Fabrice Santoro

Fabrice Santoro
Country  France
Residence Geneva, Switzerland
Born 9 December 1972
Tahiti, French Polynesia
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Turned pro 1989
Retired 2010
Plays Right-handed (two-handed both sides)
Prize money $10,021,132
Singles
Career record 470–444
Career titles 6
Highest ranking No. 17 (6 August 2001)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open QF (2006)
French Open 4R (1991, 2001)
Wimbledon 3R (2001)
US Open 3R (1990, 1998, 1999, 2004)
Other tournaments
Olympic Games QF (1992)
Doubles
Career record 377–257
Career titles 24
Highest ranking No. 6 (5 July 1999)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open W (2003, 2004)
French Open F (2004)
Wimbledon F (2006)
US Open SF (2003)
Other Doubles tournaments
Tour Finals W (2005)

Fabrice Vetea Santoro (born 9 December 1972) is a retired French professional male tennis player from Tahiti. Though not counted among the top-ranked players, he had an unusually long professional career, with many of his accomplishments coming toward the end of his career, and he is popular among spectators and other players alike for his winning demeanor and shot-making abilities.

Owing to his longevity on the tour and consistent ranking, Santoro holds several ATP records: the most appearances in singles competition at Grand Slam events (70), and the most losses in singles play (444, though he won even more matches).

In singles play, Santoro earned six titles, but reached the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam only once; however, he was more successful in doubles competition, with two Grand Slam doubles titles, one Grand Slam mixed-doubles title, and 24 doubles championships overall.

Since late 2014, Santoro is a coach of an Ukrainian tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky.

Career overview

Juniors

Tournament19881989
Junior Grand Slam Tournaments
Australian Open A A
French Open 2R W
Wimbledon A 3R
US Open 3R SF

Pro tour

Fabrice Santoro Volleys at US Open

When Santoro successfully defended his 2007 title by winning the 2008 Newport tournament at the age of 35, he became the oldest tennis player to win back-to-back championships at an ATP singles event.[1]

In addition, Santoro won what was, at the time, the longest singles match in the open era: at the 2004 French Open, he beat fellow Frenchman Arnaud Clément in a 6 hour 33 minute first-round match (6–4, 6–3, 6–7(5), 3–6, 16–14). The record stood until John Isner defeated Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010, but still remains the French Open record.

As a singles tennis player, the 2006 Australian Open was Santoro's only Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance.

In singles play, Santoro defeated 18 players who were ranked world no. 1 at some time during their careers: Novak Djokovic, Jimmy Connors, Mats Wilander, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Thomas Muster, Marcelo Ríos, Gustavo Kuerten, Carlos Moyà, Pat Rafter, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Marat Safin, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick, and Roger Federer (with whom he has a 2–9 record). Against other former world no. 1 players, Santoro is 0–6 against Yevgeny Kafelnikov, 0–1 against Ivan Lendl and 0–1 against Rafael Nadal. Santoro is famous for his winning record against Marat Safin (7–2); Safin himself has said, "Being told I would play Santoro was being told I was to die."

Santoro won the 2003 and 2004 Australian Opens doubles titles, partnering Michaël Llodra, a French compatriot, and was runner-up at the 2002 Australian Open, 2004 French Open and 2006 Wimbledon Championships. He also won the 2005 French Open mixed doubles title with Daniela Hantuchová. Santoro teamed with Michaël Llodra again to win the 2005 Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, a competition that included the top eight doubles teams in the world

In addition to his doubles prowess, Fabrice is noted for his cheery attitude on court and his vast arsenal of trick shots, making him a crowd favorite and gaining him the admiration of his peers. In recognition of Santoro's varied and innovative style of play, Pete Sampras has nicknamed him The Magician.

Santoro plays with two hands on forehand and backhand, and though he is right-handed, often slices his forehand with his left hand. He attributes this to having used racquets of the same weight throughout his career, which were too heavy for a six-year-old starting off a career to hold with one hand.

With his participation in the 2008 Australian Open, he broke Andre Agassi's record in Grand Slam appearances over his career with a total of 62. Santoro retired at the end of the 2009 season at his hometown tournament at the 2009 BNP Paribas Masters in Paris (Bercy), losing his final singles match against James Blake and final doubles match against Johan Brunström and Jean-Julien Rojer while partnering compatriot Sébastien Grosjean.

Santoro came out of retirement for one tournament at the 2010 Australian Open in order to obtain the record for having played in Grand Slams in four different decades, logging a total of 70 appearances in Grand Slam tournaments. At 37, he was the oldest player in the ATP Top 100, being ranked 68 when he entered this last tournament.[2] He lost in the first round of the tournament – to Marin Čilić – ending his professional tennis career.

He was the first leader of the ATP Champions Race, winning the first tournament of the year in Doha in the year the race was introduced (2000).

According to ATPworldtour.com after the 2010 Australian Open, Santoro has lost more singles matches (444) than any other professional player (active or not). Overall, however, Santoro has won over half of his matches, with a career record of 470–444.

Personal life

Santoro is a big fan of the late French comedian Michel Colucci, better known as Coluche.[3]

Santoro has a daughter named Djenae.

Since 2012, Santoro has featured as part of the television commentary and analysis team for British television channel ITV, at the French Open.

Grand Slam finals

Men's doubles: 5 (2-3)

Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents in the final Score in the final
Runner-up 2002 Australian Open Hard France Michaël Llodra The Bahamas Mark Knowles
Canada Daniel Nestor
6–7(4–7), 3–6
Winner 2003 Australian Open (1) Hard France Michaël Llodra The Bahamas Mark Knowles
Canada Daniel Nestor
6–4, 3–6, 6–3
Winner 2004 Australian Open (2) Hard France Michaël Llodra United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
7–6(7–4), 6–3
Runner-up 2004 French Open Clay France Michaël Llodra Belgium Xavier Malisse
Belgium Olivier Rochus
5–7, 5–7
Runner-up 2006 Wimbledon Grass Serbia Nenad Zimonjić United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
3–6, 6–4, 4–6, 2–6

Mixed doubles: 1 title

Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents in the final Score in the final
Winner 2005 French Open Clay Slovakia Daniela Hantuchová United States Martina Navrátilová
India Leander Paes
3–6, 6–3, 6–2

Career finals

Singles

Wins (6)
Legend (Singles)
Grand Slam (0)
Tennis Masters Cup /
ATP World Tour Finals (0)
ATP Masters Series /
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (0)
ATP International Series Gold /
ATP World Tour 500 Series (1)
ATP International Series /
ATP World Tour 250 Series (5)
No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score in the final
1. 13 October 1997 Lyon, France Carpet (i) Germany Tommy Haas 6–4, 6–4
2. 1 February 1999 Marseille, France Hard (i) France Arnaud Clément 6–3, 4–6, 6–4
3. 3 January 2000 Doha, Qatar Hard Germany Rainer Schüttler 3–6, 7–5, 3–0, retired
4. 25 February 2002 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Hard Morocco Younes El Aynaoui 6–4, 3–6, 6–3
5. 9 July 2007 Newport, United States Grass France Nicolas Mahut 6–4, 6–4
6. 13 July 2008 Newport, United States Grass India Prakash Amritraj 6–3, 7–5
Runners-up (6)
No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score in the final
1. 8 October 1990 Toulouse, France Hard (i) Sweden Jonas Svensson 6–7(5–7), 2–6
2. 8 February 1993 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Hard Czech Republic Karel Nováček 4–6, 5–7
3. 7 August 1994 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Croatia Goran Ivanišević 2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 2–6
4. 12 January 1998 Doha, Qatar Hard Czech Republic Petr Korda 0–6, 3–6
5. 7 March 1999 Copenhagen, Denmark Hard (i) Sweden Magnus Gustafsson 4–6, 1–6
6. 17 June 2001 Halle, Germany Grass Sweden Thomas Johansson 3–6, 7–6(7–5), 2–6

Doubles titles

Wins (24)

Legend (Doubles)
Grand Slam (2)
Tennis Masters Cup /
ATP World Tour Finals (1)
ATP Masters Series /
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (3)
ATP International Series Gold /
ATP World Tour 500 Series (3)
ATP International Series /
ATP World Tour 250 Series (15)
No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents in Final Score in Final
1. 25 September 1995 Palermo, Italy Clay Spain Álex Corretja Netherlands Hendrik Jan Davids
South Africa Piet Norval
6–7, 6–4, 6–3
2. 20 July 1998 Stuttgart, Germany Clay France Olivier Delaître Australia Joshua Eagle
United States Jim Grabb
6–1, 3–6, 6–3
3. 28 September 1998 Toulouse, France Hard (i) France Olivier Delaître Netherlands Paul Haarhuis
Netherlands Jan Siemerink
6–2, 6–4
4. 5 October 1998 Basel, Switzerland Hard (i) France Olivier Delaître South Africa Piet Norval
Zimbabwe Kevin Ullyett
6–3, 7–6
5. 19 October 1998 Lyon, France Carpet (i) France Olivier Delaître Spain Tomás Carbonell
Spain Francisco Roig
6–2, 6–2
6. 23 August 1999 Long Island, United States Hard France Olivier Delaître United States Jan-Michael Gambill
United States Scott Humphries
7–5, 6–4
7. 16 October 2000 Toulouse, France Hard (i) France Julien Boutter United States Donald Johnson
South Africa Piet Norval
7–6(10–8), 4–6, 7–6(7–5)
8. 12 February 2001 Marseille, France Hard (i) France Julien Boutter Australia Michael Hill
United States Jeff Tarango
7–6(9–7), 7–5
9. 28 October 2002 Paris, France Carpet (i) France Nicolas Escudé Brazil Gustavo Kuerten
France Cédric Pioline
6–3, 7–6(8–6)
10. 13 January 2003 Melbourne, Australia Hard France Michaël Llodra The Bahamas Mark Knowles
Canada Daniel Nestor
6–4, 3–6, 6–3
11. 10 February 2003 Marseille, France Hard (i) France Sébastien Grosjean Czech Republic Tomáš Cibulec
Czech Republic Pavel Vízner
6–1, 6–4
12. 12 January 2004 Auckland, New Zealand Hard India Mahesh Bhupathi Czech Republic Jiří Novák
Czech Republic Radek Štěpánek
4–6, 7–5, 6–3
13. 19 January 2004 Melbourne, Australia Hard France Michaël Llodra United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
7–6(7–4), 6–3
14. 1 March 2004 Dubai, UAE Hard India Mahesh Bhupathi Sweden Jonas Björkman
India Leander Paes
6–2, 4–6, 6–4
15. 2 May 2005 Rome, Italy Clay France Michaël Llodra United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
6–4, 6–2
16. 3 October 2005 Metz, France Hard (i) France Michaël Llodra Argentina José Acasuso
Argentina Sebastián Prieto
5–2, 3–5, 5–4
17. 24 October 2005 Lyon, France Carpet (i) France Michaël Llodra South Africa Jeff Coetzee
Netherlands Rogier Wassen
6–3, 6–1
18. 7 November 2005 Shanghai, China Carpet (i) France Michaël Llodra India Leander Paes
Serbia and Montenegro Nenad Zimonjić
6–7(6–8), 6–3, 7–6(7–4)
19. 9 January 2006 Sydney, Australia Hard Serbia Nenad Zimonjić Czech Republic František Čermák
Czech Republic Leoš Friedl
6–1, 6–4
20. 12 June 2006 Halle, Germany Grass Serbia Nenad Zimonjić Germany Michael Kohlmann
Germany Rainer Schüttler
6–0, 6–4
21. 2 October 2006 Metz, France Hard (i) France Richard Gasquet Austria Julian Knowle
Austria Jürgen Melzer
3–6, 6–1, [11–9]
22. 9 October 2006 Moscow, Russia Carpet (i) Serbia Nenad Zimonjić Czech Republic František Čermák
Czech Republic Jaroslav Levinský
6–1, 7–5
23. 26 February 2007 Dubai, UAE Hard Serbia Nenad Zimonjić India Mahesh Bhupathi
Czech Republic Radek Štěpánek
7–5, 6–7(3–7), [10–7]
24. 7 May 2007 Rome, Italy Clay Serbia Nenad Zimonjić United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
6–4, 6–7(4–7), [10–7]

Runners-up (18)

No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents in Final Score in Final
1. 10 February 1997 Marseille, France Hard (i) France Olivier Delaître Sweden Thomas Enqvist
Sweden Magnus Larsson
3–6, 4–6
2. 13 October 1997 Lyon, France Carpet (i) France Olivier Delaître South Africa Ellis Ferreira
United States Patrick Galbraith
6–3, 2–6, 4–6
3. 3 November 1997 Moscow, Russia Carpet (i) South Africa David Adams Czech Republic Martin Damm
Czech Republic Cyril Suk
4–6, 3–6
4. 5 January 1998 Doha, Qatar Hard France Olivier Delaître India Mahesh Bhupathi
India Leander Paes
4–6, 6–3, 4–6
5. 10 August 1998 Cincinnati, United States Hard France Olivier Delaître The Bahamas Mark Knowles
Canada Daniel Nestor
1–6, 1–2 retired
6. 14 January 2002 Melbourne, Australia Hard France Michaël Llodra The Bahamas Mark Knowles
Canada Daniel Nestor
6–7(4–7), 3–6
7. 14 April 2003 Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay France Michaël Llodra India Mahesh Bhupathi
Belarus Max Mirnyi
4–6, 6–3, 6–7(6–8)
8. 5 May 2003 Rome, Italy Clay France Michaël Llodra Australia Wayne Arthurs
Australia Paul Hanley
1–6, 3–6
9. 29 September 2003 Metz, France Hard (i) France Michaël Llodra France Julien Benneteau
France Nicolas Mahut
6–7(2–7), 3–6
10. 27 October 2003 Paris, France Carpet (i) France Michaël Llodra Australia Wayne Arthurs
Australia Paul Hanley
3–6, 6–1, 3–6
11. 8 November 2003 Houston, United States Hard France Michaël Llodra United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
7–6(8–6), 3–6, 6–3, 6–7(3–7), 4–6
12. 24 May 2004 French Open, France Clay France Michaël Llodra Belgium Xavier Malisse
Belgium Olivier Rochus
5–7, 5–7
13. 21 February 2005 Dubai, UAE Hard Sweden Jonas Björkman Czech Republic Martin Damm
Czech Republic Radek Štěpánek
2–6, 4–6
14. 9 May 2005 Hamburg, Germany Clay France Michaël Llodra Sweden Jonas Björkman
Belarus Max Mirnyi
6–4, 6–7(2–7), 6–7(3–7)
15. 17 April 2006 Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Serbia Nenad Zimonjić Sweden Jonas Björkman
Belarus Max Mirnyi
2–6, 6–7(2–7)
16. 26 June 2006 Wimbledon, UK Grass Serbia Nenad Zimonjić United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
3–6, 6–4, 4–6, 2–6
17. 30 October 2006 Paris, France Carpet (i) Serbia Nenad Zimonjić France Arnaud Clément
France Michaël Llodra
6–7(4–7), 2–6
18. 11 June 2007 Halle, Germany Grass Serbia Nenad Zimonjić Sweden Simon Aspelin
Austria Julian Knowle
4–6, 6–7(5–7)

Performance timelines

Singles

Name 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Career
SR
Career
Win-Loss
Grand Slam events
Australian Open A A 1R A 2R 3R 2R 1R A 3R 4R 1R 2R 1R 3R 2R 1R QF 3R 2R 3R 1R 0 / 18 22–18
French Open 1R 2R 4R 1R 1R 3R 1R A 1R 3R 1R 2R 4R 2R 2R 3R 1R 1R 1R 2R 1R A 0 / 20 17–20
Wimbledon A 1R A A A A 1R A 1R A 2R 2R 3R 2R 2R 2R 2R 2R 2R 1R 2R A 0 / 14 11–14
US Open A 3R 1R 2R 1R A 1R A 1R 3R 3R 1R 2R 1R 2R 3R 2R 1R 2R 1R 1R A 0 / 18 13–18
Grand Slam SR 0 / 1 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 1 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 1 0 / 70 N/A
Grand Slam Win-Loss 0–1 3–3 3–3 1–2 1–3 4–2 1–4 0–1 0–3 6–3 6–4 2–4 7–4 2–4 5–4 6–4 2–4 5–4 4–4 2–4 3–4 0–1 N/A 63–70
Masters Series
Indian Wells NME A 3R 1R QF 3R 2R A A 1R A 3R 2R 3R 1R 1R 4R 1R A A A A 0 / 13 16–13
Miami NME 2R 2R 1R 3R A A A A 4R 3R 2R 4R 2R A 1R A 2R 3R 3R 2R A 0 / 14 15–14
Monte Carlo NME 1R 2R 2R 1R A 3R 3R SF QF A 2R 1R 1R 1R 3R 2R 1R A 1R A A 0 / 16 17–16
Rome NME A QF 3R 3R A 3R A 2R 1R 3R 3R 2R 1R 1R A 2R 3R A 1R A A 0 / 14 18–14
Hamburg NME 2R A A A A 1R A A QF 2R 1R QF 1R 1R A 1R 1R A A NME NME 0 / 10 8–10
Canada NME A A A A A A A QF 2R QF 1R SF QF 1R QF 1R 1R A A A A 0 / 10 17–10
Cincinnati NME A A A A A A A 2R 1R 2R QF 2R 1R 2R QF 2R 1R A A A A 0 / 10 11–10
Stuttgart/Madrid NME A A A A A A A 3R 1R 2R 2R 1R SF A A A A 1R A A A 0 / 7 8–7
Paris NME 1R 1R 1R A A A A 2R 2R 2R QF 2R 1R 2R A 2R 1R 3R A 1R A 0 / 14 10–14
Masters Series SR N/A 0 / 4 0 / 5 0 / 5 0 / 4 0 / 1 0 / 4 0 / 1 0 / 6 0 / 9 0 / 7 0 / 9 0 / 9 0 / 9 0 / 7 0 / 5 0 / 7 0 / 8 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 0 0 / 108 N/A
Annual Win-Loss N/A 2–4 7–5 3–5 6–4 2–1 5–4 2–1 12–6 10–9 10–7 12–9 13–9 9–9 2–7 8–5 7–7 3–8 4–3 2–3 1–2 0–0 N/A 120–108
Year End Ranking 235 62 43 43 55 46 102 118 29 41 34 31 22 35 62 52 58 52 37 52 68 N/A

Doubles

Tournament 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Career SR Career Win-Loss
Grand Slam events
Australian Open A A A A A A A A 2R A 3R 3R 1R 1R F W W QF 3R QF QF 1R 2 / 13 33–11
French Open A A 1R 1R 1R 1R 1R 3R A 3R A 2R 3R 2R 2R 3R F 2R 1R SF 1R 1R 0 / 18 21–17
Wimbledon A A A A A A A A A 2R A SF 3R 2R 1R 3R A A F SF 1R 1R 0 / 10 19–10
US Open A A A A A A A A A 1R 1R 2R 2R 1R 2R SF 2R 1R QF 1R A 2R 0 / 12 12–11
Grand Slam SR 0 / 0 0 / 0 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 1 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 4 1 / 4 1 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 3 0 / 4 2 / 53 N/A
Annual Win-Loss 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–1 2–1 1–1 3–3 2–2 8–3 5–4 2–3 7–4 14–3 12–2 4–3 10–4 11–4 3–3 1–4 N/A 85–49
Masters Series
Indian Wells NME A A A A A A A A 2R A 1R A 2R 2R 1R 2R QF A A A 0 / 7 5–7
Miami NME A A A A A A A A 2R 2R 2R 1R 3R A QF A 2R SF 2R A 0 / 9 9–9
Monte Carlo NME A A A A A A A 2R 2R A 1R 1R 2R F 2R SF F 2R 1R A 0 / 11 12–11
Rome NME A A A A A 1R A 2R A SF 1R 1R 2R F QF W QF W SF A 2 / 12 21–10
Hamburg NME A A A A A 2R A A 2R SF 1R 2R 1R A A F SF A A NME 0 / 8 10–8
Canada NME A A A A A A A 2R 2R QF A 2R 1R QF SF A QF A A A 0 / 8 8–7
Cincinnati NME A A A A A A A SF F 2R 1R A 1R QF QF SF QF A A A 0 / 9 11–9
Stuttgart/Madrid NME A A A A A A A A SF 2R A A QF A A SF QF 1R A A 0 / 6 7–5
Paris NME A A A A A A 2R 1R 2R 2R 2R 1R W F A 1R F 2R A 1R 1 / 12 13–10
Masters Series SR N/A 0 / 0 0 / 0 0 / 0 0 / 0 0 / 0 0 / 2 0 / 1 0 / 5 0 / 8 0 / 7 0 / 7 0 / 6 1 / 9 0 / 6 0 / 6 1 / 7 0 / 9 1 / 5 0 / 3 0 / 1 3 / 82 N/A
Annual Win-Loss N/A 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 1–1 6–5 12–8 6–7 1–6 2–5 11–7 11–6 6–6 13–6 15–9 7–4 4–3 0–1 N/A 96–76
Year End Ranking 997 773 195 363 1009 1118 184 125 147 35 18 34 60 91 18 9 11 10 10 20 75 165 N/A

References

External links

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