Tennis Prose




Oct/21

24

Feliciano Lopez Iron Man Grand Slam Streak In Jeopardy

Feliciano Lopez has played in 78 consecutive Grand Slam main draws, dating all the way back to Roland Garros 2002, but the lefty Spaniard’s historic run is in severe jeopardy of ending at the 2022 Australian Open.

The just turned 40 Lopez’s singles ranking has falled to a current 109 which would leave him out of the Australian Open main draw.

This week in St. Petersburg, Russia, Lopez lost in qualies to Alexei Popyrin 75 76. And so he has only a very small window of opportunity from now to next January to obtain the ATP points to build up his ranking.

Of course, there is always the option that AO could give him a wildcard. Or he could battle through three rounds of qualies in Melbourne.

It’s been a slow, unproductive season for Lopez. His won-loss record in 2022 is 9-20 (501-475 for his career).

Lopez began the year ranked 63 and won two rounds in the AO – besting Li Tu and Lorenzo Sonego in five sets in the second round – before falling to Rublev in three sets.

Lopez lost in the first round at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open in five sets to Bernabe Zapata Miralles 75 67 64 36 36. Lopez arrived to New York knowing his ranking of 97 was in desperate need of point protection. The loss to Miralles dropped Lopez to 108 in October.

Lopez has mostly bypassed doubles in 2021, playing only at four events (1-4 on the year), to concentrate his energies on singles.

He is currently playing without a coach.

So is the two-decade steak of consecutive Grand Slam main draw singles appearances about to conclude at 78 for Lopez? Or can he produce an urgent surge of his best tennis to save and extend one of the most impressive, unbreakable records in ATP history?


Anett Kontaveit won her third singles title within two months in Moscow by beating Alexandrova 76 in the third. New coach Dmitri Tursunov has rejuvenated her career.

Aslan Karatsev won Kremlin Cup beating Marin Cilic in final in straight sets.

Jannik Sinner plowed through Diego Schwartzman in Antwerp final 62 62.

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2 comments

  • catherine · October 25, 2021 at 11:28 am

    Who is coaching Raducanu this week –

    “Myself.”

    From her presser in Roumania. I wonder if this will catch on ?

    Svitolina has dispensed with Bettles and is on the market. She lost her last match 1&1. So one job opportunity opening for those who their had eyes on Emma.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 25, 2021 at 12:02 pm

    catherine, results are what prove who is a top coach and nobody has better results as a coach than Dmitri Tursunov. Every where he goes he produces champions – Vesnina, Sabalenka and now Kontaveit.

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