Pablo Andújar: Reflecting on a Notable Tennis Career

Pablo Andújar (Cuenca, 1986), feels Valencian because he has lived and resides all his life in Valencia. He is the father of four children and put an end to his professional career last Tuesday after losing to Martín Landaluce in the Faulcombridge Cup held at the Valencia Tennis Club. Pablo himself acquired the rights to this competition, which is an ATP Challenger 100 that was played for the first time in 1933. The tournament was not held for twenty years until last season it became part of the circuit again. Players of the caliber of Roberto Bautista, Pedro Martínez, Albert Ramos, Fabio Fognini and Pablo Andújar among others have participated in this edition.

Ole Andresen, President of the Valencia Tennis Club, states that “little by little we want to increase the financial endowment and, although I don’t think we will ever become a 250th tournament, it would be our greatest hope because we already were in 2005.” Valencia hosted the last two seasons of the Davis Cup qualifying phase and wants to be important again.

Andújar spoke to AS to summarize what the last twenty years have been like in the elite and to find out what the future will bring.

Beginnings in the world of tennis

My mother had a pet store in Benimaclet and my first trainer was her client. When I was leaving school she was going to the store with my mother and the coach suggested that I go play tennis so that I wouldn’t be in the way while she works (laughs)”

Did you imagine going this far in the world of tennis?

“Never. I dreamed of being able to play Roland Garros when I saw Sergi Bruguera win it, but logically it was the dream of a child who doesn’t know what it takes to reach that height. When you get older and appreciate what that dream and that goal costs. What I didn’t know was that I was going to retire at 37, I thought that at 30 my career would end.”

Pablo Andujar during a match this season.DOMINICK REUTERAFP

You suffered an ordeal with injuries in 2015, did you consider leaving tennis?

I considered quitting because I had elbow surgery three times in two and a half years. The last time I told my wife that it was going to be the last time I had surgery. My son was born and I had other priorities.

You have said that the birth of your son changed your priorities, now, without competition, what does the future hold for you?

“The Faulcombridge Cup has a lot of work. I am also on the ATP board of directors, which takes up my time with meetings because it is a position of responsibility, but I have much more time than when I was a tennis player. I take my children to school, I play with them in the park… I like to do activities with them and it is one of the things that I also retire for.”

Acquired the rights to the Faulcombridge Cup…

“Now I am trying to give back to Valencia a great tennis tournament and that is why I am with the Falcoumbridge Cup. This year we have almost a 250 frame with Foggini, Bautista. Albert Ramos, Pedro Martínez… I try to organize and make the tournament grow.”

What is Valencia missing to have a good tournament?

“This is a job of showing, little by little, that we can once again hold a big tournament like the ATP 250 of the Valencia Tennis Club. We have to show that we can have a large tournament where the players feel comfortable, where the sponsors know they can enter, where the social masses of Valencia know they can have a good time and network there and eat well. This year we have improved compared to last year, but we need a little time until when we get an opportunity that we can fight for it because we have already done the previous work.”

Returning to court tennis and leaving office aside, what role models have you had in tennis during your sporting career?

“I have had many. When I was little it was Bruguera. I had Juan Carlos Ferrero very close because he was from Valencia. To Marat Saffin because I trained with him. Then it was David Ferrer and also Nadal because we have played a lot and we are from the same year.”

What is it like playing against Rafa Nadal?

“It’s always special. It is very difficult because he is a phenomenon, he has a lot of strength and does incredible things, but you have to look for solutions during the game that almost never turn out well because he always has the perfect dose so that they do not succeed. “It is a pride because together with Djokovic, he is the best in the world.”

Has being a contemporary of Rafa Nadal benefited you in your career?

“I think so. This way there is more love for tennis because people want to see their idols. We take advantage of that media pull that they have. Perhaps it could have been more recognized if players like Rafa or Ferrer had not been there, but the reality is that we have benefited. Furthermore, recognition is something that doesn’t concern me. What interests me is that the tennis industry advances and tennis players can continue making a living doing what we like most, which is playing tennis.”

What has been your best game?

“A semi-final match against Rafa Nadal in Rio de Janeiro in 2014. I ended up losing after having a couple of match points. Despite the defeat, it was my best game.”

Pablo Andujar congratulates Rafa Nadal at the end of the match that the Mallorcan won and gives him a pass to the final of the tournament. JAVIER GANDUL

You participated in the Tokyo Olympics, what did it mean to you?

“I wanted to experience some games and I was able to do it in 2021. I didn’t expect it because it was in 2021 and I was at the end of my career. The shame is that there was no audience due to the pandemic. I was lucky to be in the Olympic Village and be able to talk to athletes from other sports.”

Finally, what grade would you give to your career?

“A 7. A notable low, but a notable one (laughs).”

2023-11-23 14:42:56
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