Walts graduated from the University of Southern California and was voted in the All-American selection. In 1975 he won the NCAA double title with Bruce Manson . Between 1976 and 1979 he was able to win four individual titles on the ATP Tour ; he was even more successful in doubles. In 1981 he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, after which he spent half a year in chemotherapy . It was not until 1983 that he returned to professional tennis and was able to win three more double titles, including the Masters title from Indian Wells . In the course of his career he won a total of four singles and 15 doubles. He reached his highest ranking in the tennis world rankings in 1979 with position 32 in singles and 1984 with position 23 in doubles.
His best individual result in a Grand Slam tournament was reaching the quarter-finals of the 1978 US Open , where he was defeated by John McEnroe in three sets . In the doubles competition he reached the quarter-finals of the US Open in 1980 on the side of Andrew Pattison . In mixed he was at the US Open 1978 with Kristien Shaw in the semi-finals, they were defeated by the later champions Frew McMillan and Betty Stöve in three sets.
United States
Bologna
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Hong Kong
Anand Amritraj Ilie Năstase.svg){kind=small}
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John Alexander
Taipei
Andrew Pattison
Balázs Taróczy
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Bernard Mitton
Frankfurt
Stanislav Birner Stefan Simonsson