Ricardo Ycaza
Encyclopedia
Ricardo Ycaza is an Ecuador
ean tennis player who was a world top-ten junior, a Davis Cup
stalwart, and a world top-fifty touring professional.
His most noteworthy achievement was winning the 1976 US Open Junior tournament. In the semifinals of that tournament he staged a third-set comeback to defeat John McEnroe
6–4, 5–7, 7–6(4) after saving two match points at 2–5 in the third set and after coming back from 2–4 in the third-set tiebreaker. (Ycaza was to face McEnroe three more times in junior tournaments, winning each time.) In the final, Ycaza defeated José Luis Clerc
of Argentina. In May 1977, Ycaza again defeated John McEnroe 6–7, 6–4, 6–2 to win the World Championship of Tennis Men's 21-and-under tournament in Houston, Texas
.
Coached by Miguel Olvera
at the Guayaquil Tennis Club, Ycaza had a successful junior career, winning numerous South American junior titles. At the college level, he achieved All-American status for the 1976-1977 NCAA season playing for the University of Houston
. Ycaza represented Ecuador
in Davis Cup
matches from 1973
through 1986
, teaming up with long-time friend and French Open champion Andrés Gómez
in several important doubles triumphs against the likes of Argentina
and Brazil
. After his playing days were over, Ycaza also served as Davis Cup captain for Ecuador.
Ycaza played on the professional tennis tour from 1977 to 1986. His top world ranking was 45 in singles and 32 in doubles. During his professional career, he won three doubles tournaments (each with different partners). His best year on the professional tour was 1980 when he won doubles tournaments at Sarasota, Palermo
, and Santiago
.
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
ean tennis player who was a world top-ten junior, a Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
stalwart, and a world top-fifty touring professional.
His most noteworthy achievement was winning the 1976 US Open Junior tournament. In the semifinals of that tournament he staged a third-set comeback to defeat John McEnroe
John McEnroe
John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...
6–4, 5–7, 7–6(4) after saving two match points at 2–5 in the third set and after coming back from 2–4 in the third-set tiebreaker. (Ycaza was to face McEnroe three more times in junior tournaments, winning each time.) In the final, Ycaza defeated José Luis Clerc
José Luis Clerc
José Luis Clerc is a former Argentine professional tennis player, and one of the most important Argentine players in history....
of Argentina. In May 1977, Ycaza again defeated John McEnroe 6–7, 6–4, 6–2 to win the World Championship of Tennis Men's 21-and-under tournament in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
Coached by Miguel Olvera
Miguel Olvera
Miguel Olvera was a tennis player in the 1960s and 1970s, playing for Ecuador.In 1960, as an unseeded player, he won the singles title at the Cincinnati Masters. He remains to this day the only unseeded player ever to win the singles title in Cincinnati...
at the Guayaquil Tennis Club, Ycaza had a successful junior career, winning numerous South American junior titles. At the college level, he achieved All-American status for the 1976-1977 NCAA season playing for the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
. Ycaza represented Ecuador
Ecuador Davis Cup team
The Ecuador Davis Cup team represents Ecuador in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Ecuador Tennis Federation.Ecuador currently compete in the Americas Zone of Group II...
in Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
matches from 1973
1973 Davis Cup
The 1973 Davis Cup was the 62nd edition of the most important tournament between national teams in men's tennis. 53 teams would enter the competition, 31 in the Europe Zone, 12 in the Americas Zone, and 10 in the Eastern Zone....
through 1986
1986 Davis Cup
The 1986 Davis Cup was the 75th edition of the most important tournament between national teams in men's tennis. The Africa Zone was added for this year, effectively as a qualifying tournament for the European Zones...
, teaming up with long-time friend and French Open champion Andrés Gómez
Andrés Gómez
Andrés Gómez Santos is a former professional tennis player from Ecuador. He is best remembered for winning the men's singles title at the French Open in 1990.-Career:...
in several important doubles triumphs against the likes of Argentina
Argentina Davis Cup team
The Argentina Davis Cup team represents Argentina in Davis Cup tennis competition and is governed by the Asociación Argentina de Tenis.Argentina has never won the tournament, but have finished as the runner-up three times, in 1981, 2006 and 2008....
and Brazil
Brazil Davis Cup team
The Brazil Davis Cup team represents Brazil in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Brazilian Tennis Confederation.Brazil currently compete in the Americas Zone of Group I...
. After his playing days were over, Ycaza also served as Davis Cup captain for Ecuador.
Ycaza played on the professional tennis tour from 1977 to 1986. His top world ranking was 45 in singles and 32 in doubles. During his professional career, he won three doubles tournaments (each with different partners). His best year on the professional tour was 1980 when he won doubles tournaments at Sarasota, Palermo
Campionati Internazionali di Sicilia
The Campionati Internazionali di Sicilia was a tennis tournament held annually in Palermo in Italy. Held from 1935 until 2006, the tournament was played on outdoor clay courts and was a part of the ATP Tour schedule from 1979 to 2006.-Singles:-Doubles:...
, and Santiago
Movistar Open
The Movistar Open is an ATP International Series men's tennis tournament held in February 2010 in Las Condes commune, and it's played on clay. It was previously played in Viña del Mar.-History:In 1992, Brazil suspended its three ATP tournaments...
.
Doubles titles (3)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partnering | Opponent in the final | Score |
| 1. | 11 February 1980 | Sarasota, USA United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Clay |  Andrés GómezAndrés Gómez Andrés Gómez Santos is a former professional tennis player from Ecuador. He is best remembered for winning the men's singles title at the French Open in 1990.-Career:... |
 David CarterDavid Carter (tennis) David Carter , is a former professional tennis player from Australia. He enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career he won 5 doubles titles.-Doubles titles :...  Rick Fagel |
6–3, 6–4 |
| 2. | 8 September 1980 | Palermo Campionati Internazionali di Sicilia The Campionati Internazionali di Sicilia was a tennis tournament held annually in Palermo in Italy. Held from 1935 until 2006, the tournament was played on outdoor clay courts and was a part of the ATP Tour schedule from 1979 to 2006.-Singles:-Doubles:... , Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
Clay |  Gianni OcleppoGianni Ocleppo Gianni Ocleppo is a retired professional tennis player from Italy.Ocleppo won one ATP Tour singles title and two doubles titles in his career. He played for Italy in the final of the 1980 Davis Cup, losing in a dead rubber to Ivan Lendl.Ocleppo reached a career high singles ranking of World No.... |
 Víctor PecciVíctor Pecci Víctor Pecci is a former professional Paraguayan tennis player. Pecci was born in Asunción.Pecci was ranked as high as World No. 9 in singles in 1980 and World No. 31 in doubles in 1984. Pecci is famous for reaching the 1979 French Open final...  Balázs TaróczyBalazs Taroczy Balázs Taróczy is a former tennis player from Hungary, who won thirteen singles titles in his career. The right-hander achieved his highest ranking during the ATP Tour on February 8, 1982, when he became World Number 13. He's a six times Hungarain champion... |
6–2, 6–2 |
| 3. | 24 November 1980 | Santiago Chilean Open The Chilean Open is a defunct Grand Prix affiliated tennis tournament played from 1976 to 1981. This outdoor clay court tournament was played in Santiago, Chile.-Singles:-Doubles:... , Chile Chile Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far... |
Clay |  Belus PrajouxBelus Prajoux Belus Prajoux Nadjar is a retired professional tennis player from Chile.Prajoux won six doubles titles on the ATP Tour during his career. He was a member of the Chile Davis Cup team, and played on the team that reached the final of the 1976 Davis Cup... |
 Carlos KirmayrCarlos Kirmayr Carlos Kirmayr is a retired Brazilian professional tennis player.Kirmayr won a total of 10 Grand Prix doubles titles, but none for singles. He did win a number of Challenger tournaments in singles and achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 36.-Runner-ups :-Doubles titles :-External links:*... João SoaresJoao Soares (tennis) João Soares , is a former professional tennis player from Brazil.Soares enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career he won 3 doubles titles. He achieved a career-high doubles ranking of World No. 49 in 1980.-Doubles titles :-Runner-ups :-External links:... |
4–6, 7–6, 6–4 |
Doubles runners-up (4)
- 1978: Tulsa (with Carlos KirmayrCarlos KirmayrCarlos Kirmayr is a retired Brazilian professional tennis player.Kirmayr won a total of 10 Grand Prix doubles titles, but none for singles. He did win a number of Challenger tournaments in singles and achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 36.-Runner-ups :-Doubles titles :-External links:*...
, lost to Russell Simpson and Van WinitskyVan WinitskyVan Winitsky , is a former professional tennis player from the United States.Winitsky enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career he won 9 doubles titles and finished runner-up an additional 11 times. Partnering Fritz Buehning in doubles, Winitsky finished...
) - 1980: Bordeaux (with Gianni OcleppoGianni OcleppoGianni Ocleppo is a retired professional tennis player from Italy.Ocleppo won one ATP Tour singles title and two doubles titles in his career. He played for Italy in the final of the 1980 Davis Cup, losing in a dead rubber to Ivan Lendl.Ocleppo reached a career high singles ranking of World No....
, lost to John FeaverJohn FeaverJohn Feaver is a former professional tennis player from the United Kingdom.Feaver enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career he won 1 doubles title and finished runner-up another 9 times. He achieved a career-high doubles ranking of World No...
and Gilles MorettonGilles MorettonGilles Moretton , is a former professional tennis player from France. He enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career he won 4 doubles titles. He achieved a career-high doubles ranking of World No...
) - 1980: Bogotá (with Andrés GómezAndrés GómezAndrés Gómez Santos is a former professional tennis player from Ecuador. He is best remembered for winning the men's singles title at the French Open in 1990.-Career:...
, lost to Álvaro FillolAlvaro FillolÁlvaro Fillol , is a former professional tennis player from Chile. He enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career he won 5 doubles titles.-Doubles titles :-Runner-ups :...
and Carlos KirmayrCarlos KirmayrCarlos Kirmayr is a retired Brazilian professional tennis player.Kirmayr won a total of 10 Grand Prix doubles titles, but none for singles. He did win a number of Challenger tournaments in singles and achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 36.-Runner-ups :-Doubles titles :-External links:*...
) - 1981: Quito (with David CarterDavid Carter (tennis)David Carter , is a former professional tennis player from Australia. He enjoyed most of his tennis success while playing doubles. During his career he won 5 doubles titles.-Doubles titles :...
, lost to Hans Gildermeister and Andrés GómezAndrés GómezAndrés Gómez Santos is a former professional tennis player from Ecuador. He is best remembered for winning the men's singles title at the French Open in 1990.-Career:...
)