Career titles 2 Height 1.85 m Turned pro 1996 Retired 2003 | Career record 82- 64 Highest ranking No. 30 (15 June 1998) Weight 82 kg Prize money 2.85253 USD Handed Right-handed | |
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Plays Right-handed (one-handed backhand) | ||
Julián Alonso Pintor (born 2 August 1977) is a retired tennis player from Catalonia, Spain, who turned professional in 1995 and retired in 2003. He was known in tennis because of his incredible serve, many times compared with the Goran Ivanisevic´s service. In 1997, playing against Ivanisevic (2nd seeded), in Long Island, beat him for first Top 10 victory en route to SF and in that match fired a 143 mph serve to become just third player (Philippoussis, Rusedski) to register a serve of at least 143. In this days Julian Alonso is the founder of Julian Alonso Team "JAT" located in Palm Beach (Florida) focusing on the junior development. He is coaching Alexander Adamec one of the top junior players in 12's. www.julianalonsoteam.com.
Married to Arantxa Vivanco and father of two children Juli Alonso and Oliver Alonso
Tennis career
Alonso was awarded the ATP Newcomer of the Year prize after winning his first ATP title in Santiago and finishing in the Top 30 in 1997. In the final of the tournament, he defeated Marcelo Ríos, World No. 1 ranking 6-1 6-2 in 46 min. Previously, that same year, Tim Henman after being defeated by an impressive show of big serves and incredible hits by Alonso at "The Lipton" Key Biscaine (current Miami open) declared: "Julian will be the next number 1 in the World before Wimbledon"
After this very promising start, however, his career is considered underwhelming; he only won one more title (Bologna, 1998) and retired in 2003 after half year playing only Challengers. He confessed that the decline of his career started with the relationship with Martina Hingis. The pressure of the media and his mother-in-law made Alonso's ranking and selfconfidence fall. He reached his career-high ATP singles ranking of World No. 29 in June 1998 (after winning his second and final title). He used to play singles and doubles in Davis Cup Spanish team with Joan Ballcells during Manolo Santana captaincy, and several single matches.
