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Virginia Ruzici (born 31 January 1955) is a former professional tennis player from Romania . 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 twelve 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 that same year.
Ruzici remained in the world's top twenty from 1977 to 1983.[1] 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 quarter final round to the Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley who was playing with an injured ankle. Cawley'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 Mrs. Cawley recovered, Ruzici agreed to continue the match, but lost 7–5 6–3 and was praised for her sportsmanship.[2] It has often 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 Williams & Serena Williams to play tennis.[3] [4] [5]
Ruzici is now the manager of Romanian tennis player Simona Halep .[6]
Grand Slam finals
Singles (1 title, 1 runner–up)
Women's doubles (1 title, 1 runner–up)
Mixed doubles (2 runners-up)
WTA career finals
Singles: 27 (12–15)
Winner — Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (1–1)
WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (11–14)
Titles by Surface
Hard (1–2)
Grass (0–1)
Clay (9–10)
Carpet (2–2)
Outcome
No.
Date
Tournament
Surface
Opponent
Score
Winner
1.
18 August 1975
South Orange
Clay
Mariana Simionescu
6–1, 6–1
Runner-up
1.
12 July 1976
Kitzbühel
Clay
Wendy Turnbull
4–6, 7–5, 3–6
Runner-up
2.
18 October 1976
Barcelona
Clay
Renáta Tomanová
6–3, 4–6, 2–6
Winner
2.
26 September 1977
Palm Harbor
Clay
Laura duPont
6–4, 4–6, 6–2
Runner-up
3.
15 May 1978
Hamburg
Clay
Mima Jaušovec
2–6, 3–6
Runner-up
4.
22 May 1978
Rome
Clay
Regina Maršíková
5–7, 5–7
Winner
3.
29 May 1978
French Open
Clay
Mima Jaušovec
6–2, 6–2
Winner
4.
24 July 1978
Kitzbühel
Clay
Sylvia Hanika
6–4, 6–3
Runner-up
5.
14 August 1978
Toronto
Hard
Regina Maršíková
5–7, 7–6, 2–6
Winner
5.
16 October 1978
Brighton
Carpet (i)
Betty Stöve
5–7, 6–2, 7–5
Runner-up
6.
19 February 1979
Detroit
Carpet (i)
Wendy Turnbull
5–7, 6–1, 6–7(4–7)
Runner-up
7.
10 December 1979
Adelaide
Grass
Hana Mandlíková
5–7, 2–2 ret.
Runner-up
8.
5 May 1980
Rome
Clay
Chris Evert
7–5, 2–6, 2–6
Runner-up
9.
26 May 1980
French Open
Clay
Chris Evert
0–6, 3–6
Winner
6.
21 July 1980
Kitzbühel
Clay
Hana Mandlíková
3–6, 6–1 ret.
Runner-up
10.
11 August 1980
Toronto
Hard
Chris Evert
3–6, 1–6
Winner
7.
8 September 1980
Salt Lake City
Hard
Ivanna Madruga
6–1, 6–3
Runner-up
11.
10 November 1980
Amsterdam
Carpet (i)
Hana Mandlíková
7–5, 2–6, 5–7
Runner-up
12.
4 May 1981
Perugia
Clay
Chris Evert
1–6, 2–6
Runner-up
13.
11 May 1981
Lugano
Clay
Chris Evert
1–6, 1–6
Runner-up
14.
3 August 1981
Indianapolis
Clay
Andrea Jaeger
1–6, 0–6
Winner
8.
12 July 1982
Monte Carlo
Clay
Bonnie Gadusek
6–2, 7–6
Winner
9.
19 July 1982
Kitzbühel
Clay
Lea Plchová
6–2, 6–2
Winner
10.
2 August 1982
Indianapolis
Clay
Helena Suková
6–2, 6–0
Winner
11.
3 October 1983
Detroit
Carpet (i)
Kathy Jordan
4–6, 6–4, 6–2
Runner-up
15.
1 April 1985
Seabrook Island
Clay
Katerina Maleeva
3–6, 3–6
Winner
12.
15 July 1985
Bregenz
Clay
Mima Jaušovec
6–2, 6–3
Doubles: 35 (16–19)
Winner — Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (1–1)
WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (15–18)
Titles by Surface
Hard (2–1)
Grass (1–1)
Clay (10–11)
Carpet (3–6)
Outcome
No.
Date
Tournament
Surface
Partner
Opponents
Score
Runner-up
1.
11 November 1973
London
Carpet (i)
Mariana Simionescu
Lesley Charles Glynis Coles
3–6, 5–7
Winner
1.
4 November 1974
Edinburgh
Carpet (i)
Mima Jaušovec
María-Isabel Fernández Raquel Giscafré
6–4, 4–6, 6–4
Runner-up
2.
8 March 1976
Tallahassee
Clay
Mariana Simionescu
Julie Anthony Dianne Fromholtz
2–6, 5–7
Runner-up
3.
23 May 1976
Rome
Clay
Mariana Simionescu
Linky Boshoff Ilana Kloss
1–6, 2–6
Winner
2.
18 October 1976
Barcelona
Clay
Florența Mihai
Nathalie Fuchs Michele Gurdal
6–2, 6–4
Runner-up
4.
24 January 1977
Minneapolis
Carpet (i)
Mima Jaušovec
Rosie Casals Martina Navrátilová
2–6, 1–6
Winner
3.
15 May 1978
Hamburg
Clay
Mima Jaušovec
Katja Ebbinghaus Helga Niessen Masthoff
6–4, 5–7, 6–0
Winner
4.
22 May 1978
Rome
Clay
Mima Jaušovec
Florența Mihai Betsy Nagelsen
6–2, 2–6, 7–6
Winner
5.
29 May 1978
French Open
Clay
Mima Jaušovec
Gail Sherriff Lovera Lesley Turner Bowrey
5–7, 6–4, 8–6
Runner-up
5.
26 June 1978
Wimbledon
Grass
Mima Jaušovec
Kerry Melville Reid Wendy Turnbull
6–4, 8–9(8–10) , 3–6
Winner
6.
24 July 1978
Kitzbühel
Clay
Renáta Tomanová
Regina Maršíková Florența Mihai
7–5, 6–2
Runner-up
6.
23 October 1978
Filderstadt
Carpet (i)
Mima Jaušovec
Tracy Austin Betty Stöve
3–6, 3–6
Winner
7.
1 January 1979
Washington, D.C.
Carpet (i)
Mima Jaušovec
Renée Richards Sharon Walsh
4–6, 6–2, 6–4
Runner-up
7.
18 July 1979
Kitzbühel
Clay
Elly Appel-Vessies
Helena Anliot Diane Evers
0–6, 4–6
Winner
8.
22 October 1979
Tampa
Hard
Anne Smith
Ilana Kloss Betty Ann Stuart
7–5, 4–6, 7–5
Winner
9.
10 December 1979
Adelaide
Grass
Hana Mandlíková
Sue Barker Pam Shriver
6–1, 3–6, 6–2
Runner-up
8.
4 August 1980
Indianapolis
Clay
Renáta Tomanová
Anne Smith Paula Smith
4–6, 6–3, 4–6
Winner
10.
8 September 1980
Salt Lake City
Hard
Pam Teeguarden
Barbara Jordan JoAnne Russell
6–4, 7–5
Winner
11.
27 October 1980
Stockholm
Carpet (i)
Mima Jaušovec
Hana Mandlíková Betty Stöve
6–2, 6–1
Runner-up
9.
16 March 1981
Boston
Carpet (i)
JoAnne Russell
Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh
7–6, 4–6, 3–6
Runner-up
10.
4 May 1981
Perugia
Clay
Chris Evert
Candy Reynolds Paula Smith
5–7, 1–6
Winner
12.
3 August 1981
Indianapolis
Clay
JoAnne Russell
Sue Barker Paula Smith
6–2, 6–2
Runner-up
11.
5 April 1982
Hilton Head Island
Clay
JoAnne Russell
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver
1–6, 2–6
Runner-up
12.
10 May 1982
Lugano
Clay
JoAnne Russell
Candy Reynolds Paula Smith
2–6, 4–6
Winner
13.
12 July 1982
Monte Carlo
Clay
Catherine Tanvier
Patricia Medrado Cláudia Monteiro
7–6, 6–2
Runner-up
13.
2 August 1982
Indianapolis
Clay
JoAnne Russell
Ivanna Madruga Catherine Tanvier
5–7, 6–7(3–7)
Runner-up
14.
6 December 1982
Richmond
Carpet (i)
JoAnne Russell
Rosie Casals Candy Reynolds
3–6, 3–6
Runner-up
15.
11 April 1983
Amelia Island
Clay
Hana Mandlíková
Rosalyn Fairbank Candy Reynolds
4–6, 2–6
Winner
14.
2 May 1983
Perugia
Clay
Virginia Wade
Ivana Madruga Catherine Tanvier
6–3, 2–6, 6–1
Winner
15.
1 August 1983
Indianapolis
Clay
Kathy Horvath
Gigi Fernández Beth Herr
4–6, 7–6(8–6) 6–2
Runner-up
16.
8 August 1983
Los Angeles
Hard
Betsy Nagelsen
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver
1–6, 0–6
Runner-up
17.
24 October 1983
Filderstadt
Carpet (i)
Catherine Tanvier
Martina Navratilova Candy Reynolds
2–6, 1–6
Runner-up
18.
14 May 1984
Berlin
Clay
Kathy Horvath
Anne Hobbs Candy Reynolds
3–6, 6–4, 6–7(11–13)
Runner-up
19.
21 May 1984
Perugia
Clay
Kathy Horvath
Iva Budařová Helena Suková
6–7(5–7) , 6–1, 4–6
Winner
16.
15 July 1985
Bregenz
Clay
Mima Jaušovec
Andrea Holíková Kateřina Skronská
6–2, 6–3
Grand Slam singles tournament timeline
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
Career Statistics
Year End Ranking
112
26
16
12
13
11
12
11
18
44
41
NR
143
SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.
Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
See also
References
External links