Highest ranking No. 16 (1974) Height 1.85 m Plays Right-handed Australian Open SF (1977) | Career record 66–95 Name Bob Giltinan Handed Right-handed Career titles 1 Role Tennis Player | |
 | ||
Born 4 July 1949 (age 74) Sydney, New South Wales ( 1949-07-04 ) | ||
Bob Gary Giltinan JP (born 4 July 1949, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) is a former professional tennis player who was a grass court specialist. He won one singles title and two doubles titles over a twelve-year career spanning the introduction of the Open Era in 1968 to 1979. He reached a career-high ranking of World No. 16.
Contents
Giltinan is a direct relative of notable Australian entrepreneur James Joseph Giltinan (J J Giltinan), who helped to found the sport of rugby league football in Australia, and also what is now effectively the world championships for 18 ft skiff class yachts - the JJ Giltinan International Trophy, which is contested each year on Sydney Harbour.
Tennis career
Beginning his tennis career in the 1960s, it was somewhat halted in 1971 when he completed two years National Service with the Australian Army during the Vietnam War.
He won one title at Surbiton in 1974, defeating Syd Ball in straight sets, reached the finals of Newport in 1973, falling to Roger Taylor of Great Britain 8–9 6–8, and was a member of the winning 1973 & 1977 Australian Davis Cup squads. Giltinan also represented the Cleveland Nets in World Team Tennis during the 1970s partnering Björn Borg, Marty Riessen and Martina Navratilova.
Giltinan's best Grand Slam doubles forays include a three set loss with Syd Ball to Ross Case and Geoff Masters in the 1973 Australian Open Final, after defeating the far more famous pairing of Roche/Newcombe 6–4 5–7 12–10 in the Semi-finals. He and Syd Ball also reached the 1970 Australian Open Semi-finals finally falling to John Alexander and Phil Dent 11–9 3–6 4–6 2–6.
Giltinan is best known for his run as a singles grand slam qualifier into the Semi-finals of the December 1977 Australian Open. He would lose to John Lloyd of Great Britain in straight sets. This matches the best performance of any qualifier in a Grand Slam draw. His other notable singles Grand Slam performance was his loss to John Alexander in four sets in the 1973 Australian Open Quarterfinals.
Giltinan won 2 doubles titles in his career. In 1978, he and Colin Dibley defeated Marcello Lara and Eliot Teltscher at the 1978 Columbus Open final in straight sets. Unlike his other titles, this was on Clay. In 1979 he and Phil Dent defeated Ion Ţiriac and Guillermo Vilas in the Hobart Finals. Also notable is their defeat of Mark Edmondson and John Marks in the Semi-finals.
Aside from the Finals at the Australian Open, Giltinan reached one other Doubles final. In 1978, he and Colin Dibley were defeated by Tim Gullikson and Tom Gullikson in straight sets at Newport.
Later life
In the year 2000, Giltinan was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for service as a "Previous player, coach and manager for elite players. Has been NSW state coach, national selector". He has also been awarded the Australian Defence Medal for services to Australia during the Vietnam War.
In September 2008, Giltinan, stood as an Independent B Ward Councillor candidate for Warringah Council, and was subsequently elected. He was re-elected at the 2012 local government elections, after which he was subsequently elected as Deputy Mayor.