Luis Ayala (tennis)

Luis Alberto Ayala Salinas (born 18 September 1932) is a Chilean former tennis player who competed in the 1950s and 1960s.[3] He was twice a singles runner-up at the French Championships. In 1958 he was seeded fifth and reached the final after a victory against first-seeded and world No. 1 Ashley Cooper in the semifinal. In the final, however, he was defeated in straight sets by Mervyn Rose while in 1960 he lost the final in five sets to Nicola Pietrangeli.[4] Together with Thelma Coyne Long he won the mixed doubles title at the 1956 French Championships. He won the prestigious singles title at the Italian Open in 1959, defeating Neale Fraser in the final in four sets. The following year,1960, he again reached the final but lost in five sets to Barry MacKay.

Luis Ayala in 1964
Luis Ayala
Full nameLuis Alberto Ayala
Country (sports) Chile
ResidenceUnited States
Born (1932-09-18) 18 September 1932
Santiago, Chile
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Turned pro1962 (amateur from 1950)
Retired1970
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Singles
Career record626–353 (63.9%) [1]
Career titles43
Highest rankingNo. 5 (1958, Lance Tingay)[2]
Grand Slam Singles results
French OpenF (1958, 1960)
WimbledonQF (1959, 1960, 1961)
US OpenQF (1957, 1959)
Professional majors
US ProQF (1965, 1966, 1967)
Wembley Pro1R (1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965)
French ProQF (1961, 1965)
Doubles
Grand Slam Doubles results
French Open1R (1969)
Wimbledon1R (1968, 1969)
US Open2R (1968, 1969, 1970)
Mixed doubles
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
French OpenW (1956)
WimbledonSF (1957)
This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Ayala and the second or maternal family name is Salinas.

Between 1952 and 1960 Ayala played in 18 ties for the Chilean Davis Cup team and compiled a record of 37 wins and 14 losses. During this period the best performance was reaching the semifinal of the Europe zone in 1955 which they lost to Sweden, despite Ayala winning both his singles matches against Lennart Bergelin and Sven Davidson.[5]

In 1961 he turned professional and joined Jack Kramer's tour.[6] When he retired, he became a tennis professional at River Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas. Currently, he is the Director of Tennis at the Forest Club in Houston, Texas.

Ayala was ranked world No. 5 for 1958 by Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph (and No. 6 for 1959, No. 7 for 1960 and 1961).[2]

Grand Slam finals

Singles (2 runners-up)
Result Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Loss1958French ChampionshipsClay Mervyn Rose3–6, 4–6, 4–6
Loss1960French ChampionshipsClay Nicola Pietrangeli6–3, 3–6, 4–6, 6–4, 3–6

Mixed doubles: (1 title, 2 runner-up)
Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss1955French ChampionshipsClay Jenny Staley Hoad Darlene Hard
Gordon Forbes		7–5, 1–6, 2–6
Win1956French ChampionshipsClay Thelma Coyne Long Doris Hart
Bob Howe		4–6, 6–4, 6–1
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References
  1. "Luis Ayala: Career match record". thetennisbase.com. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  2. United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). Official Encyclopedia of Tennis (First Edition), p. 427.
  3. "Mackay, Ayala Tennis Winners ". The Telegraph. Associated Press. 15 July 1965. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  4. "Luis Ayala: El chileno que descolló en Roland Garros" (in Spanish). Guioteca. 31 May 2012.
  5. "Davis Cup players – Luis Ayala". International Tennis Federation (ITF).
  6. "Ayala Looking To Future". The Miami News. AP. 24 September 1961. p. 4C.


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