Alex Corretja

Infobox Tennis player
playername= Àlex Corretja


country=
residence= Barcelona, Spain
datebirth= birth date and age|1974|04|11
placebirth= Barcelona, Spain
height= height|m=1.80
weight= convert|72|kg|lb st|abbr=on
turnedpro= 1991
retired= 2005
plays= Right
careerprizemoney= $10,411,354
singlesrecord= 438–281
singlestitles= 17
highestsinglesranking= 2 (February 1, 1999)
AustralianOpenresult= 3R (1998)
FrenchOpenresult= F (1998, 2001)
Wimbledonresult= 2R (1994, 1996)
USOpenresult= QF (1996)
Othertournaments = Yes
MastersCupresult = W (1998)
doublesrecord= 103–115
doublestitles= 3
highestdoublesranking= 50 (June 9, 1997)

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 a temporary coach of British tennis player Andy Murray in April 2008 for the duration of the clay court season.

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 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.

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.)

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Grand Slam singles finals

Runner-ups (2)

A = did not participate in the tournament

Personal and family life

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

External links

*
*ATP|id=C344
*ITF male profile|number=10002106
*DavisCupplayerlink|id=10002106