Harold Solomon

Former tennis player Harold Solomon was born on September 17, 1952, in Washington, D.C. He reached the peak of his playing career in the 1970s and 1980s, wining numerous titles in both singles and doubles. Solomon achieved a career-high ranking of number 5 in 1980. Solomon started playing tennis at the age of five and by his teenage years he was ranked number 2 in the country in 14, 16 and 18 divisions. He was an All-American at the Rice University in Texas at the end of his sophomore year.

Solomon turned professional in 1972. Two years later he won his first pro singles title in Washington, D.C. in 1974. It was also in 1974 when he reached the semis in the French Open, a feat he repeated in 1980. He also reached the quarter-finals in Roland Garros in 1972 and 1975.

Two years later, he reached the finals at the French Open in 1976 before falling to Adriano Panatta. He reached the semifinals at the 1977 US Open and later won the Cincinnati Masters in the same year, before winning the title for the second time in 1980. He reached the semifinals at the 1976 and 1978 United States Pro Championships. He also enjoyed a successful doubles career with partner Eddie Dibbs, and the two were known as 'The Bagel Twins.' Together they reached number 4 in doubles world rankings in 1976.

All in all, Solomon won a total of 22 singles titles in his professional career and ranked among the world's top 10 singles players in four out of five consecutive years. Playgirl listed him as one of the 10 sexiest men of the year in 1980.