Feliciano Lopez extends career by a day at least (Nadal in attendence)

Zardoz7/12

Zardoz7/12

Hall of Fame
Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez (41) extended his career by at least one more day with an emotional victory at the Mallorca Open on Tuesday -- the final event of his 26-year career.
The left-hander was cheered on by friend and compatriot 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal (37) during his 6-3 7-5 victory over Max Purcell (25).


Lopez, who reached a career high ranking of 12 and holds the record for appearing in 79 successive Grand Slam main draws, will face Australian Jordan Thompson (29) on Wednesday.

"It's a really special win for me, probably one of the most special wins of my career so far, to be honest," Lopez, who has more than 500 ATP singles wins, said on court at the Santa Ponsa Country Club after his win.

"This is over my expectations, to be winning a match at this stage of my career in Mallorca, this beautiful place, surrounded by the ones that I love, my friends."
 
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aldeayeah said:
Would probably have to be an indoor fall masters or a nonexistent grass masters, since elsewhere the level just wasn't there.
Click to expand...

I don't think that Lopez was as good indoors as one would think, given his playing style. He only won one indoor title and made two other finals. Bearing in mind that he won four grass titles and the grass season is much shorter, I think that suggests his indoor game didn't hold up as well, perhaps because his slice was less effective on modern, gritty hard courts, even if they are indoors.

On the other hand, if there were more of the old-style hard courts, he could be decent outdoors, too, I think. And on carpet, probably.
 
He was clocking 220kph serves that were perfectly placed, i know his mobility isnt very decent anymore but its sad to think hes gonna retire when he can serve and volley like he did yesterday, he plays his true game on grass
 
a career without regrets, millions in the bank and models to date......what more can you expect? perhaps he should have edged out fed in that hard-fought madrid fight a few years ago when verdasco was cheering from the stands......another incident i remember is him mocking someone in retaliation with a tweet "huge talent this guy" when he lost, can't remember the player he was mocking......
 
Zardoz7/12 said:
Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez (41) extended his career by at least one more day with an emotional victory at the Mallorca Open on Tuesday -- the final event of his 26-year career.
The left-hander was cheered on by friend and compatriot 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal (37) during his 6-3 7-5 victory over Max Purcell (25).


Lopez, who reached a career high ranking of 12 and holds the record for appearing in 79 successive Grand Slam main draws, will face Australian Jordan Thompson (29) on Wednesday.

"It's a really special win for me, probably one of the most special wins of my career so far, to be honest," Lopez, who has more than 500 ATP singles wins, said on court at the Santa Ponsa Country Club after his win.

"This is over my expectations, to be winning a match at this stage of my career in Mallorca, this beautiful place, surrounded by the ones that I love, my friends."
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I don't know why an active player is allowed to be a director of the tournament.
 
Start da Game said:
a career without regrets, millions in the bank and models to date......what more can you expect? perhaps he should have edged out fed in that hard-fought madrid fight a few years ago when verdasco was cheering from the stands......another incident i remember is him mocking someone in retaliation with a tweet "huge talent this guy" when he lost, can't remember the player he was mocking......
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He was also the obscure object of desire for Murray's mother.
:happydevil:
 
D_m_a said:
wow never knew there was a grass court tournament in Spain
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Yeah its quite new, im from valencia and i was about to catch a plane to mallorca to watch it, its barely a half an hour flight, its great we have some grass here, grass is my favourite part of the season, but i guess the hot climate makes it very difficult to keep the grass in good condition
 
Slicehand said:
Yeah its quite new, im from valencia and i was about to catch a plane to mallorca to watch it, its barely a half an hour flight, its great we have some grass here, grass is my favourite part of the season, but i guess the hot climate makes it very difficult to keep the grass in good condition
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And then here they ask here why the ATP does not extend the grass season.
:rolleyes:
 
DSH said:
And then here they ask here why the ATP does not extend the grass season.
:rolleyes:
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Iguess its logistically just not worth it, i mean people gonna watch the tourneys just the same, no point in making it just for the love of tennis when its not a profitable bussiness, for us fans is a pity tough
 
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Hitman said:
I wish he had won at least one masters title in his career. His game was so good to watch.
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BH was a major liability his entire career as well as return of serve with that BH. If he had even an average BH he could hit over and a slightly better return, he could have been really dangerous.

Also interesting is that from the age of 22-26 during 2003-2007, his ranking was in the 30s 40s, 50s, and 60s with some forays in the 20s, while in stronk eras of 2012, 2014 and 2015 he had his career best runs.
 
ghostofMecir said:
BH was a major liability his entire career as well as return of serve with that BH. If he had even an average BH he could hit over and a slightly better return, he could have been really dangerous.

Also interesting is that from the age of 22-26 during 2003-2007, his ranking was in the 30s 40s, 50s, and 60s with some forays in the 20s, while in stronk eras of 2012, 2014 and 2015 he had his career best runs.
Click to expand...
He had one really nice topspin backhand pass in this match.

The other 2 attempts at topspin backhands did not land in the court. It’s kinda like he has trouble even hitting the shot sometimes.
 
ghostofMecir said:
BH was a major liability his entire career as well as return of serve with that BH. If he had even an average BH he could hit over and a slightly better return, he could have been really dangerous.

Also interesting is that from the age of 22-26 during 2003-2007, his ranking was in the 30s 40s, 50s, and 60s with some forays in the 20s, while in stronk eras of 2012, 2014 and 2015 he had his career best runs.
Click to expand...
Perhaps his playstyle became progressively more unfamiliar to the younger players as the years went by. Not many serve and volleyers on tour in the 2010s even compared to the 00s.
 
Feli played his last pro match today:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1674441094161997825


Rafa was in Barcelona today, he sent a video message to Feli:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1674446297800261637
Genny SS tweeted: “Super nice & emotional words from Rafa to Feli… :)
He congratulated Feli for a long and consistent career, and thanked him for being a great colleague. Life on tour has been happier with Feli around. Rafa has cherished the great moments they have lived together and Feli’s support in tough moments they have lived together, and his support in tough moments.”
 
octobrina10 said:
Feli played his last pro match today:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1674441094161997825


Rafa was in Barcelona today, he sent a video message to Feli:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1674446297800261637
Genny SS tweeted: “Super nice & emotional words from Rafa to Feli… :)
He congratulated Feli for a long and consistent career, and thanked him for being a great colleague. Life on tour has been happier with Feli around. Rafa has cherished the great moments they have lived together and Feli’s support in tough moments they have lived together, and his support in tough moments.”
Click to expand...

Rafa's video message (Click the forward icon on the side to listen it in English ... , but it seems that something went wrong when uploading the video):

 
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