Àlex Corretja

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 (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.

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.

As of 2015, he works for Eurosport as an field interviewer at the Grand Slam tournaments.