Ion Țiriac

Ion Țiriac (Romanian pronunciation: [iˈon t͡siriˈak]; born 9 May 1939), also known as the "Brașov Bulldozer",[3] is a Romanian businessman and former professional tennis and ice hockey player.[4] He has been president of the Romanian Tennis Federation.[5]

Ion Țiriac
Țiriac in 2008
Country (sports) Romania
ResidenceBucharest, Romania
Born (1939-05-09) 9 May 1939
Brașov, Romania
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Turned pro1968 (amateur from 1962)
Retired1979
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HoF2013 (member page)
Singles
Career record167–177[1]
Career titles1
Highest rankingNo. 19 (1968, World's Top 10)[2]
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open2R (1977Jan)
French OpenQF (1968)
Wimbledon4R (1967, 1972)
US Open3R (1973)
Doubles
Career record294–141
Career titles22
Highest rankingNo. 8 (9 April 1979)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open2R (1977Jan)
French OpenW (1970)
WimbledonSF (1970)
Team competitions
Davis CupF (1969Ch, 1971Ch, 1972)
Medal record
Representing  Romania
Tennis
Summer Universiade
Bronze medal – third place1961 SofiaSingles
Bronze medal – third place1961 SofiaMixed Doubles
Gold medal – first place1965 BudapestSingles
Gold medal – first place1965 BudapestMixed Doubles
Bronze medal – third place1965 BudapestDoubles

A former singles top 10 player on the ATP Tour, Tiriac was the winner of one grand slam title, the 1970 French Open in men's doubles. Țiriac was the first man to play against a woman and defeat her, in a sanctioned tennis tournament (against Abigail Maynard, in 1975). The highlight of his ice hockey career was participating as defenseman in the Romanian national team at the 1964 Winter Olympics.

After retirement, Tiriac became active as a tennis coach, advisor and player agent in the 1980s, taking under his wing Ilie Năstase, Manuel Orantes, Adriano Panatta, Guillermo Vilas, Henri Leconte and the young Boris Becker. Later, Țiriac developed the Mutua Madrid Open ATP masters tennis tournament, which he has owned from 2009 to 2021.[6] In 2013, he was elected as contributor into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.[7] He has been managing French tennis player Lucas Pouille since December 2016.

As a tennis player, Tiriac played dramatic five-setters against Rod Laver, Stan Smith, Jan Kodeš and Manuel Orantes. His singles record includes wins over Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith, Roscoe Tanner, Manuel Orantes, Andrés Gimeno, Adriano Panatta and Niki Pilić. He played three Davis Cup finals (in 1969, 1971 and 1972).[8]

As of April 2022, Forbes ranked him as the third-richest person in Romania with a net worth of $1.6 billion.[9]

Sports career

Țiriac was born in Transylvania, which is probably the reason why he has the nickname 'Count Dracula'.[10] He first appeared on the international sports scene as a child ping pong champion, then subsequently as an ice hockey player on the Romanian national team at the 1964 Winter Olympics. Shortly after that he switched to tennis as his main sport. With fellow Romanian Ilie Năstase he won the men's doubles in the 1970 French Open and reached the Davis Cup finals several times in the 1970s.[11]

John McPhee wrote of him that his drooping mustache suggests "that this man has been to places most people do not imagine exist. He appears to be a panatela ad, a triple agent from Alexandria, a used-car salesman from central Marrakesh. Tiriac has the air of a man who is about to close a deal in a back room behind a back room."[12]

Țiriac participated in the short period during the 1970s when women participated in established men's tennis tournaments. In his first match he defeated Abigail Maynard 6–0, 6–0 in their round one match at USTA pro circuit's Fairfiled County International Tennis Championship. It was the first time ever a female had entered a men's tournament.[13][14]

After his retirement, he served as coach and manager for players such as Ilie Năstase, Guillermo Vilas, Mary Joe Fernández, Goran Ivanišević and Marat Safin.[15] He became the sports agent of Boris Becker and managed his career from 1984 to 1993.

Țiriac was president of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee from 1998 to 2004.

Țiriac ran major men's events in Germany, including the season-ending championships in Hanover. Although tennis is now a much smaller part of his portfolio and occupies only 5 percent of his time, he has taken particular pleasure and pride in making Madrid Tennis Open a combined men's and women's event with €7.2 million in total prize money.[16] The trophy awarded to the tournament winner bears his name.

Țiriac also held the license for the BRD Năstase Țiriac Trophy tennis tournament since 1996, until its last edition in 2016, before the tournament being relocated to Budapest.

In 2012, Țiriac was nominated for the International Tennis Hall of Fame in the contributor category.[17]

On 13 July 2013, Țiriac joined the International Tennis Hall of Fame as a successful promoter and tournament director for numerous events including the two of the largest Masters 1000 events, the Italian Open and the Madrid Masters.

Business career
One of two Rolls-Royce Phantom IV owned by Țiriac, part of his car collection.[18]

After his retirement as a professional tennis player, Țiriac became a businessman in (then West) Germany. In 1987, he appeared in a TV commercial for Miller Lite beer with Bob Uecker, who extols Țiriac's supposed humorous qualities, laughing hysterically while Țiriac sits stone-faced. (In reality, Țiriac was popular and outgoing, especially when he served as player/coach of the Boston Lobsters of World Team Tennis in the 1970s.)

In Germany, Țiriac met another Romanian businessman, Dan Petrescu. Țiriac and Petrescu became economic partners and collaborated in the development of several companies in the following years.[19][20]

Following the collapse of communism in Romania, Țiriac started numerous businesses and investments back home. In 1990, he founded Ion Țiriac Bank, the first private bank in post-Communist Romania. Between that and several other enterprises (retail, insurance, auto leasing, auto dealerships, airlines, etc.), his fortune was estimated at over US$900 million in 2005.

Țiriac is an avid car collector. The Tiriac Collection represents the exhibition of cars and motorcycles under his ownership. Reopened to the public in May 2015, the collection includes historical vehicles manufactured since 1899 and also modern exotics with about 350 cars and 165 cars at full time display on a rotation basis.[21] Visitors will find the only collection in the world with 2 Rolls-Royce Phantoms IV, as well as exhibits that previously belonged to great names such as Sir Elton John, Sammy Davis Jr. or Bernie Ecclestone.

In 2006, Țiriac was selected as one of the 100 Greatest Romanians, ranking #77.

Ion Țiriac became the first Romanian to enter Forbes' List of billionaires in the 2007 Forbes rankings, ranking 840th in the world. His wealth was estimated at $1.0 billion as of 2010, according to the magazine.[22] In 2010, TOP 300 Capital declared Ion Țiriac the richest man in Romania with a wealth estimated at €1.5–€1.6 billion ($2–$2.2 billion).[23]

In 2018, Ion Țiriac ranked #1867 on the Forbes World's Billionaires list, with wealth listed at US$1.2 billion.[24]

Țiriac on a Romanian postage stamp

Personal life

Țiriac was married to Erika Braedt, a handball player, between 1963 and 1965.[25]

He has a son, Ion Țiriac Jr., with Mikette von Issenberg, a fashion model; and further two children, Karim Mihai and Ioana Natalia, with Sophie Ayad, an Egyptian journalist.[26][27][28]

According to Cinemagia, he dubbed the character Kron for the Romanian version of Dinosaur.[29]

Career statistics

Doubles 2 (1–1)
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss1966French ChampionshipsClayRomania Ilie NăstaseUnited States Dennis Ralston
United States Clark Graebner		3–6, 3–6, 0–6
Win1970French OpenClayRomania Ilie NăstaseUnited States Arthur Ashe
United States Charlie Pasarell		6–2, 6–4, 6–3

Singles (2–1)
Result W–L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Aug 1970 Munich, Germany Clay Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić 2–6, 9–7, 6–3, 6–4
Win 2–0 May 1971 Madrid, Spain Clay Romania Ilie Năstase 7–5, 6–1, 6–0
Loss 2–1 Feb 1972 Omaha, Nebraska, US Hard (i) Romania Ilie Năstase 6–2, 0–6, 1–6

Doubles (22–24)
Key
Grand Slam tournaments
Grand Prix Masters
Group 1 tournaments
Group 2 tournaments
Team events
Result W–L Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1–0 Feb 1970 Philadelphia WCT, US Carpet Romania Ilie Năstase United States Arthur Ashe
United States Dennis Ralston		 6–4, 6–3
Win 2–0 May 1970 French Open, Paris Clay Romania Ilie Năstase United States Arthur Ashe
United States Charlie Pasarell		 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
Win 3–0 Apr 1970 Rome, Italy Clay Romania Ilie Năstase Australia William Bowrey
Australia Owen Davidson		 0–6, 10–8, 6–3, 6–8, 6–1
Loss 3–1 Jul 1970 Washington, D.C., US Clay Romania Ilie Năstase South Africa Bob Hewitt
South Africa Frew McMillan		 5–7, 0–6
Win 4–1 Jul 1970 Cincinnati, US Clay Romania Ilie Năstase South Africa Bob Hewitt
South Africa Frew McMillan		 6–3, 6–4
Loss 4–2 Jul 1970 Indianapolis, US Clay Romania Ilie Năstase United States Arthur Ashe
United States Clark Graebner		 6–2, 4–6, 4–6
Loss 4–3 Nov 1970 London, UK Carpet Romania Ilie Năstase Australia Ken Rosewall
United States Stan Smith		 4–6, 3–6, 2–6
Win 5–3 Mar 1971 Hampton, US Hard (i) Romania Ilie Năstase United States Clark Graebner
Brazil Thomaz Koch		 6–4, 4–6, 7–5
Win 6–3 Apr 1971 Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Romania Ilie Năstase Netherlands Tom Okker
United Kingdom Roger Taylor		 1–6, 6–3, 6–3, 8–6
Loss 6–4 Apr 1971 Palermo, Sicily, Italy Clay Romania Ilie Năstase France Georges Goven
France Pierre Barthès		 2–6, 3–6
Loss 6–5 May 1971 Brussels, Belgium Clay Romania Ilie Năstase United States Marty Riessen
Netherlands Tom Okker
Win 7–5 Feb 1972 Kansas City, US Indoor Romania Ilie Năstase Spain Andrés Gimeno
Spain Manuel Orantes		 6–7, 6–4, 7–6
Loss 7–6 Feb 1972 Los Angeles, California, US Romania Ilie Năstase United States Jim Osborne
United States Jim McManus		 2–6, 7–5, 4–6
Win 8–6 Mar 1972 Hampton, US Hard (i) Romania Ilie Năstase Spain Andrés Gimeno
Spain Manuel Orantes		 6–4, 7–6
Win 9–6 Apr 1972 Rome, Italy Clay Romania Ilie Năstase Australia Lew Hoad
South Africa Frew McMillan		 3–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3, 5–3, RET.
Loss 9–7 May 1972 Bournemouth, England Clay Romania Ilie Năstase South Africa Frew McMillan
South Africa Bob Hewitt		 5–7, 2–6
Loss 9–8 Jun 1972 Hamburg, Germany Clay South Africa Bob Hewitt Romania Ilie Năstase
Czechoslovakia Jan Kodeš		 6–4, 0–6, 6–3, 2–6, 2–6
Win 10–8 Aug 1972 Montreal, Canada Clay Romania Ilie Năstase Czechoslovakia Jan Kodeš
Czechoslovakia Jan Kukal		 7–6, 6–3
Loss 10–9 Feb 1973 Des Moines, Iowa, US Hard Spain Juan Gisbert Czechoslovakia Jan Kukal
Czechoslovakia Jiří Hřebec		 6–4, 6–7, 1–6
Loss 10–10 Mar 1973 Hampton, Virginia, US Hard United States Jimmy Connors Romania Ilie Năstase
United States Clark Graebner		 6–4, 6–7, 1–6
Win 11–10 Mar 1973 Valencia, Spain Clay United States Mike Estep Belgium Patrick Hombergen
Belgium Bernard Mignot		 6–4, 1–6, 10–8
Loss 11–11 Apr 1973 Barcelona, Spain Clay United States Mike Estep Spain Manuel Orantes
Spain Juan Gisbert		 4–6, 6–7
Loss 11–12 May 1973 Bournemouth, England Clay Italy Adriano Panatta Romania Ilie Năstase
Spain Juan Gisbert		 4–6, 6–8
Loss 11–13 Jun 1973 Hamburg, Germany Clay Spain Manuel Orantes Germany Hans-Jürgen Pohmann
Germany Jürgen Fassbender		 6–7, 6–7, 6–7
Loss 11–14 Jun 1973 Eastbourne, England Grass Spain Manuel Orantes United States Jim McManus
Sweden Ove Nils Bengtson		 4–6, 6–4, 5–7
Win 12–14 Aug 1973 Louisville, Kentucky, US Clay Spain Manuel Orantes United States Clark Graebner
Australia John Newcombe		 0–6, 6–4, 6–3
Loss 12–15 Aug 1973 Indianapolis, Indiana, US Clay Spain Manuel Orantes South Africa Frew McMillan
Australia Bob Carmichael		 3–6, 4–6
Win 13–15 Jan 1977 Baltimore, Maryland, US Carpet Argentina Guillermo Vilas Australia Ross Case
Czechoslovakia Jan Kodeš		 6–3, 6–7, 6–4
Loss 13–16 Feb 1977 Springfield, Massachusetts Carpet Argentina Guillermo Vilas South Africa Frew McMillan
South Africa Bob Hewitt		 6–7, 6–2
Loss 14–16 Mar 1977 Nice, France Clay Argentina Guillermo Vilas Australia Chris Kachel
Australia Chris Lewis		 6–4, 6–1
Loss 14–17 Jul 1977 South Orange, New Jersey, US Clay Argentina Guillermo Vilas Australia Colin Dibley
Poland Wojciech Fibak		 1–6, 5–7
Loss 14–18 Sep 1977 Paris, France Clay Romania Ilie Năstase France Jacques Thamin
France Christophe Roger-Vasselin		 2–6, 6–4, 3–6
Win 15–18 Sep 1977 Aix-en-Provence, France Clay Romania Ilie Năstase France Patrice Dominguez
Sweden Rolf Norberg		 7–5, 7–6
Win 16–18 Oct 1977 Tehran, Iran Clay Argentina Guillermo Vilas South Africa Bob Hewitt
South Africa Frew McMillan		 1–6, 6–1, 6–4
Win 17–18 Oct 1977 Tehran, Iran Clay Argentina Guillermo Vilas South Africa Bob Hewitt
South Africa Frew McMillan		 1–6, 6–1, 6–4
Win 18–18 Nov 1977 Buenos Aires, Argentina Clay Argentina Guillermo Vilas Argentina Ricardo Cano
Spain Antonio Muñoz		 6–4, 6–0
Win 19–18 May 1978 Munich, Germany Clay Argentina Guillermo Vilas Germany Jürgen Fassbender
Netherlands Tom Okker		 3–6, 6–4, 7–6
Loss 19–19 Jul 1978 South Orange, New Jersey, US Clay Argentina Guillermo Vilas United States John McEnroe
United States Peter Fleming		 3–6, 3–6
Win 20–19 Sep 1978 Aix-en-Provence, France Clay Argentina Guillermo Vilas Czechoslovakia Jan Kodeš
Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd		 7–6, 6–1
Loss 20–20 Nov 1978 Paris Bercy, France Hard Argentina Guillermo Vilas South Africa Andrew Pattison
United States Bruce Manson		 6–7, 2–6
Loss 20–21 Jan 1979 Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Grass Argentina Guillermo Vilas Australia Bob Giltinan
Australia Phil Dent		 6–8
Loss 20–22 Jan 1979 Richmond, Virginia, US Carpet Argentina Guillermo Vilas United States John McEnroe
United States Brian Gottfried		 4–6, 3–6
Win 21–22 Mar 1979 San José, Costa Rica Hard Argentina Guillermo Vilas India Anand Amritraj
South Africa Colin Dibley		 7–6, 6–1
Loss 21–23 May 1979 French Open, Paris, France Clay Romania Virginia Ruzici Australia Wendy Turnbull
Australia Bob Hewitt		 3–6, 6–2, 3–6
Loss 21–24 Jul 1979 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Argentina Guillermo Vilas Australia John Marks
Australia Mark Edmondson		 3–6, 6–2, 3–6
Win 22–24 Jul 1979 North Conway, US Clay Argentina Guillermo Vilas United States John Sadri
United States Tim Wilkison		 6–4, 7–6

Performance timeline
Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
Tournament19651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978SRW–LWin %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Championships/Australian OpenAAAAAAAAAAAA2RA1R0 / 21–233.33
French Championships/French Open3R3R3RQF2R4R1R1R2RAAAAA0 / 915–962.50
WimbledonA1R4R2R2R2R3R4RA1R1RAA1R0 / 1011–1052.38
US National Championships/US OpenAAAA2RA2R2R3RAAAAA0 / 45–455.55
Win–loss2–12–25–25–23–34–23–34–33–20–10–1n/a1–10–20 / 2532–2556.14

Companies

See also

References
  1. "Profile at atpworldtour.com". Forbes.
  2. Becker, Boris (2011). The Player, Transworld Digital, Kindle Edition.
  3. "Madrid Open preview".
  4. "#937 Ion Tiriac". Forbes. 10 March 2010.
  5. "ALEGERI FRT // VIDEO Ion Țiriac e noul președinte al Federației Române de Tenis! Victorie categorică la alegeri + cine sunt cei 4 vicepreședinți". Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 19 June 2019.
  6. "Madrid Masters goes bling". tennisworldusa. 8 April 2011.
  7. "Hingis elected to International Tennis Hall of Fame". ITF Tennis. 4 March 2013. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  8. "Tiriac Upsets Smith in 3 Sets; Nastase, Ashe and Richey Gain". The New York Times. 18 July 1970.
  9. "Cei mai bogaţi oameni din lume în 2022. Şase români în topul Forbes". Adevărul (in Romanian). 6 April 2022.
  10. "Biofile with Ion Tiriac | TheBiofile.com". thebiofile.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  11. Davis Cup Player Profile
  12. "AT WIMBLEDON WITH: Ion Tiriac; Tennis's Grandest Bad Boy," The New York Times.
  13. Kirkpatrick, Curry. "COUNT DRACULA". SI.com. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  14. "MEN'S USTA PRO CIRCUIT TENNIS TOURNAMENT RETURNS TO FAIRFIELD AFTER 24 YEARS | Cliff Drysdale Tennis". cliffdrysdale.com. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  15. "In praise of Safin – the head case". CNN. 2 September 2009.
  16. Clarey, Christopher (9 May 2009). "Spain at Last Brings the World to Its Clay". New York Times. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  17. "Hingis, Stich, Sukova nominated for tennis hall". 9 September 2012.
  18. The Tiriac Collection
  19. Hostiuc, Cristian (3 October 2021). "Tragedie: Dan Petrescu, poate unul dintre cei mai discreți miliardari ai României, a murit într-un cumplit accident aviatic lângă Milano în urma prăbușirii avionului în care se afla împreună cu încă șapte persoane. El a construit rețelele Metro, Real, Jumbo și îi organiza turneele de tenis ale lui Ion Țiriac". Ziarul Financiar (in Romanian).
  20. Bian, Nicolae (4 October 2021). "Cine este Dan Petrescu, cel mai bogat român cu afaceri imobiliare, mort în accidentul aviatic de la Milano / Țiriac a declarat public de mai multe ori că Petrescu este mai bogat decât el". G4Media (in Romanian).
  21. "Ion Tiriac´s Car Collection (Romania)". 4 September 2016. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  22. "the World's Billionaires – No. 937 Ion Tiriac". Forbers. 10 March 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  23. "TOP 300 Capital declares Ion Tiriac the richest man in Romania followed by businessmen Dinu Patriciu and Ioan Niculae". 18 October 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  24. "Forbes Billionaires 2021: The Richest People in the World". Forbes.
  25. "Sergiu Nicolaescu: "Da, am cunoscut-o pe Erika"" (in Romanian). 27 February 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  26. "Fetița lui Țiriac, în vacanță în România" (in Romanian). Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  27. "Mama lui Tiriac jr., o milionara excentrica" (in Romanian). Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  28. "Jean Maurer dezvaluie motivul ranchiunii dintre Ion Țiriac si Sergiu Nicolaescu" (in Romanian). Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  29. "20 de ani de magie de la primul film Disney dublat în limba română". CineMagia.ro.

Selected publications
  • Țiriac, Ion; Năstase, Ilie (1972). Ar fi fost prea frumos... Editura Stadion. OCLC 895420065.
  • Țiriac, Ion (1974). Victorie cu orice preț. Editura Stadion. OCLC 895420017.
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