Guillermo Vilas is one of the most successful players in tennis history.
The Argentine, who was born in Buenos Aires, won four Grand Slam singles titles during his career and achieved the world number two ranking.
Upon retiring from his playing career in 1982, Vilas had won 62 titles on the professional circuit and earned $4,923,882 in prize money.
Guillermo Vilas’ Grand Slam titles
- 1977 Roland Garros: defeated Brian Gottfried 6–0, 6–3, 6–0 in the final
- 1977 US Open: defeated Jimmy Connors 2–6, 6–3, 7–6, 6–0 in the final
- 1978 Australian Open: defeated John Marks 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 in the final
- 1979 Australian Open: defeated John Sadri 7–6, 6–3, 6–2 in the final
However, for all of Vilas’ success, he never managed to win the Barcelona Open Men’s Singles title – falling at the final hurdle on multiple occasions.
Guillermo Vilas lost four consecutive Barcelona Open finals
Vilas first made the Barcelona Open Men’s Singles final in 1980 after beating compatriot Jose Luis Clerc in the last four.
Vilas was seeded first at the event – yet he was unable to defeat Ivan Lendl in the championship showpiece.
In 1981, Vilas again advanced to the final, beating Andres Gomez and Eddie Dibbs en route.
The Argentine again lost to Ivan Lendl in the final: 0-6, 3-6, 0-6.
Vilas’ woes continued in 1982, when he was defeated by Mats Wilander in the final.
Vilas, seeded second, had defeated Carlos Kirmayr and Marcos Hocevar on his way to the final, but was unable to overcome the Swedish fifth seed, losing 3-6, 4-6, 3-6.
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A year later, Vilas again faced Wilander in the Barcelona Open final.
Once again, Vilas was unable to leap over the final hurdle, losing 0-6, 3-6, 1-6 to the Swedish star.
Consequently, Vilas had lost four consecutive Barcelona Open finals – the only player to do so in tournament history.
Remarkably, Vilas never reached another Men’s Singles final at the event.
| Year | Opponent | Score |
| 1980 | Ivan Lendl | 6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 4–6, 6–1 |
| 1981 | Ivan Lendl | 0-6, 3-6, 0-6 |
| 1982 | Mats Wilander | 3-6, 4-6, 3-6 |
| 1983 | Mats Wilander | 0-6, 3-6, 1-6 |
Guillermo Vilas’ one title in Barcelona
Vilas twice reached the Barcelona Open Men’s Doubles final: in 1974 and 1975.
In 1974, Vilas and Manuel Orantes were defeated 3–6, 6–0, 6–2 by Juan Gisbert and former singles world number one, Ilie Nastase.
A year later, Vilas secured his sole Barcelona Open title.
Vilas, who was paired with tennis legend Bjorn Borg, defeated Wojciech Fibak and Karl Meiler in the final, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Around 26 years later, Vilas was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
“This is the greatest, and a big lesson for Argentina on how things are done in the United States,” Guillermo said in a telephone interview with United Press International, as per UPI.
“This recognition comes while I am still playing and loving the sport. In Argentina it is a bit macabre, it is as if you have to die to be recognised at this level. In the United States the people live, enjoy and even walk on street named after someone admired while they are still alive. It is very different.
“This is somewhat the culmination of whatever sporting career. It makes me feel proud, because when one stops playing, he wants to still be well received everywhere and this recognition means that will be perpetuated for future generations.
“I always thought, intimately, that I would make it to the Hall of Fame but returning to Argentina it was as if that dream was washed away. Here there are not any things like [the Hall of Fame] that give life to my sport.”
