Romanian tennis player
Virginia Ruzici (born 31 January 1955) is a former professional tennis player from Romania. She won the 1978 French Open singles championship.
Career
Ruzici became a professional tennis player in 1975. One of her main assets on court was her powerful forehand. In a career spanning 12 years, Ruzici won 12 career singles titles, including one Grand Slam title, the 1978 French Open. In the final, she beat 1977 French Open champion Mima Jau?ovec 6-2, 6-2. Ruzici also won the French Open doubles event with Jau?ovec in 1978 and reached the mixed doubles final in 1978. She appeared in the French Open singles final in 1980, but lost in straight sets to Chris Evert.[1]
Ruzici remained in the world's top 20 from 1977 to 1983.[2] She regularly featured in the Romania Fed Cup team throughout her career, and began playing for them in 1973, two years before turning professional.
At Wimbledon 1978, Ruzici lost a notable match in the quarterfinal to the Australian Evonne Goolagong who was playing with an injured ankle. Goolagong's injury led to her collapsing on court and her husband, Roger Cawley, came on to the court to aid his wife, technically defaulting the Australian from the match. When Goolagong recovered, Ruzici agreed to continue the match, but lost 7-5, 6-3 and was praised for her sportsmanship.[3] It has been stated during TV commentaries that Ruzici's victory in 1980 at a tournament in Salt Lake City was watched by Richard Williams who was inspired by her triumph and prize money to teach his daughters Venus and Serena Williams to play tennis.[4][5][6]
Ruzici is now the manager of Romanian tennis player Simona Halep.[7]
Grand Slam finals
Singles (1 title, 1 runner-up)
Women's doubles (1 title, 1 runner-up)
Mixed doubles (2 runners-up)
WTA career finals
Singles: 27 (12-15)
Legend
|
---|
Grand Slam tournaments (1-1)
| WTA Tour Championships (0-0)
| Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (11-14)
|
|
Titles by surface
|
---|
Hard (1-2)
| Grass (0-1)
| Clay (9-10)
| Carpet (2-2)
|
|
Result
|
No.
|
Date
|
Tournament
|
Surface
|
Opponent
|
Score
|
---|
Win
|
1.
|
18 August 1975
|
South Orange
|
Clay
|
Mariana Simionescu
|
6-1, 6-1
|
Loss
|
1.
|
12 July 1976
|
Kitzbühel
|
Clay
|
Wendy Turnbull
|
4-6, 7-5, 3-6
|
Loss
|
2.
|
18 October 1976
|
Barcelona
|
Clay
|
Renáta Tomanová
|
6-3, 4-6, 2-6
|
Win
|
2.
|
26 September 1977
|
Palm Harbor
|
Clay
|
Laura duPont
|
6-4, 4-6, 6-2
|
Loss
|
3.
|
15 May 1978
|
Hamburg
|
Clay
|
Mima Jau?ovec
|
2-6, 3-6
|
Loss
|
4.
|
22 May 1978
|
Rome
|
Clay
|
Regina Mar?íková
|
5-7, 5-7
|
Win
|
3.
|
29 May 1978
|
French Open
|
Clay
|
Mima Jau?ovec
|
6-2, 6-2
|
Win
|
4.
|
24 July 1978
|
Kitzbühel
|
Clay
|
Sylvia Hanika
|
6-4, 6-3
|
Loss
|
5.
|
14 August 1978
|
Toronto
|
Hard
|
Regina Mar?íková
|
5-7, 7-6, 2-6
|
Win
|
5.
|
16 October 1978
|
Brighton
|
Carpet (i)
|
Betty Stöve
|
5-7, 6-2, 7-5
|
Loss
|
6.
|
19 February 1979
|
Detroit
|
Carpet (i)
|
Wendy Turnbull
|
5-7, 6-1, 6-7(4-7) |
Loss
|
7.
|
10 December 1979
|
Adelaide
|
Grass
|
Hana Mandlíková
|
5-7, 2-2 ret.
|
Loss
|
8.
|
5 May 1980
|
Rome
|
Clay
|
Chris Evert
|
7-5, 2-6, 2-6
|
Loss
|
9.
|
26 May 1980
|
French Open
|
Clay
|
Chris Evert
|
0-6, 3-6
|
Win
|
6.
|
21 July 1980
|
Kitzbühel
|
Clay
|
Hana Mandlíková
|
3-6, 6-1 ret.
|
Loss
|
10.
|
11 August 1980
|
Toronto
|
Hard
|
Chris Evert
|
3-6, 1-6
|
Win
|
7.
|
8 September 1980
|
Salt Lake City
|
Hard
|
Ivanna Madruga
|
6-1, 6-3
|
Loss
|
11.
|
10 November 1980
|
Amsterdam
|
Carpet (i)
|
Hana Mandlíková
|
7-5, 2-6, 5-7
|
Loss
|
12.
|
4 May 1981
|
Perugia
|
Clay
|
Chris Evert
|
1-6, 2-6
|
Loss
|
13.
|
11 May 1981
|
Lugano
|
Clay
|
Chris Evert
|
1-6, 1-6
|
Loss
|
14.
|
3 August 1981
|
Indianapolis
|
Clay
|
Andrea Jaeger
|
1-6, 0-6
|
Win
|
8.
|
12 July 1982
|
Monte Carlo
|
Clay
|
Bonnie Gadusek
|
6-2, 7-6
|
Win
|
9.
|
19 July 1982
|
Kitzbühel
|
Clay
|
Lea Plchová
|
6-2, 6-2
|
Win
|
10.
|
2 August 1982
|
Indianapolis
|
Clay
|
Helena Suková
|
6-2, 6-0
|
Win
|
11.
|
3 October 1983
|
Detroit
|
Carpet (i)
|
Kathy Jordan
|
4-6, 6-4, 6-2
|
Loss
|
15.
|
1 April 1985
|
Seabrook Island
|
Clay
|
Katerina Maleeva
|
3-6, 3-6
|
Win
|
12.
|
15 July 1985
|
Bregenz
|
Clay
|
Mima Jau?ovec
|
6-2, 6-3
|
Doubles: 35 (16-19)
Winner -- Legend
|
---|
Grand Slam tournaments (1-1)
| WTA Tour Championships (0-0)
| Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (15-18)
|
|
Titles by surface
|
---|
Hard (2-1)
| Grass (1-1)
| Clay (10-11)
| Carpet (3-6)
|
|
Result
|
No.
|
Date
|
Tournament
|
Surface
|
Partner
|
Opponents
|
Score
|
---|
Loss
|
1.
|
11 November 1973
|
London
|
Carpet (i)
|
Mariana Simionescu
|
Lesley Charles
Glynis Coles
|
3-6, 5-7
|
Win
|
1.
|
4 November 1974
|
Edinburgh
|
Carpet (i)
|
Mima Jau?ovec
|
María-Isabel Fernández
Raquel Giscafré
|
6-4, 4-6, 6-4
|
Loss
|
2.
|
8 March 1976
|
Tallahassee
|
Clay
|
Mariana Simionescu
|
Julie Anthony
Dianne Fromholtz
|
2-6, 5-7
|
Loss
|
3.
|
23 May 1976
|
Rome
|
Clay
|
Mariana Simionescu
|
Linky Boshoff
Ilana Kloss
|
1-6, 2-6
|
Win
|
2.
|
18 October 1976
|
Barcelona
|
Clay
|
Floren?a Mihai
|
Nathalie Fuchs
Michele Gurdal
|
6-2, 6-4
|
Loss
|
4.
|
24 January 1977
|
Minneapolis
|
Carpet (i)
|
Mima Jau?ovec
|
Rosie Casals
Martina Navratilova
|
2-6, 1-6
|
Win
|
3.
|
15 May 1978
|
Hamburg
|
Clay
|
Mima Jau?ovec
|
Katja Ebbinghaus
Helga Niessen Masthoff
|
6-4, 5-7, 6-0
|
Win
|
4.
|
22 May 1978
|
Rome
|
Clay
|
Mima Jau?ovec
|
Floren?a Mihai
Betsy Nagelsen
|
6-2, 2-6, 7-6
|
Win
|
5.
|
29 May 1978
|
French Open
|
Clay
|
Mima Jau?ovec
|
Gail Sherriff Lovera
Lesley Turner Bowrey
|
5-7, 6-4, 8-6
|
Loss
|
5.
|
26 June 1978
|
Wimbledon
|
Grass
|
Mima Jau?ovec
|
Kerry Melville Reid
Wendy Turnbull
|
6-4, 8-9(8-10), 3-6
|
Win
|
6.
|
24 July 1978
|
Kitzbühel
|
Clay
|
Renáta Tomanová
|
Regina Mar?íková
Floren?a Mihai
|
7-5, 6-2
|
Loss
|
6.
|
23 October 1978
|
Filderstadt
|
Carpet (i)
|
Mima Jau?ovec
|
Tracy Austin
Betty Stöve
|
3-6, 3-6
|
Win
|
7.
|
1 January 1979
|
Washington, D.C.
|
Carpet (i)
|
Mima Jau?ovec
|
Renée Richards
Sharon Walsh
|
4-6, 6-2, 6-4
|
Loss
|
7.
|
18 July 1979
|
Kitzbühel
|
Clay
|
Elly Appel-Vessies
|
Helena Anliot
Diane Evers
|
0-6, 4-6
|
Win
|
8.
|
22 October 1979
|
Tampa
|
Hard
|
Anne Smith
|
Ilana Kloss
Betty Ann Stuart
|
7-5, 4-6, 7-5
|
Win
|
9.
|
10 December 1979
|
Adelaide
|
Grass
|
Hana Mandlíková
|
Sue Barker
Pam Shriver
|
6-1, 3-6, 6-2
|
Loss
|
8.
|
4 August 1980
|
Indianapolis
|
Clay
|
Renáta Tomanová
|
Anne Smith
Paula Smith
|
4-6, 6-3, 4-6
|
Win
|
10.
|
8 September 1980
|
Salt Lake City
|
Hard
|
Pam Teeguarden
|
Barbara Jordan
JoAnne Russell
|
6-4, 7-5
|
Win
|
11.
|
27 October 1980
|
Stockholm
|
Carpet (i)
|
Mima Jau?ovec
|
Hana Mandlíková
Betty Stöve
|
6-2, 6-1
|
Loss
|
9.
|
16 March 1981
|
Boston
|
Carpet (i)
|
JoAnne Russell
|
Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh
|
7-6, 4-6, 3-6
|
Loss
|
10.
|
4 May 1981
|
Perugia
|
Clay
|
Chris Evert
|
Candy Reynolds
Paula Smith
|
5-7, 1-6
|
Win
|
12.
|
3 August 1981
|
Indianapolis
|
Clay
|
JoAnne Russell
|
Sue Barker
Paula Smith
|
6-2, 6-2
|
Loss
|
11.
|
5 April 1982
|
Hilton Head Island
|
Clay
|
JoAnne Russell
|
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
|
1-6, 2-6
|
Loss
|
12.
|
10 May 1982
|
Lugano
|
Clay
|
JoAnne Russell
|
Candy Reynolds
Paula Smith
|
2-6, 4-6
|
Win
|
13.
|
12 July 1982
|
Monte Carlo
|
Clay
|
Catherine Tanvier
|
Patricia Medrado
Cláudia Monteiro
|
7-6, 6-2
|
Loss
|
13.
|
2 August 1982
|
Indianapolis
|
Clay
|
JoAnne Russell
|
Ivanna Madruga
Catherine Tanvier
|
5-7, 6-7(3-7) |
Loss
|
14.
|
6 December 1982
|
Richmond
|
Carpet (i)
|
JoAnne Russell
|
Rosie Casals
Candy Reynolds
|
3-6, 3-6
|
Loss
|
15.
|
11 April 1983
|
Amelia Island
|
Clay
|
Hana Mandlíková
|
Rosalyn Fairbank
Candy Reynolds
|
4-6, 2-6
|
Win
|
14.
|
2 May 1983
|
Perugia
|
Clay
|
Virginia Wade
|
Ivanna Madruga
Catherine Tanvier
|
6-3, 2-6, 6-1
|
Win
|
15.
|
1 August 1983
|
Indianapolis
|
Clay
|
Kathy Horvath
|
Gigi Fernández
Beth Herr
|
4-6, 7-6(8-6), 6-2
|
Loss
|
16.
|
8 August 1983
|
Los Angeles
|
Hard
|
Betsy Nagelsen
|
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
|
1-6, 0-6
|
Loss
|
17.
|
24 October 1983
|
Filderstadt
|
Carpet (i)
|
Catherine Tanvier
|
Martina Navratilova
Candy Reynolds
|
2-6, 1-6
|
Loss
|
18.
|
14 May 1984
|
Berlin
|
Clay
|
Kathy Horvath
|
Anne Hobbs
Candy Reynolds
|
3-6, 6-4, 6-7(11-13) |
Loss
|
19.
|
21 May 1984
|
Perugia
|
Clay
|
Kathy Horvath
|
Iva Buda?ová
Helena Suková
|
6-7(5-7), 6-1, 4-6
|
Win
|
16.
|
15 July 1985
|
Bregenz
|
Clay
|
Mima Jau?ovec
|
Andrea Holíková
Kate?ina Skronská
|
6-2, 6-3
|
Other circuit finals
Singles (8-4)
Outcome
|
No.
|
Date
|
Tournament
|
Surface
|
Opponent
|
Score
|
---|
Runner-up
|
1.
|
1 October 1972
|
Cluj, Romania
|
Clay
|
Judith Gohn
|
2-6, 4-6
|
Winner
|
2.
|
12 May 1974
|
Stuttgart, West Germany
|
Clay
|
Alena Palmeová-West
|
3-6, 6-4, 7-5
|
Winner
|
3.
|
23 September 1974
|
Bucharest, Romania
|
Clay
|
Mariana Simionescu
|
6-3 6-2
|
Winner
|
4.
|
16 July 1978
|
Gstaad, Switzerland
|
Clay
|
Petra Jauch-Delhees
|
6-2, 6-2
|
Winner
|
5.
|
6 August 1978
|
Brasov, Romania
|
Clay
|
Renáta Tomanová
|
6-4, 6-2
|
Winner
|
6.
|
13 July 1980
|
Gstaad, Switzerland
|
Clay
|
Sylvia Hanika
|
6-4, 6-3
|
Winner
|
7.
|
20 July 1980
|
Båstad, Sweden
|
Clay
|
Nina Bohm
|
6-2, 7-5
|
Runner-up
|
8.
|
2 August 1981
|
Orange, New Jersey, United States
|
Clay
|
Kathleen Horvath
|
0-6, 4-6
|
Runner-up
|
9.
|
18 April 1982
|
Nassau, Bahamas
|
Hard
|
Bettina Bunge
|
0-6, 6-7
|
Runner-up
|
10.
|
11 July 1982
|
Gstaad, Switzerland
|
Clay
|
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
|
5-7, 6-1, 6-7
|
Winner
|
11.
|
1 August 1982
|
Orange, New Jersey, United States
|
Clay
|
Leigh-Anne Thompson
|
5-7, 6-2, 6-2
|
Winner
|
12.
|
17 July 1983
|
Båstad, Sweden
|
Hard
|
Carin Anderholm
|
6-2, 6-3
|
Doubles (5-0)
Outcome
|
No.
|
Date
|
Tournament
|
Surface
|
Partner
|
Opponents
|
Score
|
---|
Winner
|
1.
|
1 October 1972
|
Cluj, Romania
|
Clay
|
Mariana Simionescu
|
Felicia Bucur
Judith Gohn
|
4-6, 7-5, 6-4
|
Winner
|
2.
|
23 September 1974
|
Bucharest, Romania
|
Clay
|
Mariana Simionescu
|
Floren?a Mihai
Simona Nunweiler
|
6-2, 6-2
|
Winner
|
3.
|
17 October 1976
|
Madrid, Spain
|
Clay
|
Floren?a Mihai
|
Regina Mar?íková
Renáta Tomanová
|
6-4, 5-7, 6-2
|
Winner
|
4.
|
11 July 1982
|
Gstaad, Switzerland
|
Clay
|
Catherine Tanvier
|
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Heidi Eisterlehner
|
3-6, 6-3, 6-4
|
Winner
|
5.
|
19 January 1987
|
Bayonne, France
|
Hard
|
Catherine Tanvier
|
Iwona Kuczynska
Corinne Vanier
|
6-3, 6-2
|
Grand Slam singles tournament timeline
Key
W
|
F
|
SF
|
QF
|
#R
|
RR
|
Q#
|
A
|
NH
|
(W) Won; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent; (NH) not held. SR=strike rate (events won/competed)
Tournament |
1973 |
1974 |
1975 |
1976 |
1977 |
1978 |
1979 |
1980 |
1981 |
1982 |
1983 |
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
1987 |
Career SR
|
---|
Australian Open
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
1R
|
QF
|
1R
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
NH
|
A
|
0 / 3
|
French Open
|
1R
|
2R
|
2R
|
SF
|
A
|
W
|
QF
|
F
|
QF
|
QF
|
3R
|
4R
|
1R
|
A
|
2R
|
1 / 13
|
Wimbledon
|
2R
|
2R
|
1R
|
1R
|
2R
|
QF
|
4R
|
2R
|
QF
|
4R
|
4R
|
2R
|
2R
|
A
|
A
|
0 / 13
|
US Open
|
A
|
1R
|
1R
|
QF
|
4R
|
QF
|
A
|
4R
|
3R
|
4R
|
1R
|
3R
|
1R
|
A
|
A
|
0 / 11
|
SR
|
0 / 2
|
0 / 3
|
0 / 3
|
0 / 3
|
0 / 2
|
1 / 3
|
0 / 3
|
0 / 4
|
0 / 4
|
0 / 3
|
0 / 3
|
0 / 3
|
0 / 3
|
0 / 0
|
0 / 1
|
1 / 40
|
Year-end ranking
|
|
|
112
|
26
|
16
|
12
|
13
|
11
|
12
|
11
|
18
|
44
|
41
|
NR
|
143
|
Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
See also
References
External links