Carlos Moya

Carlos Moya followed in the footsteps of fellow Spaniard Sergi Bruguera to become Roland Garros champion in 1998.

Tall and dashing, bandana-clad Moya was more than just a clay-courter. Unfailingly polite, he became a crowd pleaser with his desire to maximise his natural talent and thrived on confidence.

By improving his attacking instincts, to complement well placed serving and a potent forehand, Moya reached the 1997 Australian Open – losing to Pete Sampras 6-2, 6-3, 6-3. Four of his 20 career titles came on hard courts, including at 2002 Cincinnati (d. Hewitt).

Moya won the first of his three ATP Masters Series titles at Monte-Carlo in 1998, his best year, when he captured his lone major championship title in Paris with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 victory over Alex Corretja. His 6-1, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 quarter-final win over Marcelo Rios ranks as one of his best memories. Shortly after his 23rd birthday, he reached the US Open semi-finals (l. to Philippoussis) and finished runner-up at the ATP World Tour Championships, despite holding a two-sets-to-love lead against Corretja. 

Four months later, he briefly held the World No. 1 ranking. But a stress fracture in his lower back at the 1999 US Open dented his considerable powers. Moya went onto win a further 15 titles, but he made just another five major quarter-final appearances – including at 2003-04, ’07 Roland Garros.

Arguably, his greatest moment came for Spain, before a record crowd in Seville, at the 2004 Davis Cup final. Beating Mardy Fish on the opening day, Moya topped Andy Roddick to secure a 3-2 win.

A nagging foot injury ended his career on 17 November 2010. He now competes on the ATP Champions Tour and runs the SD Tennis Academy in Madrid.

MAJOR TITLES (1) – French singles, 1998.

DAVIS CUP – 1996-99, 2000-04, 20-7 singles.

SINGLES RECORD IN THE MAJORS – Australian (13-13), French (32-12), Wimbledon (7-8), US (26-13)

Bio Courtesy: James Buddell

Full name is Carlos Moya Llompart...Began playing tennis at age six...Writes left-handed...Parents, Andres and Pilar; older sister, Begona; older brother, Andres...Winner of European 18s singles and doubles titles (w/Diaz)... Also member of winning Galea Cup team in 1994...Enjoys video games and travels with his PlayStation and Minidisc and also enjoys music of U2, Bon Jovi and Queen...A big fan of RCD Mallorca soccer team...Good friends with Spanish music group Cafe’ Quijano, who often watch his matches live...He went on stage with them in Barcelona and sang his favorite song “La Lola”...Spent a week of mandatory military reserves duty in July 1997 and cut his traditionally long hair at time.

In May 1999, selected by People Magazine in U.S. as one of its “50 Most Beautiful People in the World”...Involved in local charity efforts in his hometown of Mallorca... During his back rehabilitation in later part of 1999, took French, guitar and scuba diving lessons...Also got a tattoo of a dolphin on his right bicep...In October 2000, launched a line of his own cologne in Madrid and the product was expected to be sold in 40 countries and its slogan, “Life is the most exciting game”...In April 2001, made his acting debut as a tennis coach in a Spanish movie “Torrente II”...Has a 20-7 career Davis Cup singles record in 15 ties...Friend of pro golfer Sergio Garcia and pro basketball player Pau Gasol of Los Angeles Lakers... Donated his first prize earnings of $52,000 after winning Chennai title on Jan. 9, 2005 to tsunami relief efforts... Named Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of Year in 2005...Coached by former ATP pro Luis Lobo of Argentina (since August 2006). 

On 18 August 2010, his girlfriend, actress Carolina Cerezuela, gave birth to a daughter, Carla, at 9:20 a.m. in Palma de Mallorca...A son, Carlos, was born on 12 December 2012.

1995 -- Won first ATP title in Buenos Aires (d. Mantilla)...

1996 -- Broke into Top 20 for first time, winning title in Umag (d. Mantilla) and reaching finals in Munich (l. to Dosedel) and Bucharest (l. to Berasategui)...Defeated Muster in Munich SF, ending the Austrian's 38-match winning streak on clay going back to 1995...Made Davis Cup debut vs. Denmark in World Group playoff tie and won both matches...

1997 -- Finished as No. 1 Spaniard and in Top 10 for first time, winning lone title in Long Island (d. Rafter) while reaching five other finals (three on hard courts)...Runner-up in Sydney (l. to Henman) and his first Grand Slam final at Australian Open (d. Becker, Chang; l. to Sampras)...Afterward, climbed from 25 to No. 9 and became first Spaniard to reach Aussie Open final since Andres Gimeno in 1969...Qualified for ATP World Chp. in Hannover where he advanced to SF (d. Sampras, l. to Kafelnikov)...Played Davis Cup and compiled a 3-1 record in two ties...

1998 -- Won two titles, including his first Grand Slam crown at Roland Garros (d. Corretja)...Closed year with runner-up effort at ATP World Championship in Hannover (l. to Corretja in five sets)...En route to the Monte Carlo title, posted wins over Muster, Arazi, Kafelnikov, Corretja, Krajicek, and Pioline in final...Dropped only one set en route...In September, reached final in his hometown of Mallorca (l. to Kuerten)...Earned a career-high $2,572,553...

1999 -- Became first Spaniard to rank No. 1 in history of ATP Rankings (since 1973) when he accomplished feat on March 15 (held top spot for two weeks) after reaching final at AMS Indian Wells (d. Kuerten in SF, l. to Philippoussis)...Entered into Roland Garros as defending champ and lost a 64, 41 (two breaks) lead to eventual winner Agassi in 4th RD...Retired with a back injury in 2nd RD of US Open and only played two tournaments rest of year...

2000 -- Hampered with a stress fracture in his lower back from 1999 US Open until early part of 2000...Won Estoril title (d. Clavet)...Reached 4th RD at US Open, falling to T. Martin in an epic five-set marathon (held 1 M.P. in fourth set)...Runner-up effort in Toulouse (l. to Corretja)...

2001 -- Finished in Top 20 for first time in three years and won his seventh career title in Umag (d. Golmard). Finalist in Barcelona, losing to countryman Ferrero in a four hour, nine minute marathon (7-5 in fifth set).

2003 -- Claimed three ATP clay court titles, in Buenos Aires (d. Coria), first Spanish crown in Barcelona (d. Safin) and third straight in Umag (d. Volandri). Also reached finals in AMS Miami (l. to Agassi) and Vienna (l. to Federer). Led Spain to Davis Cup final (lost 3-1 to Australia) with a 6-0 singles record during year. Beat Philippoussis on grass to account for only point in final. In SF, lifted his country to Davis Cup final by posting wins over Argentina's Zabaleta (from two sets down) and Gaudio in decisive rubber to give Spain a 3-2 win. Posted a personal-best 37-10 record on clay during year, trailing only Ferrero (38). Qualified for Tennis Masters Cup in Houston (1-2)...

2004 -- Captured three (or more) ATP titles, finished in Top 10 and won at least 55 matches for third straight year, winning 10 of his 17 career titles during that span...Also helped his country to 3-2 win over U.S. for Davis Cup title by posting wins over Fish and Roddick, which clinched tie... Reached finals in his first three tournaments on different continents (and four of first five), opening with title in Chennai (d. Srichaphan), then retired in Sydney final (vs. Hewitt) due to right ankle sprain...Returned in February to reach final in Buenos Aires (l. to Coria)...Two weeks later, captured Acapulco title (d. Verdasco)...Began with an 18-3 record...Won his third career AMS shield in Rome (d. Nalbandian)...Posted QF results at AMS Hamburg, Roland Garros (l. to Coria), AMS Cincinnati (l. to Agassi) and Athens Olympics (l. to eventual gold medalist Massu)...Played in Davis Cup SF, losing in five sets to Mathieu in opening rubber...At Tennis Masters Cup in Houston, went 1-2 in round robin play...Did not play European indoor circuit due to a right shoulder injury...Led ATP circuit with 33 clay court match wins (33-8) and only player during year to win at least 20 matches on clay and hard courts (23-10)....Surpassed 400 career match wins in March and compiled a 14-0 mark vs. Spaniards during year...Hit a career-high 29 aces in 1st RD win vs. Patience at Wimbledon...

2005 -- Struggled with right shoulder problems on-and-off during year...Repeated Chennai title (d. Srichaphan)...Advanced to QF at AMS Indian Wells...On clay, reached SF in Estoril and 4th RD at Roland Garros (l. to Federer). Missed grass court circuit with shoulder injury before returning to clay in July. In second tournament back, reached final in Umag (l. to Coria).

2006 -- In season opener, fell short of third straight title in Chennai, losing to top seed Ljubicic. The following month, became first player to win Buenos Aires title three times (d. Volandri). Ended No. 2 Nadal's 22-match winning streak over Spaniards, coming back from first-set deficit in 2nd RD of AMS Miami. Reached SF in Estoril (l. to eventual winner Davydenko) and Umag and QF in Amersfoort and Bucharest.

2007 -- Captured an ATP title for eighth consecutive season and finished as oldest player in Top 20. Also extended his streak to 12 straight years with a Top 50 ranking, best among active players. Jumped off to a 12-6 start in first two months with runner-up showings in Sydney (l. to Blake) and Acapulco (l. to Chela). In May, advanced to SF at AMS Hamburg, losing in three sets to eventual champion Federer. Continued success with QF at Roland Garros (l. to Nadal). In July, compiled a 10-2 mark with SF in Bastad (l. to Almagro), QF in Amersfoort (l. to Eschauer) and won his fifth career Umag title (d. Pavel) without dropping a set. Moved to hard courts and reached QF at AMS Cincinnati (d. No. 3 Djokovic, l. to Hewitt) and US Open for first time in nine years (l. to Djokovic).

2008 -- The Spaniard finished in Top 50 for 13th straight year, best among active players...His streak of winning at least one ATP title for eight consecutive seasons came to an end as a result of runner-up efforts in Costa do Sauipe (l. to Almagro) in February and Bucharest (l. to Simon) in September...Opened season with SF in Chennai, losing to Nadal in three tie-breaks and 3:54 marathon (held four match points)...Did not win back-to-back matches again until May at AMS Hamburg where he reached QF (l. to Nadal)...Advanced to QF in four other tournaments rest of season, including AMS Cincinnati (d. No. 5 Davydenko, l. to Murray)...Went 1-4 vs. Top 10 opponents and compiled marks of 15-12 on hard and 13-11 on clay.

2009 -- The Spaniard played first two months of season, winning two matches in four tournaments…Was sidelined rest of year with injuries…Underwent right big toe surgery and was hampered by right hamstring injury…Plans to return in 2010 with a protected ranking of No. 52.

2010 -- The Spaniard made his return to the tour after an injury-ridden 2009...In his first two tournaments back he lost in the first round at the Aircel Chennai Open (l. to Tipsarevic) and the Australian Open (l. to Marchenko)...Won his first ATP match since February 2009 at Buenos Aires (d. Volandri) before falling to Zeballos 64 64 in 2nd RD...Fell to Gasquet in Acapulco 1st RD...In March, as a wild card entry at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells, he beat American qualifier Smyczek before pulling out with a foot injury ahead of 2nd RD match versus No. 26 seed Bellucci….He made one further appearance at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid in May…On 17 November 2010, Moya officially announced his retirement from professional tennis aged 34 after struggling to overcome a right foot injury…It ended an illustrious 15-year career…“I wanted to play the big tournaments and say goodbye but I got to the Madrid tournament and I still wasn't 100 per cent. I am still young for life but for sport, I am already knocking on a bit. I realised with that match that the moment had arrived. It's not how I dreamed of ending my career"…Looking to the future, he said: “I'll keep on with my gym in Mallorca. I have a sports business and I'll dedicate more time to my wife, my daughter and my family. But I'll definitely miss tennis."