Robert Lutz (born August 29, 1947) is an American former amateur and professional tennis player of the 1960s and 1970s. He and his longtime partner Stan Smith were one of the best doubles teams of all time. Bud Collins ranked Lutz as world No. 7 in singles in 1972.[1] Between 1967 and 1977, he was ranked among the top-10 American players eight times, with his highest ranking being No. 5 in both 1968 and 1970.
Country (sports) | ![]() |
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Born | (1947-08-29) August 29, 1947 (age 75) San Clemente, California, United States |
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Turned pro | 1970 (amateur from 1965) |
Retired | 1982 |
Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
Prize money | $1,165,276 |
Singles | |
Career record | 468–303 (60.7%) in pre Open-Era & Open Era |
Career titles | 11 |
Highest ranking | No. 7 (1972, Bud Collins)[1] |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | SF (1971) |
French Open | 4R (1971) |
Wimbledon | QF (1969) |
US Open | 4R (1967, 1971, 1972, 1978, 1982) |
Other tournaments | |
WCT Finals | SF (1976) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 494–215 |
Career titles | 43 |
Highest ranking | No. 6 (April 30, 1977) |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Australian Open | W (1970) |
French Open | F (1974) |
Wimbledon | F (1974, 1980, 1981) |
US Open | W (1968, 1974, 1978, 1980) |
Lutz won the 1967 NCAA singles title and, partnering with Stan Smith, won the NCAA doubles crown in 1967 and 1968. He won the men's singles in the Ojai Tennis Tournament in 1966.[2]
During his career he won 11 singles titles, the most important being the U.S. Pro Tennis Championships in 1972 and the Paris Masters in 1978, and reached 15 other singles finals, including Cincinnati in 1974. He also won 43 doubles titles, 37 of which were won partnering Stan Smith, and reached 30 other doubles finals. With Smith he formed the only team to win the doubles title at U.S. Championships on four different surfaces (clay, grass, hard and indoor).[3] His doubles titles include the US Open in 1980, 1978, 1974, and 1968, the Australian Open in 1970 and Cincinnati in 1969. In addition, he played on five winning Davis Cup teams between 1968 and 1981 and had a 14–2 record playing doubles.[4] Lutz was nominated for the ITF Tennis Hall of Fame thanks to these achievements.[5]
He was inducted into the Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984.[6] Lutz, a 1971 University of Southern California graduate, was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2009.[7][8] He has been living in San Clemente since 1973 with his wife, Sharon, and their two daughters, Samantha and Allison.[9]
Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 0–1 | 1968 | U.S. Championships, Boston | Grass | ![]() |
6–4, 3–6, 10–8, 0–6, 4–6 |
Win | 1–1 | 1970 | Manchester, England | Grass | ![]() |
6–2, 9–7 |
Win | 2–1 | 1970 | Columbus, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
7–5, 1–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
Win | 3–1 | 1971 | Sacramento, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 4–1 | 1971 | Cologne WCT, Germany | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–3, 6–7, 6–3, 6–2 |
Loss | 4–2 | 1971 | Barcelona WCT, Spain | Clay | ![]() |
4–6, 3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 5–2 | 1972 | Boston WCT, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
Loss | 5–3 | 1972 | Essen WCT, Germany | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–4, 4–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–7 |
Loss | 5–4 | 1972 | Rome, Italy | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
2–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–7 |
Loss | 5–5 | 1973 | Philadelphia WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–7, 6–7, 6–4, 4–6 |
Loss | 5–6 | 1974 | Cincinnati, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
6–7, 6–7 |
Win | 6–6 | 1975 | Tokyo WCT, Japan | Carpet | ![]() |
6–4, 6–4 |
Loss | 6–7 | 1975 | Columbus, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
4–6, 5–7 |
Loss | 6–8 | 1975 | Sydney Indoor, Australia | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–7, 2–6 |
Loss | 6–9 | 1976 | Rome WCT, Italy | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
2–6, 6–0, 3–6 |
Loss | 6–10 | 1976 | Rotterdam WCT, Netherlands | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
3–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 6–11 | 1976 | Maui, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 7–5, 5–7 |
Loss | 6–12 | 1977 | Ocean City, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 1–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 6–13 | 1977 | Washington Indoor, US | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
1–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 6–14 | 1978 | Columbus, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 7–14 | 1978 | Paris Indoor, France | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–2, 6–2, 7–6 |
Win | 8–14 | 1979 | Taipei, Taiwan | Carpet | ![]() |
6–3, 6–4, 2–6, 6–3 |
Win | 9–14 | 1980 | Columbus, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 10–14 | 1980 | Stowe, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 6–1 |
Win | 11–14 | 1980 | Cologne, Germany | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–4, 6–0 |
Loss | 11–15 | 1983 | Tampa, U.S. | Carpet | ![]() |
2–6, 4–6 |
Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1–0 | 1968 | US Open, New York | Grass | ![]() |
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11–9, 6–1, 7–5 |
Win | 2–0 | 1969 | Cincinnati, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–4 |
Win | 3–0 | 1970 | Australian Open, Sydney | Grass | ![]() |
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8–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 3–1 | 1970 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7, 2–6 |
Win | 4–1 | 1970 | Berkeley, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–2, 7–5, 4–6, 6–2 |
Loss | 4–2 | 1971 | Dallas WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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3–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 4–3 | 1971 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard (i) | ![]() |
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4–6, 3–6 |
Win | 5–3 | 1972 | Philadelphia WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–7, 6–3 |
Loss | 5–4 | 1972 | Louisville WCT, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
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4–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 5–5 | 1972 | Boston WCT, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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3–6, 6–1, 6–7 |
Loss | 5–6 | 1972 | Rotterdam WCT, Netherlands | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–7, 6–7 |
Win | 6–6 | 1973 | Brussels WCT, Belgium | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–4, 7–6 |
Win | 7–6 | 1973 | Johannesburg WCT, South Africa | Hard | ![]() |
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6–1, 6–4, 6–4 |
Win | 8–6 | 1973 | World Doubles WCT, Montreal | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–2, 7–6, 6–0 |
Win | 9–6 | 1974 | Atlanta WCT, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
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6–3, 3–6, 7–6 |
Win | 10–6 | 1974 | New Orleans WCT, U.S. | Other | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–4, 7–6 |
Loss | 10–7 | 1974 | French Open, Paris | Clay | ![]() |
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3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 7–5, 1–6 |
Loss | 10–8 | 1974 | Nottingham, England | Grass | ![]() |
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4–6, 7–9 |
Loss | 10–9 | 1974 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
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6–8, 4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 11–9 | 1974 | Boston, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
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3–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
Loss | 11–10 | 1974 | Columbus, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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def. |
Win | 12–10 | 1974 | US Open, New York | Grass | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–3 |
Win | 13–10 | 1974 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–4, 7–6 |
Win | 14–10 | 1975 | Fort Worth WCT, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7, 7–6, 6–3 |
Win | 15–10 | 1975 | Tokyo Indoor, Japan | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–7, 6–2 |
Win | 16–10 | 1975 | Houston, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
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7–5, 7–6 |
Win | 17–10 | 1975 | Washington D.C., U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
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7–5, 2–6, 6–1 |
Win | 18–10 | 1975 | Columbus, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
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6–2, 6–7, 6–3 |
Win | 19–10 | 1976 | Indianapolis WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–2, 6–4 |
Win | 20–10 | 1976 | Barcelona WCT, Spain | Clay | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–3 |
Win | 21–10 | 1976 | Rome WCT, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
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6–7, 6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 21–11 | 1976 | World Doubles WCT, Kansas City | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 3–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 21–12 | 1976 | Las Vegas, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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4–6, 2–6 |
Win | 22–12 | 1976 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–2, 3–6, 6–3 |
Loss | 22–13 | 1977 | Memphis, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–7, 6–7 |
Win | 23–13 | 1977 | Washington Indoor, U.S. | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–3, 7–5 |
Loss | 23–14 | 1977 | Los Angeles PSW U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 24–14 | 1977 | Las Vegas, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–3, 3–6, 6–4 |
Win | 25–14 | 1977 | Columbus, US | Clay | ![]() |
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4–6, 7–5, 6–2 |
Win | 26–14 | 1977 | Maui, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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7–6, 6–4 |
Win | 27–14 | 1977 | Johannesburg WCT, South Africa | Hard | ![]() |
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6–3, 7–5, 6–7, 7–6 |
Win | 28–14 | 1978 | Springfield, U.S. | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–3 |
Win | 29–14 | 1978 | Washington Indoor, U.S. | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–7, 7–5, 6–1 |
Loss | 29–15 | 1978 | Rotterdam WCT, Netherlands | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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2–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 29–16 | 1978 | World Doubles WCT, Kansas City | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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7–6, 4–6, 0–6, 3–6 |
Win | 30–16 | 1978 | US Open, New York | Hard | ![]() |
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1–6, 7–5, 6–3 |
Loss | 30–17 | 1978 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | ![]() |
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7–5, 4–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 30–18 | 1978 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard (i) | ![]() |
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3–6, 2–6 |
Win | 31–18 | 1979 | Denver, U.S. | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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7–6, 6–3 |
Win | 32–18 | 1979 | Washington Indoor, U.S. | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–4, 7–5, 3–6, 7–6 |
Loss | 32–19 | 1979 | New Orleans, U.S. | Carpet | ![]() |
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1–6, 3–6 |
Win | 33–19 | 1979 | Newport, U.S. | Grass | ![]() |
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6–4, 7–6 |
Win | 34–19 | 1979 | Columbus, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
Win | 35–19 | 1979 | Cleveland, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 35–20 | 1979 | Cincinnati, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–1, 3–6, 6–7 |
Loss | 35–21 | 1979 | US Open, New York | Hard | ![]() |
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2–6, 4–6 |
Win | 36–21 | 1979 | Hong Kong | Hard | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 36–22 | 1979 | Taipei, Taiwan | Carpet | ![]() |
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1–6, 6–3, 4–6 |
Win | 37–22 | 1980 | Tulsa, U.S. | Hard (i) | ![]() |
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2–6, 7–6, 6–2 |
Win | 38–22 | 1980 | Las Vegas, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–2, 7–5 |
Loss | 38–23 | 1980 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
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6–7, 3–6, 7–6, 4–6 |
Win | 39–23 | 1980 | Stowe, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 40–23 | 1980 | US Open, New York | Hard | ![]() |
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7–6, 3–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3 |
Loss | 40–24 | 1980 | Sawgrass Doubles, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7, 4–6, 6–2, 6–7 |
Win | 41–24 | 1980 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–1, 6–2 |
Loss | 41–25 | 1980 | Stockholm, Sweden | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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7–6, 3–6, 2–6 |
Win | 42–25 | 1980 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7, 6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 42–26 | 1981 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
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4–6, 4–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 42–27 | 1981 | Stowe, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–2, 1–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 42–28 | 1981 | Cincinnati, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7, 3–6 |
Loss | 42–29 | 1981 | Sawgrass Doubles, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7, 6–3, 6–7, 7–5, 4–6 |
Loss | 42–30 | 1982 | La Costa WCT, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–7, 3–6 |
Win | 43–30 | 1982 | Hartford WCT, U.S. | Carpet | ![]() |
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7–6, 6–3 |
Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1968 | US Open | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 11–9, 6–1, 7–5 |
Win | 1970 | Australian Open | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 8–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 1974 | French Open | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 7–5, 1–6 |
Loss | 1974 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–8, 4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 1974 | US Open (2) | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–3 |
Win | 1978 | US Open (3) | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 1–6, 7–5, 6–3 |
Loss | 1979 | US Open | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 1980 | US Open (4) | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6, 3–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3 |
Loss | 1980 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7, 3–6, 7–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 1981 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 4–6, 4–6 |