1. Early Life and Education
Eric Butorac's formative years and academic pursuits laid the groundwork for his future career in tennis.
1.1. Family Background
Butorac is of Croatian descent. His parents, Jan and Tim Butorac, are actively involved in the tennis community as directors of the Rochester Tennis Connection, which operates both indoor and outdoor facilities in Rochester, Minnesota. His father, Tim Butorac, is a USPTA professional who coaches tennis at the Rochester Indoor Tennis Club during the winter and at the Kutzky/Rochester Outdoor Tennis Center in the summer. Eric's brother, Jeff, is a basketball coach at Century High School.
1.2. College Career
Eric Butorac began his collegiate tennis career at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, playing for their men's tennis team for one year. He then transferred to Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, where he completed his studies, graduating in 2003. Butorac has a long-standing connection with Gustavus Adolphus College, as his father also played for coach Steve Wilkinson, and Eric himself attended Wilkinson's tennis camp at the age of five. He concluded his senior season in 2003 by achieving a remarkable feat, winning both the NCAA Division III singles and doubles championships. His doubles partner for this victory was Kevin Whipple.
2. Professional Career
Eric Butorac's professional tennis career, primarily as a doubles specialist, spanned from his debut in 2003 until his retirement in 2016, marked by consistent performance and significant achievements on the ATP Tour.
2.1. Early Career and Breakthrough
Butorac turned professional in 2003. In July 2006, Butorac and his partner Jamie Murray reached their first ATP Tour doubles final at the Los Angeles Open, where they faced and lost to the world's top-ranked doubles team, the Bryan brothers. The following year proved to be a breakthrough for the pair. In early February 2007, Butorac and Murray secured their first Challenger title in Dallas. Just a week later, they captured their first ATP Tour title at the SAP Open. Their success continued into the subsequent week when, as an unseeded team, they defeated the second seeds, Julian Knowle and Jürgen Melzer, to win the doubles title at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis. In April, May, and June of 2009, Butorac partnered with American Scott Lipsky, winning three events: the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger, the Estoril Open in Portugal, and a tournament in Nottingham, England.
2.2. Peak Years and Major Achievements
The years following 2009 saw Butorac reach the peak of his career. In 2010, partnering with Rajeev Ram, he reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. That year, he also secured titles in Chennai (with Ram), and in Tokyo and Stockholm (with Jean-Julien Rojer). His most successful season came in 2011, when he achieved a career-high doubles ranking of No. 17 on August 29, 2011, and his team with Jean-Julien Rojer finished as the No. 9 doubles team in the world. They won three titles together and reached the semifinals of the Australian Open.
In 2012, Butorac again reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and claimed the doubles title in São Paulo with Bruno Soares. In 2013, he advanced to the Round of 16 at the Australian Open and won the doubles title in Kuala Lumpur, partnering with Raven Klaasen. The pinnacle of his Grand Slam career came in 2014 when he and Klaasen reached the final of the Australian Open. Their path to the final notably included a victory over the formidable Bryan brothers. Following this major appearance, Butorac and Klaasen went on to win titles in Memphis and Stockholm that year. In 2015, Butorac, once again partnering with Scott Lipsky, won the Valencia Open. His eighteenth and final ATP Tour doubles title was secured in 2016, partnering with Scott Lipsky at the Estoril Open for a third time.
2.3. Retirement
Eric Butorac officially retired from professional tennis in 2016, concluding a career that saw him accumulate 18 ATP Tour doubles titles.
3. Off-Court Activities
Beyond his competitive playing career, Eric Butorac has dedicated himself to various initiatives, demonstrating a strong commitment to tennis development, philanthropy, and leadership within the sport.
3.1. Charity Work and Community Engagement
In 2009, Butorac founded the Minnesota Tennis Challenge, a charity event designed to benefit St. Paul Urban Tennis, an organization focused on promoting tennis in urban communities. The event attracted notable participants, including the Bryan brothers, Justin Gimelstob, Rajeev Ram, Melanie Oudin, and Somdev Devvarman. Butorac is also a frequent speaker at coaching conventions and USTA showcases across the United States, sharing his experiences and insights to inspire future generations of tennis players and coaches.
3.2. Leadership and Coaching Roles
Butorac has held significant leadership positions within the tennis world. Since 2010, he has served as a volunteer assistant coach at Harvard University, contributing to the development of collegiate tennis players. He is one of only three players from the NCAA Division III ranks known to have successfully made a living on the professional tour, a testament to his unique journey and dedication.
He ascended to the prestigious role of President of the ATP Player's Council, succeeding Roger Federer, for whom he had previously served as Vice President. His tenure as president concluded on August 30, 2016, when he was succeeded by Novak Djokovic. In February 2022, Butorac was appointed Tournament Director of the Western & Southern Open. This event is unique in that it features an ATP Masters 1000 tournament and a WTA 1000 tournament concurrently at the same venue within the same week, making it one of only five such combined top-tier tour events in the world.
4. Play Style and Characteristics
Eric Butorac was primarily a doubles specialist known for his strategic play and strong court coverage. Standing at 75 in (191 cm) tall and weighing 181 lb (82 kg), he played with a left-handed forehand and utilized a two-handed backhand, which contributed to his effectiveness in doubles rallies. His physical attributes and technical skills were well-suited for the quick exchanges and precise movements required in professional doubles.
5. Career Statistics
Eric Butorac's professional career spanned from 2003 to 2016, during which he achieved a career record of 269 wins and 242 losses in doubles. He amassed total career prize money of approximately 1.73 M USD.
5.1. Grand Slam Finals
Butorac appeared in one Grand Slam final during his career.
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 2014 | Australian Open | Hard | Raven Klaasen | Łukasz Kubot Robert Lindstedt | 3-6, 3-6 |
5.2. ATP Tour Finals
Butorac competed in 29 ATP Tour doubles finals, winning 18 titles and finishing as runner-up 11 times.
| Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Jul 2006 | Los Angeles Open, United States | Hard | Jamie Murray | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 2-6, 4-6 |
| Win | Feb 2007 | Pacific Coast Championships, United States | Hard (i) | Jamie Murray | Chris Haggard Rainer Schüttler | 7-5, 7-6(8-6) |
| Win | Feb 2007 | U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships, United States | Hard (i) | Jamie Murray | Jürgen Melzer Julian Knowle | 7-5, 6-3 |
| Win | Jun 2007 | Nottingham Open, United Kingdom | Grass | Jamie Murray | Joshua Goodall Ross Hutchins | 4-6, 6-3, [10-5] |
| Win | Aug 2008 | Los Angeles Open, United States | Hard | Rohan Bopanna | Travis Parrott Dušan Vemić | 7-6(7-5), 7-6(7-5) |
| Win | Jan 2009 | Chennai Open, India | Hard | Rajeev Ram | Jean-Claude Scherrer Stan Wawrinka | 6-3, 6-4 |
| Win | May 2009 | Estoril Open, Portugal | Clay | Scott Lipsky | Martin Damm Robert Lindstedt | 6-3, 6-2 |
| Win | Oct 2009 | Thailand Open, Thailand | Hard (i) | Rajeev Ram | Guillermo García López Mischa Zverev | 7-6(7-4), 6-3 |
| Loss | May 2010 | Bavarian International Tennis Championships, Germany | Clay | Michael Kohlmann | Oliver Marach Santiago Ventura | 7-5, 3-6, [14-16] |
| Loss | Aug 2010 | Los Angeles Open, United States | Hard | Jean-Julien Rojer | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 7-6(8-6), 2-6, [7-10] |
| Win | Oct 2010 | Japan Open, Japan | Hard | Jean-Julien Rojer | Andreas Seppi Dmitry Tursunov | 6-3, 6-2 |
| Win | Oct 2010 | Stockholm Open, Sweden | Hard (i) | Jean-Julien Rojer | Johan Brunström Jarkko Nieminen | 6-3, 6-4 |
| Loss | Feb 2011 | U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships, United States | Hard (i) | Jean-Julien Rojer | Max Mirnyi Daniel Nestor | 2-6, 7-6(8-6), [3-10] |
| Win | May 2011 | Estoril Open, Portugal | Clay | Jean-Julien Rojer | Marc López David Marrero | 6-3, 6-4 |
| Win | May 2011 | Open de Nice Côte d'Azur, France | Clay | Jean-Julien Rojer | Santiago González David Marrero | 6-3, 6-4 |
| Win | Oct 2011 | Malaysian Open, Malaysia | Hard (i) | Jean-Julien Rojer | František Čermák Filip Polášek | 6-1, 6-3 |
| Loss | Nov 2011 | Valencia Open, Spain | Hard (i) | Jean-Julien Rojer | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 4-6, 6-7(9-11) |
| Win | Feb 2012 | Brasil Open, Brazil | Clay | Bruno Soares | Michal Mertiňák André Sá | 3-6, 6-4, [10-8] |
| Loss | Oct 2012 | Thailand Open, Thailand | Hard (i) | Paul Hanley | Lu Yen-hsun Danai Udomchoke | 3-6, 4-6 |
| Loss | Jan 2013 | Brisbane International, Australia | Hard | Paul Hanley | Marcelo Melo Tommy Robredo | 6-4, 1-6, [5-10] |
| Loss | May 2013 | Bavarian International Tennis Championships, Germany | Clay | Marcos Baghdatis | Jarkko Nieminen Dmitry Tursunov | 1-6, 4-6 |
| Win | Sep 2013 | Malaysian Open, Malaysia | Hard (i) | Raven Klaasen | Pablo Cuevas Horacio Zeballos | 6-2, 6-4 |
| Loss | Jan 2014 | Australian Open, Australia | Hard | Raven Klaasen | Łukasz Kubot Robert Lindstedt | 3-6, 3-6 |
| Win | Feb 2014 | U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships, United States | Hard (i) | Raven Klaasen | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 6-4, 6-4 |
| Win | Oct 2014 | Stockholm Open, Sweden | Hard (i) | Raven Klaasen | Treat Huey Jack Sock | 6-4, 6-3 |
| Loss | Aug 2015 | Winston-Salem Open, United States | Hard | Scott Lipsky | Dominic Inglot Robert Lindstedt | 2-6, 4-6 |
| Win | Nov 2015 | Valencia Open, Spain | Hard (i) | Scott Lipsky | Feliciano López Max Mirnyi | 7-6(7-4), 6-3 |
| Loss | Jan 2016 | Auckland Open, New Zealand | Hard | Scott Lipsky | Mate Pavić Michael Venus | 5-7, 4-6 |
| Win | May 2016 | Estoril Open, Portugal | Clay | Scott Lipsky | Łukasz Kubot Marcin Matkowski | 6-4, 3-6, [10-8] |
5.3. Doubles Performance Timeline
This timeline shows Eric Butorac's performance in Grand Slam men's doubles tournaments.
| Tournament | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | Win-Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam tournaments | |||||||||||
| Australian Open | 2R | 3R | 1R | QF | SF | QF | 3R | F | 3R | 2R | 23-10 |
| French Open | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 3R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 3R | 6-10 |
| Wimbledon | 3R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 3R | 2R | A | 9-9 |
| US Open | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | QF | 3R | 1R | 9-10 |
| Win-loss | 4-4 | 3-4 | 1-4 | 3-4 | 6-4 | 7-4 | 4-4 | 11-4 | 5-4 | 3-3 | 47-39 |
6. Assessment and Legacy
Eric Butorac's career stands out as a unique and inspiring journey in professional tennis. As one of the few players to successfully transition from NCAA Division III collegiate tennis to the ATP Tour, his achievements on the professional circuit underscore his exceptional talent, perseverance, and dedication. He carved out a highly successful career as a doubles specialist, accumulating 18 ATP Tour titles and reaching a Grand Slam final, demonstrating that success at the highest level of professional tennis is attainable even through less conventional pathways. Beyond his playing record, Butorac's legacy is further defined by his significant contributions off the court. His leadership as President of the ATP Player's Council showcased his commitment to advocating for fellow players and shaping the future of the sport. Additionally, his involvement in charitable initiatives like the Minnesota Tennis Challenge and his current role as Tournament Director of the Western & Southern Open highlight his enduring impact on the tennis community and his commitment to the growth and promotion of the sport. His career serves as a notable example of a professional athlete whose influence extends well beyond competitive play.