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 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 in 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1977.[1]
Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1. | 1970 | Merion, US | Hard | ![]() |
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3–6, 6–2, 7–5 |
Win | 2. | 1970 | Phoenix, US | Hard | ![]() |
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7–6, 6–3 |
Win | 3. | 1970 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay | ![]() |
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7–5, 6–2, 5–7, 6–7, 6–3 |
Win | 4. | 1971 | Auckland, New Zealand | Hard | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–7, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
Loss | 1. | 1971 | Tehran WCT, Iran | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 7–6, 1–6 |
Loss | 2. | 1971 | Washington WCT, US | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7, 2–6 |
Win | 5. | 1972 | Toronto WCT, Canada | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 4–6, 6–4 |
Win | 6. | 1972 | Quebec WCT, Canada | Indoor | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
Loss | 3. | 1974 | Christchurch, New Zealand | ![]() |
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W/O | |
Win | 7. | 1975 | Auckland, New Zealand | Grass | ![]() |
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7–6, RET. |
Win | 8. | 1975 | Baltimore WCT, US | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 9. | 1975 | Dayton Indoor, US | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6, 7–5 |
Loss | 4. | 1975 | Orlando WCT, US | Hard | ![]() |
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4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 10. | 1975 | St. Louis, US | Clay | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–4 |
Win | 11. | 1976 | Dayton, US | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–2, 3–6, 7–5 |
Win | 12. | 1976 | Little Rock, US | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–7, 6–3 |
Win | 13. | 1976 | Boston, US | Clay | ![]() |
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3–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
Loss | 5. | 1976 | Bermuda | Clay | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–4, 6–7 |
Win | 14. | 1976 | Bangalore, India | Clay | ![]() |
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6–2, 7–6 |
Loss | 6. | 1977 | La Costa WCT, US | Hard | ![]() |
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4–6, 2–6 |
Win | 15. | 1977 | Perth, Australia | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–1 |
Loss | 7. | 1977 | Sydney Outdoor, Australia | Grass | ![]() |
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6–7, 6–2, 3–6 |
Win | 16. | 1977 | Australian Open-2, Melbourne | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
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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