# Ray Ruffels

Raymond Owen "Ray" Ruffels (born 23 March 1946) is an Australian former professional tennis player and coach.

## Playing career

Ruffels was an Australian Open semi-finalist in 1968, 1969 and 1976, and a quarter-finalist in 1970 and 1977. In 1978, partnering with Billie Jean King in mixed doubles competition, Ruffels reached the final at Wimbledon and the US Open. Ruffels beat newly crowned US Open champion Stan Smith at the Wembley tournament in 1971. He had two wins over Ken Rosewall and one over John Newcombe in ATP events. He won five open era ATP singles titles at Hobart in 1968, Brisbane in 1969, Haverford in 1970, Auckland in 1972 and Perth indoors in 1976.
He was a member of the Australian Davis Cup team in 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1977.

## Career finals
### Doubles (16 titles, 7 runner-ups)

| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Win | 1–0 | 1970 | Merion, US | Hard | Bill Bowrey | Jim McManus Jim Osborne | 3–6, 6–2, 7–5 |
| Win | 2–0 | 1970 | Phoenix, US | Hard | Dick Crealy | Jan Kodeš Charlie Pasarell | 7–6, 6–3 |
| Win | 3–0 | 1970 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay | Bob Carmichael | Željko Franulović Jan Kodeš | 7–5, 6–2, 5–7, 6–7, 6–3 |
| Win | 4–0 | 1971 | Auckland, New Zealand | Grass | Bob Carmichael | Brian Fairlie Raymond Moore | 6–3, 6–7, 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
| Loss | 4–1 | 1971 | Tehran WCT, Iran | Clay | Bob Carmichael | John Newcombe Tony Roche | 4–6, 7–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 4–2 | 1971 | Washington WCT, US | Clay | Bob Carmichael | Tom Okker Marty Riessen | 6–7, 2–6 |
| Win | 5–2 | 1972 | Toronto WCT, Canada | Carpet | Bob Carmichael | Roy Emerson Rod Laver | 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 6–2 | 1972 | Quebec WCT, Canada | Indoor | Bob Carmichael | John Alexander Terry Addison | 4–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
| Loss | 6–3 | 1974 | Christchurch, New Zealand | | Syd Ball | Ismail El Shafei Roscoe Tanner | W/O |
| Win | 7–3 | 1975 | Auckland, New Zealand | Grass | Bob Carmichael | Brian Fairlie Onny Parun | 7–6, RET. |
| Win | 8–3 | 1975 | Baltimore WCT, US | Carpet | Dick Crealy | Ismail El Shafei Frew McMillan | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Win | 9–3 | 1975 | Dayton Indoor, US | Carpet | Allan Stone | Paul Gerken Brian Gottfried | 7–6, 7–5 |
| Loss | 9–4 | 1975 | Orlando WCT, US | Hard | Colin Dibley | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 10–4 | 1975 | St. Louis, US | Clay | Colin Dibley | Ross Case Geoff Masters | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 11–4 | 1976 | Dayton, US | Carpet | Sherwood Stewart | Jaime Fillol Charlie Pasarell | 6–2, 3–6, 7–5 |
| Win | 12–4 | 1976 | Little Rock, US | Carpet | Syd Ball | Giuliano Pecci Haroon Rahim | 6–3, 6–7, 6–3 |
| Win | 13–4 | 1976 | Boston, US | Clay | Allan Stone | Mike Cahill John Whitlinger | 3–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
| Loss | 13–5 | 1976 | Bermuda | Clay | Dick Crealy | Mike Cahill John Whitlinger | 4–6, 6–4, 6–7 |
| Win | 14–5 | 1976 | Bangalore, India | Clay | Bob Carmichael | Chiradip Mukerjea Bhanu Nunna | 6–2, 7–6 |
| Loss | 14–6 | 1977 | La Costa WCT, US | Hard | Allan Stone | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan | 4–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 15–6 | 1977 | Perth, Australia | Hard | Allan Stone | Nick Saviano John Whitlinger | 6–2, 6–1 |
| Loss | 15–7 | 1977 | Sydney Outdoor, Australia | Grass | Allan Stone | John Alexander Phil Dent | 6–7, 6–2, 3–6 |
| Win | 16–7 | 1977 | Australian Open-2, Melbourne | Grass | Allan Stone | John Alexander Phil Dent | 7–6, 7–6 |

## Coaching career

Ruffels was appointed head national tennis coach of Tennis Australia in 1980. He was appointed the inaugural Head Coach of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) tennis program in 1981. He held this position until his retirement in January 1990. Whilst at the AIS, Ruffels coached many young players that would have successful professional careers including: Pat Cash, Wally Masur, Darren Cahill, Todd Woodbridge, Richard Fromberg, Simon Youl and Johan Anderson. After leaving the AIS, he coached Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, who as a doubles team won many major titles including the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
In 2009, he returned to Australia to work at the AIS after being a national coach for the United States Tennis Association player development program in California.
In November 2016, he was awarded The President's Spirit of Tennis by Tennis Australia.

## Personal

Ruffels married professional tennis player Anna-Maria Fernandez and they have two children, Ryan and Gabriela; both have taken up golf as a career.