Rick Rudeen (born June 5, 1962) is a former professional tennis player from the United States.

Rick Rudeen
Full nameRick Rudeen
Country (sports) United States
Born (1962-06-05) June 5, 1962 (age 62)
Chicago, Illinois
Turned pro1985
Retired1988
PlaysRight-handed
Prize money$29,158
Singles
Career record3–6
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 229 (May 19, 1986)
Doubles
Career record11–23
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 110 (February 24, 1986)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open2R (1987)
US Open1R (1986, 1987)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open2R (1987)

Biography

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Rudeen was born in Chicago and grew up in Tampa, Florida. In the early 1980s he attended Clemson University, where he played collegiate tennis while he studied for a Computer Science degree.[1] An All-American player, he won a total of 172 NCAA Division I matches during his tennis career at Clemson University.[2]

In 1985 he began competing professionally and that year made the round of 16 at the Tokyo Outdoor Grand Prix tournament, by beating Danny Saltz then Menno Oosting.[3] It was as a doubles player he made more success, with one Grand Prix final, at Auckland in 1986, with regular doubles partner Karl Richter.[4] He made it to 110 in the world in doubles, won two Challenger titles and played in the main draws of both the Australian Open and US Open. His first appearance at the US Open in 1986 came in unusual circumstances when he and partner Derek Tarr were given a place in the first round as lucky losers after the pairing of Peter Fleming and John McEnroe got stuck in traffic and were defaulted for not arriving in time.[5] At the 1987 Australian Open, Rudeen reached the second round of both men's and mixed doubles events.[6]

Retiring in 1988, Rudeen got married and was a tennis pro in Minneapolis for about a year before moving to Atlanta. He was Director of the Ralston/Gorman International Tennis Academy until 1993, then moved to Sioux City and worked for a long period of time with Gateway.[1] Rudeen, who has a son and a daughter, now lives in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota.[2][7]

Grand Prix career finals

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Doubles: 1 (0–1)

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Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1986 Auckland, New Zealand Hard   Karl Richter   Broderick Dyke
  Wally Masur
3–6, 4–6

Challenger titles

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Doubles: (2)

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Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
1986 Benin City, Nigeria Hard   Todd Witsken   Juan Antonio Rodríguez
  José Clavet
7–6, 6–3
1987 San Luis Potosí, Mexico Clay   John Letts   Karl Richter
  Mark Wooldridge
6–3, 6–4

References

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  1. ^ a b Hersom, Terry (January 24, 2014). "Rudeen's concentration on basketball has paid off in big way". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Allspach, Steven. "Alexa Rudeen's swing more suited for softball". Sioux City Journal. July 8, 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  3. ^ "ITF Tennis - Pro Circuit - Tokyo Outdoor - 14 October - 20 October 1985". International Tennis Federation. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  4. ^ "Woodforde's plan pays dividends in NZ Open". The Canberra Times. January 13, 1986. p. 25. Retrieved May 25, 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ Kay, Linda (August 31, 1986). "6 Minutes Close The Open To Mcenroe". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  6. ^ "Results Archive – Rick Rudeen". Australian Open – Official Site by IBM. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  7. ^ "Dakota Dunes Residents Moving Out". KELO-TV. May 29, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
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