Brian Gottfried

Professional career

Gottfried began his professional tennis career in 1972. Newsweek described him as the "best male tennis player in the world at the moment" in April 1977, He won the Italian Open doubles championship in four consecutive years (1974–1977). He won the men's doubles at the French Open in 1975 and 1977. In 1976, he won the men's doubles title at Wimbledon. He ended his career tied for 22nd in open era singles titles leaders, and tied for 12th in doubles.

Gottfried retired as the player with the greatest number of tour match victories among players who had never won a grand slam. He held this record for 32 years, eventually being succeeded by David Ferrer. He was also second to Ferrer for most titles by a player who never won a major.

Grand Slam finals

Singles: 1 (1 runner-up) ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss 1977 French Open Clay Guillermo Vilas 0–6, 3–6, 0–6

Doubles: 7 (3 titles, 4 runners-up)

Grand Slam tournament performance timeline

Singles

Grand Prix, WCT, and Grand Slam finals

Singles: 51 (25 titles, 26 runner-ups) ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreWin 1. Apr 1973 Johannesburg WCT, South Africa Hard Jaime Fillol WalkoverWin 2. May 1973 Las Vegas, U.S. Hard Arthur Ashe 6–1, 6–3Loss 1. Oct 1973 Fort Worth, U.S. Hard Eddie Dibbs 5–7, 2–6, 4–6Loss 2. Nov 1973 Christchurch, New Zealand Grass Fred Stolle 6–7, 4–6, 1–6Win 3. Nov 1974 Paris Indoor, France Hard (i) Eddie Dibbs 6–3, 5–7, 8–6, 6–0Loss 3. Nov 1974 London, UK Carpet (i) Jimmy Connors 2–6, 6–7Win 4. Jan 1975 Baltimore, U.S. Carpet (i) Allan Stone 3–6, 6–2, 6–3Win 5. Feb 1975 Dayton, U.S. Carpet (i) Geoff Masters 6–4, 4–6, 6–4Loss 4. Apr 1975 Denver WCT, U.S. Carpet (i) Jimmy Connors 3–6, 4–6Win 6. Oct 1975 Melbourne, Australia Grass Harold Solomon 6–2, 7–6, 6–1Loss 5. Nov 1975 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard Harold Solomon 3–6, 2–6, 7–5, 2–6Loss 6. Feb 1976 Richmond WCT, U.S. Carpet (i) Arthur Ashe 2–6, 4–6Win 7. Sep 1976 Los Angeles, U.S. Carpet (i) Arthur Ashe 6–2, 6–2Loss 7. Oct 1976 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet (i) Roscoe Tanner 6–4, 5–7, 1–6Loss 8. Nov 1976 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard Harold Solomon 2–6, 7–6, 3–6, 4–6Win 8. Jan 1977 Baltimore, U.S. Carpet (i) Guillermo Vilas 6–3, 7–6Win 9. Feb 1977 Rancho Mirage, U.S. Hard Guillermo Vilas 2–6, 6–1, 6–3Loss 9. Mar 1977 Memphis, U.S. Hard (i) Björn Borg 4–6, 3–6, 6–4, 5–7Win 10. Mar 1977 Washington, U.S. Carpet (i) Robert Lutz 6–1, 6–2Win 11. Mar 1977 La Costa, U.S. Hard Marty Riessen 6–3, 6–2Loss 10. Apr 1977 Los Angeles, U.S. Carpet (i) Stan Smith 4–6, 6–2, 3–6Loss 11. Apr 1977 Denver, U.S. Carpet (i) Björn Borg 5–7, 2–6Loss 12. Jun 1977 French Open, Paris Clay Guillermo Vilas 0–6, 3–6, 0–6Loss 13. Jul 1977 Washington, D.C. Clay Guillermo Vilas 4–6, 5–7Loss 14. Aug 1977 Columbus, U.S. Hard Guillermo Vilas 2–6, 1–6Loss 15. Sep 1977 Los Angeles, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez 5–7, 6–3, 4–6Loss 16. Oct 1977 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet (i) Butch Walts 6–4, 3–6, 5–7Loss 17. Oct 1977 Maui, U.S. Hard Jimmy Connors 2–6, 0–6Win 12. Oct 1977 Vienna, Austria Hard (i) Wojciech Fibak 6–1, 6–1Loss 18. Nov 1977 Paris Indoor, France Hard (i) Corrado Barazzutti 6–7, 6–7, 7–6, 6–3, 4–6Win 13. Mar 1978 Washington Indoor, U.S. Carpet (i) Raúl Ramírez 7–5, 7–6Win 14. Apr 1978 Dayton, U.S. Carpet (i) Eddie Dibbs 2–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–4)Win 15. Apr 1978 Houston WCT, U.S. Clay Ilie Năstase 3–6, 6–2, 6–1Loss 19. Sep 1978 Los Angeles, U.S. Carpet (i) Arthur Ashe 2–6, 4–6Loss 20. Feb 1979 Rancho Mirage, U.S. Hard Roscoe Tanner 4–6, 2–6Loss 21. Mar 1979 Washington Indoor, U.S. Carpet (i) Roscoe Tanner 4–6, 4–6Win 16. Aug 1979 Columbus, U.S. Clay Eddie Dibbs 6–3, 6–0Win 17. Oct 1979 Basel, Switzerland Hard (i) Johan Kriek 7–5, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3Win 18. Jun 1980 Surbiton, UK Grass Sandy Mayer 6–3, 6–3Win 19. Jul 1980 Washington, D.C. Clay José Luis Clerc 7–5, 4–6, 6–4Win 20. Oct 1980 Vienna, Austria Hard (i) Trey Waltke 6–2, 6–4, 6–3Win 21. Nov 1980 Paris Indoor, France Hard (i) Adriano Panatta 4–6, 6–3, 6–1, 7–6Loss 22. Mar 1981 Brussels, Belgium Carpet (i) Jimmy Connors 2–6, 4–6, 3–6Loss 23. Jun 1981 London (Queen's), UK Grass John McEnroe 6–7, 5–7Win 22. Aug 1981 Stowe, U.S. Hard Tony Graham 6–3, 6–3Loss 24. Oct 1981 Vienna, Austria Hard (i) Ivan Lendl 6–1, 0–6, 1–6, 2–6Win 23. May 1982 Tampa, U.S. Hard Mike Estep 6–7(6–8), 6–2, 6–4Loss 25. Aug 1982 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. Hard Jimmy Connors 5–7, 0–6Win 24. Oct 1982 Vienna, Austria Hard (i) Bill Scanlon 6–1, 6–4, 6–0Loss 26. Nov 1982 London (Wembley), UK Carpet (i) John McEnroe 3–6, 2–6, 4–6Win 25. Oct 1983 Vienna, Austria Hard (i) Mel Purcell 6–2, 6–3, 7–5

Doubles (54 titles, 41 runner-ups) ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1. 1973 Philadelphia WCT, U.S. Carpet Dick Stockton Roy Emerson Rod Laver 4–6, 6–3, 6–4Win 2. 1973 Las Vegas, U.S. Hard Dick Stockton Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle 6–7, 6–4, 6–4Loss 1. 1973 Cincinnati, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez John Alexander Phil Dent 6–1, 6–7, 6–7Win 3. 1973 Fort Worth, U.S. Hard Dick Stockton Owen Davidson John Newcombe 7–6, 6–4Loss 2. 1973 Hong Kong Hard Paul Gerken Colin Dibley Rod Laver 3–6, 7–5, 15–17Loss 3. 1974 Atlanta WCT, U.S. Clay Dick Stockton Robert Lutz Stan Smith 3–6, 6–3, 6–7Loss 4. 1974 Orlando WCT, U.S. Clay Dick Stockton Owen Davidson John Newcombe 6–7, 3–6Loss 5. 1974 Hamburg, West Germany Clay Raúl Ramírez Jürgen Fassbender Hans-Jürgen Pohmann 3–6, 4–6, 4–6Win 4. 1974 Rome, Italy Clay Raúl Ramírez Juan Gisbert Sr. Ilie Năstase 6–3, 6–2, 6–3Loss 6. 1974 Chicago, U.S. Carpet Raúl Ramírez Tom Gorman Marty Riessen 6–4, 3–6, 5–7Win 5. 1974 South Orange, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez Anand Amritraj Vijay Amritraj 7–6, 6–7, 7–6Loss 7. 1974 Los Angeles, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez Ross Case Geoff Masters 3–6, 2–6Loss 8. 1974 Madrid, Spain Clay Raúl Ramírez Patrice Dominguez Antonio Muñoz 1–6, 3–6Loss 9. 1974 Tehran, Iran Clay Raúl Ramírez Manuel Orantes Guillermo Vilas 6–7, 6–2, 2–6Loss 10. 1974 Paris Indoor, France Hard (i) Raúl Ramírez Patrice Dominguez François Jauffret 5–7, 4–6Loss 11. 1974 London, England Carpet Raúl Ramírez Jimmy Connors Ilie Năstase 6–3, 6–7, 3–6Win 6. 1975 Philadelphia WCT, U.S. Carpet Raúl Ramírez Dick Stockton Erik van Dillen 3–6, 6–3, 7–6Loss 12. 1975 Dayton Indoor, U.S. Carpet Paul Gerken Ray Ruffels Allan Stone 6–7, 5–7Win 7. 1975 St. Petersburg WCT, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez Charlie Pasarell Roscoe Tanner 6–4, 6–4Win 8. 1975 La Costa WCT, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez Charlie Pasarell Roscoe Tanner 7–5, 6–4Loss 13. 1975 São Paulo WCT, Brazil Carpet Raúl Ramírez Ross Case Geoff Masters 7–6, 6–7, 6–7Loss 14. 1975 Caracas WCT, Venezuela Hard Raúl Ramírez Ross Case Geoff Masters 5–7, 6–4, 2–6Win 9. 1975 Orlando WCT, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez Colin Dibley Ray Ruffels 6–4, 6–4Win 10. 1975 World Doubles WCT, Mexico Carpet Raúl Ramírez Mark Cox Cliff Drysdale 7–6, 6–7, 6–2, 7–6Win 11. 1975 Dallas WCT, U.S. Carpet Raúl Ramírez Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 7–5, 6–3, 4–6, 2–6, 7–5Win 12. 1975 Rome, Italy Clay Raúl Ramírez Jimmy Connors Ilie Năstase 6–4, 7–6, 2–6, 6–1Win 13. 1975 French Open, Paris Clay Raúl Ramírez John Alexander Phil Dent 6–4, 2–6, 6–2, 6–4Loss 15. 1975 Washington, D.C., U.S. Clay Raúl Ramírez Robert Lutz Stan Smith 5–7, 6–2, 1–6Win 14. 1975 Boston, U.S. Clay Raúl Ramírez John Andrews Mike Estep 4–6, 6–3, 7–6Loss 16. 1975 Melbourne Indoor, Australia Grass Raúl Ramírez Ross Case Geoff Masters 4–6, 0–6Win 15. 1975 Sydney Indoor, Australia Hard (i) Raúl Ramírez Ross Case Geoff Masters 6–4, 6–2Win 16. 1975 Perth, Australia Hard Raúl Ramírez Ross Case Geoff Masters 2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–0Win 17. 1975 Tokyo, Japan Clay Raúl Ramírez Juan Gisbert Sr. Manuel Orantes 7–6, 6–4Win 18. 1976 Monterrey WCT, Mexico Carpet Raúl Ramírez Ross Case Geoff Masters 6–2, 4–6, 6–3Win 19. 1976 Richmond WCT, U.S. Carpet Raúl Ramírez Arthur Ashe Tom Okker 6–4, 7–5Win 20. 1976 St. Louis WCT, U.S. Carpet Raúl Ramírez John Alexander Phil Dent 6–4, 6–2Win 21. 1976 Mexico City WCT, Mexico Clay Raúl Ramírez Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie 6–4, 7–6Win 22. 1976 Jackson WCT, U.S. Carpet Raúl Ramírez Ross Case Geoff Masters 7–5, 4–6, 6–0Win 23. 1976 Caracas WCT, Venezuela Clay Raúl Ramírez Jeff Borowiak Ilie Năstase 7–5, 6–4Win 24. 1976 Rome, Italy Clay Raúl Ramírez Geoff Masters John Newcombe 7–6, 5–7, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3Loss 17. 1976 French Open, Paris Clay Raúl Ramírez Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart 6–7, 3–6, 1–6Win 25. 1976 Wimbledon, London Grass Raúl Ramírez Ross Case Geoff Masters 3–6, 6–3, 8–6, 2–6, 7–5Win 26. 1976 Washington, D.C., U.S. Clay Raúl Ramírez Arthur Ashe Jimmy Connors 6–3, 6–3Win 27. 1976 North Conway, U.S. Clay Raúl Ramírez Ricardo Cano Víctor Pecci 6–3, 6–0Win 28. 1976 Indianapolis, U.S. Clay Raúl Ramírez Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart 6–2, 6–2Win 29. 1976 Woodlands Doubles, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez Phil Dent Allan Stone 6–1, 6–4, 5–7, 7–6Loss 18. 1976 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet Bob Hewitt Dick Stockton Roscoe Tanner 3–6, 4–6Win 30. 1976 Barcelona, Spain Clay Raúl Ramírez Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 7–6, 6–4Loss 19. 1976 Vienna, Austria Hard (i) Raúl Ramírez Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 4–6, 0–4, ret.Loss 20. 1976 Wembley, England Carpet Wojciech Fibak Stan Smith Roscoe Tanner 6–7, 3–6Win 31. 1976 Johannesburg WCT, South Africa Hard Sherwood Stewart Juan Gisbert Sr. Stan Smith 1–6, 6–1, 6–2, 7–6Win 32. 1977 Miami, U.S. Clay Raúl Ramírez Paul Kronk Cliff Letcher 7–5, 6–4Loss 21. 1977 Washington Indoor, U.S. Carpet Raúl Ramírez Robert Lutz Stan Smith 3–6, 5–7Win 33. 1977 Rome, Italy Clay Raúl Ramírez Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart 6–7, 7–6, 7–5Win 34. 1977 French Open, Paris Clay Raúl Ramírez Wojciech Fibak Jan Kodeš 7–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4Win 35. 1977 North Conway, U.S. Clay Raúl Ramírez Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart 7–5, 6–3Loss 22. 1977 US Open, New York Clay Raúl Ramírez Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 4–6, 0–6Loss 23. 1977 Maui, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez Robert Lutz Stan Smith 6–7, 4–6Win 36. 1977 Paris Indoor, France Hard (i) Raúl Ramírez Jeff Borowiak Roger Taylor 6–2, 6–0Loss 24. 1977 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i) Raúl Ramírez Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker 3–6, 3–6Loss 25. 1977 Wembley, England Hard Raúl Ramírez Sandy Mayer Frew McMillan 3–6, 6–7Win 37. 1978 Memphis, U.S. Carpet Raúl Ramírez Phil Dent John Newcombe 3–6, 7–6, 6–2Win 38. 1978 Dayton, U.S. Carpet Geoff Masters Hank Pfister Butch Walts 6–3, 6–4Win 39. 1979 Richmond WCT, U.S. Carpet John McEnroe Ion Țiriac Guillermo Vilas 6–4, 6–3Loss 26. 1979 Wimbledon, London Grass Raúl Ramírez Peter Fleming John McEnroe 6–4, 4–6, 2–6, 2–6Loss 27. 1979 Washington, U.S. Clay Raúl Ramírez Marty Riessen Sherwood Stewart 6–2, 3–6, 4–6Win 40. 1979 Columbus, U.S. Clay Robert Lutz Tim Gullikson Tom Gullikson 4–6, 6–3, 7–6Win 41. 1979 Cincinnati, U.S. Hard Ilie Năstase Robert Lutz Stan Smith 1–6, 6–3, 7–6Loss 28. 1979 Basel, Switzerland Hard (i) Raúl Ramírez Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 3–6, 4–6Loss 29. 1979 Vienna, Austria Hard (i) Raúl Ramírez Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 4–6, 6–3, 1–6Win 42. 1980 Masters Doubles WCT, London Carpet Raúl Ramírez Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker 3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3Loss 30. 1980 Baltimore WCT, U.S. Carpet Frew McMillan Tim Gullikson Marty Riessen 6–2, 3–6, 4–6Loss 31. 1980 Philadelphia, U.S. Carpet Raúl Ramírez Peter Fleming John McEnroe 3–6, 6–7Loss 32. 1980 Richmond WCT, U.S. Carpet Frew McMillan Fritz Buehning Johan Kriek 6–3, 3–6, 6–7Win 43. 1980 Memphis, U.S. Carpet John McEnroe Rod Frawley Tomáš Šmíd 6–3, 6–7, 7–6Loss 33. 1980 French Open, Paris Clay Raúl Ramírez Victor Amaya Hank Pfister 6–1, 4–6, 4–6, 3–6Win 44. 1980 North Conway, U.S. Clay Jimmy Connors Kevin Curren Steve Denton 7–6, 6–2Win 45. 1980 Columbus, U.S. Hard Sandy Mayer Peter Fleming Eliot Teltscher 6–4, 6–2Win 46. 1980 Sawgrass Doubles, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez Robert Lutz Stan Smith 7–6, 6–4, 2–6, 7–6Loss 34. 1980 Paris Indoor, France Hard (i) Raymond Moore Paolo Bertolucci Adriano Panatta 4–6, 4–6Loss 35. 1980 Sydney Outdoor, Australia Grass Vitas Gerulaitis Peter McNamara Paul McNamee 2–6, 4–6Loss 36. 1981 Philadelphia, U.S. Carpet Raúl Ramírez Marty Riessen Sherwood Stewart 2–6, 2–6Loss 37. 1981 Richmond WCT, U.S. Carpet Raúl Ramírez Tim Gullikson Bernard Mitton 6–3, 2–6, 3–6Win 47. 1981 Milan, Italy Carpet Raúl Ramírez John McEnroe Peter Rennert 7–6, 6–3Loss 38. 1981 Stowe, U.S. Hard Robert Lutz Johan Kriek Larry Stefanki 6–2, 1–6, 2–6Win 48. 1982 La Quinta, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez John Lloyd Dick Stockton 6–4, 3–6, 6–2Loss 39. 1982 Tampa, U.S. Hard Hank Pfister Tim Gullikson Tom Gullikson 2–6, 3–6Win 49. 1982 Sawgrass Doubles, U.S. Clay Raúl Ramírez Mark Edmondson Kim Warwick W/OWin 50. 1982 Paris Indoor, France Hard (i) Bruce Manson Jay Lapidus Richard Meyer 6–4, 6–2Win 51. 1982 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard Frew McMillan Shlomo Glickstein Andrew Pattison 6–2, 6–2Loss 40. 1983 Masters Doubles WCT, London Carpet Raúl Ramírez Heinz Günthardt Balázs Taróczy 3–6, 5–7, 6–7Win 52. 1983 La Quinta, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez Tian Viljoen Danie Visser 6–3, 6–3Loss 41. 1983 Hamburg, West Germany Clay Mark Edmondson Heinz Günthardt Balázs Taróczy 6–7, 6–4, 4–6Win 53. 1983 London/Queen's Club, England Grass Paul McNamee Kevin Curren Steve Denton 6–4, 6–3Win 54. 1984 North Conway, U.S. Clay Tomáš Šmíd Cássio Motta Blaine Willenborg 6–4, 6–2

Davis Cup Gottfried was 7–7 in Davis Cup play for the US between 1975 and 1982 and won it twice (in 1978 and 1982).

Halls of Fame & awards Gottfried won the 1974 and 1975 ATP Doubles Team of the Year Award with partner Raúl Ramírez.

He won the 1976 ATP Most Improved Player Award.

He won the ATP Sportsmanship award in 1984.

Gottfried, who is Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.

In 2015, he joined the coaching staff at the Bolles School

His younger brother, Larry was also a tennis player.