Haroon Rahim

Haroon Rahim
Country (sports)  Pakistan
Born (1949-11-12) 12 November 1949
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Turned pro 1968
Plays Right-handed
Singles
Career record 119–150
Career titles 2
Highest ranking No. 44 (2 July 1977)
Grand Slam Singles results
French Open 2R (1975)
Wimbledon 2R (1976, 1977)
US Open 3R (1971)
Doubles
Career record 101–127
Career titles 3
Grand Slam Doubles results
French Open 2R (1972)
Wimbledon 3R (1976)
US Open QF (1971)

Haroon Rahim, (born 12 November 1949) is a Pakistani former tennis player. The former Pakistan and Asian No. 1, Rahim was the youngest tennis player ever to play for Pakistan in the Davis Cup at 15 years of age. He was also the highest ranking Pakistani tennis player ever (a career-high singles ranking of World No. 44 in July 1977). He led the UCLA team to victory with Jeff Borowiak and Jimmy Connors in 1970–71 and was 1971 NCAA doubles champion with Jeff Borowiak.[1]

He was from the Punjab city of Lahore, from a large family of avid tennis players. His father, Mir Abdur Rahim, was a civil servant who encouraged his children, sons and daughters, to play tennis. His father loved tennis so much that he said he wanted to die on the tennis court. In 1968, he died of a heart attack while playing doubles with friends at the picturesque Mayo Gardens, Lahore.

Haroon Rahim was only the second Pakistani after Khawaja Saeed Hai to make it to the Wimbledon's main draw. He played in many Grand Slams, in both singles and doubles. Rahim won two ATP titles, the first at Little Rock against former Wimbledon runner up, Alex Metreveli of the Soviet Union, and then the second at Cleveland, against the former record holder of the fastest serve, Australian, Colin Dibley, both in 1976.

He also lost a final to Spanish US Open winner and French Open finalist, Manuel Orantes.

He also won 3 doubles titles, one at Oslo in 1974, North Conway in 1975 and Little Rock in 1978. Success was also seen in the men's doubles where he made it to the quarter finals of the US Open, the third round of Wimbledon, and the second round of the French Open.[2]

Haroon Rahim is the winner of the closest match ever played, he beat Tom Gorman 6–7(3–5), 7–6(5–1), 7–6(5–4) Pennsylvania Grass Championships, as both players never losing their serve, each set went to a tie break with Haroon winning the match by just one point.

Last known to be in the US, Haroon retired from tennis, severed contact with his family and his whereabouts are unknown.[3]

Grand Slams performance timelines

Singles

Tournament 1977 1976 1975 1971
Australian Open - - - -
French Open - - 2R -
Wimbledon 2R 2R - -
US Open - - - 3R

Doubles

Tournament 1976 1972 1971
Australian Open - - -
French Open - 2R -
Wimbledon 3R - -
US Open - - QF

ATP career finals

Singles (2 titles, 3 runners-up)

Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Runner-up 1. 17 March 1972 Caracas, Venezuela Hard Spain Manuel Orantes 4–6, 5–7, 4–6
Winner 2. 29 January 1976 Cleveland, United States Carpet Soviet Union Alex Metreveli 6–4, 6–4
Winner 3. 24 April 1976 Little Rock, United States Carpet Australia Colin Dibley 6–4, 7–5
Runner-up 4. 31 January 1977 Little Rock, United States Carpet United States Sandy Mayer 2–6, 4–6

Doubles (3 titles, 3 runners-up)

Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up 1. 14 February 1971 New York City, United States N/A United States Jimmy Connors Spain Juan Gisbert Sr
Spain Manuel Orantes
6–7, 2–6
Winner 2. 16 November 1974 Oslo, Norway N/A West Germany Karl Meiler United States Jeff Borowiak
United States Vitas Gerulaitis
6–3, 6–2
Winner 3. 4 August 1975 North Conway, United States Clay United States Erik Van Dillen Australia John Alexander
Australia Phil Dent
7–6, 7–6
Runner-up 4. 5 October 1975 Maui, United States Hard United States Jeff Borowiak United States Fred McNair
United States Sherwood Stewart
6–3, 6–7, 3–6
Runner-up 5. 1 March 1976 Little Rock, United States Carpet Paraguay Giuliano Pecci Australia Syd Ball
Australia Ray Ruffels
3–6, 7–6, 3–6
Winner 6. 31 January 1977 Little Rock, United States Carpet Australia Colin Dibley South Africa Bob Hewitt
South Africa Frew McMillan
7–6(7–5), 6–4

References

  1. "Haroon Rahim". Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  2. "Haroon Rahim". Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  3. "Crazy Diamonds". Retrieved 1 December 2012.

External links

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