Harold Solomon
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Harold Solomon (born September 17, 1952), nicknamed "Solly," is an American 5' 6", 130-pound right-handed former professional tennis player who played during the 1970s and '80s.
Solomon was ranked # 5 in the world in 1980.
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[edit] Tennis Career
Born in Washington, DC, Solomon began playing tennis at the age of five.
A a teenager, he was ranked # 2 in the U.S. in the 14, 16, and 18 age groups.
He also won the U.S. Boys 18 Clay Court Championship.
The 130 lb. (58kg) Rice University (Texas) All-American turned professional in 1972, at the close of his sophomore year.
He won his first pro singles titles in Washington, D.C. in 1974.
Although he never won a singles Grand Slam, Solomon was a French Open finalist in 1976, defeated by Adriano Panatta, semi-finalist 1974 and 1980, and quarter-finalist 1972 & 1975.
He was a U.S. Open semi-finalist in 1977, and in 1976 and 1978 he was runner-up in the United States Pro Championship.
He won the tournament now known as the Cincinnati Masters twice: in 1977 and 1980.
As a pro, Solomon captured 22 singles titles, including the 1980 ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Championship. His ATP career won-loss record is 564-315, and career prize winnings of $1,802,769 (not including the Senior Tour).
He ranked among the world’s Top 10 Singles players four out of five consecutive years: 1976, 1978, 1979, and 1980, when he reached his highest ranking, # 5 in the world. In 1980, his best year, he won 64 matches and lost 23. In a sort of unexpected bonus, Playgirl magazine named him one of the 10 sexiest men of the year.
Solomon was ranked in the world’s Top 20 for 7 consecutive years, 1974-80.
Playing with doubles partner Eddie Dibbs, media dubbed the twosome “The Bagel Twins.” They reached # 4 in the world in 1976, and ranked in the world doubles Top 10 1974–76.
[edit] Grand Slam singles finals
[edit] Runner-ups (1)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1976 | French Open | Image:Flag of Italy.svg Adriano Panatta | 1-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 |
[edit] Singles titles (22)
[edit] Runner-ups (15)
[edit] Davis Cup
Solomon was a member of United States Davis Cup Teams in 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1978, going 9-4 in competition. His ’72 and ’78 teams won Davis Cup championships.
[edit] Style of play
Known as "the Human Backboard," because he played like one, Solomon was notorious for frustrating his opponents with his lobs and relentless, methodical returns. He employed a slow, methodical, gritty, determined style marked by tireless effort, and a powerful two-fisted right-handed backhand.
"When you played Harold," observed fellow pro Erik Van Dillen, "you'd better bring your lunch and dinner -- you might be out there all day." Solomon defended himself this way: "I guess it's not so exciting to see eight million balls hit back and forth, but I wonder, is it any more exciting to see Boris Becker and Ivan Lendl each hitting 40 aces?"
[edit] ATP
Solomon was President of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) from 1980 to 1983. After 1983 he served on the ATP Board of Directors.
[edit] Halls of Fame
Soloman was inducted into the USTA Mid Atlantic Section Hall of Fame in 1994.[1]
Solomon, who is Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.[2]
[edit] Coaching career
Solomon began coaching in the early 1990s. He is largely identified with women’s pro Mary Joe Fernandez, whom he tutored for five years.
He also helped Jennifer Capriati return to top form in the late 1990s. He was initially contacted by Jennifer's father, but said he would not coach her until Jennifer called him herself. After she did, he helped lead her to two titles in 1999 and to the semifinals in the Australian Open. In 2000, however, Solomon and Capriatti parted ways after he was frustrated by her lack of focus.
He also aided and refined the careers of Jim Courier, Justin Gimelstob, Monica Seles, Mirjana Lucic, Anna Kournikova, and Daniela Hantuchova.
In 2007 former world # 3 Brian Gottfried joined the coaching staff at the Howard Solomon Tennis Institute in Fort Lauderdale.[3]
[edit] Miscellaneous
- After retiring from the ATP tour in 1986, Solomon worked as the Vice President of Human Resources in the family-owned business, Diversified Services.
- He was also Chairman of the Board of End World Hunger, a not-for-profit organization that taught residents of low-income housing projects in the U.S. how to grow food and become self-sufficient.
[edit] Links
- ATP bio
- Davis Cup record
- Jewish Sports bio
- Jews in Sports biode:Harold Solomon
es:Harold Solomon fr:Harold Solomon ja:ハロルド・ソロモン
