French Runner-up Coria Announces Retirement
Posted on April 29, 2009Guillermo Coria, most famous for leading in the 2004 French Open final 6-0, 5-1 before losing to Gaston Gaudio in a bizarre five-set final, has announced his retirement.
"In 2005 I began to feel less and less like competing," said Coria in a statement on the Argentine Tennis Association website. The Argentine underwent shoulder surgery around that time and was never the same as when he finished in the Top 10 from 2003-05. "My passion just wasn't the same and it's impossible to do things well when it's like that. In this sport, you have to be at 100 percent."
The former world No. 3 has struggled on the challenger circuit of late, with his ranking currently at No. 672.
"I no longer want to compete in tournaments," said the 27 year old. "I'm very happy with the decision I've taken. I have plans and I want to spend more time with my family."
Among Coria's larger titles were the Masters Series-Hamburg in 2003, and the Masters Series-Monte Carlo in 2004, both on clay. He was also runner-up at the MS-Monte Carlo in 2003 and 2005, the MS-Hamburg in 2004, the MS-Rome in 2005, 's-Hertogenbosch on grass in 2004, and the MS-Miami on hardcourt in 2004.
Coria was also banned for seven months by the ATP in 2001 for testing positive for the banned performance-enhancing substance nandrolone.
"In 2005 I began to feel less and less like competing," said Coria in a statement on the Argentine Tennis Association website. The Argentine underwent shoulder surgery around that time and was never the same as when he finished in the Top 10 from 2003-05. "My passion just wasn't the same and it's impossible to do things well when it's like that. In this sport, you have to be at 100 percent."
The former world No. 3 has struggled on the challenger circuit of late, with his ranking currently at No. 672.
"I no longer want to compete in tournaments," said the 27 year old. "I'm very happy with the decision I've taken. I have plans and I want to spend more time with my family."
Among Coria's larger titles were the Masters Series-Hamburg in 2003, and the Masters Series-Monte Carlo in 2004, both on clay. He was also runner-up at the MS-Monte Carlo in 2003 and 2005, the MS-Hamburg in 2004, the MS-Rome in 2005, 's-Hertogenbosch on grass in 2004, and the MS-Miami on hardcourt in 2004.
Coria was also banned for seven months by the ATP in 2001 for testing positive for the banned performance-enhancing substance nandrolone.