# Marty Riessen

Marty Riessen (born December 4, 1941) is an American former amateur and professional tennis player active from the 1960s to the 1980s. He was ranked as high as No. 11 in the world in singles on the ATP rankings in September 1974, though was ranked as high as world No. 8 by Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph in 1971 before the computer rankings. Renowned for his doubles play, Riessen was also a regular doubles partner of Australian tennis great Margaret Court, winning six of his seven major mixed titles and a career Grand Slam alongside her. Additionally a winner of two men's doubles Grand Slams, his highest doubles ranking was No. 3 in March 1980.

## Career

Riessen played collegiate tennis at Northwestern University, where he reached the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) singles finals three times: 1962 (falling to Rafael Osuna of University of Southern California); 1963 and 1964 (falling to Dennis Ralston of USC both times). He was a semifinalist at the NCAA Doubles Championship with Clark Graebner in 1963 and 1964.
He won six singles titles in the open era, with the biggest coming in Cincinnati in 1974. (He won numerous other pre-open era titles, including two other Cincinnati titles in the pre-Open Era.) He also reached the quarterfinals in singles at both the Australian Open and the US Open in 1971.
He also won 53 doubles titles, including the US Open (in 1976), the French Open (1971, with Arthur Ashe), and seven ATP Masters Series events: Paris Indoor (1976), Canada (1971 & 1970), Monte Carlo (1970), Hamburg (1968 and 1969), and Rome (1968). He reached the doubles final at the US Open in 1978 and 1975, the Australian Open in 1971, and Wimbledon in 1969.

## Distinctions and honors

* He was a member of the U.S. Davis Cup team in 1963, 1965, 1967, 1973 and 1981.
* The Marty Riessen tennis courts are in Osmond, Nebraska.
* Dunlop named one of its wooden racquets the "Marty Riessen."
* Riessen has been enshrined in the United States Tennis Association/Midwest Hall of Fame.
* He is one of two high school tennis players from the state of Illinois to win the singles title four years in a row, 1957–1960, representing Hinsdale Township, now Hinsdale Central High School.
* Riessen was also noted for his sportsmanship, not infrequently arguing that a judgement was incorrect and that points should be given against him.

## Open era career finals
### Singles: 22 (9 titles, 13 runner-ups)

| Result | No. | Year | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Win | 1. | 1969 | Perth, Australia | Grass | Ken Rosewall | 6–3, 6–4, 2–6, 2–6, 6–1 |
| Win | 2. | 1970 | Wembley, U.K. | Carpet (i) | Ken Rosewall | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Win | 3. | 1970 | Tucson WCT, U.S. | | Roy Emerson | 6–1, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1. | 1970 | Paris Masters, France | Carpet (i) | Arthur Ashe | 6–7, 4–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 4. | 1971 | Tehran WCT, Iran | Clay | John Alexander | 6–7, 6–1, 6–3, 7–6 |
| Loss | 2. | 1971 | Washington WCT, U.S. | Hard | Ken Rosewall | 2–6, 5–7, 1–6 |
| Loss | 3. | 1971 | Fort Worth WCT, U.S. | Hard | Rod Laver | 6–2, 4–6, 6–3, 5–7, 3–6 |
| Win | 5. | 1972 | Quebec WCT, Canada | Hard (i) | Rod Laver | 7–5, 6–2, 7–5 |
| Loss | 4. | 1972 | Denver WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Rod Laver | 6–4, 3–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 5. | 1972 | Washington WCT, U.S. | Clay | Tony Roche | 6–3, 6–7, 4–6 |
| Loss | 6. | 1972 | Vancouver WCT, Canada | Hard | John Newcombe | 7–6, 6–7, 6–7, 5–7 |
| Win | 6. | 1973 | Milan WCT, Italy | Carpet (i) | Roscoe Tanner | 7–6, 6–0, 7–6 |
| Loss | 7. | 1973 | Copenhagen WCT, Denmark | Carpet (i) | Roger Taylor | 2–6, 3–6, 6–7 |
| Loss | 8. | 1973 | Quebec WCT, Canada | Hard (i) | Jimmy Connors | 1–6, 4–6, 7–6, 0–6 |
| Loss | 9. | 1974 | Las Vegas, U.S. | Hard | Rod Laver | 2–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 10. | 1974 | Chicago, U.S. | Hard | Stan Smith | 6–3, 1–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 7. | 1974 | Cincinnati, U.S. | Hard | Bob Lutz | 7–6, 7–6 |
| Win | 8. | 1975 | Philadelphia WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Vitas Gerulaitis | 7–6, 5–7, 6–2, 6–7, 6–3 |
| Loss | 11. | 1977 | La Costa, U.S. | Hard | Brian Gottfried | 3–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 12. | 1979 | Baltimore WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Harold Solomon | 5–7, 4–6 |
| Loss | 13. | 1979 | Dayton, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Butch Walts | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 9. | 1979 | Lafayette, U.S. | Carpet | Pat DuPré | 6–4, 5–7, 6–2 |

### Doubles: 80 (52–28)

| Result | No. | Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Win | 1. | 1968 | Rome, Italy | Clay | Tom Okker | Nicholas Kalogeropoulos Allan Stone | 6–3, 6–4, 6–2 |
| Win | 2. | 1968 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | Tom Okker | John Newcombe Tony Roche | 6–4, 6–4, 7–5 |
| Win | 3. | 1969 | Philadelphia, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Tom Okker | John Newcombe Tony Roche | 8–6, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1. | 1969 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | Tom Okker | John Newcombe Tony Roche | 5–7, 9–11, 3–6 |
| Win | 4. | 1969 | Gstaad, Switzerland | Clay | Tom Okker | Mal Anderson Roy Emerson | 6–1, 6–4 |
| Win | 5. | 1969 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | Tom Okker | Jean-Claude Barclay Jürgen Fassbender | 6–1, 6–2, 6–4 |
| Win | 6. | 1970 | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Clay | Roger Taylor | Pierre Barthès Nikola Pilić | 6–3, 6–4, 6–2 |
| Win | 7. | 1970 | London Queen's Club, England | Grass | Tom Okker | Arthur Ashe Charlie Pasarell | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 2. | 1970 | Gstaad, Switzerland | Clay | Tom Okker | Cliff Drysdale Roger Taylor | 2–6, 3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 8. | 1970 | Toronto, Canada | Clay | Bill Bowrey | Cliff Drysdale Fred Stolle | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 9. | 1970 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Hard | Tom Okker | Bob Lutz Stan Smith | 7–6, 6–2 |
| Loss | 3. | 1971 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Grass | Tom Okker | John Newcombe Tony Roche | 2–6, 6–7 |
| Win | 10. | 1971 | Chicago WCT, U.S. | Hard (i) | Tom Okker | John Newcombe Tony Roche | 7–6, 4–6, 7–6 |
| Win | 11. | 1971 | Dallas WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Tom Okker | Bob Lutz Charlie Pasarell | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 12. | 1971 | French Open, Paris | Clay | Arthur Ashe | Tom Gorman Stan Smith | 6–8, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 11–9 |
| Win | 13. | 1971 | London Queen's Club, England | Grass | Tom Okker | Erik van Dillen Stan Smith | 8–6, 4–6, 10–8 |
| Win | 14. | 1971 | Washington, D.C., U.S. | Clay | Tom Okker | Bob Carmichael Ray Ruffels | 7–6, 6–2 |
| Loss | 4. | 1971 | Quebec WCT, Canada | Hard (i) | Tom Okker | Roy Emerson Rod Laver | 6–7, 2–6 |
| Loss | 5. | 1971 | Boston WCT, U.S. | Clay | Tom Okker | Roy Emerson Rod Laver | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 15. | 1971 | Montreal, Canada | Clay | Tom Okker | Arthur Ashe Dennis Ralston | 6–3, 6–3, 6–1 |
| Win | 16. | 1971 | Cologne, Germany | Carpet (i) | Tom Okker | Roy Emerson Rod Laver | 6–7, 3–6, 7–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 17. | 1972 | Richmond WCT, U.S. | Carpet | Tom Okker | John Newcombe Tony Roche | 7–6, 7–6 |
| Win | 18. | 1972 | Miami WCT, U.S. | Hard | Tom Okker | Roy Emerson Rod Laver | 7–5, 6–4 |
| Win | 19. | 1972 | Chicago WCT, U.S. | Hard | Tom Okker | Roy Emerson Rod Laver | 6–2, 6–3 |
| Win | 20. | 1972 | Charlotte WCT, U.S. | Clay | Tom Okker | John Newcombe Tony Roche | 6–4, 4–6, 7–6 |
| Win | 21. | 1972 | Washington, D.C., U.S. | Clay | Tom Okker | John Newcombe Tony Roche | 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 22. | 1972 | Fort Worth WCT, U.S. | Hard | Tom Okker | Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle | 6–2, 6–2 |
| Win | 23. | 1972 | Montreal WCT, Canada | Outdoor | Tom Okker | Robert Maud Ken Rosewall | 6–1, 4–6, 7–6 |
| Win | 24. | 1972 | Alamo WCT, U.S. | Outdoor | Tom Okker | Brian Fairlie Ismail El Shafei | 7–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 25. | 1972 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard (i) | Tom Okker | Colin Dibley Roy Emerson | 7–5, 7–6 |
| Win | 26. | 1972 | Gothenburg WCT, Sweden | Carpet (i) | Tom Okker | Brian Fairlie Ismail El Shafei | 6–2, 7–6 |
| Win | 27. | 1973 | London WCT, England | Carpet (i) | Tom Okker | Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Win | 28. | 1973 | Milan WCT, Italy | Carpet (i) | Tom Okker | Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Loss | 6. | 1973 | Cologne WCT, Germany | Carpet (i) | Tom Okker | Mark Cox Graham Stilwell | 6–7, 3–6 |
| Win | 29. | 1973 | Washington WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Tom Okker | Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner | 4–6, 7–6, 6–2 |
| Win | 30. | 1973 | Houston, U.S. | Clay | Tom Okker | Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner | 7–5, 7–5 |
| Win | 31. | 1973 | Charlotte WCT, U.S. | Clay | Tom Okker | Erik van Dillen Tom Gorman | 7–6, 3–6, 6–3 |
| Loss | 7. | 1973 | Denver WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Tom Okker | Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner | 6–3, 3–6, 6–7 |
| Loss | 8. | 1973 | World Doubles WCT, Montreal | Carpet (i) | Tom Okker | Bob Lutz Stan Smith | 2–6, 6–7, 0–6 |
| Win | 32. | 1973 | London Queen's Club, England | Grass | Tom Okker | Ray Keldie Raymond Moore | 6–4, 7–5 |
| Loss | 9. | 1973 | Quebec WCT, Canada | Hard (i) | Jimmy Connors | Bob Carmichael Frew McMillan | 2–6, 6–7 |
| Loss | 10. | 1974 | Toronto WCT, Canada | Carpet (i) | Tom Okker | Raúl Ramírez Tony Roche | 3–6, 6–2, 4–6 |
| Loss | 11. | 1974 | Miami WCT, U.S. | Hard | Tom Okker | John Alexander Phil Dent | 6–4, 4–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 12. | 1974 | Washington WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Tom Okker | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan | 6–7, 3–6 |
| Win | 33. | 1974 | Chicago, U.S. | Hard (i) | Tom Gorman | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez | 4–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
| Win | 34. | 1974 | Washington, D.C., U.S. | Clay | Tom Gorman | Patricio Cornejo Jaime Fillol | 7–5, 6–1 |
| Loss | 13. | 1974 | Boston, U.S. | Clay | Hans-Jürgen Pohmann | Bob Lutz Stan Smith | 6–3, 4–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 35. | 1974 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard (i) | Tom Okker | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan | 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 14. | 1974 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | Tom Okker | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan | 6–7, 4–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 15. | 1975 | Nottingham, England | Grass | Tom Okker | Charlie Pasarell Roscoe Tanner | 2–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 16. | 1975 | US Open, New York | Clay | Tom Okker | Jimmy Connors Ilie Năstase | 4–6, 6–7 |
| Loss | 17. | 1975 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Hard | Cliff Drysdale | Anand Amritraj Vijay Amritraj | 6–7, 6–4, 4–6 |
| Loss | 18. | 1976 | Memphis WCT, U.S. | Hard (i) | Roscoe Tanner | Anand Amritraj Vijay Amritraj | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 36. | 1976 | La Costa, U.S. | Hard | Roscoe Tanner | Peter Fleming Gene Mayer | 7–6, 7–6 |
| Win | 37. | 1976 | Johannesburg WCT, South Africa | Hard | Roscoe Tanner | Frew McMillan Tom Okker | 6–2, 7–5 |
| Win | 38. | 1976 | South Orange, U.S. | Clay | Fred McNair | Vitas Gerulaitis Ilie Năstase | 7–5, 4–6, 6–2 |
| Win | 39. | 1976 | US Open, New York | Clay | Tom Okker | Paul Kronk Cliff Letcher | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 40. | 1976 | Paris Masters, France | Carpet (i) | Tom Okker | Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart | 6–2, 6–2 |
| Loss | 19. | 1976 | Stockholm Open, Sweden | Hard (i) | Tom Okker | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan | 4–6, 6–4, 4–6 |
| Loss | 20. | 1977 | Palm Springs, U.S. | Hard | Roscoe Tanner | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan | 6–7, 6–7 |
| Win | 41. | 1977 | Woodlands Doubles, U.S. | Hard | Tom Okker | Tim Gullikson Tom Gullikson | 3–6, 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 6–1 |
| Win | 42. | 1977 | San Francisco, U.S. | Hard (i) | Dick Stockton | Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart | 6–4, 1–6, 6–4 |
| Loss | 21. | 1977 | Hong Kong | Hard | Roscoe Tanner | Syd Ball Kim Warwick | 6–7, 3–6 |
| Loss | 22. | 1978 | Springfield, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Jan Kodeš | Bob Lutz Stan Smith | 3–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 23. | 1978 | US Open, New York | Hard | Sherwood Stewart | Robert Maud Ken Rosewall | 6–1, 5–7, 3–6 |
| Loss | 24. | 1978 | Woodlands Doubles, U.S. | Hard | Sherwood Stewart | Wojtek Fibak Tom Okker | 6–7, 6–3, 6–4, 6–7, 3–6 |
| Win | 43. | 1979 | Baltimore WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Sherwood Stewart | Anand Amritraj Cliff Drysdale | 7–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 44. | 1979 | Las Vegas, U.S. | Hard | Sherwood Stewart | Adriano Panatta Raúl Ramírez | 4–6, 6–4, 7–6 |
| Loss | 25. | 1979 | London Queen's Club, England | Grass | Sherwood Stewart | Tim Gullikson Tom Gullikson | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 26. | 1979 | Surbiton, England | Grass | Pat DuPré | Tim Gullikson Tom Gullikson | 3–6, 7–6, 6–8 |
| Win | 45. | 1979 | Washington, D.C., U.S. | Clay | Sherwood Stewart | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez | 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 46. | 1979 | Louisville, U.S. | Hard | Sherwood Stewart | Vijay Amritraj Raúl Ramírez | 6–2, 1–6, 6–1 |
| Win | 47. | 1979 | Lafayette, U.S. | Carpet | Sherwood Stewart | Victor Amaya Eric Friedler | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 48. | 1979 | Woodlands Doubles, U.S. | Hard | Sherwood Stewart | Bob Carmichael Tim Gullikson | 6–3, 2–2 ret. |
| Win | 49. | 1979 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Carpet | Sherwood Stewart | Wojtek Fibak Frew McMillan | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 50. | 1979 | Tokyo Indoor, Japan | Carpet (i) | Sherwood Stewart | Mike Cahill Terry Moor | 6–4, 7–6 |
| Win | 51. | 1980 | Baltimore WCT, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Tim Gullikson | Brian Gottfried Frew McMillan | 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 27. | 1980 | Houston, U.S. | Clay | Sherwood Stewart | Peter McNamara Paul McNamee | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 28. | 1980 | Tokyo Indoor, Japan | Carpet (i) | Sherwood Stewart | Victor Amaya Hank Pfister | 3–6, 6–3, 6–7 |
| Win | 52. | 1981 | Philadelphia, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Sherwood Stewart | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez | 6–2, 6–2 |

## Grand Slam finals
### Doubles: 6 (2–4)

| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Loss | 1969 | Wimbledon | Grass | Tom Okker | John Newcombe Tony Roche | 5–7, 9–11, 3–6 |
| Loss | 1971 | Australian Open | Grass | Tom Okker | John Newcombe Tony Roche | 2–6, 6–7 |
| Win | 1971 | French Open | Clay | Arthur Ashe | Tom Gorman Stan Smith | 6–8, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 11–9 |
| Loss | 1975 | US Open | Clay | Tom Okker | Jimmy Connors Ilie Năstase | 4–6, 6–7 |
| Win | 1976 | US Open | Clay | Tom Okker | Paul Kronk Cliff Letcher | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1978 | US Open (2) | Hard | Sherwood Stewart | Robert Maud Ken Rosewall | 6–1, 5–7, 3–6 |

### Mixed doubles: 9 (7–2)

| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Win | 1969 | Australian Open | Grass | Margaret Smith Court | Fred Stolle Ann Haydon-Jones | Shared, final not played |
| Win | 1969 | French Open | Clay | Margaret Smith Court | Jean-Claude Barclay Françoise Dürr | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 1969 | US Open | Grass | Margaret Smith Court | Dennis Ralston Françoise Dürr | 7–5, 6–3 |
| Win | 1970 | US Open (2) | Grass | Margaret Smith Court | Frew McMillan Judy Tegart Dalton | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1971 | Wimbledon | Grass | Margaret Smith Court | Owen Davidson Billie Jean King | 6–3, 2–6, 13–15 |
| Win | 1972 | US Open (3) | Grass | Margaret Smith Court | Ilie Năstase Rosemary Casals | 6–3, 7–5 |
| Loss | 1973 | US Open | Grass | Margaret Smith Court | Owen Davidson Billie Jean King | 3–6, 6–3, 6–7 |
| Win | 1975 | Wimbledon | Grass | Margaret Smith Court | Allan Stone Betty Stöve | 6–4, 7–5 |
| Win | 1980 | US Open (4) | Hard | Wendy Turnbull | Frew McMillan Betty Stöve | 7–5, 6–2 |

## Grand Slam performance timeline

Key :
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
| Tournament | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | SR | W–L | Win % |
| Australian Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 3R | A | A | 3R | A | QF | A | A | A | A | A | 3R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 4 | 7–4 | 63.6 |
| French Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | 1R | 2R | A | 4R | A | A | 4R | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 5 | 7–3 | 70.0 |
| Wimbledon | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | 2R | QF | 3R | 3R | 3R | 1R | 4R | 4R | A | A | 2R | 4R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 0 / 16 | 25–16 | 61.0 |
| US Open | 1R | 1R | 2R | 3R | 3R | QF | 3R | 4R | 4R | 2R | 2R | 4R | 1R | QF | 3R | 2R | 4R | 1R | 3R | 2R | 2R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 0 / 23 | 39–22 | 63.9 |
| Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 7–2 | 6–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 5–4 | 3–2 | 12–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 7–3 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–3 | 4–3 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0 / 48 | 78–45 | 63.4 |