Brian Gottfried

Brian Gottfried is a former professional tennis player from the US. He won a total of 25 singles titles and 54 doubles titles during his career. Born on January 27, 1952, Gottfried got into playing tennis as a young kid after being given a tennis racket as a gift by Japanese tennis players who stayed in his house for a local match.

He won 14 national junior titles including the 1962 National 12-and-under singles title. He also won the title with Jimmy Connors and then added another doubles title with Dick Stockton before winning the 12-and-under title in singles. Gottfried kept playing while attending university at Trinity University in Texas, where he won the USTA boys 18s singles championships. He also won the doubles title with Alexander Mayer during this time.

Gottfried was an All-American in 1971 and 1972, the year he turned professional. A year later he won his first singles title in Las Vegas. He recorded one of his best seasons in 1976 when he reached 15 singles finals and won five titles. It was also in this year when he was a runner-up in the French Open. By 1977, Newsweek had announced that the Maryland native was the best male player in the world, having won the Italian Open doubles title four years in a row, from 1974 to 1977. He also won the men's doubles in Wimbledon. Gottfried was known for his powerful forehand volley, as well as for being a consummate trainer, never missing a practice session if he could help it.