Feliciano López Retires After 26 Seasons: An End to a Remarkable Tennis Career

On June 29, Feliciano López ended one of the longest careers in the history of tennis. The Toledo native retired at the age of 41 after 26 seasons as a professional. He did it at the Mallorca Open, on grass, a surface on which his vintage serve and volley game especially shined. He beat Australians Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson before losing in the quarterfinals to Germany’s Jannik Hanfmann 6-2 6-4 in 70 minutes. “I have understood tennis as a way to enjoy and I have tried to do my best to make people happy,” said Feli, excited, with his son, Darío, in his arms and with his wife, Sandra Gago.

López hung up his racket with 1,556 matches played between singles and doubles, and a balance of 506-490 and 260-300, respectively. In his record, seven singles titles (on the three surfaces) and six in pairs, among them one Grand Slam, that of Roland Garros 2016 with Marc López, who accompanied him in his farewell. By team, five Saladeras with Spain in the Davis Cup, with important interventions.

Among his milestones, having been a quarter-finalist three times at Wimbledon, on that grass where he was so good and where he ended his career. López accumulated longevity records, the most notable being the number of Grand Slams played consecutively, which he left at 79, for a total of 81, but he is also the one who has played the most tournaments in total (486), the one who has participated in more Masters 1,000 (139) and more ATP 500 (97). He has the best appearance mark in hard court (279) and outdoor (394) events. He played the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell 22 times, more than anyone, and 20 Wimbledon, also as the leader. He was one step away from the Top-10, was number 12 in the world and shares with Rafa Nadal the record for Davis Cup titles (5).

For all this and for being a charismatic figure in Spanish sports, AS awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award. She received it from Pilar Gil, vice president of Prisa. “I have been very lucky to have such a long career without injuries, which is what can cut you off. There are many athletes who know what it is like to go through that and I have been able to avoid it,” said the Toledo native, who does not plan to force his children (his wife, Sandra Gago, is pregnant with his second) to be tennis players. “I would like them to be happy. I was able to achieve many of the things I dreamed of when I started playing tennis, but it was very hard. There is a lot of sacrifice, but also happiness. I have been happy and I have not felt that I have lost anything in my life. I don’t know if my children will be willing to do everything necessary to be tennis players, but if they decide, I will support them. And if they want to play golf, like Jon Rahm, too,” he joked.

Against the big ones

A contemporary of Roger Federer, whom he could never beat (0-13), he did beat Novak Djokovic once and Nadal, one of his great friends on the tour, four times. He also sometimes surpassed Del Potro, Wawrinka, Hewitt, Berdych, Ferrer, Soderling, Davydenko and a long list of great rivals.

In reality, tennis has not lost Feli, it has had a very strong grip on him since he was a child. He is still very involved, now as an executive in the offices. He is director of the Mutua Madrid Open after soaking up the experience and advice of what he was for several years, the legendary Manolo Santana, who died in 2021 (“He was a brave person, very positive and always with a smile; he cared about everyone; That’s how we have to remember him,” he said of him). And he was this same year in the Davis Cup Finals, a position in which he hopes to continue, because he loves tennis.

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2023-12-18 20:13:12
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