| Guillermo Coria |
Birthdate: January 13, 1982
Residence: Venado Tuerto, Argentina
Status: Pro (2000)
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Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 143
Plays: Right-handed
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 | | | Guillermo Coria in action at the 2001 Tennis Masters Series - Monte Carlo.(Reuters) | |
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Pro Highlights:
2001
- Reached the finals of the Mallorca Open
- Reached the semifinals of the Tennis Masters Series - Monte Carlo and jumped to No. 13 in the ATP Champions Race
- Reached the third round of the Ericsson Open, defeating countryman Franco Squillari, ranked No. 17 at the time
- Reached the quarterfinals in Buenos Aires
- Won his first ATP title in Vina del Mar
- Reached the quarterfinals in Bogota
- Reached the finals of the Sao Paolo Challenger
2000
- Won four ATP Challenger events in a span of five weeks to finish the season
- Played in the main draw of an ATP event for the first time, falling to Carlos Moya in the second round
- reached the second round at Roland Garros, his first Grand Slam
Junior Highlights:
- Won the 1999 French Open, Wimbledon (doubles), Canadian International, Asuncion Bowl and Argentina Bowl and the 1998 South American Closed
- Finalist at the 1999 Italian Open and Rado Orange Bowl and the 1998 Eddie Herr Championships and Torneo Internazionale
- Semifinalist at the 1999 Wimbledon Championships (his first grass-court competition)
Interesting Fact: Guillermo picked up the nickname "Mini Moya" in Mallorca after fans started mistaking him with the former No. 1.
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SportsLine.com recently spoke with Guillermo from the Estoril Open, in Estoril Portugal. Here is what he had to say:
SportsLine: There seems to be a lot of good young players coming out of Argentina right now. What do you attribute that to?
Guillermo Coria: There is really no support for younger players from our government. All the funding is private. There are also no competitions in the country. Young players have to go to Europe to compete. When you start winning in juniors you can get sponsorships from big companies.
SportsLine: Where do you think you compare with the top clay-court players at this point. (clay is his preferred surface)
Guillermo Coria: I'm very confident I can play with the top players. My first time out, I played against Carlos Moya in Mallorca, Spain and hung in 6-3, 6-3. I am reluctant to compare myself to the top players at this point.
SportsLine: What are your goals for 2001?
Guillermo Coria: My main goal is to break the top 30. I would also like to reach the quarterfinals of any of the Grand Slams.
SportsLine: Were you surprised that your first title came so soon?
Guillermo Coria: I was definitely surprised, but I had it in the back of my mind that I had a chance to win. I kept thinking about all the hard work I'd put in and the support of my family and friends. It was the best week's effort I ever had in terms of my consistency.
SportsLine: What types of adjustments have you needed to make as you transition from playing challengers to playing main draws?
Guillermo Coria: I just have to work hard, mentally and physically, on maturing my game.
SportsLine: What is the strongest part of your game and will it translate to hardcourts?
Guillermo Coria: Actually, I love hardcourts. I have no problem adjusting. My serve and my groundstrokes are the strongest right now. My fastest serve was clocked at 200 km (124 mph). I am working hard on the net game, trying to improve my volleys. Also, I'm training for grass. When I won the (junior) Wimbledon doubles and reached the semifinals in singles I had never played on grass before.
SportsLine: What do you enjoy most about being a tennis player?
Guillermo Coria: I enjoy the fame and the money is a blessing. My favorite thing is the mentality of the other players. I draw a lot of strength from them. Junior players were very inconsistent. As a pro I've been very impressed with the mental capability of the players and their professionalism.
SportsLine: Who is your favorite player to watch and why?
Guillermo Coria: Andre Agassi: His all-around game is just so impressive.
SportsLine: What are your top career goals?
Guillermo Coria: I would like to be No. 1 and win the French Open.
SportsLine: Are you ever intimidated by opponents?
Guillermo Coria: The first time I played (Carlos) Moya I was intimidated because I had seen him on TV so many times; now I was standing in front of him. Because of that experience I am ready to go against the top guys.
SportsLine: What were some of the sacrifices you had to make growing up to get to this level?
Guillermo Coria: Because there were no tournaments (in Argentina), I basically had to leave home to go to Europe at 13. Also, I had to do all of my schoolwork on the road.
SportsLine: Have you given any thought to what you would like to pursue after you retire?
Guillermo Coria: I would just like to enjoy my efforts and my success. If I do well (financially) I would love to give back to Argentina.
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