Junior and college Gottfried was born in
Baltimore, Maryland, and is Jewish. He began playing tennis at the age of 5, after receiving a racquet as a gift. In all, Gottfried won 14 national junior titles. As a teen Gottfried attended
Baylor School in
Chattanooga, Tennessee, and
Piper High School in
Sunrise, Florida. In 1970, as a freshman at
Trinity University in
Texas, he won the
USTA boys 18s singles championship, as well as the doubles championship with
Alexander Mayer. He was an
All-American in 1971 and 1972.
Professional career Gottfried began his professional tennis career in 1972.
Newsweek described him as the "best male tennis player in the world at the moment" in April 1977, He won the
Italian Open doubles championship in four consecutive years (1974–1977). He won the men's doubles at the
French Open in 1975 and 1977. In 1976, he won the men's doubles title at
Wimbledon. He ended his career tied for 22nd in
open era singles titles leaders, and tied for 12th in doubles. Gottfried retired as the player with the greatest number of tour match victories among players who had never won a grand slam. He held this record for 32 years, eventually being succeeded by
David Ferrer. He was also second to Ferrer for most titles by a player who never won a major. ==Grand Slam finals==