred Stolle from 1977 until 1983.
He also won the men's doubles title at Wimbledon in 1975. He was a singles semifinalist at Wimbledon in both 1977 and 1978. In 1977 he lost a Wimbledon semifinal to his close friend and practice partner, Björn Borg, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 8–6, a match later considered one of the greatest of the decade.[5]
In 1977, Gerulaitis won the most significant title of his career at the Australian Open, when he defeated John Lloyd in the men's singles final in five sets.
In 1978, Gerulaitis won the year-end championship WCT Finals for the World Championship Tennis tour, beating Eddie Dibbs 6–3, 6–2, 6–1. By 1978, he was the third-ranked men's singles player in the world.
In 1979, Gerulaitis lost in the men's singles finals at the US Open to fellow New Yorker, John McEnroe, in straight sets. He was a member of the United States team which won the Davis Cup in 1979. He won two singles "rubbers" in the final, as the US beat Italy 5–0.
Gerulaitis reached his third Grand Slam singles final in 1980, when he lost in the final of the French Open to Björn Borg in straight sets.
In February 1981, Gerulaitis won the star-laden Toronto Indoor invitational tournament, defeating John McEnroe in the final after having defeated Jimmy Connors in the semifinal.
During his career, Gerulaitis won 25 top-level singles titles and eight doubles titles. His career-high singles ranking was world No. 3 which he reached on February 27, 1978.
Gerulaitis was known for his exceptionally quick hands at the net and his outstanding court coverage.[6] In 1985, Gerulaitis teamed with Bobby Riggs to launch a challenge to female players after the famous Battle of the Sexes. The stunt, however, was short-lived when Gerulaitis and Riggs lost a doubles match against Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver.[citation needed]
He retired from the professional tour in 1986, and was a regular tennis commentator on the USA network between 1988 and 1994.
Gerulaitis coached Pete Sampras during the 1994 Italian Open in Rome, when Sampras' coach, Tim Gullikson, was on a family vacation. Sampras won the title by defeating Boris Becker in the final in straight sets.
Death
Gerulaitis died on September 17, 1994, at the age of 40. While he was visiting a friend's home in Southampton, New York, an improperly installed pool heater caused carbon monoxide gas to seep into the guesthouse where Gerulaitis was sleeping, causing his death by carbon monoxide poisoning. Gerulaitis failed to show up for a dinner at 7 p.m. that evening and his body was found the following day by a maid who went to the guesthouse.[7] Gerulaitis' remains were interred in Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.
Criminal charges of negligent homicide were later brought against the pool mechanic and the company he worked for. Both he and the company were acquitted in October 1996. Jurors heard testimony that a technician from the heater manufacturer had made adjustments several days before Gerulaitis' death and that even if an exhaust pipe had been longer, carbon monoxide (colorless and odorless) would have still been drawn into the air-conditioning vent because it is denser than air at low temperatures. Arthur M. Luxenberg, a lawyer for the Gerulaitis family, stated that Gerulaitis' mother and sister believed the verdict to be fair, and he went on to state that the testimony at the trial "confirmed to us what we always knew: that there were a lot of other people involved in this matter."[8]
The Gerulaitis family reached a confidential settlement with some of the defendants in their civil case by 2002.[9][10]
Grand Slam finals
Singles: 3 (1 title, 2 runner-ups)
Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1977 | Australian Open | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 7–6(7–1), 5–7, 3–6, 6–2 |
Loss | 1979 | US Open | Hard | ![]() |
5–7, 3–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 1980 | French Open | Clay | ![]() |
4–6, 1–6, 2–6 |
Singles performance timeline
W | F | SF | QF | R# | RR | Q# | A | NH |
Tournament | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | SR | W – L |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open (Jan) | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Not Held | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | ||||||||
French Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | SF | F | 1R | QF | 1R | 2R | 1R | A | 0 / 7 | 16–7 |
Wimbledon | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | QF | SF | SF | 1R | 4R | 4R | QF | 2R | 4R | 3R | A | 0 / 12 | 30–12 |
US Open | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 4R | 4R | SF | F | 2R | SF | 1R | 3R | 4R | 3R | A | 0 / 15 | 33–15 |
Australian Open (Dec) | Not Held | W | A | A | 1R | A | A | 2R | 2R | A | NH | 1 / 4 | 6–3 | |||||
Win – Loss | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 7–2 | 14–2 | 10–2 | 11–3 | 10–4 | 8–3 | 8–3 | 3–4 | 7–4 | 4–3 | 0–0 | 1/38 | 85–37 |
Year-end championships | ||||||||||||||||||
Masters Grand Prix | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | F | A | F | R16 | A | R16 | A | A | 0 / 4 | 6–6 |
WCT Finals | A | A | A | A | A | A | SF | W | SF | A | A | A | SF | QF | A | A | 1 / 5 | 7–4 |
Win – Loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–3 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1 / 9 | 13–10 |
Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||
Tournaments played | 9 | 20 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 15 | 2 | 244 | |||
Titles – Finals | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–7 | 0–3 | 5–9 | 3–5 | 3–6 | 3–6 | 1–4 | 5–7 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 25–54 | |||
Overall Win – Loss | 7–9 | 33–19 | 38–13 | 31–19 | 60–16 | 46–15 | 64–20 | 52–19 | 43–19 | 61–15 | 32–20 | 34–20 | 12–15 | 0–2 | 510–221 | |||
Win % | 44% | 63% | 75% | 62% | 79% | 75% | 76% | 73% | 69% | 80% | 62% | 63% | 44% | 0% | 70% | |||
Year-end ranking | 131 | 47 | 15 | 18 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 20 | 17 | 81 | 799 |
Career finals
Singles: 56 (26 titles, 30 runner-ups)
Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 1. | Mar 1974 | Salt Lake City, US | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–4, 6–7, 3–6 |
Win | 1. | Nov 1974 | Vienna, Austria | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
Loss | 2. | Jan 1975 | Philadelphia WCT, US | Carpet | ![]() |
6–7(1–7), 7–5, 2–6, 7–6(7–0), 3–6 |
Loss | 3. | Feb 1975 | Roanoke, US | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–7, 6–7 |
Loss | 4. | Feb 1975 | Salisbury, US | Carpet | ![]() |
7–5, 5–7, 1–6, 6–3, 0–6 |
Win | 2. | Mar 1975 | New York City, US | Carpet | ![]() |
walkover |
Loss | 5. | Mar 1975 | Orlando WCT, US | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 3. | Apr 1975 | St. Louis, US | Clay | ![]() |
2–6, 6–2, 6–3 |
Loss | 6. | Sep 1975 | Bermuda | Clay | ![]() |
1–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 7. | Jan 1976 | Indianapolis WCT, US | Carpet | ![]() |
2–6, 7–6(8–6), 4–6 |
Loss | 8. | Feb 1976 | Toronto Indoor WCT, Canada | Carpet | ![]() |
6–2, 3–6, 1–6 |
Loss | 9. | Apr 1976 | Charlotte WCT, US | Carpet | ![]() |
3–6, 6–3, 1–6 |
Loss | 10. | Feb 1977 | Richmond WCT, US | Carpet | ![]() |
6–3, 3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 4. | Feb 1977 | Ocean City, US | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
Loss | 11. | Mar 1977 | Monterrey WCT, Mexico | Carpet | ![]() |
4–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 12. | Apr 1977 | London WCT, UK | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–7(2–7), 7–6(7–5), 4–6 |
Loss | 13. | Apr 1977 | Houston WCT, US | Hard | ![]() |
6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–3), 1–6 |
Win | 5. | May 1977 | Rome, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
6–2, 7–6(7–2), 3–6, 7–6(7–5) |
Win | 6. | Oct 1977 | Brisbane, Australia | Grass | ![]() |
6–7, 6–1, 6–1, 7–5 |
Win | 7. | Oct 1977 | Perth, Australia | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 6–4, 6–2 |
Win | 8. | Dec 1977 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 7–6(7–1), 5–7, 3–6, 6–2 |
Win | 9. | Fev 1978 | Richmond WCT, US | Carpet | ![]() |
6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 14. | Mar 1978 | Las Vegas, US | Hard | ![]() |
5–6(5–7), 6–5(7–5), 4–6, 5–6(4–7) |
Loss | 15. | Apr 1978 | Milan WCT, Italy | Carpet | ![]() |
3–6, 3–6 |
Win | 10. | May 1978 | WCT Finals, US | Carpet | ![]() |
6–3, 6–2, 6–1 |
Win | 11. | Jul 1978 | Forest Hills, US - WCT Invitational | Clay | ![]() |
6–2, 6–0 |
Win | 12. | Feb 1979 | Arkansas, Little Rock US | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–2, 6–2 |
Loss | 16. | Feb 1979 | Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico | Hard | ![]() |
5–6, 0–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 17. | Apr 1979 | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Clay | ![]() |
2–6, 1–6, 3–6 |
Win | 13. | May 1979 | Rome, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–0), 6–7(5–7), 6–4, 6–2 |
Win | 14. | Jul 1979 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Clay | ![]() |
6–2, 6–2, 6–4 |
Loss | 18. | Sep 1979 | US Open, New York | Hard | ![]() |
5–7, 3–6, 3–6 |
Win | 15. | Oct 1979 | Sydney Indoor, Australia | Hard (i) | ![]() |
4–6, 6–3, 6–1, 7–6 |
Loss | 19. | Jan 1980 | Masters, New York | Carpet | ![]() |
2–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 20. | Feb 1980 | Pepsi Grand Slam, Boca Raton | Clay | ![]() |
1–6, 7–5, 1–6 |
Win | 16. | May 1980 | WCT Tournament of Champions, US | Clay | ![]() |
2–6, 6–2, 6–0 |
Loss | 21. | Jun 1980 | French Open, Paris | Clay | ![]() |
4–6, 1–6, 2–6 |
Win | 17. | Jul 1980 | Stuttgart Outdoor, Germany | Clay | ![]() |
6–2, 7–5, 6–2 |
Loss | 22. | Oct 1980 | Sydney Indoor, Australia | Hard (i) | ![]() |
3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 18. | Oct 1980 | Melbourne Indoor, Australia | Carpet | ![]() |
7–5, 6–3 |
Loss | 23. | Jan 1981 | Monterrey WCT, Mexico | Carpet | ![]() |
6–7, 6–3, 6–7 |
Loss | 24. | Oct 1981 | Melbourne Indoor, Australia | Carpet | ![]() |
6–4, 1–6, 5–5 retired |
Win | 19. | Nov 1981 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 7–6, 6–1 |
Loss | 25. | Jan 1982 | Masters, New York | Carpet | ![]() |
7–6(7–5), 6–2, 6–7(6–8), 2–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 26. | Feb 1982 | Genova WCT, Italy | Carpet | ![]() |
7–6, 4–6, 4–6, 3–6 |
Win | 20. | Mar 1982 | Brussels, Belgium | Hard (i) | ![]() |
4–6, 7–6, 6–2 |
Loss | 27. | Apr 1982 | Zürich WCT, Switzerland | Carpet | ![]() |
5–7, 6–7, 6–1, 6–0, 4–6 |
Win | 21. | May 1982 | Florence, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
4–6, 6–3, 6–1 |
Win | 22. | Aug 1982 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | ![]() |
4–6, 6–1, 6–3 |
Win | 23. | Oct 1982 | Melbourne Indoor, Australia | Carpet | ![]() |
2–6, 6–2, 6–2 |
Win | 24. | Nov 1982 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | ![]() |
7–6, 6–2, 4–6, 7–6 |
Loss | 28. | May 1983 | Forest Hills WCT, US | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 5–7 |
Win | 25. | Oct 1983 | Basel, Switzerland | Hard (i) | ![]() |
4–6, 6–1, 7–5, 5–5 retired |
Loss | 29. | Aug 1984 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | ![]() |
0–6, 3–6 |
Win | 26. | Nov 1984 | Treviso, Italy | Carpet | ![]() |
6–1, 6–1 |
Loss | 30. | Nov 1984 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 1–6, 6–7 |
Doubles: 20 (8–12)
Result | No. | Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1. | 1974 | Roanoke, US | Indoors | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6, 6–1 |
Loss | 1. | 1974 | Little Rock, US | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
0–6, 2–6 |
Win | 2. | 1974 | Salt Lake City, US | Indoors | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2–6, 7–6, 7–5 |
Loss | 2. | 1974 | Oslo, Norway | Indoor | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 2–6 |
Win | 3. | 1975 | Roanoke, US | Indoors | ![]() |
23x15px Juan Gisbert![]() |
7–6, 1–6, 6–3 |
Win | 4. | 1975 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–5, 8–6, 6–4 |
Loss | 3. | 1976 | Indianapolis WCT, US | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2–6, 4–6 |
Win | 5. | 1976 | Boca Raton, US | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–4 |
Win | 6. | 1976 | Fort Worth WCT, US | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 7–5 |
Loss | 4. | 1976 | Charlotte WCT, US | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 5–7 |
Loss | 5. | 1976 | South Orange, US | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
5–7, 6–4, 2–6 |
Loss | 6. | 1977 | Masters Doubles WCT, New York | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7, 6–7, 6–4, 3–6 |
Win | 7. | 1977 | Brisbane, Australia | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6, 6–4 |
Win | 8. | 1978 | Birmingham WCT, US | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 6–1, 7–6 |
Loss | 7. | 1978 | Philadelphia WCT, US | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 8. | 1978 | Richmond WCT, US | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 5–7 |
Loss | 9. | 1980 | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2–6, 7–5, 3–6 |
Loss | 10. | 1980 | Sydney Outdoor, Australia | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 11. | 1981 | Frankfurt, Germany | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
5–7, 7–6, 5–7 |
Loss | 12. | 1985 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 4–6 |
Commemoration
The Vitas Gerulaitis Memorial Tennis Centre was opened in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.[11] Also, a street in Vilnius is named after him. The song An Outbreak of Vitas Gerulaitis by Birkenhead band Half Man Half Biscuit, from their 1991 album McIntyre, Treadmore and Davitt also references the player, albeit obliquely.
Quote
"And let that be a lesson to you all. Nobody beats Vitas Gerulaitis 17 times in a row."[12]
- – after defeating Jimmy Connors at the January 1980 Masters.
References
- ↑ Sports of The Times; 'We've Lost Another of Our Kids', The New York Times, September 20, 1994. Accessed November 3, 2007.
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- ↑ Gerulaitis died of Carbon monoxide poisoning, Philly.com, September 20, 1994.
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Video
- Wimbledon Classic Match: Gerulaitis vs Borg Standing Room Only, DVD Release Date: October 31, 2006, Run Time: 180 minutes, ASIN B000ICLR8O.
External links
- Vitas Gerulaitis at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- Vitas Gerulaitis at the International Tennis FederationLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Vitas Gerulaitis at the Davis Cup
- Vitas Gerulaitis at Find a Grave
Awards | ||
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Preceded by | ATP Most Improved Player 1975 |
Succeeded by Wojtek Fibak |
- Articles with short description
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- 1954 births
- 1994 deaths
- Accidental deaths in New York (state)
- American male tennis players
- American people of Lithuanian descent
- Archbishop Molloy High School alumni
- Australian Open (tennis) champions
- Burials at Saint Charles Cemetery
- Columbia Lions men's tennis players
- Deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning
- Grand Slam (tennis) champions in men's singles
- Grand Slam (tennis) champions in men's doubles
- Lithuanian male tennis players
- Sportspeople from Brooklyn
- Sportspeople from Queens, New York
- Tennis people from New York (state)
- Wimbledon champions
- People from Howard Beach, Queens
- Columbia College (New York) alumni