Àlex Corretja

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Àlex Corretja
Alex Corretja ATC2010.jpg
Country (sports)  Spain
Residence Barcelona, Spain
Born (1974-04-11) 11 April 1974 (age 50)
Barcelona, Spain
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Turned pro 1991
Retired 2005
Plays Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money US$ 10,411,354
Singles
Career record 438–281
Career titles 17
Highest ranking No. 2 (1 February 1999)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open 3R (1998)
French Open F (1998, 2001)
Wimbledon 2R (1994, 1996)
US Open QF (1996)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals W (1998)
Olympic Games 3R (2000)
Doubles
Career record 103–115
Career titles 3
Highest ranking No. 50 (9 June 1997)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open 3R (1998)
Wimbledon 3R (1996)
US Open 3R (1996)
Team competitions
Davis Cup W (2000)


Àlex Corretja i Verdegay (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈaɫəks kuˈrɛdʒə j βərðəˈɣaj]; born 11 April 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 a temporary coach of British tennis player Andy Murray in April 2008 for the duration of the clay-court season and resumed the role in 2009.[1] On 29 March 2011, Corretja and Murray parted company by mutual agreement.

From 2012 until 2013, Corretja coached the Spanish Davis Cup team. He was replaced by Carlos Moyá.

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.

1996

In 1996, Corretja faced Pete Sampras in an epic five-set quarterfinal match at the US Open. Pete Sampras threw up in the fifth set tiebreak, where Corretja held a match point later on, but he eventually lost to Sampras on a double fault in 4 hours and 9 minutes 6–7, 7–5, 7–5, 4–6, 6–7(7–9).

1997

In 1997, Corretja captured three titles, including his first Tennis Masters Series title in Rome, where he defeated Marcelo Ríos 7–5, 7–5, 6–3. (He won a second Masters Series title in 2000 at Indian Wells.)

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 fellow-Spaniard Carlos Moyà in straight sets 3–6, 5–7, 3–6.

Corretja finished 1998 by winning the most significant title of his career, the ATP Tour World Championships (now known as the World Tour Finals). In the semifinals, 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's win made him the first man to ever win the Tour Championships without having ever won a Grand Slam tournament (David Nalbandian and Nikolay Davydenko have since repeated the feat.)

In total, Corretja won a career-high five singles titles in 1998 and finished the year ranked world no. 3. This year Corretja won in Lyon, played in carpet, a "damned" surface for Spanish tennis in the 90's. This year also won in Dubai, UAE (hard court), defeating countryman Felix Mantilla. These results, joining with the good results on clay, made Corretja the most versatile Spanish player for several years. In February 1999, Corretja reached his career-high ranking of world no. 2.

Later career

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.

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 7–6, 5–7, 2–6, 0–6. In July of that year, Corretja won a five-set marathon match in the 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.

2002

Corretja's biggest win of 2002 came in the quarterfinals 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 semifinals, 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.

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. However, in the final, Corretja and Feliciano López lost the doubles rubber, as Spain were beaten 3–1 by Australia.

Life after tennis

Corretja announced his retirement on 24 September 2005. He won a total of 17 top-level singles titles and 3 doubles titles during his career.

Corretja coached Britain's Andy Murray from 2008 to 2011.

Grand Slam singles finals

Runners-up (2)

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

Singles finals

Wins (17–13)

Legend
Grand Slam (0–2)
Tennis Masters Cup (1–0)
ATP Masters Series (2–3)
ATP International Series Gold (5–0)
ATP International Series (9–8)
Titles by Surface
Hard (6–3)
Grass (0–0)
Clay (10–10)
Carpet (1–0)
Outcome No. Date Championship Surface Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up 1. 2 November 1992 Guarujá, Brazil Hard Germany Carsten Arriens 6–7, 3–6
Runner-up 2. 3 October 1994 Palermo, Italy Clay Spain Alberto Berasategui 6–2, 6–7(6–8), 4–6
Winner 1. 14 November 1994 Buenos Aires, Argentina Clay Argentina Javier Frana 6–3, 5–7, 7–6(7–5)
Runner-up 3. 13 May 1996 Hamburg, Germany Clay Spain Roberto Carretero 6–2, 4–6, 4–6, 4–6
Runner-up 4. 29 July 1996 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Spain Alberto Berasategui 2–6, 4–6, 4–6
Runner-up 5. 7 October 1996 Marbella, Spain Clay Germany Marc-Kevin Goellner 6–7(4–7), 6–7(2–7)
Winner 2. 14 April 1997 Estoril, Portugal Clay Spain Francisco Clavet 6–3, 7–5
Runner-up 6. 28 April 1997 Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Chile Marcelo Ríos 4–6, 4–6, 3–6
Runner-up 7. 5 May 1997 Munich, Germany Clay Australia Mark Philippoussis 6–7, 6–1, 4–6
Winner 3. 19 May 1997 Rome, Italy Clay Chile Marcelo Ríos 7–5, 7–5, 6–3
Winner 4. 21 July 1997 Stuttgart Outdoor, Germany Clay Slovakia Karol Kučera 6–2, 7–5
Winner 5. 16 February 1998 Dubai, UAE Hard Spain Félix Mantilla Botella 7–6(7–0), 6–0
Runner-up 8. 11 May 1998 Hamburg, Germany Clay Spain Albert Costa 2–6, 0–6, 0–1, ret.
Runner-up 9. 8 June 1998 French Open, Paris, France Clay Spain Carlos Moyà 3–6, 5–7, 3–6
Winner 6. 13 July 1998 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Germany Boris Becker 7–6(7–5), 7–5, 6–3
Winner 7. 24 August 1998 Indianapolis, U.S. Hard United States Andre Agassi 2–6, 6–2, 6–3
Winner 8. 26 October 1998 Lyon, France Carpet Germany Tommy Haas 2–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–1
Winner 9. 30 November 1998 Tennis Masters Cup, Hanover, Germany Hard Spain Carlos Moyà 3–6, 3–6, 7–5, 6–3, 7–5
Runner-up 10. 18 January 1999 Sydney, Australia Hard United States Todd Martin 3–6, 6–7
Runner-up 11. 30 August 1999 Long Island, U.S. Hard Sweden Magnus Norman 6–7(4–7), 6–4, 3–6
Runner-up 12. 20 September 1999 Mallorca, Spain Clay Spain Juan Carlos Ferrero 6–2, 5–7, 3–6
Winner 10. 20 March 2000 Indian Wells, U.S. Hard Sweden Thomas Enqvist 6–4, 6–4, 6–3
Winner 11. 17 July 2000 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Argentina Mariano Puerta 6–1, 6–3
Winner 12. 30 July 2000 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Spain Emilio Benfele Álvarez 6–3, 6–1, 3–0 retired
Winner 13. 21 August 2000 Washington, U.S. Hard United States Andre Agassi 6–2, 6–3
Winner 14. 23 October 2000 Toulouse, France Hard Spain Carlos Moyà 6–3, 6–2
Runner-up 13. 11 June 2001 French Open, Paris, France Clay Brazil Gustavo Kuerten 7–6(7–3), 5–7, 2–6, 0–6
Winner 15. 23 July 2001 Amsterdam, Netherlands Clay Morocco Younes El Aynaoui 6–3, 5–7, 7–6(7–0), 3–6, 6–4
Winner 16. 15 July 2002 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Argentina Gastón Gaudio 6–3, 7–6(7–3), 7–6(7–3)
Winner 17. 29 July 2002 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Spain Juan Carlos Ferrero 6–4, 6–1, 6–3

Singles performance timeline

Tournament 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 SR W–L
Grand Slam Tournaments
Australian Open A A A A 2R 2R 3R 2R 2R A 1R 1R 2R A 0 / 8 7–8
French Open 1R 1R 3R 4R 2R 4R F QF QF F SF 1R 3R A 0 / 13 36–13
Wimbledon A A 2R A 2R A 1R A A A A A 1R A 0 / 4 2–4
US Open 1R 1R 1R 2R QF 3R 4R 1R 3R 3R 3R 1R 1R A 0 / 13 16–12
Win–Loss 0–2 0–2 3–3 4–2 7–4 6–2 11–4 5–3 7–3 8–2 7–3 0–3 3–4 0–0 0 / 38 61–37
Year-End Championship
Tennis Masters Cup A A A A A A W A RR A A A A A 1 / 2 5–3
ATP Masters Series
Indian Wells Masters A A A 1R 2R 2R 1R 2R W 3R 2R 2R 3R A 1 / 10 14–8
Miami Masters A A A 1R 2R 3R SF 4R 2R 4R 4R 2R A A 0 / 9 13–9
Monte Carlo Masters A QF 3R 3R 1R F QF A QF 1R 3R 1R 2R A 0 / 11 20–11
Rome Masters 2R 2R 2R 3R 1R W 2R SF SF QF 1R 2R 1R A 1 / 13 24–12
Hamburg Masters 2R A 3R 1R F 3R F A 3R 2R 2R 1R 1R A 0 / 11 18–11
Canada Masters A A A A 2R A A A A A A A A A 0 / 1 1–1
Cincinnati Masters A A A 1R 1R 2R 2R 2R 1R A A 1R A A 0 / 7 2–7
Madrid Masters A A A A 1R 1R 1R 3R 2R 2R 3R 2R 2R A 0 / 9 5–9
Paris Masters A A A A 1R 2R 1R 2R QF 2R A A A A 0 / 6 3–6
Win–Loss 2–2 4–2 5–3 4–6 8–8 18–7 12–8 7–6 17–7 8–7 8–6 3–7 4–5 0–0 2 / 77 100–74
Year End Ranking 86 76 22 48 23 12 3 27 8 16 19 100 114 525

Personal and family life

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

References

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External links