Status: Winner of six ATP singles titles and Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles for Chile at 2004 Olympics (the only two gold medals in Chile’s Olympic history. Career high ranking was no. 9. Retired in 2013, now coaches Dominic Thiem.
Ht/Wt: 6-feet, 177 pounds.
Born On: October 10, 1979 in Vina del Mar, Chile.
Childhood Hero: “Rocky the movie [smiles].”
Tennis Inspirations: “When I start when I was younger — Boris Becker and Thomas Muster. Those were my two.”
Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “I like to play soccer. To be with my friends, go out with my friends.”
Nicknames: Nico, Vampiro.
Favorite Movies: “Gladiator.”
Favorite TV Show: “The Simpsons is my favorite.”
Musical Tastes: “Spanish music, Ricky Martin.”
Early Tennis Memory: “The first time that I passed the top 100 in 1999. After winning Challenger in Santiago in November ’99. Was doing good in Challengers, I won three Challengers. Then when I won my first ATP tournament in Buenos Aires (2002), I saved match points (in final against Calleri).”
Pre-Match Feeling: “All are different. Sometimes you’re nervous, sometimes not. Sometimes you are more confident, sometimes without confidence. Normally, a little bit nervous but not too much. Just depends on when I go out on the court to play.”
Favorite Meal: “Pizza.”
Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Everything.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”
First Job: “Tennis.”
First Car: “‘Chevrolet convertible, black. ’96, I have it in ’99.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Now I think August 2004, champion of Olympics in singles and doubles. And also carried my countries flag at 2000 Olympics (when Marcelo Rios did not show up).”
Most Painful Moment: “I think when we lost some important Davis Cup — Zimbabwe, India, Slovakia, Russia, Israel, Croatia. (Massu’s overall Davis Cup record is 29-17 including 17-4 on clay.)”
Funny Tennis Memory: “Just not in singles, when I play doubles I have a lot of good memories.”
Closest Tennis Friends: “Marcelo Rios and Fernando Gonzalez, some Argentine and some Spanish players.”
Funniest Players Encountered: “Fernando Vicente. He’s funny and a good person.”
Toughest Competitors: “Federer, Nadal, Hewitt, Agassi, Ferrero.”
Favorite Vacation Spot: “Cancun.”
Favorite Athletes To Watch: “I think Mike Tyson when he was young. Because I think he was a good competitor. And he was the best in the world. He had a lot of confidence.Michael Jordan. I read one time a book of him, I like it. My favorite soccer team is Everton from Vina del Mar. (Tennis?) I don’t have any one now. You don’t have idols when you play because you play against all these guys. I don’t have idols.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “Good, friendly people. Good person. And respect, you know?”
Chile · Dominic Thiem · Nicolas Massu
Scoop Malinowski · October 27, 2019 at 2:58 pm
Massu deserves to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on the merit of his two gold medals in 2004 in singles and doubles. Those are the only two gold medals in the history of Chile. Federer, Djokovic and Nadal will never duplicate this miraculous achievement of Massu. Hall of Fame for Massu!