Vitas Gerulaitis

Vitas Gerulaitis, christened Vytautas, was an American professional tennis player, born on 26 July 1954 in Brooklyn, New York, to Lithuanian immigrant parents, and died on 17 September 1994. He was ranked world number three in men's singles in 1978, won the men's singles title at the December 1977 Australian Open, beating John Lloyd in five sets despite leg cramps, and took the 1975 Wimbledon men's doubles with Sandy Mayer. He also won two Italian Opens, in 1977 and 1979, and the 1978 WCT Finals, and reached the US Open final in 1979 and the French Open final in 1980. In all he won 25 top-level singles titles and eight doubles titles. Nicknamed The Lithuanian Lion, he was known for quick hands at the net and outstanding court coverage, and he was a member of the American Davis Cup winning team of 1979.