Gabriel Urpí


Gabriel Urpí Ribas is a former professional tennis player from Spain.

Playing career

Urpi was the Orange Bowl champion in 1978 and a semi-finalist in the boys' singles event at the French Open that year.
A clay court specialist, he competed in the main draw of the French Open in 1981, 1982, 1984 and 1985. The Spaniard had his best performance at the 1982 French Open, where he reached the third round, with wins over Patrizio Parrini and Chris Lewis, the latter in a walkover.
He was a quarter-finalist at Madrid in 1979, Barcelona in 1980, Bordeaux in 1981 and Bari in 1984. His only semi-final appearance was at the 1987 Bordeaux Open. However, as a doubles player, he reached the Barcelona semi-finals in 1984, partnering Lorenzo Fargas. Two year earlier in Indianapolis, Urpi and doubles partner Rick Fagel had an upset win over Mark Edmondson and Kim Warwick, a pairing that were dual Australian Open winners.

Coaching

Urpi had been the coach of Flavia Pennetta for several years, until her retirement. He was previously the coach of Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in 1994 and 1995, during which time she won two Grand Slam tournaments and also coached Conchita Martínez to the 1998 Australian Open final. In 2017, he worked a coach of Elina Svitolina.

Challenger finals

Singles: (1-0)

Doubles: (2-1)

ResultW-LDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Runner-up0-1March 1980San Luis Potosí, MexicoClay Ramiro Benavides Mike Barr
Réjean Genois
4–6, 4–6
Winner1-1April 1982Parioli, ItalyClay Iván Camus Guillermo Aubone
Fernando Maynetto
3–6, 6–4, 6–3
Winner2-1August 1983Vigo, SpainClay Lorenzo Fargas Iván Camus
Raúl Viver
6–4, 4–6, 6–2