Virginia Ruzici

Virginia Ruzici
Virginia Ruzici at the 1981 Summer Universiade
Country (sports) Romania
Born (1955-01-31) 31 January 1955
Câmpia Turzii, Socialist Republic of Romania
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Turned pro1975
Retired1987
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money$1,183,728
Singles
Career record377–221
Career titles12
Highest rankingNo. 8 (21 May 1979)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenQF (1980)
French OpenW (1978)
WimbledonQF (1978, 1981)
US OpenQF (1976, 1978)
Doubles
Career record285–181
Career titles16
Highest rankingNo. 70 (12 October 1987)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open2R (1980)
French OpenW (1978)
WimbledonF (1978)
US OpenSF (1976)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
French OpenF (1978, 1979)
Wimbledon3R (1979)
US OpenQF (1981)
Team competitions
Fed Cup25–13
Medal record
Representing  Romania
Summer Universiade
1977 Sofia Doubles
1979 Mexico City Doubles
1979 Mexico City Mixed doubles
1981 Bucharest Singles
1981 Bucharest Doubles
1981 Bucharest Mixed doubles
1977 Sofia Mixed doubles
1979 Mexico City Singles

Virginia Ruzici (born 31 January 1955) is a Romanian former professional tennis player. She won the 1978 French Open singles championship.

Career

Ruzici became a professional tennis player in 1975. One of her main assets on court was her powerful forehand. In a career spanning 12 years, Ruzici won 12 career singles titles, including one Grand Slam title, the 1978 French Open. In the final, she beat 1977 French Open champion Mima Jaušovec 6–2, 6–2. Ruzici also won the French Open doubles event with Jaušovec in 1978 and reached the mixed doubles final in 1978. She appeared in the French Open singles final in 1980, but lost in straight sets to Chris Evert.[1]

Ruzici remained in the world's top 20 from 1977 to 1983.[2] She regularly featured in the Romania Fed Cup team throughout her career, and began playing for them in 1973, two years before turning professional.

At Wimbledon 1978, Ruzici lost a notable match in the quarterfinal to the Australian Evonne Goolagong who was playing with an injured ankle. Goolagong's injury led to her collapsing on court and her husband, Roger Cawley, came on to the court to aid his wife, technically defaulting the Australian from the match. When Goolagong recovered, Ruzici agreed to continue the match, but lost 7–5, 6–3 and was praised for her sportsmanship.[3] It has been stated during TV commentaries that Ruzici's victory in 1980 at a tournament in Salt Lake City was watched by Richard Williams who was inspired by her triumph and prize money to teach his daughters Venus and Serena Williams to play tennis.[4][5][6]

Ruzici was the manager of Romanian tennis player Simona Halep until 2022.[7]

Grand Slam tournament finals

Singles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner–up)

Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Win 1978 French Open Clay Mima Jaušovec 6–2, 6–2
Loss 1980 French Open Clay Chris Evert 0–6, 3–6

Doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner–up)

Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1978 French Open Clay Mima Jaušovec Gail Sherriff Lovera
Lesley Turner Bowrey		 6–4, 6–3
Loss 1978 Wimbledon Grass Mima Jaušovec Kerry Melville Reid
Wendy Turnbull		 6–4, 8–9(8), 3–6

Mixed doubles: 2 (2 runner-ups)

Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1978 French Open Clay Patrice Dominguez Renáta Tomanová
Pavel Složil		 6–4, 6–7, ret.
Loss 1979 French Open Clay Ion Țiriac Wendy Turnbull
Bob Hewitt		 3–6, 6–2, 3–6

WTA career finals

Singles: 27 (12–15)

Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (1–1)
WTA Championships (0–0)
Virginia Slims, Avon, other (11–14)
Finals by surface
Hard (1–2)
Grass (0–1)
Clay (9–10)
Carpet (2–2)
Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Aug 1975 South Orange, Canada Clay Mariana Simionescu 6–1, 6–1
Loss 1–1 Jul 1976 Austrian Open Clay Wendy Turnbull 4–6, 7–5, 3–6
Loss 1–2 Oct 1976 Spanish Open Clay Renáta Tomanová 6–3, 4–6, 2–6
Win 2–2 Sep 1977 Eckerd Open, U.S. Clay Laura duPont 6–4, 4–6, 6–2
Loss 2–3 May 1978 German Open Clay Mima Jaušovec 2–6, 3–6
Loss 2–4 May 1978 Italian Open Clay Regina Maršíková 5–7, 5–7
Win 3–4 May 1978 French Open Clay Mima Jaušovec 6–2, 6–2
Win 4–4 Jul 1978 Austrian Open Clay Sylvia Hanika 6–4, 6–3
Loss 4–5 Aug 1978 Canadian Open Hard Regina Maršíková 5–7, 7–6, 2–6
Win 5–5 Oct 1978 Brighton Challenge, UK Carpet (i) Betty Stöve 5–7, 6–2, 7–5
Loss 5–6 Feb 1979 VS Detroit Carpet (i) Wendy Turnbull 5–7, 6–1, 6–7(4)
Loss 5–7 Dec 1979 Adelaide, Australia Grass Hana Mandlíková 5–7, 2–2 ret.
Loss 5–8 May 1980 Italian Open Clay Chris Evert 7–5, 2–6, 2–6
Loss 5–9 May 1980 French Open Clay Chris Evert 0–6, 3–6
Win 6–9 Jul 1980 Austrian Open Clay Hana Mandlíková 3–6, 6–1, ret.
Loss 6–10 Aug 1980 Canadian Open Hard Chris Evert 3–6, 1–6
Win 7–10 Sep 1980 VS Salt Lake City, U.S. Hard Ivanna Madruga 6–1, 6–3
Loss 7–11 Nov 1980 Amsterdam, Netherlands Carpet (i) Hana Mandlíková 7–5, 2–6, 5–7
Loss 7–12 May 1981 Italian Open Clay Chris Evert 1–6, 2–6
Loss 7–13 May 1981 European Open Clay Chris Evert 1–6, 1–6
Loss 7–14 Aug 1981 U.S. Clay Courts Clay Andrea Jaeger 1–6, 0–6
Win 8–14 Jul 1982 Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Bonnie Gadusek 6–2, 7–6
Win 9–14 Jul 1982 Austrian Open Clay Lea Plchová 6–2, 6–2
Win 10–14 Aug 1982 U.S. Clay Courts Clay Helena Suková 6–2, 6–0
Win 11–14 Oct 1983 VS Detroit, U.S. Carpet (i) Kathy Jordan 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
Loss 11–15 Apr 1985 Seabrook Island, U.S. Clay Katerina Maleeva 3–6, 3–6
Win 12–15 Jul 1985 Austrian Open Clay Mima Jaušovec 6–2, 6–3

Doubles: 35 (16–19)

Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (1–1)
WTA Championships (0–0)
Virginia Slims, Avon, other (15–18)
Finals by surface
Hard (2–1)
Grass (1–1)
Clay (10–11)
Carpet (3–6)
Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1. Nov 1973 London, UK Carpet (i) Mariana Simionescu Lesley Charles
Glynis Coles 		3–6, 5–7
Win 1. Nov 1974 Edinburgh Cup, UK Carpet (i) Mima Jaušovec María-Isabel Fernández
Raquel Giscafré 		6–4, 4–6, 6–4
Loss 2. Mar 1976 Tallahassee, U.S. Clay Mariana Simionescu Julie Anthony
Dianne Fromholtz 		2–6, 5–7
Loss 3. May 1976 Italian Open Clay Mariana Simionescu Linky Boshoff
Ilana Kloss 		1–6, 2–6
Win 2. Oct 1976 Spanish Open Clay Florența Mihai Nathalie Fuchs
Michele Gurdal 		6–2, 6–4
Loss 4. Jan 1977 Minneapolis Indoors, U.S. Carpet (i) Mima Jaušovec Rosie Casals
Martina Navratilova 		2–6, 1–6
Win 3. May 1978 German Open Clay Mima Jaušovec Katja Ebbinghaus
Helga Niessen Masthoff 		6–4, 5–7, 6–0
Win 4. May 1978 Italian Open Clay Mima Jaušovec Florența Mihai
Betsy Nagelsen 		6–2, 2–6, 7–6
Win 5. May 1978 French Open Clay Mima Jaušovec Gail Sherriff Lovera
Lesley Turner Bowrey 		5–7, 6–4, 8–6
Loss 5. Jun 1978 Wimbledon, UK Grass Mima Jaušovec Kerry Melville Reid
Wendy Turnbull 		6–4, 8–9(8), 3–6
Win 6. Jul 1978 Austrian Open Clay Renáta Tomanová Regina Maršíková
Florența Mihai 		7–5, 6–2
Loss 6. Oct 1978 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix,
Germany 		Carpet (i) Mima Jaušovec Tracy Austin
Betty Stöve 		3–6, 3–6
Win 7. Jan 1979 VS Washington, U.S. Carpet (i) Mima Jaušovec Renée Richards
Sharon Walsh 		4–6, 6–2, 6–4
Loss 7. Jul 1979 Austrian Open Clay Elly Appel-Vessies Helena Anliot
Dianne Evers 		0–6, 4–6
Win 8. Oct 1979 Tampa Open, U.S. Hard Anne Smith Ilana Kloss
Betty Ann Stuart 		7–5, 4–6, 7–5
Win 9. Dec 1979 Adelaide, Australia Grass Hana Mandlíková Sue Barker
Pam Shriver 		6–1, 3–6, 6–2
Loss 8. Aug 1980 U.S. Clay Courts Clay Renáta Tomanová Anne Smith
Paula Smith 		4–6, 6–3, 4–6
Win 10. Sep 1980 VS Salt Lake City, U.S. Hard Pam Teeguarden Barbara Jordan
JoAnne Russell 		6–4, 7–5
Win 11. Oct 1980 Stockholm Open, Sweden Carpet (i) Mima Jaušovec Hana Mandlíková
Betty Stöve 		6–2, 6–1
Loss 9. Mar 1981 VS Boston, U.S. Carpet (i) JoAnne Russell Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh 		7–6, 4–6, 3–6
Loss 10. May 1981 Italian Open Clay Chris Evert Candy Reynolds
Paula Smith 		5–7, 1–6
Win 12. Aug 1981 U.S. Clay Courts Clay JoAnne Russell Sue Barker
Paula Smith 		6–2, 6–2
Loss 11. Apr 1982 Hilton Head Island, U.S. Clay JoAnne Russell Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver 		1–6, 2–6
Loss 12. May 1982 European Open Clay JoAnne Russell Candy Reynolds
Paula Smith 		2–6, 4–6
Win 13. Jul 1982 Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Catherine Tanvier Patricia Medrado
Cláudia Monteiro 		7–6, 6–2
Loss 13. Aug 1982 U.S. Clay Courts Clay JoAnne Russell Ivanna Madruga
Catherine Tanvier 		5–7, 6–7(3)
Loss 14. Dec 1982 European Open Carpet (i) JoAnne Russell Rosie Casals
Candy Reynolds 		3–6, 3–6
Loss 15. Apr 1983 Amelia Island Championships, U.S. Clay Hana Mandlíková Rosalyn Fairbank
Candy Reynolds 		4–6, 2–6
Win 14. May 1983 Italian Open Clay Virginia Wade Ivanna Madruga
Catherine Tanvier 		6–3, 2–6, 6–1
Win 15. Aug 1983 U.S. Clay Courts Clay Kathy Horvath Gigi Fernández
Beth Herr 		4–6, 7–6(6), 6–2
Loss 16. Aug 1983 LA Championships, U.S. Hard Betsy Nagelsen Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver 		1–6, 0–6
Loss 17. Oct 1983 Porsche Grand Prix, Germany Carpet (i) Catherine Tanvier Martina Navratilova
Candy Reynolds 		2–6, 1–6
Loss 18. May 1984 German Open Clay Kathy Horvath Anne Hobbs
Candy Reynolds 		3–6, 6–4, 6–7(11)
Loss 19. May 1984 Italian Open Clay Kathy Horvath Iva Budařová
Helena Suková 		6–7(5), 6–1, 4–6
Win 16. Jul 1985 Austrian Open Clay Mima Jaušovec Andrea Holíková
Kateřina Skronská 		6–2, 6–3

Other finals

Singles (8–4)

Result No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 1. 1 October 1972 Cluj, Romania Clay Judith Gohn 2–6, 4–6
Win 2. 12 May 1974 Stuttgart, West Germany Clay Alena Palmeová-West 3–6, 6–4, 7–5
Win 3. 23 September 1974 Bucharest, Romania Clay Mariana Simionescu 6–3, 6–2
Win 4. 16 July 1978 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Petra Jauch-Delhees 6–2, 6–2
Win 5. 6 August 1978 Brașov, Romania Clay Renáta Tomanová 6–4, 6–2
Win 6. 13 July 1980 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Sylvia Hanika 6–4, 6–3
Win 7. 20 July 1980 Båstad, Sweden Clay Nina Bohm 6–2, 7–5
Loss 8. 2 August 1981 Orange, New Jersey, U.S. Clay Kathleen Horvath 0–6, 4–6
Loss 9. 18 April 1982 Nassau, Bahamas Hard Bettina Bunge 0–6, 6–7
Loss 10. 11 July 1982 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Claudia Kohde-Kilsch 5–7, 6–1, 6–7
Win 11. 1 August 1982 Orange, New Jersey, U.S. Clay Leigh-Anne Thompson 5–7, 6–2, 6–2
Win 12. 17 July 1983 Båstad, Sweden Hard Carin Anderholm 6–2, 6–3

Doubles (5–0)

Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1. 1 October 1972 Cluj, Romania Clay Mariana Simionescu Felicia Bucur
Judith Gohn 		4–6, 7–5, 6–4
Win 2. 23 September 1974 Bucharest, Romania Clay Mariana Simionescu Florența Mihai
Simona Nunweiler 		6–2, 6–2
Win 3. 17 October 1976 Madrid, Spain Clay Florența Mihai Regina Maršíková
Renáta Tomanová 		6–4, 5–7, 6–2
Win 4. 11 July 1982 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Catherine Tanvier Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Heidi Eisterlehner 		3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win 5. 19 January 1987 Bayonne, France Hard Catherine Tanvier Iwona Kuczyńska
Corinne Vanier 		6–3, 6–2

Grand Slam singles performance

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
Tournament 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Career SR
Australian Open A A A A A A A 1R QF 1R A A A A NH A 0 / 3
French Open 1R 2R 2R SF A W QF F QF QF 3R 4R 1R A 2R 1 / 13
Wimbledon 2R 2R 1R 1R 2R QF 4R 2R QF 4R 4R 2R 2R A A 0 / 13
US Open A 1R 1R QF 4R QF A 4R 3R 4R 1R 3R 1R A A 0 / 11
SR 0 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 2 1 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 0 0 / 1 1 / 40
Year-end ranking 112 26 16 12 13 11 12 11 19 44 41 NR 143

Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.

See also

References

  1. ^ Tignor, Steve (25 May 2017). "Who's the greatest clay-courter of them all—Chris Evert or Rafa Nadal?". Tennis.com. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  2. ^ Career highlights Retrieved 12 March 2008
  3. ^ Home! The Evonne Goolagong Story. Simon & Schuster Ltd (June 1995) ISBN 978-0-7318-0381-1
  4. ^ Venus and Serena Williams: A Biography. Greenwood (30 July 2005) ISBN 978-0-313-33165-7
  5. ^ John Roberts (13 September 1999). "Serena's grand entrance heralds Williams era". The Independent. London. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  6. ^ Robin Finn (27 October 1994). "TENNIS; Last of the 14-Year-Olds Will Take a First Step". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  7. ^ "40 Love Icons: Virginia Ruzici". wtatennis.com. Women's Tennis Association (WTA). 4 November 2013. Archived from the original on 23 October 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
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