SANTA PONSA/STARNBERG, June 29, 2023
The professional tennis career of Feliciano Lopez has come to end after 26 years on the tour. The 41-year-old Spaniard lost 6-2 6-4 to Yannick Hanfmann of Germany in Thursday’s quarterfinals of the Mallorca Championships.
Lopez, who entered the main draw of the ATP 250 grass-court tournament, had delighted the home crowd at the Mallorca Country Club in Santa Ponsa, Calvià with victories over Australians Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson in the first two rounds but fell short against the German. Hanfmann fired eight aces and won 82 per cent of his first-service points to prevail after one hour and 10 minutes.
Farewell Feliciano ⭐️@YannickHanfmann‘s QF 6-2 6-4 win marks the final ATP match for @feliciano_lopez!
What a career 👏#MallorcaChampionships pic.twitter.com/QNi8HTOpfc
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 29, 2023
“That was a very concentrated, good performance from me. I’m proud of myself that I kept it up for two sets,” said Hanfmann. “Feli gave me a couple of double faults to break. That helped me for sure. I tried to take away his left-handed serves a bit and put pressure with my returns. I managed all that well.”
Lopez captured 12 ATP Tour titles and reached a career high ranking of World No. 12. The lefty from Toledo holds the record for appearing in 79 successive Grand Slam main draws. Lopez completed his career with a 506-490 tour-level record, having won more matches on grass (87) than any other Spaniard. The three-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist will now focus on his new role as tournament director of the Davis Cup Finals.
Hanfmann, who also knocked out top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in Mallorca, will next face Adrian Mannarino. The World No. 43 beat fellow Frenchman Corentin Moutet 7-5, 6-2 on his 35th birthday in one hour and 47 minutes.
Eubanks advances to first semi-final on the ATP Tour
In other action, Christopher Eubanks from the United States fought past French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech 7-6(5), 7-6(4) in one hour and 57 minutes to reach his first semi-final on the ATP Tour.
First SF in the Eu-banks! 🤩@chris_eubanks96 reaches his maiden tour level semi-final as he takes out Rinderknech 7-6 7-6 in Mallorca!#MallorcaChampionships pic.twitter.com/2fetAJeoR3
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 29, 2023
“My serve really came up pretty clutch when I needed it to. I was broken twice today. It was the first time I think I was broken in the tournament, so I had to kind of regroup a little bit after that,” Eubanks said in his on-court interview. “But I was able to kind of regain my composure, get back to playing the way that I can play, playing aggressive, and I think it worked out in the end.
“As far as Mallorca, I’ve been able to get a lot of support here, which has been surprising, so I really appreciate you guys for coming out. I know some of the big names have gone on to Wimbledon, but for you guys to still come out in this type of heat and humidity to support us really means a lot.”
Eubanks is up to a career-high No. 58 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings and will next take on South African Lloyd Harris, who beat Pavel Kotov of Russia 7-5, 6-2. The encounter lasted one hour and 37 minutes.
