Butch Walts (born June 4, 1955)[1] is a former professional tennis player from the United States.

Butch Walts
Full nameKenneth B. Walts
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceScottsdale, Arizona, US
Born (1955-06-04) June 4, 1955 (age 69)
Modesto, California, US
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Turned pro1975
Retired1984
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money$454,343
Singles
Career record137–134
Career titles4
Highest rankingNo. 30 (April 16, 1979)
Grand Slam singles results
French Open1R (1979)
Wimbledon2R (1977)
US OpenQF (1978)
Doubles
Career record172–146
Career titles15
Highest rankingNo. 23 (June 18, 1984)
Grand Slam doubles results
French Open1R (1984)
Wimbledon2R (1977)
US OpenQF (1980)

During his career, Walts won 4 singles titles and 15 doubles titles. He reached the quarter finals of the 1978 US Open, beating defending champion Guillermo Vilas before losing to John McEnroe. He achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 32 in 1979 and a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 23 in 1984. In 1981 Walts overcame testicular cancer and had surgery and chemotherapy.[2]

Career finals

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Singles (4 titles, 1 runner-up)

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Result W-L Year Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 1976 Boca Raton, U.S. Hard   Cliff Richey 3–6, 6–4, 6–4
Win 2–0 1977 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet   Brian Gottfried 4–6, 6–3, 7–5
Win 3–0 1979 Dayton, U.S. Carpet   Marty Riessen 6–3, 6–4
Win 4–0 1979 Bologna, Italy Carpet   Gianni Ocleppo 6–3, 6–2
Loss 4–1 1983 Ferrara, Italy Carpet   Thomas Högstedt 4–6, 4–6

Doubles (15 titles, 8 runner-ups)

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Result W-L Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 1976 Boca Raton, U.S. Hard   Bruce Manson   Vitas Gerulaitis
  Clark Graebner
2–6, 4–6
Win 1–1 1976 Hong Kong Hard   Hank Pfister   Anand Amritraj
  Ilie Năstase
6–4, 6–2
Win 2–1 1977 Dayton, U.S. Carpet   Hank Pfister   Jeff Borowiak
  Andrew Pattison
6–4, 7–6
Loss 2–2 1978 Dayton, U.S. Carpet   Hank Pfister   Brian Gottfried
  Geoff Masters
3–6, 4–6
Win 3–2 1978 Atlanta, U.S. Hard   John Alexander   Mike Cahill
  Marcello Lara
3–6, 6–4, 7–6
Win 4–2 1978 Taipei, Taiwan Carpet   Sherwood Stewart   Mark Edmondson
  John Marks
6–2, 6–7, 7–6
Loss 4–3 1980 Frankfurt, West Germany Carpet   Andrew Pattison   Vijay Amritraj
  Stan Smith
7–6, 2–6, 2–6
Loss 4–4 1980 Milan, Italy Carpet   Andrew Pattison   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe
2–6, 7–6, 2–6
Win 5–4 1980 Los Angeles, U.S. Hard   Brian Teacher   Anand Amritraj
  John Austin
6–2, 6–4
Loss 5–5 1980 Surbiton, U.K. Grass   Andrew Pattison   Mark Edmondson
  Kim Warwick
6–7, 7–6, 7–6, 6–7, 13–15
Win 6–5 1980 Newport, U.S. Grass   Andrew Pattison   Fritz Buehning
  Peter Rennert
7–6, 6–4
Win 7–5 1980 Atlanta, U.S. Hard   Tom Gullikson   Anand Amritraj
  John Austin
6–7, 7–6, 7–5
Win 8–5 1980 Bologna, Italy Carpet   Balázs Taróczy   Steve Denton
  Paul McNamee
2–6, 6–3, 6–0
Win 9–5 1981 Denver, U.S. Carpet   Andrew Pattison   Mel Purcell
  Dick Stockton
6–3, 6–4
Win 10–5 1981 Tampa, U.S. Hard   Bernard Mitton   David Carter
  Paul Kronk
6–3, 3–6, 6–1
Win 11–5 1981 Frankfurt, West Germany Carpet   Brian Teacher   Vitas Gerulaitis
  John McEnroe
7–5, 6–7, 7–5
Win 12–5 1981 Los Angeles, U.S. Hard   Tom Gullikson   John McEnroe
  Ferdi Taygan
6–4, 6–4
Win 13–5 1983 Ferrara, Italy Carpet   Bernard Mitton   Stanislav Birner
  Stefan Simonsson
7–6, 0–6, 6–3
Loss 13–6 1983 Toulouse, France Hard (i)   Bernard Mitton   Heinz Günthardt
  Pavel Složil
7–5, 5–7, 4–6
Win 14–6 1984 La Quinta, U.S. Hard   Bernard Mitton   Scott Davis
  Ferdi Taygan
5–7, 6–3, 6–2
Loss 14–7 1984 Florence, Italy Clay   Bernard Mitton   Mark Dickson
  Chip Hooper
6–7, 6–4, 5–7
Loss 14–8 1984 London/Queen's Club, U.K. Grass   Bernard Mitton   Pat Cash
  Paul McNamee
4–6, 3–6
Win 15–8 1984 Honolulu, U.S. Hard   Gary Donnelly   Mark Dickson
  Mike Leach
7–6, 6–4

References

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  1. ^ Images, Historic. "1975 Press Photo BUTCH WALTS TENNIS PLAYER GOLD MEDAL DEFEAT GONZALEZ". Historic Images. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  2. ^ "Walts advances". The New York Times. February 2, 1983. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
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