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HAROLD
SOLOMON
Sport: Tennis
Inducted: 2004
Country: USA
Born: September 17, 1952, in Washington,
D.C.
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Harold Solomon was a marquee American tennis star in the
late 1970s-early 80s. He ranked among the World’s Top
Ten Singles players four out of five consecutive years: 1976,
1978, 1979 and 1980, when he reached his highest ATP ranking,
No. 5 in the World. Solomon was ranked seven consecutive
years in the World’s Top 20, 1974 to 1980.
The diminutive 5’6”/130 lb.(1.67m/58kg) Rice University (Texas) All-American
turned professional in 1972, at the close of his sophomore year. As a pro, employing
a slow, methodical style (described by one tennis broadcaster as “the human
backboard approach”) and a powerful two-fisted right-handed backhand shot,
Solomon captured 22 Singles titles, including the 1980 ATP (Association of Tennis
Professionals) Championship. His ATP career won-loss record is 564-315, and career
prize winnings of $1,802,769 (not including the Senior Tour).
Although he never won a Singles Grand Slam, Solomon was a French Open finalist
in 1976, semi-finalist 1974 & 1980, and quarter-finalist 1972 & 1975;
and U.S. Open semi-finalist in 1977.
Solomon was a member of United States Davis Cup Teams in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978.
His ’72 and ’78 teams won Davis Cup championships.
Playing with Doubles partner Eddie Dibbs, media pundits dubbed twosome “The
Bagel Twins”. The partners reached #4 in the World in 1976, and ranked
in the World Doubles Top Ten 1974–1976.
Solomon took on coaching responsibilities in the early 1990s, and is mostly identified
with women’s pro Mary Jo Fernandez, whom he tutored for five years. He
has also aided and refined the careers of Mark Courier, Justin Gimelstob, Jennifer
Capriati, Monica Seles, Mirjana Lucic, Anna Kournikova and Daniela Hantuchova.
Solomon was president of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) from 1980
to 1983.
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