Victor Amaya

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Victor Amaya
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceGrand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Born (1954-07-02) July 2, 1954 (age 69)
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Turned pro1973
Retired1984
PlaysLeft-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money$694,304
Singles
Career record186–173
Career titles3
Highest rankingNo. 15 (August 4, 1980)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenSF (1979)
French Open3R (1976, 1979)
Wimbledon3R (1981)
US Open3R (1977, 1979, 1980)
Doubles
Career record193–170
Career titles6
Highest rankingNo. 16 (January 3, 1983)

Victor Amaya (born July 2, 1954) is a retired tennis player from the U.S.

The left-handed Amaya's career-high singles ranking was world No. 15, attained in August 1980. During his career he won three ATP singles titles and six doubles titles, including the 1980 French Open doubles title with partner Hank Pfister. With Pfister he was runner-up in doubles at the 1982 US Open.

One of Amaya's memorable matches was a loss to Björn Borg in the first round of the 1978 Wimbledon Championships. With his 135 mph serve, he led Borg two sets to one and was up a break in the fourth set, but ultimately lost in five sets. After the match Borg, who was the defending champion and seeded first, commented “It was his match, if he wins one point for 4‐1 and two breaks, he doesn't lose the match.”.[1]

He played college tennis at the University of Michigan[2] and was inducted into the USTA/Midwest Hall of Fame in 2016.[3][4]

Career finals[edit]

Singles (3 titles, 5 runner-ups)[edit]

Result W-L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Jan 1977 Adelaide, Australia Grass United States Brian Teacher 6–1, 6–4
Loss 1–1 Aug 1978 New Orleans, U.S. Carpet United States Roscoe Tanner 3–6, 5–7
Loss 1–2 Feb 1979 Denver, U.S. Carpet Poland Wojciech Fibak 4–6, 1–6
Win 2–2 Jun 1979 Surbiton, U.K. Grass Australia Mark Edmondson 6–4, 7–5
Loss 2–3 Feb 1980 Denver, U.S. Carpet United States Gene Mayer 2–6, 2–6
Win 3–3 Mar 1980 Washington, D.C., U.S. Carpet Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl 6–7, 6–4, 7–5
Loss 3–4 Apr 1980 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard Switzerland Heinz Günthardt 4–6, 4–6
Loss 3–5 Aug 1980 Cleveland, U.S. Hard United States Gene Mayer 2–6, 1–6

Doubles (6 titles, 7 runner-ups)[edit]

Result W-L Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 Jul 1978 Louisville, U.S. Clay Australia John James Poland Wojciech Fibak
Paraguay Víctor Pecci
4–6, 7–6, 4–6
Loss 0–2 Aug 1979 Lafayette, U.S. Clay United States Eric Friedler United States Marty Riessen
United States Sherwood Stewart
4–6, 4–6
Win 1–2 Jun 1980 French Open, Paris Clay United States Hank Pfister United States Brian Gottfried
Mexico Raúl Ramírez
1–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–3
Loss 1–3 Oct 1980 Maui, U.S. Hard United States Hank Pfister United States Peter Fleming
United States John McEnroe
6–7, 7–6, 2–6
Win 2–3 Nov 1980 Tokyo Indoor, Japan Carpet United States Hank Pfister United States Marty Riessen
United States Sherwood Stewart
6–3, 3–6, 7–6
Loss 2–4 Jan 1981 Masters Doubles WCT, London Carpet United States Hank Pfister Australia Peter McNamara
Australia Paul McNamee
3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 3–6, 2–6
Win 3–4 Oct 1981 Tokyo Indoor, Japan Carpet United States Hank Pfister Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
Hungary Balázs Taróczy
6–4, 6–2
Win 4–4 Feb 1982 Monterrey, Mexico Carpet United States Hank Pfister United States Tracy Delatte
United States Mel Purcell
6–3, 6–7, 6–3
Loss 4–5 Jun 1982 London/Queen's Club, U.K. Grass United States Hank Pfister United States John McEnroe
United States Peter Rennert
6–7, 5–7
Loss 4–6 Aug 1982 Columbus, U.S. Carpet United States Hank Pfister United States Tim Gullikson
South Africa Bernard Mitton
6–4, 1–6, 4–6
Win 5–6 Aug 1982 Cleveland, U.S. Hard United States Hank Pfister United States Matt Mitchell
United States Craig Wittus
6–4, 7–6
Loss 5–7 Sep 1982 U.S. Open, New York Hard United States Hank Pfister South Africa Kevin Curren
United States Steve Denton
2–6, 7–6, 7–5, 2–6, 4–6
Win 6–7 Aug 1983 Cincinnati, U.S. Hard United States Tim Gullikson Brazil Carlos Kirmayr
Brazil Cássio Motta
6–4, 6–3

References[edit]

  1. ^ Neil Amdur (June 27, 1978). "Borg wins, escaping an upset". The New York Times. p. C11.
  2. ^ "About the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic". Blue Gray Tennis.
  3. ^ "Western Michigan Hall of Fame". USTA.
  4. ^ "Grand Rapids' Victor Amaya to be inducted into USTA Hall of Fame". MLive.com. September 27, 2016.

External links[edit]