Erik Van Dillen
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Erik van Dillen (1964)
|
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| Country (sports) |
 United States
|
|---|---|
| Residence | San Mateo, California |
| Born |
February 21, 1951 San Mateo, California |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Turned pro | 1973 |
| Retired | 1982 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 153–205 |
| Career titles | 1 |
| Highest ranking | No. 36 (September 13, 1973) |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (1977) |
| French Open | 4R (1974, 1975) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (1974) |
| US Open | 3R (1979, 1980) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 288–178 |
| Career titles | 13 |
| Highest ranking | No. 35 (August 23, 1977) |
| Grand Slam Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1977) |
| French Open | QF (1978) |
| Wimbledon | F (1972) |
| US Open | F (1971) |
Erik van Dillen (born February 21, 1951) is an American former professional tennis player who played over 25 major Grand Slam Championships: Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open.
Born in San Mateo, California, van Dillen first played tennis aged six years old. During his junior tennis career he won both the singles and doubles competitions at the USTA Boys 16 & 18 National Championships in Kalamazoo, Michigan, as well as winning other national titles in the 12- and 14-year-old divisions. In total he won 12 U.S. Junior Titles and is the only player ever to win Singles and Doubles titles in all four age groups 12, 14, 16, and 18. (Source USTA Yearbooks).
Van Dillen first played on the Men's circuit in 1967 when he played in the U.S. Championships for the first time. In 1968 he had his first big win when he beat his future doubles partner and then U.S. No. 1 Charlie Pasarell at the U.S. National Tournament at Boston in 5 sets when only 17. He was ranked in the top 20 of the U.S. from 1968 to 1970 and the top 10 from 1971 to 1973.
In 1973 he won his biggest tournament beating Frew McMillan in Nottingahm. In 1974 Van Dillen had his best Grand Slam singles year reaching the last 16 in Paris where he narrowly lost to eventual champion Bjorn Borg in 5 sets, at Wimbledon he also reached the last 16 defeating Guillermo Vilas on the way. He repeated the last 16 appearance in Paris in 1975.
In 1978 Van Dillen had a very strong grass court season in England he qualified at Nottingham and reached the last 16 and he also won the doubles with Dick Stockton. At Wimbledon he again qualified and then had the greatest win of his career defeating John McEnroe in 5 sets in the first round. Doubles partner Charlie Pasarell provided support and even McEnroe admitted in his book that Van Dillen played well.
Van Dillens last full year on the circuit was 1981 when he won two doubles titles and reached the Semi Finals of the Volvo International in North Conway with Roscoe Tanner. He also reached the Semi Finals in singles at Newport Rhode Island.
He completed his career in 1982 by qualifying at his last singles event the prestiguous Alan King Classic in Las Vegas and shortly after reached the final of the WCT Invitation event at Forest Hills in Doubles with Dick Stockton.
Van Dillen played in the Wimbledon veterans doubles for a number of years and also played in a veterans event at Indian Wells.
Between 1960 and 1981, Erik beat six of the then-top players; John McEnroe,Stan Smith,Arthur Ashe,Jimmy Connors,Guillermo Vilas, and Ilie Năstase. At his peak, he was ranked 36th in the world in singles, and 35th in doubles.
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