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Feliciano Lopez Wins First ATP Match Since 2021
10 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Former ATP world no. 12 Feliciano Lopez is in his final year of professional tennis after turning pro way back in 1997.
The 41 year old is ranked 1035 now. He requested and received a wildcard into the Acapulco and defeated Chris Eubanks 76 64 (last year at Indian Wells qualies Lopez lost to Eubanks 46 63 75). This win over the American is the first ATP World Tour match win for the Spanish southpaw since… 2021 Davis Cup vs Russia vs no. 5 Andrey Rublev 26 63 63 which was played in December. Last year in 2022 Lopez was 0-11 in ATP World Tour matches.
The only match Lopez won last year was in the first round of Queens Club qualifying, he beat Bradley Klahn 75 64 but then lost in the second round to Emil Ruusuvuori 36 76 67. Lopez’s ranking at the start of 2022 was 109.
Lopez will hope his luck continues in the second round where he will play Frances Tiafoe, a man he has beaten in their only other previous clash, 64 76 in Antwerp in 2018.
In his illustrious career Lopez has won seven career ATP titles and 504 career singles matches. But Lopez is best known for his Grand Slam “Iron Man” streak of playing in 79 consecutive Grand Slam main draws spanning from 2002 Roland Garros to 2022 Australian Open. Lopez’s streak ended at 2022 Roland Garros where he was defeated in qualies first round by Gian Marco Moroni. 61 76.
Lopez reached the quarterfinals four times in Grand Slams – Wimbledon 2005, 2008, 2011 and US Open 2015.
Acapulco · Feliciano Lopez · Iron Man · Spain · Wilson tennis · Wimbledon
Scoop Malinowski · March 2, 2023 at 12:20 pm
Lopez lost a close match to For 62 76 but the good thing is he looked very good, fit, and sharp and he’s playing top 30 tennis again. He did not look 41.
Cory · March 2, 2023 at 10:04 pm
I agree scoop his shotmaking was incredible. I think his lateral movement was very 41-ish. To be expected. But maybe we’ll see some magic this year from him – especially at those grass courts where his game is best suited of course. Eastborne i think… where he won a championship just a couple years ago?
Lopez could probably play doubles for a few more years.
Scoop Malinowski · March 3, 2023 at 7:45 am
Cory, Lopez will need all wildcards though, hopefully Murray and Sock will not longer need to ask for wildcards and Lopez can get the ones they would have gotten. Fritz beat Tiafoe for the sixth time in a row, will play Paul next, 3-3 h2h. With Ruud losing to Taro Daniel, beginning to wonder if Ruud peaked and is going to slide down the rankings like Zverev and Shapovalov.
Cory · March 3, 2023 at 12:21 pm
Hope lopez can get those WCs scoop, he’s been a solid rock to the sport and deserves it for this last go-round.
Taro Daniel is an enigma to me. I could be wrong but he seems to disappear here and there, comes out and plays decent tennis, disappears again. Does he have a FT job somewhere? 😉 Speaking of Shapo, top 10 talent but immensely poor mental game. I really, really like Ruud, his mental game is top shelf just think he doesn’t have serious weaponry on hard surface, and he will be a top 15-type guy and hey, that’s quite a thing. I know he has nicked the top 5 before just don’t see much more of that.
Cory · March 3, 2023 at 12:22 pm
As we speak, Ruud is #4 with a high of #2. That’s quite a great thing so i suppose i stand corrected in real-time. 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · March 3, 2023 at 2:54 pm
If anyone deserves a dozen WCs this year it’s Lopez and not Murray or Sock who already have asked for and received dozens. Lopez has been a huge credit to the ATP, he’s a better sportsman than Federer and Nadal, who for some reason monopolized the award (political favoritism) and his style is the most aesthetic in the ATP. I’m sure he will get help for grass season at all three tournaments and Barcelona, Madrid. Maybe Newport.
Scoop Malinowski · March 3, 2023 at 2:56 pm
Daniel is a very good ATP journeyman and fully capable of having the best moments of his career in his 30s like Estrella Burgos, Pecotic, etc. Ruud is a mystery where he goes from here, very curious to see if he can improve. Not sure if the establishment really would like to see him at no. 1 as the face of the sport. Even the Norwegian media find him “boring.” (Their description not mine.)
fannadal · March 3, 2023 at 11:28 pm
Feli announced his retirement long ago. He’s going to play a few tournaments this year to say goodbye. He just spent a couple of weeks at Rafa’s Academy to get himself into shape. He originally said Madrid would be his last tourney but has now said that he’ll be too busy as tournament director so he’d like Queens to be his last if he can get a WC for it.
Scoop Malinowski · March 4, 2023 at 7:16 am
fannadal, As for former Queens champion singles and doubles, Lopez will surely get a wc into main draw. Be nice to see him play doubles with Andy again.
Scoop Malinowski · March 4, 2023 at 4:59 pm
Very interesting, I have been informed Novak will fight the right to play IW and Miami.
We are planing media blitz if Novak don’t get visa on Monday. Waiting for see Larry Ellison request. Stay tuned…
Yes let’s wait until Monday. Right now there is to buy this big donors that have Parkinson’s disease and need our help. We with Novak can make difference in there health. Today and tomorrow they will talk to Biden and see what is going to happen. No money for next election.