Ion Țiriac

Ion Țiriac^[3] (Romanian pronunciation: [iˈon t͡siriˈak]; born 9 May 1939), also known as the "Brașov Bulldozer",^[4] is a Romanian businessman and former professional tennis and ice hockey player.^[5] He has been president of the Romanian Tennis Federation.^[6]

Ion Țiriac

Țiriac in 2008
Country (sports)	Romania
Residence	Bucharest, Romania
Born	(1939-05-09) 9 May 1939 (age 85) Brașov, Romania
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Turned pro	1968 (amateur from 1958)
Retired	1979
Plays	Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HoF	2013 (member page)
Singles
Career record	454–303[1]
Career titles	34[1]
Highest ranking	No. 19 (1968, World's Top 10)[2]
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	2R (1977Jan)
French Open	QF (1968)
Wimbledon	4R (1967, 1972)
US Open	3R (1973)
Doubles
Career record	294–141
Career titles	22
Highest ranking	No. 8 (9 April 1979)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	2R (1977Jan)
French Open	W (1970)
Wimbledon	SF (1970)
Team competitions
Davis Cup	F (1969Ch, 1971Ch, 1972)
Medal record Representing  Romania Tennis Summer Universiade 1961 Sofia Singles 1961 Sofia Mixed Doubles 1965 Budapest Singles 1965 Budapest Mixed Doubles 1965 Budapest Doubles

A former singles top 10 player on the ATP Tour, he was active from 1958 to 1979 and won 34 career singles titles.^[1] 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 a 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.^[7] In 2013, he was elected as contributor into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.^[8] 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).^[9]

As of April 2022, Forbes ranked him as the third-richest person in Romania with a net worth of $1.6 billion.^[10]

Sports career

Țiriac was born in Transylvania, which is probably the reason why he has the nickname 'Count Dracula'.^[11] The first sport he practiced, as a child was table tennis.^[12][13]

Afterwards he played ice hockey as a defenceman, winning a Romanian Hockey League title with CCA București in 1961, he also played for Știința București.^[14][15] Țiriac represented Romania's ice hockey team at the 1961 Ice Hockey World Championships where he was used by player-coach Zoltan Czaka in five games in which he scored five goals as the team finished on the 15th place.^[14][16][17] He was called up by coach Mihai Flamaropol to be in Romania's squad at the 1964 Winter Olympics.^[14][18]

Țiriac in 1965

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.^[19]

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."^[20]

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.^[21][22]

Executive roles

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.^[23] 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.^[24] 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.^[25]

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.^[26]

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.^[27] 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.^[28]

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.^[29][30]

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.^[31] 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.^[32] 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).^[33]

In 2018, Ion Țiriac ranked #1867 on the Forbes World's Billionaires list, with wealth listed at US$1.2 billion.^[34]

Țiriac on a Romanian postage stamp

Personal life

Țiriac was married to Erika Braedt, a handball player, between 1963 and 1965.^[35]

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.^[36][37][38]

According to Cinemagia, he dubbed the character Kron for the Romanian version of Dinosaur.^[39]

Career statistics

Grand Slam finals

Doubles 2 (1–1)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	1966	French Championships	Clay	Ilie Năstase	Dennis Ralston Clark Graebner	3–6, 3–6, 0–6
Win	1970	French Open	Clay	Ilie Năstase	Arthur Ashe Charlie Pasarell	6–2, 6–4, 6–3

Grand Prix and WCT Tour finals

Singles (2–1)

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

Doubles (23–24)

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	Ilie Năstase	Arthur Ashe Dennis Ralston	6–4, 6–3
Win	2–0	May 1970	French Open, Paris	Clay	Ilie Năstase	Arthur Ashe Charlie Pasarell	6–2, 6–4, 6–3
Win	3–0	Apr 1970	Rome, Italy	Clay	Ilie Năstase	William Bowrey Owen Davidson	0–6, 10–8, 6–3, 6–8, 6–1
Loss	3–1	Jul 1970	Washington, D.C., US	Clay	Ilie Năstase	Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan	5–7, 0–6
Win	4–1	Jul 1970	Cincinnati, US	Clay	Ilie Năstase	Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan	6–3, 6–4
Loss	4–2	Jul 1970	Indianapolis, US	Clay	Ilie Năstase	Arthur Ashe Clark Graebner	6–2, 4–6, 4–6
Loss	4–3	Nov 1970	London, UK	Carpet	Ilie Năstase	Ken Rosewall Stan Smith	4–6, 3–6, 2–6
Win	5–3	Mar 1971	Hampton, US	Hard (i)	Ilie Năstase	Clark Graebner Thomaz Koch	6–4, 4–6, 7–5
Win	6–3	Apr 1971	Monte-Carlo, Monaco	Clay	Ilie Năstase	Tom Okker Roger Taylor	1–6, 6–3, 6–3, 8–6
Loss	6–4	Apr 1971	Palermo, Sicily, Italy	Clay	Ilie Năstase	Georges Goven Pierre Barthès	2–6, 3–6
Loss	6–5	May 1971	Brussels, Belgium	Clay	Ilie Năstase	Marty Riessen Tom Okker
Win	7–5	Feb 1972	Kansas City, US	Indoor	Ilie Năstase	Andrés Gimeno Manuel Orantes	6–7, 6–4, 7–6
Loss	7–6	Feb 1972	Los Angeles, California, US		Ilie Năstase	Jim Osborne Jim McManus	2–6, 7–5, 4–6
Win	8–6	Mar 1972	Hampton, US	Hard (i)	Ilie Năstase	Andrés Gimeno Manuel Orantes	6–4, 7–6
Win	9–6	Apr 1972	Rome, Italy	Clay	Ilie Năstase	Lew Hoad Frew McMillan	3–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3, 5–3, RET.
Loss	9–7	May 1972	Bournemouth, England	Clay	Ilie Năstase	Frew McMillan Bob Hewitt	5–7, 2–6
Loss	9–8	Jun 1972	Hamburg, Germany	Clay	Bob Hewitt	Ilie Năstase Jan Kodeš	6–4, 0–6, 6–3, 2–6, 2–6
Win	10–8	Aug 1972	Montreal, Canada	Clay	Ilie Năstase	Jan Kodeš Jan Kukal	7–6, 6–3
Loss	10–9	Feb 1973	Des Moines, Iowa, US	Hard	Juan Gisbert	Jan Kukal Jiří Hřebec	6–4, 6–7, 1–6
Loss	10–10	Mar 1973	Hampton, Virginia, US	Hard	Jimmy Connors	Ilie Năstase Clark Graebner	6–4, 6–7, 1–6
Win	11–10	Mar 1973	Valencia, Spain	Clay	Mike Estep	Patrick Hombergen Bernard Mignot	6–4, 1–6, 10–8
Loss	11–11	Apr 1973	Barcelona, Spain	Clay	Mike Estep	Manuel Orantes Juan Gisbert	4–6, 6–7
Loss	11–12	May 1973	Bournemouth, England	Clay	Adriano Panatta	Ilie Năstase Juan Gisbert	4–6, 6–8
Loss	11–13	Jun 1973	Hamburg, Germany	Clay	Manuel Orantes	Hans-Jürgen Pohmann Jürgen Fassbender	6–7, 6–7, 6–7
Loss	11–14	Jun 1973	Eastbourne, England	Grass	Manuel Orantes	Jim McManus Ove Nils Bengtson	4–6, 6–4, 5–7
Win	12–14	Aug 1973	Louisville, Kentucky, US	Clay	Manuel Orantes	Clark Graebner John Newcombe	0–6, 6–4, 6–3
Loss	12–15	Aug 1973	Indianapolis, Indiana, US	Clay	Manuel Orantes	Frew McMillan Bob Carmichael	3–6, 4–6
Win	13–15	Mar 1974	São Paulo WCT, Brazil	Carpet (i)	Adriano Panatta	Ove Nils Bengtson Björn Borg	7-5, 3-6, 6-3
Win	14–15	Jan 1977	Baltimore, Maryland, US	Carpet	Guillermo Vilas	Ross Case Jan Kodeš	6–3, 6–7, 6–4
Loss	14–16	Feb 1977	Springfield, Massachusetts	Carpet	Guillermo Vilas	Frew McMillan Bob Hewitt	6–7, 6–2
Loss	15–16	Mar 1977	Nice, France	Clay	Guillermo Vilas	Chris Kachel Chris Lewis	6–4, 6–1
Loss	15–17	Jul 1977	South Orange, New Jersey, US	Clay	Guillermo Vilas	Colin Dibley Wojciech Fibak	1–6, 5–7
Loss	15–18	Sep 1977	Paris, France	Clay	Ilie Năstase	Jacques Thamin Christophe Roger-Vasselin	2–6, 6–4, 3–6
Win	16–18	Sep 1977	Aix-en-Provence, France	Clay	Ilie Năstase	Patrice Dominguez Rolf Norberg	7–5, 7–6
Win	17–18	Oct 1977	Tehran, Iran	Clay	Guillermo Vilas	Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan	1–6, 6–1, 6–4
Win	18–18	Oct 1977	Tehran, Iran	Clay	Guillermo Vilas	Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan	1–6, 6–1, 6–4
Win	19–18	Nov 1977	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Clay	Guillermo Vilas	Ricardo Cano Antonio Muñoz	6–4, 6–0
Win	20–18	May 1978	Munich, Germany	Clay	Guillermo Vilas	Jürgen Fassbender Tom Okker	3–6, 6–4, 7–6
Loss	20–19	Jul 1978	South Orange, New Jersey, US	Clay	Guillermo Vilas	John McEnroe Peter Fleming	3–6, 3–6
Win	21–19	Sep 1978	Aix-en-Provence, France	Clay	Guillermo Vilas	Jan Kodeš Tomáš Šmíd	7–6, 6–1
Loss	21–20	Nov 1978	Paris Bercy, France	Hard	Guillermo Vilas	Andrew Pattison Bruce Manson	6–7, 2–6
Loss	21–21	Jan 1979	Hobart, Tasmania, Australia	Grass	Guillermo Vilas	Bob Giltinan Phil Dent	6–8
Loss	21–22	Jan 1979	Richmond, Virginia, US	Carpet	Guillermo Vilas	John McEnroe Brian Gottfried	4–6, 3–6
Win	22–22	Mar 1979	San José, Costa Rica	Hard	Guillermo Vilas	Anand Amritraj Colin Dibley	7–6, 6–1
Loss	22–23	May 1979	French Open, Paris, France	Clay	Virginia Ruzici	Wendy Turnbull Bob Hewitt	3–6, 6–2, 3–6
Loss	22–24	Jul 1979	Gstaad, Switzerland	Clay	Guillermo Vilas	John Marks Mark Edmondson	3–6, 6–2, 3–6
Win	23–24	Jul 1979	North Conway, US	Clay	Guillermo Vilas	John Sadri 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.

Tournament	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977		1978	SR	W–L	Win %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Championships/Australian Open	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	2R	A	1R	0 / 2	1–2	33.33
French Championships/French Open	3R	3R	3R	QF	2R	4R	1R	1R	2R	A	A	A	A		A	0 / 9	15–9	62.50
Wimbledon	A	1R	4R	2R	2R	2R	3R	4R	A	1R	1R	A	A		1R	0 / 10	11–10	52.38
US National Championships/US Open	A	A	A	A	2R	A	2R	2R	3R	A	A	A	A		A	0 / 4	5–4	55.55
Win–loss	2–1	2–2	5–2	5–2	3–3	4–2	3–3	4–3	3–2	0–1	0–1	n/a	1–1		0–2	0 / 25	32–25	56.14

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Companies

• Țiriac Holdings
• ȚiriacAIR
• Allianz-Țiriac Asigurări România
• ȚiriacAuto
• Țiriac Leasing
• Tir Travel (formerly Țiriac Travel)

See also

• Capital Top 300 wealthiest men in Romania