Tag Archives: Alex Corretja

Carlos Alcaraz Wins ATP Awards’ Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award

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Carlos Alcaraz is officially a great sport…

The 20-year-old Spanish professional tennis player has won the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award from the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

Carlos AlcarazThe award, which Alcaraz earned a year after becoming the youngest No. 1 in the history of the ATP rankings, recognizes fair play, professionalism and integrity on and off the court.

“I’m so happy to win the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award,” said Alcaraz. “I’m especially happy that it’s an award chosen by my colleagues on the circuit. It means a lot to me, so thank you all very much.”

Alcaraz becomes the fourth Spaniard to receive the prestigious ATP Awards honor, joining Jose Higueras (1983), Alex Corretja (1996, 1998) and five-time winner Rafael Nadal (2010, 2018-21).

He has now won three player-voted ATP Awards, receiving Newcomer of the Year in 2020 and Most Improved in 2022.

Granollers Claims bet-at-home Cup Title…

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Marcel Granollers’ title drought is officially over…

The 27-year-old Spanish tennis player defeated Argentina’s Juan Monaco 0-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4 in the bet-at-home Cup final in Austria to claim his first title since beating Monaco two years ago in Valencia, Spain.

Marcel Granollers

Granollers had to overcome a slow start Saturday to win his fourth ATP title.

“It’s a very special feeling to win here,” said the 53rd-ranked Granollers, who had failed to go beyond the quarterfinals of an event this season.

Granollers ended Robin Haase‘s two-year winning run in Kitzbuehel in the semifinals.

Monaco was seeking his ninth career title and second of the year, after winning in May in Duesseldorf, Germany.

The 31st-ranked Monaco, who won here in 2007, dictated the pace in the opening set with strong forehands from the baseline, sending Granollers from one corner to the other.

Monaco broke Granollers’ first service game with a winner off the net cord and added two more breaks to take the opening set in 23 minutes.

“I didn’t play well at all in the beginning. He was very solid from the start,” said Granollers, who won only nine points in the set. “When you’re close to winning a title, you get nervous.”

Granollers saved two more break points early in the second set, helping him settle down. He broke at the first opportunity to lead 5-3.

“He had chances in the second set as well, and I was lucky he couldn’t take them,” Granollers said. “From then on it became a different match.”

Granollers had a 4-0 lead in the deciding set. He missed three match points at 5-2, but converted at the fourth chance on Monaco’s serve when the Argentine sent a backhand volley long.

“Marcel deserved to win,” Monaco said. “In the end, he just played better than me.”

He’s the first Spanish winner since Alex Corretja in 2002 and improved to 4-2 in career finals.

Nadal Defeats Nicolas Almagro for His Eighth Barcelona Open Title

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Rafael Nadal continues his winning ways at the Barcelona Open…

The 26-year-old Spanish tennis superstar won the tournament for the eighth time on Sunday, beating his fellow countryman Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-3 to earn his fourth title of the year.

Rafael Nadal

“I am very happy,” said Nadal. “It has been an important week for me to win here again and a great source of joy after everything I have been through.”

Nadal has made six straight finals since returning from his knee injury. This title, the 54th of his career, comes a week after his eight-year reign at Monte Carlo ended with a loss to top-ranked Novak Djokovic.

“With just these six tournament since I have returned, I have managed to assure my place in the top 10 one more year, which is positive,” said Nadal, who is ranked No. 5. “These months of work have been worth it.”

Even so, Nadal is hesitant to say how this might carry over to Roland Garros, where he has won a record seven times.

Rafael Nadal

“This win doesn’t mean much,” he said. “Just that I am in good form since I have come back. The results are fantastic. I would never have imagined them and they are better than I had dreamed. I am back playing at a high level.”

After trailing 3-0 in the first set, Nadal found his form and broke Almagro in three of his next four service games to take command of the match, which was  played in a drizzle.

Nadal won the Barcelona Open from 2005-09 but did not play in 2010 because of a knee injury. He has won the tournament every year since. He has won 39 straight matches on the red clay at Real Club de Tenis, his last loss coming 10 years ago to Spain’s Davis Cup captain, Alex Corretja.

“I didn’t know in 2005 that I would win again or that in 2013 I would still be winning,” Nadal said.

Ferrer Helps Lead Spain into the Davis Cup Finals…

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David Ferrer is getting the superstar treatment in his native Spain…

The 30-year-old Spanish tenista beat John Isner on Sunday to put Spain up 3-1 and clinch the victory against the United States in the Davis Cup semifinals.

David Ferrer

Ferrer’s 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over Isner helped Spain advance to the Davis Cup final for the ninth time.

Spain will now face off against the Czech Republic, which defeated Argentina in Buenos Aires.

Ferrer, Spain’s No. 1 player in the Davis Cup, needed two hours and 59 minutes to put away Isner, the U.S.’s No. 1 player.

“I’m very happy to make a Davis Cup final once again because I’ve always said that this competition is where I’ve had the most emotions and, especially, to be able to share this with this group, with these buddies that I get along so well with,” said Ferrer. “Making another final makes me proud.”

David Ferrer & Spain's Davis Cup Team

Spain will next face the Czech Republic November 16-18 in the Davis Cup tie.

Spain has 24 consecutive home wins and is closing in on the record of 28 set by Italy between 1949 and 1964.

“It takes a lot to get to the final, and since nobody has given us anything, we value it a lot,” Spanish Davis Cup captain Alex Corretja said.

Spain has won the Davis Cup five times, with the country’s most recent victory coming against Argentina last year in Seville.

Spain won tennis’ premier international team competition in 2000 and 2009 in Barcelona against Australia and the Czech Republic, respectively, in 2008 in Mar del Plata against Argentina and in Seville in 2004 against the United States.

“It’s a matter of doing things well to compete in finals. I’m very thankful for the effort of those who were able to come and of those who couldn’t,” Corretja said. “It’s very hard to make it at this level and the four who are here deserve it.”

After Ferrer’s win over Isner, Spain and the United States decided not to play the fifth match scheduled since the semis were decided.

Nadal Wins Seventh Consecutive Barcelona Open Title…

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It’s no wonder Rafael Nadal is considered the player to beat on clay…

The 25-year-old Spanish tennis superstar—currently ranked No. 2 in the world—defeated countryman David Ferrer 7-6 (1), 7-5 in the Barcelona Open final on Sunday to claim his seventh consecutive title at the tournament.

Rafael Nadal

“It’s almost unimaginable to win here seven times,” said Nadal. “It’s a special tournament for me, at home in my club. To win at home in front of the people you know is always more special.”

Nadal needed two hours and 40 minutes to beat Ferrer, who is ranked No. 6 in the world.

“David pushed me to the physical limit and today, from a tennis standpoint, I did not play a brilliant match,” Nadal said.

Rafael Nadal

Nadal has not lost in Barcelona since the second round in 2003, when countryman Alex Corretja beat him.

“David deserves (to win) this tournament more than anybody,” said Nadal. “I hope he wins it some day.”

Ferrer has now lost four Barcelona Open finals to Nadal in the past five years. The two also played in the final here in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

“I tried everything, like always, but Rafa is Rafa, and we all already know how good he is. I’ve lost four times, but I’ve lost to one of the greats,” Ferrer said.

Nadal, who has won 10 Grand Slam championships, is considered the “king of clay,” having won six French Open titles.

The Barcelona Open is one of the biggest clay-court events on the ATP calendar and a key tune-up for the French Open, which gets underway in late May.