The 1970 French Open men's doubles title represents a primary milestone in a career that spanned professional ice hockey and elite tennis. Emerging from Brașov in 1939, this Romanian athlete transitioned from the 1964 Winter Olympics ice rink to the top ten of the ATP Tour, eventually becoming a billionaire entrepreneur and tournament director.
Early Athletic Versatility
Before achieving prominence in tennis, Țiriac established himself as a competitive ice hockey player. He secured a Romanian Hockey League title with CCA București in 1961 and played for Știința București. His international tenure included five appearances for the Romanian national team at the 1961 Ice Hockey World Championships, where he scored five goals. He later served as a defenseman for Romania at the 1964 Winter Olympics.
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Active on the ATP Tour from 1958 to 1979, Țiriac accumulated 34 singles titles. He played in three Davis Cup finals in 1969, 1971, and 1972. Beyond his doubles success at the 1970 French Open alongside Ilie Năstase, he was notable for participating in the 1975 Fairfield County International Tennis Championship, where he became the first man to defeat a woman in a sanctioned tennis tournament, beating Abigail Maynard 6–0, 6–0.
Management and Coaching
Following his retirement from professional play, Țiriac transitioned into coaching and athlete management. He guided players including Ilie Năstase, Guillermo Vilas, and Boris Becker, the latter from 1984 to 1993. His administrative influence extended to the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, which he led as president between 1998 and 2004. In 2013, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame as a contributor.
Business and Investments
After the collapse of communism in Romania, Țiriac founded Ion Țiriac Bank in 1990, the nation's first private bank. His portfolio diversified into auto leasing, retail, and insurance. As of July 2025, Forbes estimates his net worth at $2.5 billion. He maintains the Țiriac Collection, a private exhibition of approximately 350 vehicles, including rare Rolls-Royce Phantoms, which has been open to the public since 2015.
Fast facts
- Born: 1939, Brașov, Romania
- Sporting debut: Table tennis
- Olympic appearance: 1964 Winter Olympics (Ice Hockey)
- Tennis Hall of Fame induction: 2013
- Primary business ventures: Banking, auto leasing, retail
- Net worth: $2.5 billion (Forbes, 2025)
- Languages: Romanian, English, German
Questions readers ask
What was Ion Țiriac's contribution to tennis tournament management?
He directed major events including the Italian Open and the Madrid Masters, and he owned the Mutua Madrid Open from 2009 to 2021.
Did he play ice hockey professionally?
Yes, he played for CCA București and Știința București, and represented the Romanian national team at the 1961 World Championships and 1964 Winter Olympics.
Achievements
- Order of the Star of Romania
- International Tennis Hall of Fame
- Order of Labour — 1971
- Represented Romania men's national ice hockey team, Romania Davis Cup team and CS Dinamo București
- Competed at 1964 Winter Olympics
- Discipline: tennis and ice hockey
