Robert Lutz (born August 29, 1947) is an American former amateur and a professional tennis player of the 1960s and 1970s. He and 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] From 1967 to 1977, he was ranked amongst the top-10 American players eight times, with his highest ranking being No. 5 in both 1968 and 1970.

Bob Lutz
Country (sports) United States
Born (1947-08-29) August 29, 1947 (age 77)
San Clemente, California, United States
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Turned pro1970 (amateur from 1965)
Retired1982
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money$1,165,276
Singles
Career record468–303 in pre Open-Era & Open Era
Career titles11
Highest rankingNo. 7 (1972, Bud Collins)[1]
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenSF (1971)
French Open4R (1971)
WimbledonQF (1969)
US Open4R (1967, 1971, 1972, 1978, 1982)
Other tournaments
WCT FinalsSF (1976)
Doubles
Career record494–215
Career titles43
Highest rankingNo. 6 (April 30, 1977)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenW (1970)
French OpenF (1974)
WimbledonF (1974, 1980, 1981)
US OpenW (1968, 1974, 1978, 1980)

Career

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Lutz won the 1967 NCAA singles title, and 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. He reached 15 other singles finals, including Cincinnati in 1974. He won 43 doubles titles, 37 of which were won with Stan Smith, and he 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]

Honors and personal life

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He was inducted into the Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984.[6] Lutz, a 1971 graduate of the University of Southern California, was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2009.[7][8] He has been living in San Clemente, California since 1973 with his wife Sharon and their daughters Samantha and Allison.[9]

Career finals

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Singles

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Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 1968 U.S. Championships, Boston Grass   Arthur Ashe 6–4, 3–6, 10–8, 0–6, 4–6
Win 1–1 1970 Manchester, England Grass   Tom Gorman 6–2, 9–7
Win 2–1 1970 Columbus, U.S. Hard   Tom Gorman 7–5, 1–6, 6–4, 6–2
Win 3–1 1971 Sacramento, U.S. Hard   Alex Olmedo 3–6, 6–4, 6–3
Win 4–1 1971 Cologne WCT, West Germany Carpet (i)   Jeff Borowiak 6–3, 6–7, 6–3, 6–2
Loss 4–2 1971 Barcelona WCT, Spain Clay   Manuel Orantes 4–6, 3–6, 4–6
Win 5–2 1972 Boston WCT, U.S. Hard   Tom Okker 6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4
Loss 5–3 1972 Essen WCT, West Germany Carpet (i)   Nikola Pilić 6–4, 4–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–7
Loss 5–4 1972 Rome, Italy Carpet (i)   Arthur Ashe 2–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–7
Loss 5–5 1973 Philadelphia WCT, U.S. Carpet (i)   Stan Smith 6–7, 6–7, 6–4, 4–6
Loss 5–6 1974 Cincinnati, U.S. Hard   Marty Riessen 6–7, 6–7
Win 6–6 1975 Tokyo WCT, Japan Carpet   Stan Smith 6–4, 6–4
Loss 6–7 1975 Columbus, U.S. Clay   Vijay Amritraj 4–6, 5–7
Loss 6–8 1975 Sydney Indoor, Australia Hard (i)   Stan Smith 6–7, 2–6
Loss 6–9 1976 Rome WCT, Italy Carpet (i)   Arthur Ashe 2–6, 6–0, 3–6
Loss 6–10 1976 Rotterdam WCT, Netherlands Carpet (i)   Arthur Ashe 3–6, 3–6
Loss 6–11 1976 Maui, U.S. Hard   Harold Solomon 3–6, 7–5, 5–7
Loss 6–12 1977 Ocean City, U.S. Hard   Vitas Gerulaitis 6–3, 1–6, 2–6
Loss 6–13 1977 Washington Indoor, US Carpet (i)   Brian Gottfried 1–6, 2–6
Loss 6–14 1978 Columbus, U.S. Clay   Arthur Ashe 3–6, 4–6
Win 7–14 1978 Paris Indoor, France Hard (i)   Tom Gullikson 6–2, 6–2, 7–6
Win 8–14 1979 Taipei, Taiwan Carpet   Pat DuPré 6–3, 6–4, 2–6, 6–3
Win 9–14 1980 Columbus, U.S. Hard   Terry Rocavert 6–4, 6–3
Win 10–14 1980 Stowe, U.S. Hard   Johan Kriek 6–3, 6–1
Win 11–14 1980 Cologne, West Germany Carpet (i)   Nick Saviano 6–4, 6–0
Loss 11–15 1983 Tampa, U.S. Carpet   Johan Kriek 2–6, 4–6

Doubles

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Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1–0 1968 US Open, New York Grass   Stan Smith   Arthur Ashe
  Andrés Gimeno
11–9, 6–1, 7–5
Win 2–0 1969 Cincinnati, U.S. Clay   Stan Smith   Arthur Ashe
  Charlie Pasarell
6–3, 6–4
Win 3–0 1970 Australian Open, Sydney Grass   Stan Smith   John Alexander
  Phil Dent
8–6, 6–3, 6–4
Loss 3–1 1970 Los Angeles, U.S. Hard   Stan Smith   Tom Okker
  Marty Riessen
6–7, 2–6
Win 4–1 1970 Berkeley, U.S. Hard   Stan Smith   Roy Barth
  Tom Gorman
6–2, 7–5, 4–6, 6–2
Loss 4–2 1971 Dallas WCT, U.S. Carpet (i)   Charlie Pasarell   Tom Okker
  Marty Riessen
3–6, 4–6
Loss 4–3 1971 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i)   Arthur Ashe   Tom Gorman
  Stan Smith
4–6, 3–6
Win 5–3 1972 Philadelphia WCT, U.S. Carpet (i)   Arthur Ashe   John Newcombe
  Tony Roche
6–3, 6–7, 6–3
Loss 5–4 1972 Louisville WCT, U.S. Clay   Arthur Ashe   John Alexander
  Phil Dent
4–6, 3–6
Loss 5–5 1972 Boston WCT, U.S. Hard   Arthur Ashe   John Newcombe
  Tony Roche
3–6, 6–1, 6–7
Loss 5–6 1972 Rotterdam WCT, Netherlands Carpet (i)   Arthur Ashe   Roy Emerson
  John Newcombe
6–7, 6–7
Win 6–6 1973 Brussels WCT, Belgium Carpet (i)   Stan Smith   John Alexander
  Phil Dent
6–4, 7–6
Win 7–6 1973 Johannesburg WCT, South Africa Hard   Stan Smith   Frew McMillan
  Allan Stone
6–1, 6–4, 6–4
Win 8–6 1973 World Doubles WCT, Montreal Carpet (i)   Stan Smith   Tom Okker
  Marty Riessen
6–2, 7–6, 6–0
Win 9–6 1974 Atlanta WCT, U.S. Clay   Stan Smith   Brian Gottfried
  Dick Stockton
6–3, 3–6, 7–6
Win 10–6 1974 New Orleans WCT, U.S. Other   Stan Smith   Owen Davidson
  John Newcombe
4–6, 6–4, 7–6
Loss 10–7 1974 French Open, Paris Clay   Stan Smith   Dick Crealy
  Onny Parun
3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 7–5, 1–6
Loss 10–8 1974 Nottingham, England Grass   Stan Smith   Charlie Pasarell
  Erik van Dillen
4–6, 7–9
Loss 10–9 1974 Wimbledon, London Grass   Stan Smith   John Newcombe
  Tony Roche
6–8, 4–6, 4–6
Win 11–9 1974 Boston, U.S. Clay   Stan Smith   Hans-Jürgen Pohmann
  Marty Riessen
3–6, 6–4, 6–3
Loss 11–10 1974 Columbus, U.S. Hard   Tom Gorman   Anand Amritraj
  Vijay Amritraj
def.
Win 12–10 1974 US Open, New York Grass   Stan Smith   Patricio Cornejo
  Jaime Fillol
6–3, 6–3
Win 13–10 1974 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet   Stan Smith   John Alexander
  Syd Ball
6–4, 7–6
Win 14–10 1975 Fort Worth WCT, U.S. Hard   Stan Smith   John Alexander
  Phil Dent
6–7, 7–6, 6–3
Win 15–10 1975 Tokyo Indoor, Japan Carpet (i)   Stan Smith   John Alexander
  Phil Dent
6–4, 6–7, 6–2
Win 16–10 1975 Houston, U.S. Clay   Stan Smith   Mike Estep
  Russell Simpson
7–5, 7–6
Win 17–10 1975 Washington D.C., U.S. Clay   Stan Smith   Brian Gottfried
  Raúl Ramírez
7–5, 2–6, 6–1
Win 18–10 1975 Columbus, U.S. Clay   Stan Smith   Jürgen Fassbender
  Hans-Jürgen Pohmann
6–2, 6–7, 6–3
Win 19–10 1976 Indianapolis WCT, U.S. Carpet (i)   Stan Smith   Vitas Gerulaitis
  Tom Gorman
6–2, 6–4
Win 20–10 1976 Barcelona WCT, Spain Clay   Stan Smith   Wojciech Fibak
  Karl Meiler
6–3, 6–3
Win 21–10 1976 Rome WCT, Italy Clay   Stan Smith   Dick Crealy
  Frew McMillan
6–7, 6–3, 6–4
Loss 21–11 1976 World Doubles WCT, Kansas City Carpet (i)   Stan Smith   Wojciech Fibak
  Karl Meiler
3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 3–6, 4–6
Loss 21–12 1976 Las Vegas, U.S. Hard   Stan Smith   Arthur Ashe
  Charlie Pasarell
4–6, 2–6
Win 22–12 1976 Los Angeles, U.S. Hard   Stan Smith   Arthur Ashe
  Charlie Pasarell
6–2, 3–6, 6–3
Loss 22–13 1977 Memphis, U.S. Hard   Stan Smith   Fred McNair
  Sherwood Stewart
6–4, 6–7, 6–7
Win 23–13 1977 Washington Indoor, U.S. Carpet (i)   Stan Smith   Brian Gottfried
  Raúl Ramírez
6–3, 7–5
Loss 23–14 1977 Los Angeles PSW U.S. Hard   Stan Smith   Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
3–6, 4–6
Win 24–14 1977 Las Vegas, U.S. Hard   Stan Smith   Bob Hewitt
  Raúl Ramírez
6–3, 3–6, 6–4
Win 25–14 1977 Columbus, US Clay   Stan Smith   Peter Fleming
  Gene Mayer
4–6, 7–5, 6–2
Win 26–14 1977 Maui, U.S. Hard   Stan Smith   Brian Gottfried
  Raúl Ramírez
7–6, 6–4
Win 27–14 1977 Johannesburg WCT, South Africa Hard   Stan Smith   Peter Fleming
  Raymond Moore
6–3, 7–5, 6–7, 7–6
Win 28–14 1978 Springfield, U.S. Carpet   Stan Smith   Jan Kodeš
  Marty Riessen
6–3, 6–3
Win 29–14 1978 Washington Indoor, U.S. Carpet (i)   Stan Smith   Arthur Ashe
  John McEnroe
6–7, 7–5, 6–1
Loss 29–15 1978 Rotterdam WCT, Netherlands Carpet (i)   Stan Smith   Fred McNair
  Raúl Ramírez
2–6, 3–6
Loss 29–16 1978 World Doubles WCT, Kansas City Carpet (i)   Stan Smith   Wojciech Fibak
  Tom Okker
7–6, 4–6, 0–6, 3–6
Win 30–16 1978 US Open, New York Hard   Stan Smith   Marty Riessen
  Sherwood Stewart
1–6, 7–5, 6–3
Loss 30–17 1978 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet   Stan Smith   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe
7–5, 4–6, 4–6
Loss 30–18 1978 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i)   Stan Smith   Wojciech Fibak
  Tom Okker
3–6, 2–6
Win 31–18 1979 Denver, U.S. Carpet (i)   Stan Smith   Wojciech Fibak
  Tom Okker
7–6, 6–3
Win 32–18 1979 Washington Indoor, U.S. Carpet (i)   Stan Smith   Bob Carmichael
  Brian Teacher
6–4, 7–5, 3–6, 7–6
Loss 32–19 1979 New Orleans, U.S. Carpet   Stan Smith   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe
1–6, 3–6
Win 33–19 1979 Newport, U.S. Grass   Stan Smith   John James
  Chris Kachel
6–4, 7–6
Win 34–19 1979 Columbus, U.S. Clay   Brian Gottfried   Tim Gullikson
  Tom Gullikson
4–6, 6–3, 7–6
Win 35–19 1979 Cleveland, U.S. Hard   Stan Smith   Francisco González
  Fred McNair
6–3, 6–4
Loss 35–20 1979 Cincinnati, U.S. Hard   Stan Smith   Brian Gottfried
  Ilie Năstase
6–1, 3–6, 6–7
Loss 35–21 1979 US Open, New York Hard   Stan Smith   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe
2–6, 4–6
Win 36–21 1979 Hong Kong Hard   Pat DuPré   Steve Denton
  Mark Turpin
6–3, 6–4
Loss 36–22 1979 Taipei, Taiwan Carpet   Pat DuPré   Mark Edmondson
  John Marks
1–6, 6–3, 4–6
Win 37–22 1980 Tulsa, U.S. Hard (i)   Dick Stockton   Francisco González
  Fred McNair
2–6, 7–6, 6–2
Win 38–22 1980 Las Vegas, U.S. Hard   Stan Smith   Wojciech Fibak
  Gene Mayer
6–2, 7–5
Loss 38–23 1980 Wimbledon, London Grass   Stan Smith   Peter McNamara
  Paul McNamee
6–7, 3–6, 7–6, 4–6
Win 39–23 1980 Stowe, U.S. Hard   Bernard Mitton   Ilie Năstase
  Ferdi Taygan
6–4, 6–3
Win 40–23 1980 US Open, New York Hard   Stan Smith   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe
7–6, 3–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3
Loss 40–24 1980 Sawgrass Doubles, U.S. Hard   Stan Smith   Brian Gottfried
  Raúl Ramírez
6–7, 4–6, 6–2, 6–7
Win 41–24 1980 Vienna, Austria Carpet (i)   Stan Smith   Heinz Günthardt
  Pavel Složil
6–1, 6–2
Loss 41–25 1980 Stockholm, Sweden Carpet (i)   Stan Smith   Heinz Günthardt
  Paul McNamee
7–6, 3–6, 2–6
Win 42–25 1980 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard   Stan Smith   Heinz Günthardt
  Paul McNamee
6–7, 6–3, 6–4
Loss 42–26 1981 Wimbledon, London Grass   Stan Smith   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe
4–6, 4–6, 4–6
Loss 42–27 1981 Stowe, U.S. Hard   Brian Gottfried   Johan Kriek
  Larry Stefanki
6–2, 1–6, 2–6
Loss 42–28 1981 Cincinnati, U.S. Hard   Stan Smith   John McEnroe
  Ferdi Taygan
6–7, 3–6
Loss 42–29 1981 Sawgrass Doubles, U.S. Hard   Stan Smith   Heinz Günthardt
  Peter McNamara
6–7, 6–3, 6–7, 7–5, 4–6
Loss 42–30 1982 La Costa WCT, U.S. Hard   Raúl Ramírez   Fritz Buehning
  Johan Kriek
6–3, 6–7, 3–6
Win 43–30 1982 Hartford WCT, U.S. Carpet   Dick Stockton   Mike Cahill
  Tracy Delatte
7–6, 6–3

Grand Slam finals

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Doubles

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Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1968 US Open Grass   Stan Smith   Arthur Ashe
  Andrés Gimeno
11–9, 6–1, 7–5
Win 1970 Australian Open Grass   Stan Smith   John Alexander
  Phil Dent
8–6, 6–3, 6–4
Loss 1974 French Open Clay   Stan Smith   Dick Crealy
  Onny Parun
3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 7–5, 1–6
Loss 1974 Wimbledon Grass   Stan Smith   John Newcombe
  Tony Roche
6–8, 4–6, 4–6
Win 1974 US Open (2) Clay   Stan Smith   Patricio Cornejo
  Jaime Fillol
6–3, 6–3
Win 1978 US Open (3) Hard   Stan Smith   Marty Riessen
  Sherwood Stewart
1–6, 7–5, 6–3
Loss 1979 US Open Hard   Stan Smith   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe
4–6, 4–6, 4–6
Win 1980 US Open (4) Hard   Stan Smith   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe
7–6, 3–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3
Loss 1980 Wimbledon Grass   Stan Smith   Peter McNamara
  Paul McNamee
6–7, 3–6, 7–6, 4–6
Loss 1981 Wimbledon Grass   Stan Smith   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe
4–6, 4–6, 4–6

References

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  1. ^ a b Collins, Bud (2003). Total Tennis: The Ultimate Tennis Encyclopedia, p. 917.
  2. ^ Past championsojaitourney.org December 2012 Archived March 1, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Emery, David, ed. (1983). Who's Who in International Tennis. London: Sphere. p. 74. ISBN 9780722133200.
  4. ^ "Davis Cup player profile". International Tennis Federation (ITF).
  5. ^ "International Tennis Hall Of Fame Announces Ballot Names For 2010 Induction". Archived from the original on October 6, 2011.
  6. ^ "ITA Men's Hall of Fame". Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  7. ^ Mark Garcia (July 17, 2009). "San Clemente's Lutz to be inducted into tennis hall of fame". The Orange County Register.
  8. ^ "USC Hall of Fame" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  9. ^ "Tennis column: Q&A - Catching up with Bob Lutz". The Daily Courier. October 13, 2011.
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