Cliff Richey
Cliff Richey in 1972
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| Full name | George Clifford Richey Jr. |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |
 United States
|
| Residence | San Angelo, Texas, USA |
| Born |
December 31, 1946 San Angelo, Texas, USA |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Turned pro | 1964 |
| Retired | 1979 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 354–186 |
| Career titles | 28 |
| Highest ranking | No. 6 (1970, Martini-Rossi panel) |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (1967) |
| French Open | SF (1970) |
| Wimbledon | QF (1971) |
| US Open | SF (1970, 1972) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | RR (1971) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 62–100 |
| Career titles | 1 |
| Grand Slam Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (1967) |
| French Open | QF (1971) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (1967, 1968, 1969) |
| US Open | 2R (1971) |
| Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results | |
| French Open | QF (1969) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (1964, 1966, 1967) |
| US Open | QF (1970) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | W (1969, 1970) |
George Clifford 'Cliff' Richey Jr. (born December 31, 1946) is an American former amateur and professional tennis player who was active during the 1960s and 1970s. Richey achieved a highest singles ranking of World No. 6 and reached at least the quarterfinal stage of the singles event at all four Grand Slam tournaments.
Richey was the American junior national tennis champion in 1962 (16 years) and 1963 (18 years) and in 1964 he won the boy's singles title at the French Championships.
Richey was a member of the American team which won the 1969 Davis Cup against Romania but did not actively participate. He was an active member of the team that won the 1970 Davis Cup, winning both his singles matches in the final against West Germany, and was voted the most valuable player. In September 1971 Richey quit the Davis Cup team before the final against Romania citing his disagreement with the USLTA over the choice of surface and the lack of consultation with players. In total Richey played in seven Davis Cup ties between 1966 and 1970 and compiled a record of ten wins and three losses.
Richey was the winner of the first Grand Prix tennis circuit, organized in 1970, finishing ahead of Arthur Ashe and Ken Rosewall. His career-high singles ranking was World No. 6, achieved in 1970, and No. 1 in the U.S for that same year. The No. 1 ranking was decided by the outcome of the semifinal match at the Pacific Coast Championships against his direct competitor Stan Smith and ultimately came down to just a single point when both players had a match-point at 4-all in the sudden death tiebreak of the final set.
Richey reached the semifinal of a Grand Slam tournament on three occasions. His first semifinal appearance was at the 1970 French Open where he lost to Yugoslav Željko Franulović in a five-set match after leading two-sets-to-one and 5–1 in the fourth set and having failed to convert two match points. At the 1970 US Open later that year Richey again reached the semifinal which he lost in straight sets to Australian Tony Roche. His last Grand Slam semifinal appearance came two years later at the 1972 US Open where he defeated Rod Laver in the fourth round but was beaten in the semis in straight sets by compatriot Arthur Ashe. His best singles result at the Wimbledon Championships was reaching the quarterfinal in 1971 in which he lost to Ken Rosewall in a close four-hour five-set match.
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