Ricardo Ycaza

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Ricardo Ycaza
Country (sports) Ecuador
Born (1958-02-16) 16 February 1958 (age 66)
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Turned pro1977
Retired1986
PlaysRight-handed
Prize money$133,237
Singles
Career record61–95
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 44 (20 July 1981)
Grand Slam singles results
French Open4R (1981)
Wimbledon2R (1979)
US Open3R (1977)
Doubles
Career record108–96
Career titles3
Highest rankingNo. 47 (4 January 1982)

Ricardo Ycaza (born 16 February 1958) is an Ecuadorian tennis player who was a world top 10 junior, a Davis Cup stalwart, and a world top 100 touring professional.

Tennis career

His most noteworthy achievement was winning the 1976 US Open Junior tournament. In the semi-finals of that tournament he staged a third-set comeback to defeat John McEnroe 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 in three sets 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 career high rankings were world No. 45 in singles and No. 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.

ATP Tour finals

Singles(1 runner-up)

Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 Jun 1981 Brussels, Belgium Clay Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Marko Ostoja 6–4, 4–6, 5–7

Doubles (3 titles, 4 runners-up)

Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 Apr 1978 Tulsa, U.S. Hard (i) Brazil Carlos Kirmayr New Zealand Russell Simpson
United States Van Winitsky
6–4, 6–7, 2–6
Win 1–1 Feb 1980 Sarasota, U.S. Clay Ecuador Andrés Gómez Australia David Carter
United States Rick Fagel
6–3, 6–4
Win 2–1 Sep 1980 Palermo, Italy Clay Italy Gianni Ocleppo Paraguay Víctor Pecci
Hungary Balázs Taróczy
6–2, 6–2
Loss 2–2 Sep 1980 Bordeaux, France Carpet (i) Italy Gianni Ocleppo United Kingdom John Feaver
France Gilles Moretton
2–6, 3–6
Loss 2–3 Nov 1980 Bogotá, Colombia Clay Ecuador Andrés Gómez Chile Álvaro Fillol
Brazil Carlos Kirmayr
4–6, 3–6
Win 3–3 Nov 1980 Santiago, Chile Clay Chile Belus Prajoux Brazil Carlos Kirmayr
Brazil João Soares
4–6, 7–6, 6–4
Loss 3–4 Nov 1981 Quito, Ecuador Clay Australia David Carter Chile Hans Gildemeister
Ecuador Andrés Gómez
5–7, 3–6