Nicolás Almagro
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Country | Spain | |
Residence | Murcia, Spain | |
Date of birth | August 21, 1985 | |
Place of birth | Murcia, Spain | |
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | |
Weight | 179 lb (81 kg) | |
Turned Pro | 2003 | |
Plays | Right | |
Career Prize Money | $588,408 | |
Singles | ||
Career record: | 49-55 | |
Career titles: | 1 | |
Highest ranking: | 28 (February 26, 2007) | |
Grand Slam results | ||
Australian Open | 1st (2005, 2006) | |
French Open | 2nd (2005) | |
Wimbledon | 1st (2005) | |
U.S. Open | 2nd (2005) | |
Doubles | ||
Career record: | 4-10 | |
Career titles: | 0 | |
Highest ranking: | 268 (July 12, 2004) |
Nicolás Almagro (born August 21, 1985) is a Spanish tennis player known for his flair, talent and inconsistency. He plays right-handed and uses a single-handed backhand. His favorite surface is clay. As of early 2007, Almagro is the second-youngest of the many Spanish players in the ATP Top 100 (after Rafael Nadal).
Almagro had been a highly rated junior for many years, and finally realised his potential in 2005. He played in the main draw of 3 out of 4 slams, and recorded his first victory over a top 10 player when he defeated Marat Safin 6-4 6-3 in Rome. Since then he has cemented his position within the top 100, but his results were still far from consistent.
Finally, in April 2006, Almagro won his maiden ATP tournament title - the Open de Tenis Comunidad Valenciana (Valencia, Spain). Almagro was forced to come through the qualification rounds just to make this event, but that did not stop him from winning 8 matches in a row including 3 set victories over former world #1's Juan Carlos Ferrero and Marat Safin.
Following this title, Almagro stated that he is pleased with where his tennis is taking him, and that he expects even bigger and better results in the near future.
Ever since Valencia, Almagro has been on an excellent run, reaching the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open before losing to Rafael Nadal, and followed that up by reaching the quarter finals in Rome, where he lost to Roger Federer in 3 tight sets - 7-5 in the 3rd.
He entered Roland Garros 2006 as the bookmakers 3rd favourite but suffered a disappointing 2nd round loss to James Blake. The remainder of 2006 was uninspiring for Nicolas as he was away from his favoured clay surface. He did show signs of improving his hard court game by making a quarter final indoors in Lyon and he also won matches at the Masters Events in Cincinatti and Paris.
The 2007 European clay court season will be an important time for Almagro as he seeks to defend his Valencia title and repeat last years good form. A better showing at Roland Garros is expected.