We continue the series with former ATP. no. 3 and 1977 French Open finalist Brian Gottfried’s first and last professional tennis matches. Brian won 25 ATP singles titles and 54 doubles titles…
FIRST: First professional match was at the Canadian Open in Montreal in 1972 (at age 22). I turned pro in June of 1972 and drove to Montreal Lawn Tennis and Skating Club. I played my college teammate (at Trinity University in Texas), Bob McKinley in the first round winning 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 and losing to Adriano Panatta 6-2, 6-1 in the second round. I think I made $300 for getting to the second round. There wasn’t anything significant about either of those two matches. I had to go back to the ATP archives to find the result. In fact, I thought the tournament was in Toronto until I just looked it up. A more significant match for me against Bob McKinley was later that summer at the US Open, I lost the match but what was significant about the match was that I lost 7-6 in the fifth and it was the first match at the Open to be decided by a fifth set tie breaker.”
LAST: Was at 1984 US Open. After beating Ben Testerman, a young up and coming American player in the first round, I was supposed to play Jimmy Connors. I had decided earlier in the summer that this was going to be my last year of playing on tour because it was becoming more and more difficult for me to be as intense and train as hard as I felt I needed to to compete at the highest level. I always felt it was important for me to give everything I had both in practice and competition to be ready to play my best. I didn’t understand that after 13 years on the tour maybe my preparation and mindset needed to change to accommodate the wear and tear on my body and additional demands on my life. I saw it as black and white. If I can’t practice like I always did I need to walk away.
My match with Jimmy was scheduled for Louis Armstrong stadium court and as was his norm he was ready to play…a stadium court match in New York. One of my goals in my career was to win the US Open and jump the net. Knowing that this was my last year on the tour, I knew that this was my last chance to do that. The only problem was that I got thumped by Jimmy that day. Therefore, my goal of winning the Open was out the window, but jumping the net wasn’t. So after losing 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 I proceeded to accomplish the other half of my goal by ending up on his side of the net after losing. The look on his face was, “what are you doing on my side of the court having just lost?” And certainly the crowd, most of which were empty seats by the end of this drubbing, had no idea of my promise to myself. This was my last tour level match. Now you’re one of only a handful of people who know, ‘the rest of the story.'”
MIDDLE CAREER MATCH: I have some special memories. Winning the Davis Cup in Palm Springs in ’78. Winning the World doubles with Raul Ramirez in ’76 in Mexico City. Coming off the court when Wembley Arena was catching fire – when we were on court playing. Unusual memory. When I think back – I don’t remember anything bad, which is a crazy thing, there were only good memories. My closest friends are still the guys I had the toughest battles with – Harold Solomon, Eddie Dibbs, Jimmy Connors, the American group that was our age. Just good memories. It’s been a great sport for me.
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Hartt · August 17, 2019 at 10:14 am
Thanks, Scoop, an interesting read. These memories help us understand what it was like to be on the tour, with both successes and failures.
Scoop Malinowski · August 17, 2019 at 10:33 am
Glad you like it Hartt. Love doing these as they always reveal some interesting facts. It’s like exploring new territory in pro tennis, no media has ever ventured to pursue first and last matches of pro players which are very important steps in the overall journeys. I will continue to explore this uncharted territory by doing more of these interviews with former players at US Open.
Dan Markowitz · August 17, 2019 at 12:17 pm
The Snauwert racket, classic.
Rita Freeman · September 4, 2019 at 10:55 pm
I watched Brian Gottfried practice many times at a complex in the Ft. Lauderdale,,Seth Fla. area in the late 1970’s. The name of the complex was Bonaventure and he sure did practice forever wearing his hitting partners out.
You couldn’t find a a more gracious and truly 1st class person
Scoop Malinowski · September 5, 2019 at 9:04 am
Agree Rita, Brian is a champion. Wish you had some video to post of Brian training. Thanks for your comments.