Alex Corretja

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Àlex Corretja
Country Spain
Residence Barcelona, Spain
Date of birth April 11, 1974 (1974-04-11) (age 34)
Place of birth Barcelona, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 72 kg (160 lb/11.3 st)
Turned pro 1991
Retired 2005
Plays Right
Career prize money $10,411,354
Singles
Career record: 438 - 281
Career titles: 17
Highest ranking: 2 (February 1, 1999)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open 3R (1998)
French Open F (1998, 2001)
Wimbledon 2R (1994, 1996)
US Open QF (1996)
Doubles
Career record: 103 - 115
Career titles: 3
Highest ranking: 50 (June 9, 1997)
Olympic medal record
Men's Tennis
Bronze 2000 Sydney Doubles

Àlex Corretja Verdegay (born April 11, 1974, in Barcelona, Spain) is a former professional tennis player from Spain. During his career, he finished runner-up twice at the French Open (in 1998 and 2001). He won the ATP Tour World Championships in 1998 and reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 2 in 1999. He also played a key role in helping Spain win its first-ever Davis Cup title in 2000. He became the coach of British tennis player Andy Murray in April 2008.

Contents

[edit] Early Career

Corretja first came to the tennis world's attention as a promising junior player who won the Orange Bowl 16s title in 1990. He turned professional in 1991, and won his first top-level singles title in 1994 at Buenos Aires. His first doubles title came in 1995 at Palermo.

[edit] 1996

In 1996, Corretja faced Pete Sampras in an epic five-set quarter-final at the US Open. Corretja held a match point during the fifth set, but eventually lost to Sampras in 4 hours and 9 minutes 7–6, 5–7, 5–7, 6–4, 7–6.

[edit] 1997

In 1997, Corretja captured three titles including his first Tennis Masters Series title in Rome. (He won a second Masters Series title in 2000 at Indian Wells.)

[edit] 1998

1998 saw Corretja reach his first Grand Slam final at the French Open. In the Third Round, he defeated Argentina's Hernán Gumy in (at the time) the longest match in the tournament's history. Corretja won the 5 hour 31 minute marathon 6–1, 5–7, 6–7, 7–5, 9–7. In the final, Corretja lost to his fellow-Spaniard Carlos Moyà in straight sets 6–3, 7–5, 6–3.

Corretja finished 1998 by winning the most significant title of his career – the ATP Tour World Championships (now known as the Tennis Masters Cup). In the semi-finals, he saved three match points on the way to beating Sampras 4–6, 6–3, 7–6. In the final, Corretja faced Moyà in a five-set marathon and came back from two sets down to win in 4 hours and 1 minute 3–6, 3–6, 7–5, 6–3, 7–5. Corretja won a career-high five singles titles in 1998 and finished the year ranked World No. 3. In February 1999, Corretja reached his career-high ranking of World No. 2.

[edit] Later Career

[edit] 2000

In 2000, Corretja helped Spain win its first-ever Davis Cup title. He went 3–0 in singles rubbers during the earlier rounds, and then teamed up with Joan Manuel Balcells to win the doubles match in the final as Spain beat Australia 3–1. Corretja also won a men's doubles Bronze Medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, partnering Albert Costa.

[edit] 2001

In 2001, Corretja reached the men's singles final at the French Open for the second time. He lost in the final to defending-champion Gustavo Kuerten in four sets 6–7, 7–5, 6–2, 6–0. In July that year, Corretja won a five-set marathon match in final at Amsterdam against Younes El Aynaoui 6–3, 5–7, 7–6, 3–6, 6–4. The 53-game match was the year's longest tour final.

[edit] 2002

Corretja's biggest win of 2002 came in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup, where he rallied from two sets down to beat Sampras on grass 4–6, 4–6, 7–6, 7–5, 6–4. (Spain eventually lost the tie 3–1.) At the French Open, Corretja saved four match points in the Third Round against Arnaud Clément before going on to win 6–1, 6–2, 4–6, 5–7, 8–6. Corretja then progressed to the semi-finals, where he lost in four sets to Albert Costa (who went on to win the title). One week later, Corretja was the best man at Costa's wedding.

[edit] 2003

In 2003, Corretja was again part of a Spanish team which reached the Davis Cup final. He won two doubles and one singles rubber in the earlier rounds. But in the final, Corretja and Feliciano López lost the doubles rubber as Spain were beaten 3–1 by Australia.

[edit] Life after tennis

Corretja announced his retirement on September 24, 2004. He won a total of 17 top-level singles titles and 3 doubles titles during his career.

On April 4, 2008 it was announced that Corretja would coach Britain's Andy Murray through the 2008 Clay court season.

[edit] Grand Slam singles finals

[edit] Runner-ups (2)

Year Championship Opponent in Final Score in Final
1998 French Open Flag of Spain Carlos Moyá 6–3, 7–5, 6–3
2001 French Open Flag of Brazil Gustavo Kuerten 6–7(3), 7–5, 6–2, 6–0

[edit] Singles finals (30)

[edit] Wins (17)

Legend
Grand Slam (0)
Tennis Masters Cup (1)
ATP Masters Series (2)
ATP Tour (14)
Titles by Surface
Hard (5)
Grass (0)
Clay (11)
Carpet (1)
No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score
1. November 14, 1994 Buenos Aires, Argentina Clay Flag of Argentina Javier Frana 6–3, 5–7, 7–6(5)
2. April 14, 1997 Estoril, Portugal Clay Flag of Spain Francisco Clavet 6–3, 7–5
3. May 19, 1997 Rome, Italy Clay Flag of Chile Marcelo Ríos 7–5, 7–5, 6–3
4. July 21, 1997 Stuttgart Outdoor, Germany Clay Flag of Slovakia Karol Kučera 6–2, 7–5
5. February 16, 1998 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Hard Flag of Spain Félix Mantilla Botella 7–6(0), 6–0
6. July 13, 1998 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Flag of Germany Boris Becker 7–6(5), 7–5, 6–3
7. August 24, 1998 Indianapolis, U.S. Clay Flag of the United States Andre Agassi 2–6, 6–2, 6–3
8. October 26, 1998 Lyon, France Carpet Flag of Germany Tommy Haas 2–6, 7–6(6), 6–1
9. November 30, 1998 Singles Championships, Germany Hard Flag of Spain Carlos Moyà 3–6, 3–6, 7–5, 6–3, 7–5
10. March 20, 2000 Indian Wells, U.S. Hard Flag of Sweden Thomas Enqvist 6–4, 6–4, 6–3
11. July 17, 2000 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Flag of Argentina Mariano Puerta 6–1, 6–3
12. July 30, 2000 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Flag of Spain Emilio Benfele Álvarez 6–3, 6–1, 3–0 retired
13. August 21, 2000 Washington, D.C., U.S. Hard Flag of the United States Andre Agassi 6–2, 6–3
14. October 23, 2000 Toulouse, France Hard Flag of Spain Carlos Moyà 6–3, 6–2
15. July 23, 2001 Amsterdam, Netherlands Clay Flag of Morocco Younes El Aynaoui 6–3, 5–7, 7–6, 3–6, 6–4
16. July 15, 2002 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Flag of Argentina Gastón Gaudio 6–3, 7–6(3), 7–6(3)
17. July 29, 2002 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Flag of Spain Juan Carlos Ferrero 6–4, 6–1, 6–3

[edit] Runner-ups (13)

No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score
1. 2 November 1992 Guarujá, Brazil Hard Flag of Germany Carsten Arriens 7–6, 6–3
2. 3 October 1994 Palermo, Italy Clay Flag of Spain Alberto Berasategui 2–6, 7–6, 6–4
3. 13 May 1996 Hamburg, Germany Clay Flag of Spain Roberto Carretero 2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4
4. 29 July 1996 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Flag of Spain Alberto Berasategui 6–2, 6–4, 6–4
5. 7 October 1996 Marbella, Spain Clay Flag of Germany Marc-Kevin Goellner 7–6, 7–6
6. 28 April 1997 Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Flag of Chile Marcelo Ríos 6–4, 6–4, 6–3
7. 5 May 1997 Munich, Germany Clay Flag of Australia Mark Philippoussis 7–6, 1–6, 6–4
8. 11 May 1998 Hamburg, Germany Clay Flag of Spain Albert Costa 6–2, 6–0, 1–0, ret.
9. 8 June 1998 French Open, Paris Clay Flag of Spain Carlos Moyà 6–3, 7–5, 6–3
10. 18 January 1999 Sydney, Australia Hard Flag of the United States Todd Martin 6–3, 7–6
11. 30 August 1999 Long Island, U.S. Hard Flag of Sweden Magnus Norman 7–6, 4–6, 6–3
12. 20 September 1999 Mallorca, Spain Clay Flag of Spain Juan Carlos Ferrero 2–6, 7–5, 6–3
13. 11 June 2001 French Open, Paris Clay Flag of Brazil Gustavo Kuerten 6–7, 7–5, 6–2, 6–0

[edit] Singles performance timeline

Tournament 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Career SR
Grand Slam Tournaments
Australian Open A A A A 2R 2R 3R 2R 2R A 1R 1R 2R 0 / 8
French Open 1R 1R 3R 4R 2R 4R F QF QF F SF 1R 3R 0 / 13
Wimbledon A A 2R A 2R A 1R A A A A A 1R 0 / 4
U.S. Open 1R 1R 1R 2R QF 3R 4R 1R 3R 3R 3R 1R 1R 0 / 13
Grand Slam SR 0 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 38
Year-End Championship
Tennis Masters Cup A A A A A A W A RR A A A A 1 / 2
ATP Masters Series
Indian Wells Masters A A A 1R 2R 2R 1R 2R W 3R 2R 2R 3R 1 / 10
Miami Masters A A A 1R 2R 3R SF 4R 2R 4R 4R 2R A 0 / 9
Monte Carlo Masters A QF 3R 3R 1R F QF A QF 1R 3R 1R 2R 0 / 11
Rome Masters 2R 2R 2R 3R 1R W 2R SF SF QF 1R 2R 1R 1 / 13
Hamburg Masters 2R A 3R 1R F 3R F A 3R 2R 2R 1R 1R 0 / 11
Canada Masters A A A A 2R A A A A A A A A 0 / 1
Cincinnati Masters A A A 1R 1R 2R 2R 2R 1R A A 1R A 0 / 7
Madrid Masters (Stuttgart) A A A A 1R 1R 1R 3R 2R 2R 3R 2R 2R 0 / 9
Paris Masters A A A A 1R 2R 1R 2R QF 2R A A A 0 / 6
Masters Series SR 0 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 6 0 / 9 1 / 8 0 / 8 0 / 6 1 / 8 0 / 7 0 / 6 0 / 7 0 / 5 2 / 77
Year End Ranking 86 76 22 48 23 12 3 27 8 16 19 100 114 N/A

A = did not participate in the tournament

[edit] Personal and family life

Corretja married Marta Cors in 2001. The couple has two daughters – Aroa, born in 2003, and Carla, born in 2005.

[edit] External links